15 replies to this topic

[skinnyminny]

Looking at taking Percy to France with me this summer so will be needing breakdown cover just in case (not sure Dad would drive 500k to rescue me!!)

Currently have AA breakdown cover in the UK but because I am currently in France the computer system won't let me access a quote - keeps telling me I have to phone as I'm already abroad.

Does anyone know how much on top of my current premium I'd pay for 2 and a half months of European driving?

Or can anyone recommend a stand alone policy? Co-op won't as the car is over 17 years old.

1980 Mini 1000, 998cc with a stage one kit.

Thanks!

[Tamworthbay]

I paid £78 for a full year a couple of years back with RAC, covered me for any car.

[MiniJosh92]

ADAC.

[Shep76S]

Check the age limits.

[sonikk4]

500K that is a trip to the moon and back??

[AVV IT]

I seem to remember that it was about £30 to add European breakdown cover to my AA policy, for the trip I did a couple of years back. That would have included recovery/relay cover as well though, it may well be less for just roadside assistance cover.

[Bungle]

just check what the cover actually covers

you do hear horror stories of cars being left as the break down company deem the recovery costs more that the car is worth

[Tamworthbay]

Check the age limits.

RAC was stepped, there was an extra cost for cars over ten years old, but they didn't seem to car if it was 11 years old or 111. It included recovery to the UK which is VERY important.,otherwise they can dump it at some local clueless idiot who can charge what they want and take forever and then you have to go and collect.

[mini*mad]

500k!? s*** wheres he coming from?
the moon?

Edited by mini*mad, 10 March 2013 - 01:40 PM.

[Tamworthbay]

500k!? s*** wheres he coming from?
the moon?

500 kilometres is approx 300 miles, not far really.

[The Matt]

ADAC, it'll cover you whilst in the UK too, I've taken out ADAC cover that covers me and the GF for 80 Euros per year, just gotta phone a German guy and pay with a credit card and you're covered straight away.

[zuluaga63]

ADAC, it'll cover you whilst in the UK too, I've taken out ADAC cover that covers me and the GF for 80 Euros per year, just gotta phone a German guy and pay with a credit card and you're covered straight away.

im currently looking for european breakdown cover and i looked on the website of adac and its all in german lol how do i get a hold of them or their number i cant find it on their web! and do they speak english over the phone ? because i dont know any german .

[MiniJosh92]

ADAC, it'll cover you whilst in the UK too, I've taken out ADAC cover that covers me and the GF for 80 Euros per year, just gotta phone a German guy and pay with a credit card and you're covered straight away.

im currently looking for european breakdown cover and i looked on the website of adac and its all in german lol how do i get a hold of them or their number i cant find it on their web! and do they speak english over the phone ? because i dont know any german .

I think this is the number - 0049 89 222222 Just ask them if they speak English & if the person you're speaking to doesn't they will pass you onto someone who speaks perfect English

[zuluaga63]

thank you !!

minijosh

[Dan]

Some important considerations:

ADAC seem great as they are a European equivalent to the AA but in my experience they are far from good for a British driver. They have strict limits on the distance of recovery, they will not go further than 500km. After one of our Nürburgring trips once Stig was left abandoned by them and had to make his own way back with a very broken car. They didn't even want to take him as far as Dover but he talked them into that and from there it took him 3 days to get home to the Midlands on a succession of AA flat beds. ADAC will normally drop you and your car at Calais and have no more to do with you, they won't even put you on the boat. They will take you to a local garage for repair wherever you are if possible but they won't go out of their way to find you an English speaking one or offer help with language. This is because when you get a policy through them it is a local policy, not an overseas policy, so they don't expect anyone to need language support. We had a policy with them the first time we went to Europe and also had the problem of all the documents being in German, even though I speak some German the legal syntax and language of a contract is difficult to deal with.

If you take a UK based policy, whether with AA or RAC or another, make sure before you leave that they know you have a classic car and get that from them in writing. If you have agreed value insurance, send them a copy of the valuation. They have limits on the cost of recovery and will not spend more than the book price of the car, which for our Minis that are all now very old is only a few hundred quid. If you have an agreed value for the car with them before you leave then they will go a lot further for you. You cannot argue the case for the value of the car once you have already broken down, it's like trying to pay for an upgraded service when you have broken down. They just won't allow it. As said above they don't seem to care about the age of the car, not until you call them and ask for help!