For a single trip (holiday) for 14 days.

Just got the following on-line quotes:-

1. AA £91

2. Direct line £53

3. Green flag £36

4 Axa £32

Over the last three years had always gone with the AA, as i've got their standard UK breakdown package. Their original quote in 2007 was £40, which rose to mid £50s last year and has shot-up to £91 this year - their literature states they add an additional premium for vehicles over 6 years old and my fab is now 7 years old. Direct Line are happy up to 8 years, Green Flag 9 and Axa 11.

There is also a substantial difference between the AA's range and scale of benefits that are provided and the others i.e. more generous, but looking at it, some of the AA's provision seems over the top e.g £1,800 per party for alternative travel arrangements - that's 36 days of car hire. most of the others provide 10 days, whereas the AA's £1,080 for emergency accomodation at a max of £60 per person per day seems about right in terms of the daily rate for a 2 star european hotel and correct as to the number of days provided - others offer only a maximum of £30 a day and £400-£500.

I'm not too keen on the Direct line policy as seems to include provision which overlaps in a big way with usual travel insurance which I take out and some of the other policies also overlap in respect personal liability provision. I don't want to pay for stuff twice or, in the event of a mishap, create a legal conflict of responsibility between insurers.

Any ideas on a way foward e.g. a policy which unifies all these risks ?

Also, has anybody had experience of using Green flag, axa or any ithers in this contect etc and if so, what are they like?

I'm loath to pay out a substantial amount as most of my journey will be on french expressways and i understand that the breakdown cover won't apply if things go wrong here as the French police operate the roadside emergency phones and allocate the work to tow jockeys who are not part of the Uk based roadside assistance schemes. Routiers ?

Postscript

Just found the universal policy . . . with Europ assistance (French) @ 117 euro for 14 days . . . suspect its for French nationals only ?

Nick

Edited 24 August, 201015 yr by Clunkclick

I have absolutely no experience of my breakdown cover provider (as my M5 took us to Brittany and back without any problems), but I took out an annual policy from Quoteline Direct: http://www.quotelinedirect.co.uk/breakdown/ for £59/year. It covers Home/UK/Europe and is executed by Brittania Rescue (was Europ Assistance 1 month ago, I wonder if they've been taken over). Maybe worth a look in?

Thanks.

i'll take a look at Brtiannia.

The Fab has recently started to consume engine oil at a high rate (0.5 litre for 300 miles when I topped up with semi-synth Magnatec 10w-40 per handbook). Consequently, i won't feel happy unless I've got some decent cover.

The Main dealers swear that compression is OK (I note that a 3 bar difference between cylinders on a recommnded compression pressure of 7 bar is within manufacturers limits !!! ) and there is no rough running, visible leaks, smoky exhaust or lights coming on in the binnacle (it can't all be down to a blocked crankcase breather - there must be some valve/ring wear).

So this year I've cut the planned mileage to 250 miles each way !!

Postscript

at the current exchange rate 117 Euros is near enough £91. Wonder if AA contract-out to Europ assistance, cut back on the benefits and pocket the difference ?

Postscript 2

In the AA Euro breakdown cover Ts & Cs I found this under item 9 of the list of exclusions from liability to the Roadside Assistance and Emergency repair service section:-

". Any costs incurred where the vehicle is overloaded, used in rallying, off-road driving or in the Nürburgring or used in motor sports."

None of the others are that specific

Nick

Edited 25 August, 201015 yr by Clunkclick

i got full uk/ european cover with everything for £59.95 for the year through my insurance. never used it though, and cant remember even who the cover is with but i'm insured with CIS

Every year I get full cover, including home start, tow to garage or home, hire car, accomodation, etc., etc., and 30 days full Euro breakdown cover for about £60.

This year I've gone green:

http://www.greeninsurancecompany.co.uk/reco_breakdown/

I've never had to use them, touch wood, so can't comment on service but it's peace of mind when I'm on holiday, and alot cheaper than the single trip method once you've added in your standard UK breakdown cover

Edited 25 August, 201015 yr by Jigger72

Brittania are good, used them for years.

Apparently the German ADAC are worth a look too.

Edited 25 August, 201015 yr by cheezemonkhai