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European breakdown cover for your Retro …be careful.
As someone who likes motoring abroad and enjoys driving one’s varied jalopies on the continent I naturally deem it sensible to take out European Breakdown cover/extend present breakdown cover etc.
I am with the R.A.C. and have had to use them in the past when abroad and I can recommend (from my experience) that the organisation of assistance regardless of which country I was in has been EXCELLENT; to breakdown is bad enough but to breakdown in a foreign country is much worse so naturally these services are a god send! Thankfully when ever I have had a breakdown my vehicles have been repaired/got going again in the country they were in and thus have never had to have a vehicle repatriated/transported back to blighty.
And it is this ‘repatriation’ side of things that I feel I need to warn fellow ‘Retro-Riders’ about if/when they take there cars abroad: To quote a section from the policy booklet- “ ‘We’ (the breakdown company) will only repatriate the vehicle back to Great Britain providing the transport costs do not exceed the current market value of the vehicle.”
Now whilst this may be fine for your average family in a new Ford Mundano off to Brittany. It may cause problems if say for example you are off to a show in Germany in your ‘Rat looker’ old car and the mechanical failure is severe and vehicle needs repatriating back home to Britain; they may say “NO vehicle is not worth it”. Naturally as a longer standing member and as someone who has always booked European breakdown cover with them (R.A.C.) for many years I rang them up about this and explained what if vehicle was an ‘enthusiast vehicle’ (despite age/value etc.)? Thankfully they did explain that each case is judged one it’s own merits so in my case would not be a problem …… I hope !
Basically if you take out Euro cover have it out/explain about your vehicle etc. It may just be the thing that gets your vehicle home and not disposed of in a foreign scrap yard if the worst were to happen!
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I'm sure I read on another forum something like this happening to someone. 'twas only something like a Rover 220 3dr but they took him home and scrapped the car.
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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European breakdown cover is often offered with classic policies - do they still have the same clause I wonder as it's intended for older stuff?
Good advice that people should check.
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Good advice
Do they base the value of the car on your stated insurance value?
If not, there are quite a few of us with modified or restored cars that could end up sobbing into our croissants.
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^ Yes this was my point.
According to the kind person at the R.A.C European divison. "If vehicle is seen to be well cared for and someones pride and joy it will 'come home' ".
But would they understand if you had a 'hoodrides' type Beetle (matt black and rust look etc.)?
This is why I feel you should 'ave it out with 'em before you purchase the Euro Cover.
As a side note the RAC will cover cars and motocycles of ALL ages but premium cost increases with age of car, plus where you take car - At present age 'blocks' are 1/ up to 6 Year old 2/ 6 to 10 Year old 3/ 10 year old and over
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tigran
Club Retro Rides Member
In rust we trust. Amen.
Posts: 6,444
Club RR Member Number: 142
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Bloody hell that's a good bit of advise. Both of my retros are worth about 10p in the eyes of the 'man' - so will have to negotiate and get summat in writing before I curse word off to the ring.
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1964 Rover P5 i6 1987 BMW 525e - The Rusty Streak 1992 Micra K10 2001 BMW E46 316i 2002 BMW E46 330Ci 2013 BMW F31 320d 2018 BMW G31 530d
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Stu
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,913
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Bloody hell that's a good bit of advise. Both of my retros are worth about 10p in the eyes of the 'man' - so will have to negotiate and get summat in writing before I b*gg*r off to the ring. It's worth noting that the RAC, AA etc will not recover you from the 'Ring if you are actually on the track, no UK breakdown organisation will as far as I know. Obviously in the event of a mishap you could get the local tow firm to take you off the track and claim the car brokedown in the hotel car park or similar but it may not be easy, plus local 'Ring tow truck costs 175 euros! An easier way, and what I've just done as I'm going to the 'Ring again in a few weeks, is to take out cover with the German recovery firm ADAC as they cover the 'Ring no problem. If you take out 'super plus' cover for 78 euro it also covers you driving anywhere in Europe for a year and will bring your car back to the UK and all that business if required. Not sure on what they would deem the market value of a car is though so be careful with older ones as above Let me know if you want details of how to join ADAC as it's a bit tricky without a German bank account but can be done
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'89 BMW E30 325i Sport, '04 MINI Cooper S, '09 Volvo V70 D5
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^ Realised A.A., R.A.C. etc. did not cover for the 'ring but didn't realsie ADAC did! I thought you had to pay the 170something or other Euros end of. Very useful to know!
