Guest Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 This is a really stupid question but please stick with me, going away to the Pyrenees in a couple of weeks however for the first time I will be taking the family and in my mind this changes things. Now let me set the scene: My Land Rover is a 03 Defender 110 TD5 with 90k on the clock it has been fully serviced for the whole of its life been very well looked after gets things replaced before required for the last 5 years it has had a full service by a very good local land rover specialist every 5k or 12 months included in this service is a full fluid change, I had a HD clutch fitted last year and at this service new pads and disks were fitted all around and the bearings changed at the same time, the Landy is fully prepared with protection and the bits that need it uprated. I am fairly mechanically astute and have a good understanding of electrical systems having driven Land Rovers for the last 22 years have a good understanding of the joys of Land Rover ownership for example I did a ground up restoration of my Series One. We will take the drive down from Calais to the south of France take the route over the Pyrenees taking in Andorra over to the east coast and back to the UK in around two weeks, this is a journey I have undertaken in this 110 twice and four times in total, and am no stranger to off road driving. I will be taking my usual tool kit and comprehensive spares kits, including fluid/filters/UJ's/Bearings/and other spares. I would not normally think about things like European breakdown recovery but as I am taking my wife and young children it has crossed my mind that should I consider it? With that in mind I looked around and for my 110 and trailer and the main contenders want around £100!!! So finally my questions are am I just being over cautious? Should I just leave it? The routes I intend to take will clearly not be covered by the breakdown services anyway so is it just a waste of money? Thinking about it I am more interested in the recovery element of my family and the Land Rover is there a better choice? or should I just leave it? Jason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
protoprincess Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 All our vehicles have European recovery - when purchased with the actual insurance the cost is tiny comparing to a not happy wife, tired kids on the side of the road. Unfortunately LR dont just break on green lanes, and by the sound of it you will be using some sort of a A and B roads. On small roads people will help you gladly, motorways thou will cost you a fortune in recovery. Having experienced a breakdown with a 2 year old - motto now is - if you have the recovery package, nothing will happend. I would suggest calling your existing insurer and try add the ER to your insurance policy - for a month. Have fun on your trip! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j90 mud Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 for me its a no brainer.if you bend it or cannot mend it in the middle of nowhere then you have a safe exit stratgey. the 3 main contenders aa rac and all the independants are all of similar price and service levels. they all use local independant garages often the same ones. over the years i have used them all, the best used to be the aa. dont forget they charge extra for trailers and cars over 6yrs old. it can be cheaper to buy a year policy if you are traveling abroad again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 Ask your insurer they may have a contract with AA/RAC or other recovery company to provide Euro breakdown cover & insurance while your over the water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBMUD Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 Since we are all in the EU, and like to beef about it most of the time, make the most of it and buy your breakdown cover in another EU member country. I use ADAC (The same company as The AA) in Germany and pay less for a whole years Europe wide cover in any vehicle up to 7.5 tonnes than a years UK only, car only AA cover. They even speak English if you ask nicely - which is good as I have not got a word of German! Just because we are British does not mean we have to bend over and be shafted for everything we buy. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orgasmic Farmer Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 As Chris says. Think outside the box. I am still a member of the German Auto Club Europa (if ADAC is the German AA then the ACE is the German RAC). I took cover with them when I lived in Germany and when I returned to the UK 11 years ago I asked if it was a problem not living in Germany. Not at all was their reply, many of their members don't live in Germany. I get my magazine sent here every month. I have full EU wide cover, including all countries around the Mediterranean ( North Africa, Turkey, Isreal etc), any car I am driving or a passenger in and any car that a member of my family is driving or a passenger in. All for the grand sum of under 60 Euros per annum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicksmelly Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 I'll second third ADAC. I have been a member for 2 years. I chose them as they will recover my self build motorhome anywhere in Europe, where as the AA, RAC etc will not. Cost about £80 / year for full cover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 Thanks Guys, Thought there would be an answer out there. previous visits have been covered by the cover on the insurance but checked and this year it has been removed!!! I will speak to the broker and find out what the cost will be although as they seem to charge £25 to answer the phone I don't hold out much hope!! The ADAC bit sounds a more useful route knew that all the years working in Germany and learning the language would have a practical implication one day Jason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheffield Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 I agree that ADAC and other EU organisations are cheaper than UK firms. I am a member of the French L'Automobile Club. Not as cheap as ADAC, but a lot cheaper than the AA etc.If you do use a UK firm shop around carefully, as there is a wide range of terms, conditions, restrictions and prices available. £100 seems a lot when you are sat at home, but seems a small sum when you are sat at the side of the road. Also I would suggest you carry a reasonably detailed map of the areas you are visiting. If you do need to call for help you will need to know where you are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giles Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 It costs (a compulsory) 141.5 euro for the tow if you break down on a motorway in France...just saying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Well following the advice on here I contacted my insurance broker and for £50 a years cover with trailer for European cover including repatriation of the Landy trailer and us if it could not be repaired, now here is where reading the small print comes in!!! They will only cover the trailer if it has a 50mm hitch!!! so back to square one!