Breakdown cover for car & trailer?

Ovey · 30 July 2014, 10:21

Having followed Jeff's misfortune abroad I've been thinking about the subject of car/trailer breakdown, as my one years free AA cover (through home insurance policy) is coming to an end.

Has anyone got any recommendations for a decent/inexpensive breakdown policy for car and trailer? I don't do huge journeys (as I live less than 10 miles from the Solent) but I might be inclined to go further afield in the UK on the odd occasion. I just need some reasonable cover should the car break down and require recovery of it and the trailer, or the trailer itself break down and require recovery.

I know most policies will have some clauses in (as Jeff found out) but I don't think you'll get around that unless you look to pay thousands.

Thanks all!

SteveHall · 30 July 2014, 11:21

Most cover the trailer if the car was to fail, and this is the problem and the issue when you call the customer service team to ask about cover, as they all say 'yes' trailers are covered.

Its when you get down to the nitty gritty trailer faults that cover gets interesting... Some will cover you for a flat tyre, if you have a spare and include this in your normal policy. When the trailer is damaged and unable to move that the problems start!

I had an issue with the RAC once, two different RAC members out together and the driver calls the RAC to say we have broken down due to bearing failure. They say we aren't covered and quoted hundreds for recovery, and once they knew a boat was on the trailer this went to thousands for specialist transport. I thought no problems as I am a memeber, I will call customer services and ask them about adding trailer cover - they told me I had the highest level of cover and trailers were included. I asked word for word "if my bearings fail on the trailer and I cant move the trailer am I covered" "Will you come and help me and get me, car, trailer and boat home".. they replied Yes. Perfect I hung up, rang the emergency brake down number and told them of my issues, I got told that it would be thousands to recover me.. Woah! Hang on! I just got told I had cover! This went all the way up through the line managers, they even replayed the call i made to customer services and had them telling me i was covered and they still wouldn't help me! All in we were there 5 hours or so on the side of the A55 and had to call in friends and favours.

Saying that the RAC do cover you, but you have to be a member of the Camping & Caravan club - I joined them for the year so I had future cover...

When my cover ran out with the RAC I have now joined Green Flag....

bartiny · 30 July 2014, 11:32

Worth a look.

MOTOR BREAKDOWN RECOVERY| ROADSIDE | RECOVERY | CHEAP |EUROPEAN

HTH

Budgie1 · 30 July 2014, 11:43

I'm with AA, phoned them couple times to clarify situation, think its a case of if you ask beforehand you are covered if you don't your not. Had problems with car when towing and they happily got the boat home. Recently had problems with trailer and they recovered just the boat, the recovery driver did say it is usual for them to agree to recover trailer hence think you have to contact and clarify first to get the service

Ovey · 30 July 2014, 12:02

Ah, that link only leads to the front page but I can't get anywhere else (at work so the security settings have probably blocked it). I'll have a look later, but thanks.

kerny · 30 July 2014, 16:22

I'm with the AA through my Lloyds bank account "platinum" which includes recovering my trailer if car brakes down but not sure if I'm covered if the trailer brakes down although when I have phoned to enquire about this they say that I am so it all rather ambiguous.

paddlers · 30 July 2014, 16:43

I've had two breakdowns while towing the boat trailer in the last five years. I'm with the AA Relay service.
First time collected a boat/trailer from Liverpool heading home & the wheel nuts all fell out as the bloke hadn't tightened them after fitting new tyres

The AA turned up after 20 minutes and arranged to have their flatbed wagon retrieve the trailer which was @20 ft. No questions brought it all the way . Had to wait about an hour.
Second time coming home last year from Kintyre fully loaded the Merc gearbox blew a seal at services on the M6. First bloke in his van probably 15minutes. They then said about an hour which stretched to about 4 until the contracter turned up with a lorry, loaded the Merc & hitched the boat trailer and brought us home. By way of apology for the delay a bunch of flowers and a telephone call giving me free membership for another year

To be honest I wouldn't go anywhere else for the peace of mind !!

Budgie1 · 30 July 2014, 17:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerny

I'm with the AA through my Lloyds bank account "platinum" which includes recovering my trailer if car brakes down but not sure if I'm covered if the trailer brakes down although when I have phoned to enquire about this they say that I am so it all rather ambiguous.

