Off to Spain and France

[bryannewell]

Hi folks
Planning a trip to Spain and France shortly
I am wondering about breakdown cover whilst i'm over there.
I have Rac for home here so is it best to just extend cover to europe or is there another way to go(hopefully cheaper!!)
Some of you guys went to Spain last year,what did you do about cover please?
Is there a specialist option out there to cover Kits as the mention of "Kit Car" scares the hell out of some of the mainstream ones!!
Regards
Bryan

[b_caswell]

Re: Off to Spain and France

Hi Bryan,
Your RAC membership should cover you regardless of the vehicle but it would be wise to check. Breakdowns is one thing but accidents and illness are other things to think about.

The list of things you need to have when touring the continent has got longer again.

You will need to sort out masking the left dip beam as beam benders dont seem to work on UK Cibies.(or if your rich you could buy europe spec Cibie units)
Plus:-
France:- Spare bulb kit,

Reflective Jerkin that must kept in the vehicle within reach of the driver. Would advise each person having one.

Breathalyser(I thought this was an April1st joke but it seems you can get single use kits) you need two because if your stopped and use it you need another.

Spain:- If you wear driving glasses you are required to carry a spare set.
OH and dont wear earphones (one of the Spanish trippers got done last year for listening to his Sat Nav instuctions.

Have I missed anything?

Have a nice time
Rgds Ben

[cameronfurnival]

Re: Off to Spain and France

HI Bryan, if your RAC or whatever doesnt cover you then try insureandgo.com, I used them last year andfound them really cheap, my ordinary insurance wanted an extra premium for european travel.

[terryreed1664]

Re: Off to Spain and France

Hi Bryan, I think you may need a warning triangle as well as the above.
Have a good trip.
Terry

[bryannewell]

Re: Off to Spain and France

Hi Ben
You are correct RAC will cover me for Europe,£94 for 15 days doubles my years premium but does provide pretty good cover including repatriation of car and occupants should the worst happen!
I did try some others but the mention of Kit Car sent them running for cover!!
Thanks for the heads up re Headlights as Iwould just have gone with standard beam benders,atleast now I have time to sort it.
Just have to get some of the Breathalyser thingys
Every thing else I will have from previous trips abroad in the Eurobox including as Tery says the Warning Triangle.
Cameron
My insurance through Frank Pickles covers me for 30 days in Europe so all good there.
Many thanks guys
Bryan

[bryannewell]

Re: Off to Spain and France

Hi folks
When I recently tried to take up the RAC offer to provide European cover (£94 for 15 days) I was told "they do not cover kit cars",when I told the sales person they were quite happy to take my money for UK cover she backtracked to say they would honour the UK cover but would not offer the European cover!
Very handy with just over a week to go!
So with a quick trawl of the internet I found a company called Vehicle Rescue Direct who despite my constantly telling them that "a Marlin is a kit car"(which by the way I did with RAC)
have provided my with door to door cover including repatriation for the sum of £32.
So guess who won't be getting asked to provide even my UK cover next year!!
Cheers
Bryan

[Dane_Rescueman]

Re: Off to Spain and France

Out of interest, when the AA renewed my mebership last year they sent a host of new rules and gotchas. One item hidden in the tiny print stated that any "amateur repairs or construction" were not covered. I spent many happy days emailing, writing and ringing various AA "experts" and I never obtained a cast iron guarantee that my Berli would be OK for the AA relay. They say that it is to protect them from someone who attempts a repair and fails half way through, pushes the car on to the road, and then calls for help. A bit of an insult to a kit car owner really. They did not seem to get the point that a kit-car has mostly been constructed by someone who is described by them as an amateur builder or repairer. Anyway, they have stated that my car should be OK - don't worry, just hand over a stack of moolah. I will probably not stay with them next year. Backford Bloor, my insurer, is now offering a no frills rescue package for classic and kit cars which costs very little indeed. I would probably go for that next year. Good luck on your trip abroad.

[bryannewell]

Re: Off to Spain and France

Hi Rescueman
I agree that there is little clarity to be had so I've got fingers crossed that I won't have to test it out and all is well!!
Just back from Newark total of about 470 miles 3hrs there and 3.5 hrs back(got on the wrong motorway for a spell!!) with no probs so hopefully that is a good omen!!
Cheers
Bryan

[lizbillings]

Re: Off to Spain and France

Have a great holiday
Regards
Liz

[bryannewell]

Re: Off to Spain and France

Hi Liz
Thank you
Decided to take out the passenger floor when I got back from Newark yesterday to make life a tad more comfy for my wife as she sits a fair bit higher than me,new version should be completed tomorrow night!
Talk about leaving things till the last minute!!
Regards
Bryan

[dcunn]

Re: Off to Spain and France

This whole RAC AA whatever thing is strange...I've been towed home twice (two different Marlins, several months between
the callouts) by a very very nice man,not a problem.............mind you, I've not tried for overseas cover


Good to finally meet you at Newark Bryan, have a safe and enjoyable trip.

Rgds DC

[bryannewell]

Re: Off to Spain and France

Hi Dave
Seems like Rac are happy to cover me in UK but not Europe
I was with AA and they transported or towed my original Roadster home on several occasions including the time when after my Dizzy broke were towing me home by rope when my brakes failed whilst we were going downhill and I had to run into the back of them to stop!!
I only left them when they put my annual premium up to £250(even though I had not called upon their services for at least 3 yrs!)
After I had moved to RAC I could have rejoind them for £99,guess its wort h shopping around every year!!
Nice to meet you also and to meet other club members old and new
Regards
Bryan

[bryannewell]

Re: Off to Spain and France

Hi folks
Well looks like £32 well spent as Alternator packed up even before we got out of the port at Santander
Duly picked up by transporter and delivered to a local garage and new alternator fitted within a couple of hours
Car is now fine and we are enjoying the roads of Picos De Europa
This area is fantastic as testified by the group who visited last year
Fortunately we are having better weather as it has been in the 30s most days(top down all the way)
It seems the Spanish love the Marlins and loads of people want to look and take pics,yesterday this couple asked if they could take a picture of the car and the guy went to lean on the windscreen surround to pose and burned his forearm it was that hot!!(we tried our best not to laugh
We are Heading for the Rioja region tomorrow so hope the weather holds out.
We saw a light blue Roadster at the port of Santander getting ready to board as we were waiting to be rescued,not one I have seen before
Was it anyone from England? As we did not get a look at the plates?
Regards
Bryan