Breakdown cover

[WillyHeckaslike]

Originally Posted by Pueblo_Boy

I'm with AutoAid, but they don't do cover for my impending European trip Searching online, I found a company called Dynamo with cheap cover, but on checking them out, it appears they are a total scam...can anyone recommend a company with European breakdown cover at a reasonable cost?

I would give Autoaid a call to query EU cover as I've read that an upgrade service might be available. Upgrade to cover a specific period can apparently work out cheaper for infrequent EU use as opposed to all-year cover:

"AutoAid only covers you driving in the UK (mainland England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). If you were travelling to Europe we offer a separate cover called EuroRescue which covers you for the time that you are abroad."

[Dantheman]

Originally Posted by Dawn

Ive bookmarked Autoaid to check on next renewal. Has anyone actually used their services on a breakdown?

While I have not had to use them too often over the years, I've never had a problem. They used to be a "pay and claim back" type of policy, but now no need to claim back.

About a year ago, my son had issue at work - car would not start. As it happened he was able to get a lift home from a co-worker. I suggested he call that evening and see if he could pre-book for someone to come out to the car the next morning at 9am, as I would be able to take him to work.

Sure enough they were there just before 9AM - sorted him out in a few minutes (a ground wire from the battery had frayed).

Can't really ask for much better.

I do see that the premium has gone up from £42 to £60 - for my wife and I, that's still an excellent deal.

[Pueblo_Boy]

Originally Posted by WillyHeckaslike

I would give Autoaid a call to query EU cover as I've read that an upgrade service might be available. Upgrade to cover a specific period can apparently work out cheaper for infrequent EU use as opposed to all-year cover:

"AutoAid only covers you driving in the UK (mainland England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). If you were travelling to Europe we offer a separate cover called EuroRescue which covers you for the time that you are abroad."

Yes thanks, that's the message they gave me too. I concluded that at over £70 just to add European specific trip cover, I may as well bite the bullet and go for RAC annual cover at just under £200...

[Gate Keeper]

Originally Posted by SCP440

I use the RAC European cover, on one occasion I had to use it. I had a very friendly German at my Hotel within 20 mins who fixed the problem and the next time I took the cover out there was no increase in premium.

A workmate took no cover out on a trip to Austria earlier in the year, his car kept stalling so he popped into a garage, they diagnosed a split air hose but it was a RHD specific part so could no get hold of one so they taped it up and used some sealer on it so ''it would get him home''. The cost of the bodge was over 300Euro's and of course no guarantee. If he had been with the RAC or similar they would have sourced a part and had it courierd out to him or had the car shipped back.

As a buy the way a classic car owner I know paid to have his car shipped back to the UK from the French/Swiss border for medical reasons, it cost him just over £2000. Paying £8 a day seems like a good idea when you find what it would cost to get your car home. I have heard several tales of cars being left abroad as some of these polices will only cover you up to £500 of recovery, probably OK if you are only going to France but any further than that and you will be digging deep to get it home.

It is certainly worth getting European cover. When I worked for the AA Air Ambulance MediVac company, I had to fly out to Hungary to bring back a gent who was being held hostage in a hotel owned and run by the mafia. He had got into trouble with them and he had a mental breakdown. He had driven there with his brother for a holiday in their Mercedes. The brother managed to escape and alert the UK authorities.

The AA arranged for the Merc to be brought back on a flatbed. In essence, the Merc was smashed up by criminals to the point that it was no longer road worthy. The man being held hostage had no money and no passport, as it had been stolen by a gipsy woman he spent the night with. Ultimately, I negotiated his release and got him back to the UK on a scheduled flight . The cost must have run into thousands. At the time, I thought thank goodness the brothers took out the 5 stars travel cover for the car and themselves. A sad and true story with a happy ending.

[bendrick]

Have we just wandered into a James Bond story in a breakdown thread?


I've got a few bizarre true stories of my own that I've experienced over the years and recant from time to time but have to admit that you've just trumped the lot.

[Gate Keeper]

Originally Posted by bendrick

Have we just wandered into a James Bond story in a breakdown thread?


I've got a few bizarre true stories of my own that I've experienced over the years and recant from time to time but have to admit that you've just trumped the lot.

I related the same story to Reebs at a meet recently and he can verify this if you doubt my credibility and if you do, then it is your prerogative

The Brits abroad do get into trouble, sick, injured or worse. Who has to pick up the pieces and get them home and at what cost? A young British couple riding a moped on the island of Rhodes, hit a kerb and were thrown. Neither of them were wearing helmets. Both sustained serious injuries - head, hip, legs and internal. They were flown to Athens for specialist treatment. I flew out in an air ambulance from the UK in a jet equipped for ICU, with an anaesthetist to get them home. 007 or not, these things do happen, it’s life.

[Gate Keeper]

Getting back to Roadside breakdown, home start and recovery, I have been with the AA for 23 years. The renewal arrived and it has gone up to £180.

I rang them up and told them I was thinking of leaving, how I had been shopping around for a better price. They said they did not want me to leave and dropped the price by £45.

A few weeks ago, I called them out and they attended within 45 minutes. On the app I was able to track their progress in getting to me.

[bendrick]

Originally Posted by Gate Keeper

I related the same story to Reebs at a meet recently and he can verify this if you doubt my credibility and if you do, then it is your prerogative

The Brits abroad do get into trouble, sick, injured or worse. Who has to pick up the pieces and get them home and at what cost? A young British couple riding a moped on the island of Rhodes, hit a kerb and were thrown. Neither of them were wearing helmets. Both sustained serious injuries - head, hip, legs and internal. They were flown to Athens for specialist treatment. I flew out in an air ambulance from the UK in a jet equipped for ICU, with an anaesthetist to get them home. 007 or not, these things do happen, it’s life.

I wasn't querying the veracity of your story.

Just mildly amused at the unexpected James Bondesque turn of a breakdown recovery thread, Gypsy girls, Mafia, Kidnapping,negotiating releases from captivity.


I'm not entirely sure AA or RAC road recovery would entertain covering all that anyway. I'm sure that they'd have a couple of get clauses in the small print.

[Gate Keeper]

Originally Posted by bendrick

I wasn't querying the veracity of your story.

Just mildly amused at the unexpected James Bondesque turn of a breakdown recovery thread, Gypsy girls, Mafia, Kidnapping,negotiating releases from captivity.


I'm not entirely sure AA or RAC road recovery would entertain covering all that anyway. I'm sure that they'd have a couple of get clauses in the small print.

Thank you very much Fortunately those encounters with the mafia were quite rare. I think it was bad luck for one of the brothers to spend the night with a gypsy who drugged and robbed him in his hotel room. A double whammy the hotel was owned and managed by criminals. I know the AA had certain restrictions and exclusions for cover. They would not pay any money for a hostage to be released and it is something Margaret Thatcher put a stop to, bailing out Brits abroad. I can’t say what I said or did to get the man out. For myself there was some flexibility and I did not always have to wear the uniform. Company rules: no drinking alcohol in front of the client, no profanity, no smoking, no bar bills, but everything else was ok, providing there was a receipt for hotels etc, When the AA Air Ambulance folded, it was taken over by Green Flag. At that point I left and worked freelance for Europ Assistance and HM government in total for 20 years.

[mileshawk56]

I have two cars covered 2004 MGZT and 1999Rover216 and pay £95.00 per year. I have used them three occasions in last 3years and had no problems, attended within 30mins maximum and taken home and car to garage as requested. Cover is provided by some Lloyds syndicate-its uk only. Chris.S