Very similar to my situation Kerny, all a bit ambiguous when I phoned but eventually agreed I was covered, when wheel came off the trailer was put to the test, it was rather painful they kept putting me on hold to check and called me back a couple times to ask which wheel had come off the car! But boat and trailer recovered within an hour.

I definitely feel its worth phoning to check before the event as I don't think they would have recovered if I hadn't

bartiny · 30 July 2014, 17:49

Try this link, worked for me anyway

2Gether Insurance | Other Products | Breakdown Cover

paddlers · 30 July 2014, 17:50

My two breakdowns cover the bases for me as first time it was the trailer that 'broke down' & second time the car towing broke !!

To be fair they never gave me any reason to doubt that I was covered !

pow2gran · 30 July 2014, 18:41

I took out a policy with breakdown direct.co.uk having done a bit of research. I did not think it was bad at 53.80. They cover trailers as stated in their policy documents.

paddlers · 30 July 2014, 18:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by pow2gran

I took out a policy with breakdown direct.co.uk having done a bit of research. I did not think it was bad at 53.80. They cover trailers as stated in their policy documents.

That's about half what I pay to cover mine & significant others cars !!!

Jeff · 30 July 2014, 19:32

With L,&V Britannia breakdown you are definitely covered if the trailer breaks down and will recover on a flatbed. The issue is where you breakdown a long way from home and as such the cost of the recovery there. The calculation is based on the trailer value and not the load/boat ,,,, so typically ,£1500 ? based on a book valuation. In common with car only and other policies you have to pay ferry costs regardless ( this happened with my Volvo some years ago and although I was recovered ok, I did have to pay the ferry costs of the recovery truck from Mull.
Breakdown somewhere like Italy and hope/expect to have your beloved rib repatriated and I think you will be disappointed
I would love to know of anyone who has or knows of any organisation that would do this. At the end of the day it's a risk evaluation on a long trek like I did ,,, and I do carry spare hubs, brakes and tools but there's a limit. I have chalked this down to experience and it was my first ever issue in towing all over the UK for 20 years including 8 trips to Greece so hey ho ,,, sh can happen Pikey

For UK towing the cost clause shouldn't impact ,,, Green flag, Britannia or others are specific and clear about disabled trailers ,,, on a positive note

cptsideways · 30 July 2014, 22:59

Without a doubt the best out there is ADAC it does involve ringing up Germany & paying by CC, but its full European cover for two persons, any vehicle up to 3.5ton + trailers, includes full recovery the lot. About £100 per year. In the UK the AA come out to you.

Here's the number to join, they all speak perfect English 004989222222

bartiny · 31 July 2014, 05:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by cptsideways

Without a doubt the best out there is ADAC it does involve ringing up Germany & paying by CC, but its full European cover for two persons, any vehicle up to 3.5ton + trailers, includes full recovery the lot. About £100 per year. In the UK the AA come out to you.

Here's the number to join, they all speak perfect English 004989222222

Sorry have to dissagree

2Gether Insurance | Other Products | Breakdown Cover

Ovey · 31 July 2014, 08:27

Thanks everyone - lots to think about and investigate then!!

jambo · 08 August 2014, 13:11

I've just checked with AA and they confirm that is covered and would be towed home under relay as long as it was towable

Sent from my iPhone using RIB Net

Chris Caton · 08 August 2014, 16:36

best I've found is by joining the caravan club you get access to their Mayday break down cover which is operated by Greenflag, covers car and / or trailer breakdown and depending on what level of cover you go for will cover trailer recovery by flatbed if needed, best bit is when you cancel your caravan club membership the mayday cover carries on, worth a look

Copinsay · 08 August 2014, 19:18

No quibbles from Green Flag when a bearing went on the RIB trailer last June - they put the boat + trailer on the flat bed recovery vehicle, and delviered it to the marina (3 hour journey) while we drove on ahead. Lauched the boat next day on wobbly bearing and got the trailer fixed by local garage while we were out playing in the sea :o)

Very glad I'd done my research on what was covered.

Nos4r2 · 09 August 2014, 06:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by jambo

I've just checked with AA and they confirm that is covered and would be towed home under relay as long as it was towable

Sent from my iPhone using RIB Net

In other words, your trailer will be brought back if the car breaks down, but you're screwed if the trailer goes wrong.