As I have mentioned on here last week, In August we are traveling into Europe visiting Holland,Belgium France and Spain.Every year since 2011 I have been a member of ADAC the German breakdown service which is like our AA. But after last years little breakdown which I managed to get home with I am worrying about bigger things namely the engine going pop The car has over 168000 miles on it now and while it is well maintained as you know it can just let go at anytime. What I am worried about is the clause if its beyond economical repair (As Del,s was ) I want it home at all costs because i have already decided that I love my D3 and am not too bothered about a D4 because this has everything on it for my camping trips. So I will be putting a new engine in it if the worst happens. If they value my blown engine car at about 3 or 4000 would they still repatriate it for me ? Is there any cover out there that would guarantee it ? Finally lets just say I broke down at the furthest part of our trip (Spain) even though I am booked on the Bilbao ferry if i could not get there what would you estimate as the cost of repatriation ? I know it may not happen but I am a worrier and want to cover my bases if possibe The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
They just make the best of everything they have.
17th Jul 2018 3:30 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73123
You’ll have 2 hurdles to jump. 1st hurdle, they mostly have clauses limiting what they’ll pay out re repatriation up to the value of the car, apart from RAC top cover which is unlimited. 2nd hurdle, incl RAC, it has to be economical to repair, that’s the big out for them. Even if you’re prepared to pay the difference between what they think your car is worth and the repatriation costs, the 2nd hurdle is the big one.
When DB died in Sortland it was going to cost £9,000 to get her back on the drive, and they valued her at £5,200 so would have cost me £3,800 to get her back. But that was before the 2nd hurdle, it would depend on what they deemed the replacement costs would be for an engine.
Re costs, a total unknown. I think the £9k was £1k a day for a truck there and back. I’d had a price of £15k for repatriation from Kusaamo when I broke down earlier, had the car needed repatriated.
Another thing to think about is the number of claims in a policy, some are limited to one, some 3, some unlimited (RAC top cover), latter is best as a simple job like a wheel you can’t get off is a claim.
17th Jul 2018 3:46 pm
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26779
Just take normal cover to cover normal breakdown. If the worst happens (and it probably won’t) and they won’t bring it home for you, then consider hiring a trailer and finding someone to help you tow it home.
I’m sure some on here would oblige in return for beer.
17th Jul 2018 4:02 pm
MorganD379
Member Since: 29 Sep 2016
Location: SA62 3PP
Posts: 425
I'm also looking at this, to cover forthcoming trip to France.... Caught out last year with handbrake sicking on, at 12pm on a Sunday got it going, won't be getting caught out again!
All I can add to the above is that some have clauses stating you need to take out the policy ten day before you travel, many for home start - but be aware
Thanks chaps, I have just spoken to the Rac as I did this quote online
Comprehensive Plus
£199.79
Buy cover
Unlimited claims in UK & Europe
We'll pay up to £1,000 towards labour, for repairs completed within 7 hours
Hire Car up to £3,000 AND Accommodation up to £1,200 whilst your vehicle is repaired
Unlimited expense to get your vehicle home*
UK cover 7 days before departure and on the way home
Up to 9 people covered
They have informed me that the Unlimited expense to get your vehicle home is only up to the market value of the car even with comp plus. I gave the scenario as if the engine had gone and after consulting a manager said they would not bring it home because as Del said the cost of the new engine would outweigh the value of the car. I will stick with ADAC and take my chances. If the worst was to happen i would come back and collect it somehow.
Repatriation cost ? What do you think say from Northern Spain ? Couple of grand ?The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
They just make the best of everything they have.
17th Jul 2018 4:14 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73123
Whatever you think is reasonable, double or treble it. I was horrified with the numbers that were being thrown around, even just to move the car a couple of hundred miles from Kuusamo to Oulu. You’re a captive market, and they know it.
Yes, going out & picking it up is a good option but as I’d never towed, and would be towing for 5 days over some pretty steep and tortious roads, I decided that was not a goer. Plus the weather on the drive back was atrocious, no way I would have wanted to tow in that. Another alternative would have been to hire a flatbed but didn’t pursue that.
17th Jul 2018 4:25 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73123
And re RAC Comp Plus, note the wording difference. According to that they’ll spend more on Comp Plus to get your car back than it’s value, as long as it’s economical to repair. Up to the value of the car just applies to Comp level, econ repair both.
17th Jul 2018 4:35 pm
Skynet
Member Since: 23 Jul 2014
Location: Melksham, Wiltshire
Posts: 868
Check with Green flag tooDave
D3 2006 HSE, Cairns Blue - gone
D4 2016 SE, White
Mark its cheaper to hire a trailer and bring it back, then start your claim in the UK?..
Flack
17th Jul 2018 4:42 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73123
The big problem I had was a constant fight with AA was that they wanted me to spend serious money stripping the engine and diagnosing the issue, all at my costs and all at NW Norwegian rates. Before they would do anything they wanted to know what was wrong, that the engine had packed up wasn’t enough. I was lucky, the garage I was recovered to was booked up for a month and let me park the car in their yard til I came back to strip it and recover my gear, then it was off to the scrapper. Luckily I managed to persuade someone in AA technical side that the engine was toast and the only thing I could do was scrap her there, well Harstad near there.
Mark its cheaper to hire a trailer and bring it back, then start your claim in the UK?..
Flack
Ha ha I know Mick but i would have nowt to tow it with The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
They just make the best of everything they have.
17th Jul 2018 5:35 pm
geoffsnook
Member Since: 13 Jun 2014
Location: south wales
Posts: 3170
My brother in law had an issue with his 110 when he was down in cabo roig and he paid £650 to bring it home on a transporter which i thought was a good price i am sure depending on what happened i am sure you could get something sorted like if you have a winch on board then you could get it on and easier he was a member of the AA and he said it actually was cheaper to do it direct with the transport company in the area Discovery 3 se gone
Range rover sport supercharged here:)
Thanks Geoff that does not sound bad at all, I have decided to stick with ADAC and if anything happens I will take it from there. I don't think they would abandon me Thanks again The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
They just make the best of everything they have.
17th Jul 2018 6:07 pm
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26779
Mark, if worse does happen, hire or borrow a trailer and straps, give me a call and in return for fuel and expenses I’ll tow it home for you!
I’m a free agent from 1st Sept, so will have plenty of time! Would be a good road trip!!
17th Jul 2018 6:17 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73123
I’ll volunteer as co-driver.
Just make sure there’s room in either car for some Cava.
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The car has over 168000 miles on it now and while it is well maintained as you know it can just let go at anytime. What I am worried about is the clause if its beyond economical repair (As Del,s was ) I want it home at all costs because i have already decided that I love my D3 and am not too bothered about a D4 because this has everything on it for my camping trips. So I will be putting a new engine in it if the worst happens. If they value my blown engine car at about 3 or 4000 would they still repatriate it for me ? Is there any cover out there that would guarantee it ? Finally lets just say I broke down at the furthest part of our trip (Spain) even though I am booked on the Bilbao ferry if i could not get there what would you estimate as the cost of repatriation ? I know it may not happen but I am a worrier and want to cover my bases if possibe 
Thanks again 
