UK and EU Breakdown Insurance.

[Ayjay]

So who do you campervan people use for UK and EU breakdown insurance. It would also be good to know how much it was and just as important, have you had to use it whilst over the channel and how was that experience? I ask because I’ve used VW Assist since my last All In warranty ran out but now I reckon it’s time to shop around. VW Assist have quoted me £190 (but I haven’t spoken to them yet to get the ‘final offer’) and a quick on-line quote direect with The AA came to £215 – I have another car with them so there might be a bit of room to negotiate there as well.
As usual, any relevant advice / comments would be much appreciated.

 

[cgtmiles]

As per the other thread I’m also coming off all in cover and looking for alternatives. If vw charge £190 (£16 a month) this again reinforces what a good offer the all in was!

Do you know if going VW helps in any way above standard breakdown recovery. I believe @Dellmassive had them do a lot more than getting him started at the side of the road. Also I seem to remember the dealers saying that if someone got pulled in by vw assist they got priority for getting back on the road, not sure how true that is as I’ve never used it

 

[drinfinity]

The AA came to £215 – I have another car with them

We have the joint membership- both of us, in any vehicle as passenger or driver. Covers our car and van. It did also cover the kids if they were passengers in another car. You’ve just prompted me to get on and add the kids as drivers now.

 

[Salty Spuds]

Green flag £57 including EU/onward travel/trailer. £40excess per call out. Used them many moons ago and they were excellent. Been with them for years.

 

[Drive Wayne]

Green flag £57 including EU/onward travel/trailer. £40excess per call out. Used them many moons ago and they were excellent. Been with them for years.View attachment 320074

I can concur! GF for me too and £57 for our May Euro trip. Certainly been good in this country in vehicles that weren't registered to me!

 

[Johny]

You could look at auto aid, can't complain about the service I've had from them.

 

[Jollyvan]

You could look at auto aid, can't complain about the service I've had from them.

Auto Aid don't offer EU recovery. Another vote for Green Flag.

 

[Johny]

Auto Aid don't offer EU recovery. Another vote for Green Flag.

Take no notice of me then, a vote for green flag from me

 

[Salty Spuds]

One thing to consider when comparing levels of service. Green flag are an insurance company that pay subcontractors to carry out the work. RAC/AA are standalone companies, the patrols are employees on the books. When you get a Green Flag rescue, as it’s an insurance claim, the subby is being paid by the hour/mile and for what he does. It’s in his best interest to milk the job and keep you happy. RAC/AA are under pressure to keep the costs down, and they are limited to the number of patrols they have on the road so wait times can be lengthy. Green flag just call out more agents according to demand.

 

[Jimer]

I can't fault the RAC for the occasions that my wife and I have both had to use them. Response times have been good and the mechanics have gone above and beyond what I would have expected from them. The second time I called them out technically it wasn't even a breakdown, more fault diagnosis. The van started making a noise whilst we were on holiday. We were due to drive home the next day and I wanted to make sure it was safe for the journey. The mechanic came out for a test drive with me to understand the noise, then he removed both front wheels and cleaned up the discs and pads, noise gone. When my wife had a coolant leak late at night the patrol even followed her home for thirty miles to ensure she got home safely.

 

[firedrake]

Just been on green flag 180 for a year with European cover whats the 57 pound people are getting for?

 

[Drive Wayne]

Just been on green flag 180 for a year with European cover whats the 57 pound people are getting for?

In my case the £57 is additional to my £120 a year cover for UK with GF including wifey and I in any vehicle, home start etc. £57 extra is purely for a 2 week spell in foreign lands. It was half the price of other well known brands for that particular 'bolt on'.
Never needed GF with my van fortunately, but their service has been great when required in other vehicles.

 

[Salty Spuds]

Just been on green flag 180 for a year with European cover whats the 57 pound people are getting for?

You go through one of the comparison sites and choose the option with the £40 XS/call-out fee.

 

[Drive Wayne]

You go through one of the comparison sites and choose the option with the £40 XS/call-out fee.

I really must look for that next renewal...

 

[Salty Spuds]

I really must look for that next renewal...

In my case the £57 is additional to my £120 a year cover for UK with GF including wifey and I in any vehicle, home start etc. £57 extra is purely for a 2 week spell in foreign lands. It was half the price of other well known brands for that particular 'bolt on'.
Never needed GF with my van fortunately, but their service has been great when required in other vehicles.

Just been on green flag 180 for a year with European cover whats the 57 pound people are getting for?

Just done a quick comparison on Moneysupermarket and it’s coming out at £62 ish. Including recovery and EU cover. All in annual policy with £40XS

 

[Drive Wayne]

Just done a quick comparison on Moneysupermarket and it’s coming out at £62 ish. Including recovery and EU cover. All in annual policy with £40XS
View attachment 320211

I wonder what the chances are of that going up by December when mine is due for renewal?!!

 

[Salty Spuds]

I wonder what the chances are of that going up by December when mine is due for renewal?!!

It’s gone up a fiver since my renewal in October. I’d also try different comparison sites, they do vary. I just did a quickie on Moneysupermarket for illustration purposes.

 

[Skipperjonce]

Just a heads up, if you open a Virgin Club M account which currently is £14/month you get full UK and EU greenflag breakdown with no excess, worldwide family travel insurance and phone/gadget insurance.

You don't need to do anything with the account except open it and have at least £14 in there for the fee each month.

Already used it once when I had a flat and bent my tyre iron trying to loosen my insanely tight nuts. Guy from the local garage was with me in about 45 minutes from calling.

 

[Ayjay]

OK, just to finish this off, I've decided to stick with VW Assist for another year at £190. Unfortunately, reviews from people who have had to use used them or, indeed, the competition on European trips are a bit scarce but I did see a couple of horror stories related to Green Flag. As usual with insurance of any kind, I just hope that I don't need it.
Thanks for the inputs anyway.

 

[T32Rich]

Our UK EU Breakdown cover is AA via Nationwide Account (£19pm joint account) for whichever car/van the driver/account holder is in. Used it a couple of years ago and had the car recovered back to the UK 6 weeks later Travel Insurance is also included in the Account cost, which covered the cost of Hire Car (which we took from France to Austria and then back to France), and Flight home after the holiday.