[europa]

Can anyone please help with advice to the following.I want to purchase breakdown cover .If I break down and am recovered the limit for the companies I have tried to recover the caravan is 7 metres.As my conqueror is 7.95 shipping length I cannot get cover that is appropriate.Any ideas please
Thanks
Geo <_<

[chapmag]

Caravan Club Mayday (Green Flag) for the UK... mine cost about £90 last year.

Caravan Club Red Pennant for abroad... a bit more expensive!

Both give excellent service.

G.

[iansoady]

First of all contact the companies and check whether it is the shipping length or body length - I used to be with Quoteline Direct (excellent prices and good service BTW)* who make the same stipulation. However, I got it in writing from them that this did not include the drawbar hence any caravan legal to tow behind a normal car in the UK would qualify. I suspect the 7 metre length limit originated with that legislation but as body length is now rarely quoted people are taking it as overall or shipping length.

*Only changed as they have a 21-day per trip maximum for continental Europe

[fleetgold]

The other thing to check is whether they cover a problem on the caravan. I asked my rescue service and they said they would not come out to a problem on the caravan - if I had a breakdown on the car they would recover both car and caravan, if I had a tyre go on the caravan they would not come out. I am going to have to take out coverage with Mayday to cover the caravan.

[iansoady]

Again, I made sure I had that in writing from Quoteline Direct. I know everyone sings the praises of Mayday but they are expensive and I'd rather decide whether or not I want the bells and whistles if I do break down. The one occasion I did need to use Quoteline Direct (which as it happens was without the van in tow) they were absolutely fine.

[Bill Lord]

iansoady, on 02 February 2010 - 11:49 AM, said:

Again, I made sure I had that in writing from Quoteline Direct. I know everyone sings the praises of Mayday but they are expensive and I'd rather decide whether or not I want the bells and whistles if I do break down. The one occasion I did need to use Quoteline Direct (which as it happens was without the van in tow) they were absolutely fine.

Expensive? In comparison with all the major recovery contracts mayday is very competitive. For one car the premium cover is £89, Roadside repair and recovery is £62 ( and if you want to add homecare it is another £23 ), for raodside assistance it is £34. To add an extra car costs an extra £21.50 but if you simply want cover on an unlimited number of cars as long as you or your partner are in the vehicle this costs £28. What is more the sevice is superb and there are no length or weight restrictions and the caravan is covered as well as the car. Plus if you are towing the van they will take you to your destination and the car onto a garage and if necessary pick you up at the end of your saty and take you and the car home. If you are ill when away and can not drive they will arrange for a chaufeur to drive you and your caravan should that be what you wish.

[iansoady]

Bill Lord, on 02 February 2010 - 12:25 PM, said:

Expensive? In comparison with all the major recovery contracts mayday is very competitive. For one car the premium cover is £89

Well, Quoteline Direct is £59 and that includes European cover as well - including on vehicles up to 20 years old. Red Pennant becomes horrendous when you look at the prices for overseas cover - especially if, like us, you tend to make a few short trips in a year. Just get a quote for a 15 year old vehicle for annual cover.....

Quote

there are no length or weight restrictions and the caravan is covered as well as the car.

Quoteline Direct have caravan body length up to 7 metres which covers any UK legal van (for a normal car at least). The only weight restiction is <=3.5 tonnes which again covers all normal road vehicles.

Quote

What is more the sevice is superb and Plus if you are towing the van they will take you to your destination and the car onto a garage and if necessary pick you up at the end of your saty and take you and the car home.

This is what I mean by "bells and whistles". Given the amount I've saved over the years I could easily sort this out myself. I'll put up with a bit of inconvenience.

I'm not saying you're wrong in your choice, merely that I like to consider all the benefits and disadvantages to me in my circumstances. As I said, I was very happy with the service on the sole occasion I needed the service. You may want or need something different.

[shipbroker]

Said this before but never ever faulted many calls Green Flag/ Mayday and have had reason to claim via Red Pennant more than once too......superb service and value for money....

However, I used to go abroad without my van and used http://www.internationalbreakdown.com for cover....I also used them with van in Southern Ireland.....cheap and I believe effective although I never had reason to claim...


rgds
geoff

[europa]

shipbroker, on 02 February 2010 - 02:14 PM, said:

Said this before but never ever faulted many calls Green Flag/ Mayday and have had reason to claim via Red Pennant more than once too......superb service and value for money....

However, I used to go abroad without my van and used http://www.internationalbreakdown.com for cover....I also used them with van in Southern Ireland.....cheap and I believe effective although I never had reason to claim...


rgds
geoff

Thanks for all the advice.Will browse around and make a choice,single trip on Red pennant seems to be a good option as I'm not planning an awful lot of time in Europe,could be called a splsh and dash,but still want to be covered.

Thanks..
Geo :D

This post has been edited by europa: 04 February 2010 - 11:22 AM

[CommanderDave]

Expensive ? If you end up on a hard shoulder of a motorway with a problem on the caravan and call out a recovery firm then your find out what expensive is .


Dave