We have AA cover and last year on holiday in Dorset, we had to have them tow the car to a garage. Unfortunately it couldn't be fixed, so we had to make our own way home. The next week my Hubby went down and moved the car away from the garage and left it in a pub carpark. He called the AA who then towed it up to us. It took a couple of days because it wasn't urgent (Hubby had a lift home) and as snowy747 says I think they have boundary lines. So I think we had 3 different AA tow trucks bring it back for us in the end. Well worth the money.
It really is worth checking exactly what cover you have with any policy bought through a bank, insurance company, etc. as you're very unlikely to have the full monty. Even when you have got the cover, you can get easily fooled as I was some five years ago on 1st April when my car - parked under a light in supposedly secure parking area with two security guards - got broken into. Fortunately, it was parked right below (17 storeys below!) my friend's flat (we'd been on a course together that day and I was staying with her with my son so we heard the alarm, went on the balcony and shouted down - she called the pollis whilst son and I went tanking down - the little s*d ran off - fortunately dropping what he'd nicked in the process and I found my windscreen and rear nearside passenger door window smashed. Cops arrived and we soon found ourselves pelted with bricks and other stuff from the high rise so cop grabbed keys off me and we all piled in anyhow to shift the car and us out of danger! Very, very scary!
Because it was broken glass, I rang the insurers RAC Direct at that time, gave them the RAC member no. By that time it was about 10.30 on a Sat night and long waiting times so they said they'd get someone to take me to a glass repairer who might be able to do something in 4 hours. When the guy came to take me and son there, he refused as he was not prepared to leave me and son in a car we couldn't take refuge in in that area. We ended up dumped in front of a glass place on an industrial estate at 3am to wait till it opened at 7am, but at least it was a bit safer and the guy stopped off at a service station 5 mins up the road to let us visit the loo and get coffee and sandwiches - he also told the guy on duty at the station and every so often he popped out to where he could see us which was very sweet of him.
I think the coffee and food knocked some sense into me and, having charged mobile up again, rang the RAC breakdown no. (I'm a full member.) They didn't understand why I'd not called them in first place and then it came out: I'd done what everyone would normally do with a glass issue and RAC Direct (Aviva) hadn't noted that I already had full cover and refused me recovery. One hour later, we were being recovered (after a quick call to the filling station to say thanks). They sorted everything out, including phoning home to my elderly parents, changing the ferry booking and recovery on the island - thankfully I could drive my vehicle on/off ferry or would have had to pay enormous return trip bill.
It's worth noting that towing to home or garage or where you're staying is limited to 10 miles unless you have recovery - check your t&c! But I wouldn't take out breakdown cover with an insurance company or bank ever again in case I found myself in a similar situation!
new to the forum but im finding it most usefull. dont know if this helps but a lot of banks offer free car recovery with accounts. also libbtyloo i see that you have just aquired a canyon 8. ive seen other sprayway tents and im thinking of buying the 6birth version. how do you find the material of the outer? also im finding it difficult to find a stockist any ideas?
I used to be with direct line and initially got a very good deal with them, but my car was old and the premium went up every year because I used them, this doesn't happen with the AA and the RAC Their premiums stay the same.
MyRAC premium went up this year, i went on web site and knoecked off alot of money so rang them up and they matched the price!
We have the joint policy coveres everything apart from "at home" £36 x 4 monthly payments £144 well worth it touch wood!!! Got onward travel and got hotel stay etc
friends broke down on 7 bridge and cost them loads tobe towed to brean, got friend to come home with them who had cover and they towed home.
new to the forum but im finding it most usefull. dont know if this helps but a lot of banks offer free car recovery with accounts. also libbtyloo i see that you have just aquired a canyon 8. ive seen other sprayway tents and im thinking of buying the 6birth version. how do you find the material of the outer? also im finding it difficult to find a stockist any ideas?
hi we once arrived on the star camp site near alton towers, went to check in came to move car to our pitch and would go into any gear. rang breakdown company who we were with, came out couldnt fix it there and then, so we then stayed for our holiday and had to ring them the day before we were due to leave and they came to take us back home on our departure day and we live in cumbria so a little bit away lol.
I have a Motability car, which has recovery as part of the deal, but not of the attached caravan or trailer which will only be towed to the nearest garage.
So, after looking at a number of companies I decided on Green Flag through the Caravan Club (saved a few pounds). Their basic will recover the car and trailer, then there's one that will tow you to your holiday site and pick you up again at the end of the holiday which seemed a very good idea to me. I also bought the bit that will provide a driver if the original driver is incapacitated. I may not need to ever use it but it's there if I do. Gives me peace of mind.
We have AA and they have been really good. Four years ago we broke down in the mountains, in the wild somewhere in France on our way to see a mountain stage of the Tour De France. I say some where because it was about an hour since the last town and the only location we could give the operator was " if you look at the map there is a really squiggly bit going up and we're pulled into the side of the road around there and our mobile has only got about two minutes of charge left". They were really efficient. Rang back and said Monsieur Prat's truck would be with us in about an hour and twenty minutes, we could charge the phone at his garage and sort out the details then as the mobile was dying.
He came, on time, once we were there, we rang AA explained we were wild camping following the Tour. Our car needed 4 days of repair while they got the part and by the time this was all sorted it was getting on towards 5pm so the AA put us up in an hotel for that night while they sorted a replacement car. It wasn't big enough to take all our stuff so Monsieur Prat let us leave the big tent and some of our suitcases at his place. We went off for four days following the tour in the courtesy car and came back to a fixed car and a continued journey. I think we just extend to the euro cover when we go away in europe but they've always been very good if we breakdown here too.
We have Green flag for both our cars,i made sure we have the top cover.
We do have the free one with the bank but as i am not on my partners bank account they would not cover me on breakdown....which we were not informed of until it came to need it which luckily was outside our home.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Car breakdown whilst camping
