Looking for breakdown cowl to your motorhome or campervan? Confused concerning the totally different insurance policies and the professionals and cons? Don’t worry- we’ve performed the arduous give you the results you want. Here are the essential issues you must find out about selecting motorhome breakdown cowl within the UK and Europe (and find out how to get the most effective offers!)
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Motorhome Breakdown Cover- do you want it?
We’ve all been there. That second of debate once you attempt to determine whether or not to say sure or no to including on breakdown cowl to your motorhome insurance coverage coverage.
Or whether or not to get it by way of your checking account or with your own home insurance coverage. We all wish to get monetary savings the place we will.
HOWEVER, please bear in mind a few issues:
- No one ever plans to interrupt down. Or get a flat tyre. Or unintentionally refill with the unsuitable sort of gas ????
- Motorhome and campervan breakdown cowl usually wants a extra specialist response than automobile breakdown because the as automobiles are greater.
- Do YOU really feel snug altering the tyre in your van? Or pushing it off the street to a protected place? Or coping with an issue in the midst of the night time (when impartial contractors are normally asleep)?
If the reply to any of the above is NO, then you must get breakdown cowl to your van. It’s that straightforward and the small price offers you far more peace of thoughts whereas touring.
Is breakdown cowl a authorized requirement?
Nope. You do NOT legally have to have breakdown cowl to your motorhome or campervan. Many individuals tour of their motorhome with no cowl in any respect. But, once more, for those who’re not snug fixing any issues which can occur, I extremely suggest you get applicable cowl.
Motorhome Breakdown Cover- my expertise
Breaking down is anxious. Especially in an enormous car like a motorhome and ESPECIALLY when it’s your own home otherwise you’re abroad and have nowhere else to go.
If you watched my Scotland street journey sequence on YouTube, you’ll know that my good friend had an issue in the beginning of our Scotland Highlands Trip – yep on day one! She had a rodent chew by way of her diesel line and was unable to drive her motorhome. (If you haven’t seen it, you possibly can watch it right here. Don’t neglect to subscribe!)
My good friend shouldn’t be an fool. She lives in her motorhome full-time by herself and is completely competent at many issues.
But breaking down like that threw her. She was emotional, careworn and devastated to be lacking our vacation. Without breakdown cowl, she would have been caught there for an indeterminate quantity of time- there aren’t many choices for restoration in the midst of nowhere!
Although it took a few days to get her sorted (as a consequence of needing a industrial tow truck), at the very least she knew assist was coming.
How Does Motorhome Breakdown Cover Work?
It works precisely the identical as automobile breakdown cowl:
There are two motorhome breakdown choices:
- Cover for a particular car.
- Cover for a particular particular person in any/ most automobiles.
If you cowl your self then any car you drive or journey in is roofed below your coverage (test to make sure this covers automobiles as massive as motorhomes.) If you cowl the car, then it’s THAT car which is roofed below the coverage, no matter who’s driving it (guarantee that anybody driving your motorhome is legally allowed to and has the suitable motorhome insurance coverage cowl!)
If you will have a number of automobiles in your family, you might look right into a Joint Breakdown Cover, which covers two or extra automobiles (or individuals) on the identical coverage.
Here’s what occurs when you have a breakdown:
- You breakdown
- Call your breakdown firm quantity (preserve their quantity and your coverage particulars at hand. I’ve mine within the entrance of my street journey logbook)
- They will ship somebody to help you, who will both repair it roadside if doable or prepare so that you can get towed away – both to an area storage or again to your own home.
However, keep in mind that the companies and choices out there to you’re based mostly on the extent of canopy you will have paid for. Not each coverage provides a return to residence or an onward car so you possibly can proceed your journey, for instance.
On a aspect observe, don’t neglect that there are guidelines within the freeway code about breaking down and your duties. You can evaluation them on the Gov.uk web site right here.
Is Motorhome Breakdown cowl the identical as Car Breakdown cowl?
Simply put…NO (though some insurance policies will cowl each). You will want particular Motorhome Breakdown cowl, similar to your insurance coverage. The companies and insurance policies are arrange for the particular car varieties. This ties in with who they ship out and what restoration car they ship out.
Even if YOU are the particular person lined, you’ll want to make sure the coverage covers giant automobiles like motorhomes.
Motorhome and campervan breakdown cover- what to search for?
When you’re evaluating and reviewing breakdown insurance policies, there are some things to test:
- Where does the coverage cowl? (UK, the remainder of Europe, worldwide?) You in all probability don’t have to pay for worldwide cowl to your motorhome, however you may wish to add Europe cowl if it’s not included as customary (assuming you’re planning to tour Europe in your motorhome.)
- Can the coverage cope with your motorhome, particularly if yours is over 3.5 tonnes?
