Important announcement regarding Red Pennant
We regret to announce that following our underwriter’s decision to withdraw cover for Red Pennant there will be a number of key changes to Policy Sales and Coverage.
- Annual Multi-trip Policies: These will be available for purchase up until November 30, 2025, provided that the travel is completed by November 30, 2026.
- Single Trip Policies: These will be available for purchase up until January 31, 2026, provided that the travel is completed by November 30, 2026.
All of our existing policies will continue to be honoured and supported by our emergency assistance team until your policy end date. There is no need for you to contact us or take any further action.
We are deeply saddened by this and would like to sincerely thank everyone who has been a part of the Red Pennant journey so far; from those we have supported during their holidays to those who simply valued the peace of mind knowing we were there if needed.
We are actively developing alternative solutions and engaging with partners to ensure we will be able to offer members suitable travel insurance and European breakdown cover in the future; updates will be shared as soon as possible.
We would like to take this opportunity to apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and to thank you for your understanding.
Comments
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I had always thought of Red Pennant as the "Gold Standard" of overseas touring insurance and always used it when we went to Europe. It would be a shame if it was not available in its current form. Hopefully the Club can seek out an alternative insurance provider? I know many felt that it was expensive but the very fact that the currenr insurers seem to be walking away suggests that it wasn't and if you want the comprehensive cover you have to be prepared to pay for it.
David
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What a shame! We always tookbout Red Pennant when touring 'over there' and were always extremely pleased with the cover and the service... having needed to callvon Red Pennant services on a few occasions. Really hope that the Club can secure a good alternative.
David
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However…it gives an opportunity for the Club to re think members needs which have changed since Red Pennant was devised.
Repair and recovery of disabled motorhomes is a different ball game from that provision for a car/ caravan combination. And two way transport to and from a pre booked campsite destination is not a requirement for members who tour from site to site with an ACSI card, and certainly not for motorhomers who hop from one aire to another. Times change.
I did myself use Red Pennant for many years at a time when it was the only show on the road, but then other options came along. And I often felt I was paying Red Pennant for some services I didn’t really need - and as I usually had an annual world wide travel/ medical policy for our other destinations I started taking out overseas breakdown cover as a package with annual motor insurance and managing with that - even though it meant covering some risks for myself.
Now why has this appeared in bold print? What have I done wrong?0 -
oh no, this is such a loss! How disappointing, let’s hope that a new and equally as good replacement is found.
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It was always trusted and I used it all the time in my early days of touring but never had to call on it. Latterly, for me, it just got far too expensive and I learnt on my travels that it was not that difficult to extract oneself from less serious problems. I cannot remember the last time I bought it but it was some years ago.
peedee
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when we were touring in Europe we always took out red pennant. We used it a few times for both breakdown and medical. The ability to speak to an English speaking person who would then find eg a doctor who could speak English, or could source relevant parts. Yes it cost a lot, but what price peace of mind and knowledge you would not be abandoned.
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I suppose the problem of finding a replacement for RP is that it is quite a niche product in insurance terms which might make it difficult to find a direct replacement. Perhaps ET is right that whilst not welcome it is perhaps an opportunity to review the cover and make it more modular so people only take out what they really need?
David
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I hope the club can sort something out because RP was undoubtedly the best insurance available .
unless I can source similar insurance which provides the same belt and braces cover and repatriation if required I can see us giving up touring in Europe and just stay in the UK .
I don't speak any other languages fluently and the thought of breaking down and not having an English speaking person to organise help is worrying .
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Hi Neil, Red pennant is not unique in being able to speak English. I have found that the AA, RAC, GreenFlag and LandRover Assistance all have English speaking staff answering emergency phone calls and I am sure there are others too.
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I have found it is very rare that someone in a garage or who can assist does not speak English. I have sought assistance 5 times in my travels on mainland Europe and have not had problems communicating in Croatia, Germany, Spain and France. Only in one of these incidents did I call my breakdown service to arrange for the nearest garage in France to fix a fuel leak. For all but one of the others I headed for the nearest agent for my motorhome chassis. Major incidents might be a different kettle of fish but, thankfully this has not happened to me yet. I still buy insurance but I am quite comfortable with covering some risks myself.
peedee
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So who has used someone else at a sensible price and who are they? I have always thought that whilst expensive I could at least get 90 day cover for medical with Red Pennant. Once past 70/75/80 it becomes a huge problem that most companies will not cover. I am retired and want to go away for more than 30 days companies restrict you to. Even 45 days is not enough.
Cover for the car is easy and reasonable eurobreakdown.com but health …….
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I have just looked up "eurobreakdown.com " and it would appear to offer the car and caravan cover on a similar basis to Red Pennant. Has anybody else checked them out?
A month ago I got a years multi trip quote for Red Pennant, car, caravan, health etc for a 64yrr old and a 65yr old. Only medical condition is I take statins, something the Red Pennant does not ask declared.
I've worked out a price for a similar package with eurobreakdown for car/caravan and Post Office for personal insurance. The separates when combined work out at between £30 cheaper or £30 more expensive over the year, depending upon how you tweek the cover.
So overall, after years of me thinking Red Pennant was a little expensive, it turns out the cost is very competitive.
Colin
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Colin
When you do a bit of research I often found the same even when comparing "so called free" insurance offered by banks. We found that medical conditions often pushed the price skywards so even accepting tha RP was on the more expensive side the reality for what you got was more reassuring, especially for the novice touring abroad. RP wasn't without its flaws, espcially on the medical side as they don't always understand for some conditions, like diabetes, that the amount of insulin you take for example, might vary depending on your blood sugar reading. It was this confusion that stopped us having one last trip abroad with the motorhome. I think there was also an issue with some blood thinning medications that need regular testing. Fortunately on that score more modern blood thinners don't require that testing. So like most insurances if you can tick all the right boxes you are fine. Anything more complicated brings with it difficulties.
David
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This is a Caravan and Motorhome Club and it is quite reasonable for the Club to to sponsor breakdown and recovery services for those vehicles.
And leave it at that.But I suggest that the Club should not even attempt to provide medical insurance. Not for flights, not for cruises, not for Airbnb or hotels, and not for caravan or motorhome travel. Those going overseas must decide for themselves what level of insurance they need, which company they use, and what level of risk they are prepared to carry for themselves over and above the GHIC card . Millions go overseas every year and make those decisions already.
The club is quite out of its depth in trying to involve itself in medical matters and should drop out of that sort of insurance.
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It’s the underwriters who involve themselves with insurance, Euro. CAMC merely sells the package which they make money on for the benefit of all you members. Do you seriously imagine that camc decides on whether to cover certain pre-existing conditions and all the other terms and conditions?
Of course individuals make their own decision on what, if any, insurance they need. Nobody tells them what they must have. Now it looks as if there’s slightly less choice.0 -
Whilst I appreciate the health insurance is covered better elsewhere for some members, the attraction to us has been the "one stop shop" set up of the Red pennant insurance. This minimises odd things slipping through what is and is not covered.
Colin
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Red Pennant already had optional cover just for car and caravan (or motorhome). Cruise insurance has never been available.
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