Recovery company assistance please

armourer
armourer Forum Participant Posts: 218
edited September 2020 in Towcars & Towing #1

was a member of the AA relay for 30 yr today but cancelled when i found out my caravan has to attached to my tow car if it has to be recovered

ie  caravan on campsite and we go out for a day the tow car breaks down and needs to be relayed to my home address the caravan is not attached

so is not recovered

does any of the other companies cover the caravan when not attached ??

Comments

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2020 #2
  • armourer
    armourer Forum Participant Posts: 218
    edited September 2020 #3

    nothing on there about what im asking

    but thanks

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2020 #4

    You've been given clues but you need to go to the websites of the providers and check them out for yourself. 👍🏻

  • forsythia
    forsythia Forum Participant Posts: 38
    edited September 2020 #5

    The £105 yearly fee for Green Flag cannot be beaten for service in our opinion. A few years back we had to make use of this, staying at one site our car broke down whilst out we called them sent out low loader and took the car and ourselves to our site. But the next day we were moving to another site, so they sent low loader back and took car and husband to the nearest garage to our second site for repair, then came with another vehicle to tow our caravan and myself to our second site. We found the service invaluable and have continued with them ever since.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited September 2020 #6

    ... does any of the other companies cover the caravan when not attached ??

    May Day through the Caravan Club ☺

    You also need to be aware that when the cheap recovery companies say that your caravan/trailer is covered, it'll only be recovered ifvthe fault is with the tow car & not if the fault is on the Caravan.

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,828 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2020 #7

    In the situation you describe about a breakdown when out for the day a breakdown company will take you back to the caravan to stay there while the car is being repaired at a local garage. 

  • allanandjean
    allanandjean Forum Participant Posts: 2,401
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    edited September 2020 #8

    A few years back there was a similar thread and as I was looking into cover at the time decided to confirm the situation where the car was remote from the van and had a breakdown.

    Initially I had app 14 companies that offered cover. Then looking at the max van length they would recover, tow ball size etc, reduced this to app 6.

    I contacted all of them by phone and only 2 confirmed, in writing, that they would recover the car AND van if at the time of breakdown they were not together.

    These were Red Penant and Safeguard and I chose Safeguard, on cost, but have since decide that a combination of the manufacturers recovery service, which includes vans of my vans size, and my travel insurance is adequate.

  • Ray Gill Dino
    Ray Gill Dino Forum Participant Posts: 5
    edited September 2020 #9

    Last year we broke down whilst out on the car AA called as per warranty on car,they were unable to repair so arranged to relay car to campsite and return next day when we had packed up and related us home. Car and caravan placed on drive then AS returned the next day to transport car to dealer's. Couldn't fault service at all.

    wink

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited September 2020 #10

    And in the case of serious accident damage making the car a write off or if, due to the age of the car the repair is uneconomical what do they do then? 

    If on route to a hotel with the car to meet friends then, depending on chosen cover will all transport you there and collect later? If in a motorhome I suspect that many have arrangements for your accommodation costs at a hotel etc depending on cover.

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,828 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2020 #11

    Serious accident damage making the car a write off is a matter for regular car insurance, not for breakdown insurance .

  • armourer
    armourer Forum Participant Posts: 218
    edited September 2020 #12

    thats why i left the AA

    they said they would not do that if it happened !!!

    strange they did it for you though

  • ForestR
    ForestR Forum Participant Posts: 326
    100 Comments
    edited September 2020 #13

    Having been abandoned in Norfolk by RAC  many years ago after a serious incident whilst towing home I joined Mayday and have always had good service.

    I broke down on day out in car with caravan on site in Scarborough last year. Recovery vehicle with us in half an hour. Given choice of recovery back to site and all outfit transported home or car to local garage for repair and if not possible arrangements would be made to take whole outfit home later in week.

    In event turned out to be car sensor problem and fixed within a day so enjoyed rest of holiday.

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,666 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2020 #14

    There are various levels of cover for all insurances, but I have found Mayday (which is the CAMC recovery, through the Green Flag network) is the most comprehensive).

    If I breakdown on the way to a pre-booked site, I have the option of being taken to that site and, if the car can't be repaired in time, they will recover my car and caravan home at the end on the holiday.

    If I am on site and go out for the day and suffer a breakdown, they will reunite me with my caravan before recovering me home.

    If I need to be recovered home, they will get my caravan to my storeage facility providing it is no further than 70 miles (I think,) from home.  The car can be recovered to a garage instead of home.

    I also have 'Personal Cover', which means than my wife and I can have the same level of cover should we break down in another vehicle where we are a passenger.  We had this happen on one occasion when I was a passenger in my son's car.  His car broke down and we got the car recovered as I was a passenger.

    I also remember an occasion when I put a small amount of petrol in my diesel car!  Not only did the company drain the tank, but they put a reasonable amount of diesel back in the car F.O.C.  I was quite amazed!

    .....to answer your original question.  Yes, MayDay will recover the caravan home, with the car, even if you break down while you are out for the day.  (Not sure if there is a mileage distance limit, but I'm sure common sense will prevail.  If your on holiday in Cornwall and go to Wolverhampton for the day, you could well have problems in trying to get them to recover your van from Cornwall if you only live a few miles up the road from Wolverhampton, e.g. in Stafford!!!  😀😀😉😉)

    David

    Edit:  The other thing about Mayday, is that your caravan is covered too. e.g. if a tyre blows on the caravan, road lights etc.  Also, there is no restriction to the size of your caravan - some recovery companies have caravan length restrictions...

    N.B. Make sure you have MayDay cover and not just GreenFlag.... there is a difference between the level of cover.

  • armourer
    armourer Forum Participant Posts: 218
    edited September 2020 #15

    thanks to all the replys

    i have just bought there premium plus pack

    covers all the whistles and bells along with home start