Which foreign breakdown cover to use !

[newbuild100]

As above really. Im travelling to France on the GS july next year and making early plans

To that end, what breakdown/recovery cover do you guys use ?

(ive rung the AA several times but they dont seem to want to return phone calls !!)

Thanks

 

[Wapping]

Why ring them? You can get an AA quote on-line in about ten seconds, even for next July. I have just tried.

As to what's best, they are all much of a muchness. Some bods get theirs lobbed in for free with the vehicle insurance. But if you don't or can't that is not much help.

Do a search through the pages of UKGSer Travel, it's a question that gets asked quite often, always with near enough the same answers:

AA, RAC, Green Flag, thro' my insurer, MAG, ADAC or, last of all, "I have a brand new BMW, it came with two years' cover for free".... then a bod will say one is great, then another that they are crap.....

Then pump....oh here you go..... http://www.google.co.uk/search?clie...8&oe=UTF-8&redir_esc=&ei=N67KTobAC9PA8QPilIVu and do a bit of a surf. You'll find something before next summer, for sure.

 

[Wicker]

Last few years I have only ever relied upon the Carole Nash European breakdown cover which is provided as part of the bike insurance policy. Used it once when I broke down in Europe (Holland); bike safely recovered to a BMW dealer.

As ever the recovery work was sub-contracted out to a local agent. Some slight confusion as he thought he had been sent to recover BMW car, his vehicle could not manage bikes, and I then had to wait some more for them to send another flatbed truck. The people who turned up did speak English. A bit of phaffing around but no worse than you could expect in this country in similar circumstances.

Used to take out an AA policy some years ago (had a hire car off them FOC for 1 week) in France whilst the bike was waiting for a new rear shock to arrive from Germany. An anoymous man with van, who could not speak English, turned up at my hotel, took bike away and I was left to phone AA again to get a hire car sorted.

However, having used both services, don't feel that paying for the AA euro brekdown provided anything extra to justify the cost.

 

[Wapping]

Some bods get theirs lobbed in for free with the vehicle insurance. But if you don't or can't that is not much help.

I'm clairvoyant

Last few years I have only ever relied upon the Carole Nash European breakdown cover which is provided as part of the bike insurance policy.

 

[wessie]

I'm clairvoyant

It's an important consideration, especially if newbuild100 has an insurance renewal before the holiday - taking out an all inclusive package via Carole Nash may be the most cost effective solution.

 

[Wapping]

It's an important consideration, especially if newbuild100 has an insurance renewal before the holiday - taking out an all inclusive package via Carole Nash may be the most cost effective solution.

Indeed, hence my:

Some bods get theirs lobbed in for free with the vehicle insurance. But if you don't or can't that is not much help.

I had assumed that might be enough to spark the bod into thinking, "Hey, I wonder if I could do that?" and go off and try it.....

If not.....

HEY newbuild100 - SEE IF YOU CAN GET IT FOR FREE AS A PART OF YOUR ANNUAL VEHICLE INSURANCE, IF YOUR RENEWAL IS BEFORE YOU GO AWAY NEXT JULY, ASSUMING OF COURSE THE QUOTE FOR YOUR MOTORBIKE IS COMPETITIVE



That should do it

 

[newbuild100]

Cheers for advice people.

I appreciate it.

Thank you.

 

[Deleted account AWRT]

Vehicle Rescue Direct

 

[chesuk]

As above really. Im travelling to France on the GS july next year and making early plans

To that end, what breakdown/recovery cover do you guys use ?

(ive rung the AA several times but they dont seem to want to return phone calls !!)

Thanks

Riding a BMW in Europe I wouldn't bother getting special breakdown cover unless it's dirt cheap because

* there are plenty of dealers
* if you're an AA member they have reciprocal agreements with most European driving organizations
* if your bike is new enough it's covered by the BMW recovery
* a breakdown of a well maintained bike is relatively unlikely and even if it happens, it will likely cost roughly the same to fix as here in the UK - in well over 100,000 miles of riding GS's I've never had a failure that stopped me getting to the next dealer. The biggest problems I've had on the road were a fork seal that failed in the Pyrenees, and a stuck throttle here in the UK (idling at 4500 RPM) - in both case I just rode on to a convenient dealer

I had a car breakdown in the Netherlands year ago - the local driving organization fixed it for free based on my UK AA membership. I also had a newish Mercedes develop a problem in the south of France - the local dealer dealt with it under warranty

What I'm saying is that in Europe with a well known brand of vehicle, I don't see the necessity to get a higher level of cover than I have in the UK

 

[Our Gee]

The UK and European Breakdown Cover provided by Carole Nash to their Motorcycle Insurance Policy holders also provides cover in another very important and often overlooked sceanario. That is, that in the event of a Rider being unable to ride through being "Injured or Ill" both the Rider, Passenger and the Bike will be repatriated to the Rider's home address. Actual policy wording is that a "Replacement Rider" will be provided to take you, the insured vehicle and your passengers to your home address. However, as a rule, this generally means that a Driver and Recovery vehicle will be provided.
Also make sure that your Personel Travel Insurance covers you for riding a large capacity Motorcycle where the" main purpose" of your trip is "Motorcycle Touring". AA Personel Travel Insurance does "NOT".

 

[r_atwal]

2nd that

Vehicle Rescue Direct

What he said.
Had to use them once. Good enough. Cheap enough.

 

[[email protected]]

Bmw mondial rear drive went on top of an Austrian mountain unsafe to ride as oil leaking onto rear tyre and pissing down with rain.sent man and trailer to nearest bmw dealer in Linz couldnt be fixed.taxi to vienna Ba flight to heathrow.hire car at heathrow to drive home.once bike fixed £60 petrol money to get to stanstead.taxi fron linz to dealer ferry paid for all costs returned and £ 350 pound credit note for spoiling my holiday.call center was excellent i now pay monthly for a bmw warranty and euro wide recovery which includes lost keys and being unable to ride. Having used recovery and being flown home I wouldnt be without it.

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk

 

[Dave56]

Vehicle Rescue Direct

+1 Took there short term cover out last year for my trip to Spain, had need to use them and there service was second to none, they arranged arranged pick-up and transportation to the BMW dealer, hire car in order to complete the journey and kept me fully informed, and on picking up the bike 5 days later from Alicante they rang on more than one occasion to check everything was OK.
The best £24 pounds I ever spent.......

 

[Bryn]

On the strength of the recommendations above just paid my £24.75 to Vehicle Rescue Direct

 

[Smug]

Can't beat Europ Assistance which has a proper repatriation service for vehicle and passengers and is recognised in Europe. Not cheap, but you get what you pay for.

 

[JH]

On the strength of the recommendations above just paid my £24.75 to Vehicle Rescue Direct

You won't be disappointed Bryn, it's who I use every time when not covered by a manufacturers cover, even on the car when taking the family. A couple of years back on of our group needed their services to recover his bike - and it was all handled first class..

Yep VRD

 

[Timolgra]

Shouldn't this be in the 1200 section?

 

[Popell]

Included with CN for me, though never had real cause to use them, fixed my own when Honda CCT went in Ypres, still got to ride home, so all good

 

[Rasher]

Carole nash for me too.

My mate used them twice in Europe. Rear hub failure in Germany and they sorted it all including hire car as took 2 days to get bits.

Second time puncture in France sorted quickly.

Best thing is they deal with everything so no need to try and find dealer and speak ra lingo

 

[gary117]

Anyone got a link to Vehicle Rescue Direct