Car & Caravan Breakdown Insurance

Posted on 25/02/2017 08:23 by allanandjean

As many have said plenty of comments but I think that there is also perhaps some confusion.

In regard to the recovery aspect of the cover my concern is nothing to do with the caravan. I am not saying that nothing will happen just that it is not my concern however, I am concerned that my provider will recover my caravan if I unfortunate and suffer a breakdown that requires repatriation of the car.

It is impossible to cover every possible eventuality, would you be covered if you are in a different country from your van, for example, which is not uncommon in Europe when out for the day, but to assume that you will only suffer a car breakdown when towing could be a very expensive mistake.

One final point relates to the service actually provided when the event happens. The service provided will be the decision of the provider and it may not be what you are expecting, or would like. This comment is based on my experience in the U.K. and not an assumption, so if you then add in the scenario of being in a foreign country, and trying to say something more involved  than "two beers please", or similar, is that a situation you would want to be in?

Posted on 15/03/2017 10:22 by

You are not comparing "like for like" here as Red Pennant does a whole lot more than recovery and roadside assistance, medical cover especially for the older among  us is not cheap and "free insurance" with banks and building societies is anything but free if one is beyond a certain age or has any preconditions. I  just speak as a customer here and one who has used RP for nearly 40 years without a claim but I do know even a fairly modest incident can cost thousands more than I have paid in. Absolutely all in our trips cost  around £60 a day of which RP is under £3 and with  the risk entailed I dont think its worth jumping through hoops to reduce that a bit . 

Posted on 15/03/2017 09:06 by allanandjean

Hi jonray, As I have said in other posts we each make our own choices but the reason that I looked into this closely was the realisation that I had been making incorrect assumptions about the recovery of my caravan in the event of a breakdown of my car.

I started with a list of about 12 providers and in the end found only two that would provide what I wanted.

At the time a fellow poster on CT sent me some info on ADAC and we discussed what may happen when the recovery vehicle arrives and her email comment, below, put it across very well.

I still maintain that what you get depends on the 'jobsworth' or otherwise who turns up with the breakdown truck. If he's in love with his wife, his children behave, and he's not got snarled up in traffic, then you'll get taken to your site. If he's just had a row with his wife, and his boss, has indigestion, and has just been in a road-rage incident, then it will be 'tough luck mate, we don't do that..................'!

Posted on 15/03/2017 08:56 by Extugger

Thanks for your concern. I have checked with the company, my car AND caravan have full breakdown/rescue and recovery. The calls ( should you need them) are handled by Call Assist, based in the UK, so no language barrier.

I asked about the wording in the t&c's about breakdown on French motorways and it is worded to cover themselves, because the only people who can recover you on a French motorway are the French Police who will tow you to a 'safe place' from where your breakdown company will take over.....the fee for this is up to €150. Are any of you aware of this?

Just as an aside, my neighbour broke down last Monday in her 5 year old car, not more than 2 miles from a main arterial road (just so you know we're not in the sticks) and her breakdown company took 3.5 hours to get to her.......you guessed it....Green Flag. 

It just goes to prove, whoever you're with, they're ALL pretty rubbish 

Posted on 23/02/2017 07:39 by dmiller555

Any idea what the "more features are"? I ask as a Green Flag customer whom they advised it wasn't worth changing to the CC version because the cover was the same. 

Posted on 22/02/2018 15:13 by Glenn T

I saw on YouTube recently a gent stating than his breakdown and health insurance via the Nationwide Building Society was really good value.It came  ( free ? ) with his £13 a month bank account up-grade.

I had a good look at all the small print. It left me feeling the policy was worded in order to do everything it could to avoid paying for each and every loss incurred.

I then read my quote from The Caravan & Motorhome Club. This, I must say, states exactly what you need, without all the unnessacary legal jargon.

You pay the price and You get the cover, then enjoy your holiday.