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tigran
Club Retro Rides Member
In rust we trust. Amen.
Posts: 6,444
Club RR Member Number: 142
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Sorry I mean generally in the vicinity of the ring. Not on it. Although technically they have no right to refuse to pick the car up - it being a public toll road and all.
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1964 Rover P5 i6 1987 BMW 525e - The Rusty Streak 1992 Micra K10 2001 BMW E46 316i 2002 BMW E46 330Ci 2013 BMW F31 320d 2018 BMW G31 530d
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Its always a good idea to book breakdown with your classic insurance company, they will have cover which suit old cars. When I took the 104 to France on Wednesday it was £25 for the day, but that included a extra £10 as its over 25yr old. The policy documents arrived from Boncaster although I am with Lancaster. The classic insurer will also be fully aware of the value/rarety etc of the car so no arguments if the worse happens.
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My friends had a total mare when they were trying to get European cover on their splitty with the AA, before going to France. They just seemed reluctant to cover it and made it as difficult as possible - questions like "What year was the vehicle converted to a camper" and demanding receipts to prove the conversion was done. As it was done back in the '60s there's no way that the receipts would still be around. They also wanted a full service history. On a 40 year old car. Pretty absurd. They've gone without cover in the end... I just hope they don't break down!
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When I drove to Germany a few years ago, I took out european breakdown with the RAC (as I have my normal breakdown cover with them), and as I was a member of one of their associated classic car clubs, they waived their normal surcharge for older cars Do they still do this?
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Stu
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,913
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When I drove to Germany a few years ago, I took out european breakdown with the RAC (as I have my normal breakdown cover with them), and as I was a member of one of their associated classic car clubs, they waived their normal surcharge for older cars Do they still do this? Yes, as far as I know. They did it for me with my Club GTI membership number for the last two years on the run going to the 'Ring. Using ADAC this year though as above.
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'89 BMW E30 325i Sport, '04 MINI Cooper S, '09 Volvo V70 D5
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When I drove to Germany a few years ago, I took out european breakdown with the RAC (as I have my normal breakdown cover with them), and as I was a member of one of their associated classic car clubs, they waived their normal surcharge for older cars Do they still do this? As far as I know they do for affilated clubs
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"Educatio est omnium efficacissima forma rebellionis"
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The person at the AA who was handling this enquiry needs their intestines removed very slowly with a rusty bayonet !!! !!! …this sort of attitude (and dimwitted) really winds me up! Their adverts for european cover shows a picture of a nice little happy family in a new Ford Mundano with 2.5 children etc. ... is that the ONLY sort of people they think goes motoring abroad??? Perhaps it should also show a lowered MK1 Golf painted in matt black with wide steelies ...or would that be toooooo controversial for the numpties that live in their little Ivory towers who 'run' the Euro breakdown cover Rant over **calms down after drinking bottle of vodka**
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I've been back and forth to Europe in my VW's a few times.
Each time, I've got separate purpose tailored breakdown cover and have only used it once when the dynamo burnt out. Admittedly, I was back in Blighty by then and only 30 mins from home after making it all the way from Belgium!
Another time, I managed to bodge a blown head gasket to get me back to the UK from Limoges!
I use Heritage Breakdown Cover.. 0121 2466060 - Its usually around £29 for 5 days full cover.
My own specialist classic car policy has European breakdown cover included in the policy, but there looks to be a few iffy clauses in there like I have to pay for stuff out of my own pocket, etc. Whereas the Heritage one covers everything and gives peace of mind.
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Dig it up, slam it and drive it.
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