Seeking Break Down + Recovery for old banger

[harry the cat]

Have a look at Rescuemycar.com. Covers all cars and bikes you own, provides European cover. No age limit on vehicles in the UK but I think 16 years if you use the vehicle in Europe. Not too minty in comparison with others. We’ve used them for years.

Only issue I’ve found is they use European agents like ADAC in certain countries and I’ve found there can be recovery delays depending where you break down of a few hours.

 

[Berin]

My GSA is 21 years old
Got recovered in France last BH Monday
Put up in hotel for a night and fixed by me the next day, when the Motorrad dealer in Amiens re-opened on the Tuesday
Bike recovered the day before and taxi’s here & there
Couldn’t fault the Europ Assist via Opteven
It was simply stunning

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I’ve highlighted the cover provider.

Richard

Searching Europ assist leads here:

Corporate Website

Redion, formerly Europ Assistance, is a global leader in assistance and travel insurance, helping people worldwide in travel, health, home and mobility.

www.redion.com

 

[Berin]

Searching Europ assist leads here:

Corporate Website

Redion, formerly Europ Assistance, is a global leader in assistance and travel insurance, helping people worldwide in travel, health, home and mobility.

www.redion.com

Opteven, it seems, is extended warranty cover, so maybe the Europ Assist isn’t available as a standalone policy

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I'm with the RAC because my bike is 20 years old.
I have basic cover only and pay a call out if I do need them..

Really ?
Get breakdown cover for any age vehicle with a bank account from nationwide- Flexplus
Travel cover you too

 

[Joca]

I am restructuring my savings and will probably open an account with them later in the year.
That will be a bonus

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Opteven, it seems, is extended warranty cover, so maybe the Europ Assist isn’t available as a standalone policy

My bike insurance is with Lynbrook & ERS and they include breakdown cover in uk and Europe
Not sure who the underwriters are for breakdown

However I rang from France and it went straight through to Opteven/Europ Assist helpdesk

Very fast service - even in a French BH Monday

Tow truck & mechanic to the Boulangerie cafe where we were having coffee and breakfast, within 35-40 mins

Bike uplifted onto tow truck by ourselves and driver immediately

Off to their garage to attempt a fix - but they didn’t have the correct part (it was a car garage/tyre centre and breakdown fleet)

Bike garaged there, due to no parts on a BH Monday

Recovery agent phoned them to advise predicament and their agent booked me into a hotel and arranged a taxi immediately, no quibble or hassle

Taxi turns up in 20 mins and I am whisked away from tyre centre to hotel with outdoor pool

From initial call…. to being in a hotel room was about 2.5-3 hours tops…Can’t fault that

Found a BMW Motorrad dealer 1km from my hotel

Phoned them on the Tuesday morning to obtain the bmw parts and took a Uber to collect and bring me back to hotel

Breakdown assistance brought a taxi to hotel to take me and luggage to the bike, across town

Fixed bike myself and back on the road again within 24 hours total downtime and onwards to Vosges via peage to Nancy, from Normandy to meet up with my touring companion again

Bike fine for rest of trip

Couldn’t fault the breakdown cover

 

[wessie]

However I rang from France and it went straight through to Opteven/Europ Assist helpdesk

regardless of the retailer of your breakdown insurance, you will likely get through to one of three call centres if you breakdown outside of the UK:
ARC (set up by the AA, ADAC and some other national breakdown services) - the biggest one
Opteven/Europ Assist
Mondial (now part of Allianz who own LV Britannia)

 

[Berin]

My bike insurance is with Lynbrook & ERS and they include breakdown cover in uk and Europe
Not sure who the underwriters are for breakdown

However I rang from France and it went straight through to Opteven/Europ Assist helpdesk

Very fast service - even in a French BH Monday

Tow truck & mechanic to the Boulangerie cafe where we were having coffee and breakfast, within 35-40 mins

Bike uplifted onto tow truck by ourselves and driver immediately

Off to their garage to attempt a fix - but they didn’t have the correct part (it was a car garage/tyre centre and breakdown fleet)

Bike garaged there, due to no parts on a BH Monday

Recovery agent phoned them to advise predicament and their agent booked me into a hotel and arranged a taxi immediately, no quibble or hassle

Taxi turns up in 20 mins and I am whisked away from tyre centre to hotel with outdoor pool

From initial call…. to being in a hotel room was about 2.5-3 hours tops…Can’t fault that

Found a BMW Motorrad dealer 1km from my hotel

Phoned them on the Tuesday morning to obtain the bmw parts and took a Uber to collect and bring me back to hotel

Breakdown assistance brought a taxi to hotel to take me and luggage to the bike, across town

Fixed bike myself and back on the road again within 24 hours total downtime and onwards to Vosges via peage to Nancy, from Normandy to meet up with my touring companion again

Bike fine for rest of trip

Couldn’t fault the breakdown cover

I’ll try them next time around. I used Howden last time for my Basic, they also include breakdown which I think is Europ Assist

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

regardless of the retailer of your breakdown insurance, you will likely get through to one of three call centres if you breakdown outside of the UK:
ARC (set up by the AA, ADAC and some other national breakdown services) - the biggest one
Opteven/Europ Assist
Mondial (now part of Allianz who own LV Britannia)

That’s good to hear
Very efficient

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I’ll try them next time around. I used Howden last time for my Basic, they also include breakdown which I think is Europ Assist

Lynbrook cover modern bikes, if you have a classic bike too like yours

 

[abrasion]

Might I also suggest Auto aid, for UK breakdown cover.
My bike is 18 years old and cover no problem.

The AutoAid Breakdown Service is a motor vehicle breakdown and recovery plan designed to get you and your vehicle on the move again after a breakdown.The AutoAid Breakdown Service covers you and, where we have agreed to include them, your spouse, civil partner or common law partner, no matter which vehicle you or they are driving providing the driver is legally entitled to drive the vehicle, and the vehicle meets our eligibility criteria.

Home - AutoAid Breakdown

AutoAid Breakdown provide UK Car Breakdown and Recovery services, from just £66.14 per year and we have add-ons like Legal Partner Cover too!

www.autoaidbreakdown.co.uk

I was with auto aid. Was very pleased with them till the last time i needed them. Took them 6 hours to recover me about 2 miles from home. It was on the hottest day of the year. My wife walked home and drove back with some drinks for me.
As usual the story control kept telling me didnt exactly align with the the recovery that finally turned up.