European Breakdown cover

[GarethM]

Does anyone have any good links or numbers to get cheap european breakdown cover ?

Ive got a 1998 CLK and as its over 6 years old places like the RAC are quoting £90 for 2 weeks cover !

The cheapest ive found so far is directline for £49 but even that feels steep !

Any help appreciated.

Kind Regards

Gareth

 

[SimonsMerc]

Does anyone have any good links or numbers to get cheap european breakdown cover ?

Ive got a 1998 CLK and as its over 6 years old places like the RAC are quoting £90 for 2 weeks cover !

The cheapest ive found so far is directline for £49 but even that feels steep !

Any help appreciated.

Kind Regards

Gareth

Buy it for a year, far better value. Even if you only use it one more time, it works out cheaper. I paid £115 for AA five star for a year, compared to the £99 they wanted for three weeks. (Damn glad I did too - see my other threads on problems in France ;-)

-simon

 

[imadoofus]

I'm insured with DirectLine, and my European 5* breakdown cover (for an 11 year old car) is £130-odd. I buy it for the year.

PJ

 

[GarethM]

I agree buying for the year works out cheaper.....

However i already have RAC cover... But it doesnt cover europe and they want £80 to add it to my policy for 2 weeks ! So i was after a "cheap" addon.

 

[kikkthecat]

I agree Annual is best but you need to be making several trips to make the outlay worthwhile.

If it's a one off then Insure and go are as cheap as anywhere. Should cost about £30.

www.insureandgo.co.uk

 

[219]

If you feel that your car is reliable enough , but just want the reassurance you can get help should the worst happen , you can always just take the phone numbers for the Mercedes-Benz emergency assistance number in each country you're visiting . You may already have the Europe wide dealer network booklet in your glovebox anyway .

Sure , you'll need to pay for a call out and for any repairs ....

but , as I said , if you are confident enough in your car maybe just knowing where to call for help is enough ?

 

[GarethM]

Thanks for your replys - Much appreciated.

kikkthecat - Insureandgo certainly are cheap .... £26 wow - but having read there T&Cs im left with the is it too cheap feeling ..... arhhhh. They seem to require the car to have a pre trip inspection by a garge, carry your service history with you and then state they are not responsible for any of the repair work ect, only cover upto £250 ( which i dont believe would get me back to the UK ) ! ummm I guess im going to have to go for one of the big names :-(

Cheers

G

 

[Dieselman]

This might be of use. europassist seems pretty good.

http://www.moneysupermarket.com/roadsiderescue/

 

[br1anstorm]

Single-trip European breakdown cover

I'd welcome any advice on where to get short term cover for a trip to the Continent in an older car. I've just been caught out by my present insurers...

For years I've had my 1990 560SEC covered under limited mileage 'classic' policies with one or other of the specialist insurers (Norton/Heritage, Footman James etc), which have included UK and EU breakdown rescue cover.

My current insurers (Lancaster) quotation included breakdown cover. I specifically asked about EU cover when taking out the policy , and they said "just phone up to inform us of the dates of any EU trip". On the eve of a trip to France I've just done so. They now say I will have to extend (sic) my breakdown cover.... at a cost of £70 for a 21 day trip!

I'm not happy: I reckon Lancaster were economical with the truth, if not actually misleading, when I signed up. I won't be renewing with them. But meanwhile, can anyone suggest where I might get single-trip cover for this imminent 3 week visit to France? Most of the firms I've found so far won't cover cars older than 10-16 years, and my car is now 17....

br1anstorm

 

[BTB 500]

When we went to Germany for a week recently RAC breakdown cover was £35 and insurance (Direct Line) £22.

 

[br1anstorm]

Yes, but the RAC is one of those who won't do breakdown cover for a car over 10 years old...not even if it's a Merc.

 

[BTB 500]

Yes, but the RAC is one of those who won't do breakdown cover for a car over 10 years old...not even if it's a Merc.

I've never heard of that, and it's not mentioned anywhere in my terms of membership. The only restrictions on vehicle are max weight 3.5 tonnes, max length 5.5 metres, max width 2.3 metres.

 

[br1anstorm]

Bill ...

I think there's a difference between the terms, conditions and cover if you're an RAC member (already paying a substantial annual subscription for one of the annual rescue/recovery packages), and the deal if you simply want to get a short-term single-trip European breakdown policy (which the RAC will sell to anyone).

If you're already a member (at £100+ per year?) you can add on EU cover for a modest extra premium, irrespective of car's age. I presume that's how you were charged £35?

If you simply want a short-term policy to give you breakdown cover for a single 3-week trip, the RAC is one of many insurers that offer this. But most stipulate an upper age limit on the car. Green Flag, EuroRescue, and Tesco, for example, all say they won't cover a car more than 16 years old. The Ts&Cs for the RAC single-trip policy cover say (quote) ..."The Insured Vehicle must be five years old or under. Older vehicles will only be covered on payment of an additional premium." And for my 17 year old Merc the quote was £150+ for 3 weeks cover (ie they don't really want the business...)

br1anstorm

 

[BTB 500]

Fair enough, didn't realise members got different terms for overseas trips. We get discounted joint personal cover (driver or passenger in any vehicle, subject to the weight etc. limits I posted above) for £95 PA.

 

[mb240]

You could also join ADAC.

 

[br1anstorm]

In case it's of interest to others with an old(er) car, I should add for what it's worth that to cover this particular EU trip I have opted to get cover from
http://www.quotelinedirect.co.uk/breakdown/

They cover vehicles up to 20 years old, and offer an annual policy giving UK breakdown/rescue for a year and EU cover for up to 90 days (each trip max 21 days), for £59.

For cars up to 10, or in some case 15 years old, Insure&Go seem to be among the best deals for single-trip cover.

Moral of the story? When I next renew my normal motor-insurance policy on the 560 SEC, I'll make sure it has UK and EU breakdown cover included: this has to be simpler and cheaper than getting add-on cover for EU trips!

Thanks to all who commented...

br1anstorm