Vehicle Recovery Insurance

RichardF
RichardF Club Member Posts: 2
in Caravans #1
I was recently on a UK club site in my caravan when I suffered a medical condition that left me temporarily hospitalized and unable to drive for a couple of weeks after my discharge. My wife does not drive. On checking my car and caravan insurance I found none would be able to help me. Some cover would be available if the vehicle had been damaged but this was mostly insurance of the cost of recovery but did not provide the actual recovery. Where it was not the vehicle that was damaged but rather the driver I could find no cover. I have not since been able to find any policy that covers the situation where the driver is incapacitated and gets both undamaged car and caravan plus driver & passenger back home.
Has anyone found the answer to this ?

Comments

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 15,309
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    edited October 15 #2

    @RichardF There is the club's breakdown cover called Mayday. If you take out the the Premium UK/Plus options then perhaps you will get what you're looking for but it's worth checking with club direct as it's not quite clear:

    Extra care

    Your choice of car hire or alternative travel expenses (up to £100), or alternative accommodation up to five nights whilst awaiting repairs, to a maximum of £600 per breakdown, and even an emergency driver if the main driver is incapacitated. Extra Care also includes Motoring Legal Expenses up to £25,000 with legal advice included at no extra cost and a telephone message handling service.

    Details here

    Or you may have to purchase travel insurance which includes medical separate to vehicle cover.

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 11,477
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    #3

    @Cornersteady is correct. Mayday do offer a driver if you are incapacitated and no other driver available. Obviously you have to choose the right option but it is there, as far as I know. I think @nelliethehooker found this out when he broke his wrist a few years ago.

    For myself I found the cover with the travel section on a bank account with Nationwide, their Flex Plus Account.

    I would have thought, without checking, that the major operators (such as AA or RAC) would have offered an option but assume you've tried those.

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member, Member Moderator Posts: 6,237
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    edited October 15 #4
    I was just about to post the same about MayDay cover.

    David
  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 7,181
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    #5

    Many motorhomers use Comfort insurance and that too covers recovery of vehicle in that sort of medical emergency.

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 15,072
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    #6

    I think @nelliethehooker found this out when he broke his wrist a few years ago.

    @Wherenext is correct, we did find out about it, although did not make use of it as it was easier for our daughter and SIL to come and collect our outfit and take us home. We would use the Mayday service in the future if a similar thing occurred again.

  • richardandros
    richardandros Club Member Posts: 3,129
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    #7

    I took out Mayday cover when we returned to caravanning 11 years ago. I also included 'Extra Care' because there's no way Ros would drive my big 4x4 and has never towed anything in her life - let alone a 8.1m x 8' wide van! Absolutely essential, in my opinion - for peace of mind - and it wasn't an expensive option.

  • Rowena
    Rowena Administrator, Club Member, Staff Posts: 463 admin
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    #8

    Hi @RichardF

    We're very sorry to learn of the difficulties you've experienced recently. As members in this discussion have said, the Club can provide the extra peace of mind for our customers who have the Premium UK or Premium UK Plus cover levels of our MAYDAY UK Breakdown product, which is provided by our partner Green Flag.

    The policy states that, if "In the event that the driver of the vehicle is declared medically unfit to drive the vehicle, or dies during a trip, or the party has to return home early because of what we agree is any other serious or urgent reason, and there’s no other member of the party qualified and/or competent to drive, we’ll arrange a driver to take the party and the vehicle to a single destination in the UK. We may ask to see medical certification or evidence."

    If you are interested in obtaining this cover for extra peace of mind in the future, please call our MAYDAY helpline for more information on 0800 051 5318.

  • handsj
    handsj Club Member Posts: 121
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    edited October 27 #9

    Rowena, thank you for this official clarification. My wife and I discovered this information during a discussion with Mayday reps at a ClubFest a few years ago. As long-term Club members, we're both now in our early 70s and still using and enjoying our caravan.

    Although we're currently both fit and well, this policy really does provide us with peace of mind when touring. None of us have a crystal ball but at least we can mitigate against any unforseen emergencies.

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