Insurance and breakdown cover for the trip

[Duncan]

Just in case people hadn't thought of it, or weren't aware that they may not be fully covered (insurance especially).

With my insurer (Direct Line) I'm covered comprehensively, but abroad it's only the minimum third party (I don't think that's Fire and Theft either). They'll issue a Green Card for you on that basic cover. To be covered comprehensively abroad they'll charge a small fee of £20 - well worth it IMO. Some companies will give you automatic European cover as part of the policy. Eagle Star did when I was with them, so worth checking to see if you have it already.

For breakdown cover, I realised I had European cover under the Network Q extended warranty I took out in June last year. I already also have Direct Line UK breakdown cover that I had taken out previously. I looked at the Network Q cover for European travel (which is AA) and it's not bad at all. It's got a slightly lower amount on what they'll pay for roadside repairs than what Direct Line would be, but the other cover is pretty good - getting you (and vehicle) back to the UK if it can't be repaired within 8 hours, overnight stay and even pay for you to go back at a later date to collect the car if you've decided to have it repaired abroad. Not sure why you would though. I'd have the car relayed back home and repaired there - but the option is there.

So if you have a Network Q cover, you're covered automatically for European breakdown with a reasonably good cover. Direct Line would have extended my European Cover for another £30 - but I'm not sure if it's worth it, not for this short trip anyway. If I was going on a family holiday then I'd take out the Direct Line cover as it covers you for other stuff, like if your car breaks down on the way to ferry and you miss your crossing they will pay for any additional expenses for re-booking the crossing.

Anyway, just wanted to post that info (specifically the insurance one) in case anyone wasn't aware.

D

[AndrewTi]

The RAC do a good deal too. Worth having a little shop around.

[Duncan]

Yep, I'd heard they do the cover for around £30 as well?

[yorkshireborn]

watch em all scatter to find there policys.

may i also add check for health insurance just incase the worse happens.

a work mate of mine had a not too a nasty crash in france, the car was a mess and he had a stay in hospital he thought he was covered by the car insurance.
but turned out he wasnt. he had a £1,600 bill for treatment

[Duncan]

lol

Good point with the travel insurance - always worth having it. At the very, very least an E111/European Health Insurance Card. Boots do very good policies for different lengths of trips. Remembered the other day that I had a free policy with DL that came with our household cover.

D

[Harry]

checked my insurance and all is fine.

didn't realise that Network Q would cover breakdown abroad. D - how do i know if my car is even covered by Network Q? (that may be a REALLY dumb question) It's still within warranty so does that mean its Network Q??

[vectra 2.0 t]

there is also a company in germany called ADAC that a lot of the ring users go with..

for 80 euro's you get full cover plus if you ever go to the ring they will fetch you off free off charge if you have a mishap

check out ben lovejoys web site for the details

http://www.nurburgring.org.uk/adac.html

[Duncan]

didn't realise that Network Q would cover breakdown abroad. D - how do i know if my car is even covered by Network Q? (that may be a REALLY dumb question) It's still within warranty so does that mean its Network Q??

No, you can still be under warranty and not Net Q. Net Q is usually only for the first year after buying a used car. You could still have Net Q if you'd paid a small fee to extend that up until the Vx warranty runs out - which you'd probably have remembered doing.

D

[Gsi3.2]

C's done all our cover and just paid £20 to get european recovery on her RAC

[Harry]

well i guess i'll be taking the AA route and shelling out the thirty odd quid they were asking.