**Continental breakdown cover: single trip**

codger

We're off to northern France for a week in May, travelling by car.

We've had a look through MSE for recommendations re single-trip Continental breakdown cover but aren't getting anywhere: an old thread relates to "smith insurance" as a Best Buy, but they're not longer in business, whilst Martin's link to continental breakdown is to moneysupermarket which quotes on annual UK cover including Continental breakdown: not what we want.

We're in the RAC so have a quote from them including 10% member discount and 10% online booking discount, of £37 for the week. The AA is quoting something like £9 per day, so at over £60 that seems way too high. And besides, we loathe anything to do with Centrica / British Gas.

A company called JS Insurance (UK) is offering Continental breakdown cover for the duration of our particular trip for £21 -- but we've never heard of 'em, so have nothing to go on.

Any MSErs here who have bought single-trip Continental breakdown cover and can recommend same (or warn against it, based on their experience)?

Thanks!

tomstickland

I paid £60 via Insurance choice. That was for 12 month's cover, but still seemed reasonable to me.

http://breakdown.insurancechoice.co.uk/

codger

Thanks for that, Tom: we've squirrelled the link away.

OK_Sauce

£31.50 @ Tesco

https://www.tesco-breakdown.co.uk/#product3

codger

Thanks OKSauce! I'd no idea, Tesco was doing its own version of Green Flag (though then again, tesco seems to be doing its own version of, well, everything.) I'm going to compare what's on offer for £32 from Tesco with what's on offer from the RAC -- so many thanks again for the info!

OK_Sauce

Can't vouch for them - at least you've heard of them! I'm away for a week in May too, and after extensive Money Saving research I plan to use them!

codger

OK_Sauce wrote: »

Can't vouch for them - at least you've heard of them! I'm away for a week in May too, and after extensive Money Saving research I plan to use them!

Which, of course, is the great irony in all this: you won't be using 'em because you've already paid out for such eventuality. . .

Whereas if you hadn't paid out, then Sod's Law decrees that the worst-case scenario would definitely happen.

Have a great trip!

OK_Sauce

You haven't seen my car!:eek:

Just looked at theTesco website. This price may be a special offer that runs out TODAY. 30% off normally £45? might be worth checking!

TheOne

Looked at JS Insurance. Got a quote for a single trip for £29.00 which includes:
-One hours roadside assistance
-Car recovered to local garage
-Overnight Accommodation
-24 Hour UK Hire Car
-Emergency Driver within the UK
-Up to £200 for emergency repairs abroad
-Replacement parts to be delivered if required
-Qualified Driver to bring you, your passengers and vehicle home if you become ill or injured and can't drive

Also got a quote from: (Provided by AXA)
http://www.vehicle-rescue.com/european-breakdown-cover.php

Single Trip European Cover: £24.75
Includes:
http://www.vehicle-rescue.com/european-breakdown-benefits.php

cbrown7

No idea what the cover is like because fortunately I have never actually broken down.

But on price alone I find Insure & Go (insureandgo.com) hard to beat.

Coverage, similar to that quoted for JS Insurance, is underwritten by Europ Assistance who tend to be the experts IMHO.

Hope that helps anyone browsing this thread.

fjamesm

Noticed this thread and I have done a lot of research on european breakdown cover, after a few poor experiences! so thought I would try to add something to this thread in case people come across it.

There have been a few player pop up in the last few years. And some disappear, such as "smith insurance".

Typically, and unsurprisingly, European breakdown cover is dominated by the biggies - the AA & the RAC. And no doubt this affects their pricing structure.

First things first, check and double check, if you have an existing UK breakdown cover policy, that you are not covered within Europe already. It isnt common but you may have opted in.

After this, you have a lot of small companies that exist, dedicated to selling european breakdown cover alone, these include:

(i) European Breakdown Cover : http://www.europebreakdowncover.co.uk
(ii) EVBC : http://www.europeanbreakdowncover.com

These are pretty cheap, but they do not seem to offer a sales/customer service phone line. However, in the event of a breakdown you wouldn't speak with the insurance broker anyway, but the assistance company which is either the Green flag or mondial assistance.

It may well be, that you will find better value if you approach your existing UK breakdown supplier and ask for an addition to your policy. This may mean you need to take annual cover - which won't prove cost effective if you are simply wanting a single trip/ temporary cover. But there are smaller breakdown cover companies who offer UK & European breakdown cover, at really reasonable prices, and the assistance companies will be household names....

It is important to remember that insurance is regulated industry. Ensure the company is on the FSA register, and read the insurance details/level of cover.