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Well following the advice on here I contacted my insurance broker and for £50 a years cover with trailer for European cover including repatriation of the Landy trailer and us if it could not be repaired, now here is where reading the small print comes in!!! They will only cover the trailer if it has a 50mm hitch!!! so back to square one!! I guess that's due to the fact that most recovery lorries aren't going to have a NATO hitch on the back . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Murphy Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 My Euro cover came quite cheaply with my insurance (about £30 IIRC) however I don't have to worry about a trailer at the moment. Will a 50mm hitch not bolt on to the sankey Jason ? Otherwise might be worth carrying one for recovery should the worst happen. Mo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 My Euro cover came quite cheaply with my insurance (about £30 IIRC) however I don't have to worry about a trailer at the moment. Will a 50mm hitch not bolt on to the sankey Jason ? Otherwise might be worth carrying one for recovery should the worst happen. Mo Cheers Mo, that's been my answer I have a hitch in the workshop and have made a top plate which will bolt through the pintle and makes it into a 50mm hitch!! clearly not type approved but will get me around the recovery clause and get me recovered if I need it. Jason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason2 Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 Hi jason How you doing? all ready for off ? My experience in over 20 years out here in France is that the Breakdown cover is useless (unless it can't be fixed and they will take you & vehicle home). As you know we have a holiday rental and nearly every year some bod breaks down (non Land Rovers )The last being a family in a Ford Galexy where the alternator went just before the end of their Holiday and it went like this. All Thursday morning on the phone, Breakdown truck turns up Thursday afternoon to pick vehicle up and take it to a Ford dealer over 40 miles away when there was one a lot nearer.Unlike in the UK the drivers refuse to look at the vehicle on the spot so it might have been just a loose wire. Our client went with the breakdown truck and got a Taxi back that evening. Friday morning Garage comfirmed that the alternator was duff but were unable to say when they could get a replacement or fit it as they were too busy (every ones on Holiday in France in August) As we had new clients arriveing Saturday the breakdown cover arranged for a Taxi to come and pick them up Saturday Morning and take them 40 miles to a Hotel at Poitiers that was still at least 40 miles from the garage. Cut a long story short our client had to go mental with the garage and they managed to get it fixed for the following Monday afternoon and charged him nearly £900 The breakdown cover was great paying for everthing but the repair, hotel,taxi etc... but let down by the garage, I could probably tell you another 10 tales like this that have happened to clients over the years. My advice is if you can fix it your self do Have a safe trip and see you Wednesday Jason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 Hi Jason, I got European cover through the insurance company, I got around the 50mm hitch by making an adaptor hitch, out of an old hitch I had that bolts onto the NATO hitch for an emergency tow, I have a truck load of spares and tools enough to do a full service and then some!! the main reason for the cover was the get me home bit, not in-case the Landy can be repaired but in-case it couldn't or was in an accident I would want to get it home. As you sort of say Europe is only 24h away by Fed-ex so spares can be shipped and we can camp most places!! We are all packed up fridges stocked and I finished the last thing on the trailer this evening so will see you on Wednesday around 18:00hrs. Jason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 Safe journey Jason, have a great trip . I expect plenty of photos to be posted when you return! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 Safe journey Jason, have a great trip . I expect plenty of photos to be posted when you return! Cheers Ross, Will take photos and Video so will be able to bore you stupid on my return!! Jason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 24, 2012 Share Posted July 24, 2012 Just an update to this, post nearly a year on... Previously we had AA breakdown/relay cover in the UK @ £98 and last year paid £30 extra for European breakdown cover, when I asked the question last year I did take the answer seriously but the AA cover had just renewed so paying for ADAC membership did not cost in. Put into the back of my mind when the AA wanted even more money from us this year for a service we have not used in the past 5 it was time to act. AA membership terminated, I put a call into ADAC, they couldn't have been more helpful, the process was really simple as I don't have a German bank account payment was made via Mastercard I went for the PartnerPlus package so Mrs S and I are now covered for the whole of Europe for the sum of 98 Euros. They were even honest enough to explain if we started the cover from the 1st August we would save a months membership as they charged from the 1st of the month. In short, easy to deal with and cheaper than UK only cover. Jason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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