- Is the coverage for YOU (i.e.- any car you’re travelling in) or for a particular car?
- What does it embrace? What choices do you will have for those who dwell in your van fulltime? Will they supply one other car or a lodge for you?
- What in case you are travelling with a canine or towing a automobile? What occurs then?
Motorhome Breakdown Cover over 3.5 ton
If you will have a motorhome which weighs or COULD (legally) weigh over 3.5 ton, you MUST test that the coverage you purchase can cope with a car of this dimension. Some of the smaller/ cheaper insurance policies can not.
Best Motorhome Breakdown Policies- Compared
To assist you to, we’ve taken the most effective motorhome breakdown companies and in contrast the choices. These are the primary firms used, though in fact others can be found for those who want to do additional critiques and analysis.
In no specific order:
AA Motorhome Breakdown cowl
The AA provides a coverage known as Caravan & Motorhome Breakdown Cover, which incorporates caravans, trailers, motorhomes and campervans. As customary, this breakdown cowl provides you 24/7 assist for those who break down over 1/4 mile from residence.
Region Covered: UK
Is it doable to get Europe cowl?: Yes, as an additional. See extra concerning the AA European Breakdown cowl right here
Are motorhomes over 3.5 tons lined: No. Cover is as much as 3.5 tonnes (3,500kg) and 8ft 3in (2.55m) broad max.
Can you get residence name out? Yes, as an additional
Can you get onward journey so your vacation isn’t ruined? Yes, as an additional.
The cowl is 72 hours’ automobile rent to get you the place you wish to go/ an in a single day keep in a lodge/ cash in the direction of public transport prices that will help you end your journey.
RAC Motorhome Breakdown coverage
The RAC’s caravan, campervan and motorhome breakdown cowl, also called ‘Arrival’, has been developed with The Camping and Caravanning Club.
It consists of specialist advantages designed for caravans, motorhomes and campervans.
Region Covered: UK
Is it doable to get Europe cowl?: Yes as an additional
Are motorhomes over 3.5 tons lined: Yes – There are not any top, weight or size restrictions for Motorhome Cover. However, for campervan cowl there’s a 3.5 tonne restrict.
Can you get residence name out? Yes- relying on the extent of canopy you choose.
Can you get onward journey so your vacation isn’t ruined? Yes-depending on the extent of canopy you choose.
Caravan and Motorhome Club Cover
The MAYDAY UK Premium UK Breakdown Cover is for members of the Caravan and Motorhome membership solely.
If you don’t want to be part of a motorhome membership (though we extremely suggest you do!) then you possibly can go direct to Green Flag, who’re the suppliers of this coverage breakdown cowl (NOTE: If you go along with Green Flag straight, there are dimension restrictions- see beneath).
Region Covered: UK
Is it doable to get Europe cowl?: No
Are motorhomes over 3.5 tons lined: Yes. It can cowl all automobiles, caravans and motorhomes (inside UK authorized towing pointers)
Can you get residence name out? Yes, relying on the extent of canopy you selected.
Can you get onward journey so your vacation isn’t ruined? Yes, relying on the extent of canopy you selected.
Green Flag
Green Flag provide their very own breakdown cowl, known as Caravan and Trailer cowl.
Region Covered: UK
Is it doable to get Europe cowl?: Yes, for smaller automobiles
Are motorhomes over 3.5 tons lined: No. Max weight restrict of three.5 tonnes and dimension limits of seven metres lengthy, 3 metres excessive and a couple of.55 metres broad
Can you get residence name out? Yes, relying on the extent of canopy you selected.
Can you get onward journey so your vacation isn’t ruined? Yes, relying on the extent of canopy you selected.
In our opinion, it’s significantly better to get the C&MC cover- you’ll discover extra is included to learn motorhome house owners.
What if You Tow a Car and Breakdown?
When trying on the totally different breakdown insurance policies, test that towing automobiles are included. Some insurance policies could also be included, and a few insurance policies could require this to be an “extra”.
What Happens When You Break Down with No Breakdown Cover?
Generally talking, for those who break down with no cowl, then you definately’re by yourself to type issues out!
This means researching and calling round totally different firms to see if they’ll recuperate you. It additionally means you may need to pay a premium value to affix their scheme there after which.
Another choice is looking native garages or cellular mechanics within the space. The downside with that is that many individuals can’t cope with motorhomes and definitely can’t tow them if needed- they don’t have a sufficiently big truck.
And this feature will nearly definitely price you greater than the worth of a yearly coverage. Even worse can be breaking down in Europe- is your French or Spanish or German adequate to clarify the issue and what you must an area mechanic? I do know mine’s not!
Final ideas
At the top of the day, getting campervan or motorhome breakdown cowl is a selection, not a authorized requirement. Still, I hope this submit has satisfied you to offer it correct consideration earlier than your subsequent journey.
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