Holiday horror: breaking down abroad

01 August 2008

If you are planning on crossing the channel in the August Summer holidays, you might want to check your breakdown cover. Roadside recovery experts, Green Flag, warn that European breakdown cover is as essential as travel and motor insurance when driving abroad.

Dan Robinson, Head of Green Flag comments, "Many people are unaware that their insurance and breakdown cover doesn't always cover trips on the continent. Our customers have an option to take out an annual policy covering UK and Europe if they're likely to do a number of trips, or they can just take out short term cover for each trip they take. Repatriating a car and its passengers, even as close as France, can be costly. Green Flag research shows that it could cost in excess of £5,000 to recover a family of four with a car and caravan from Spain. The further afield you are, it's even more crucial that you have cover in place."

European Costs August 2008
Spain                          London    Birmingham    Glasgow
Santander (North)          £1436       £1592               £2074
Madrid (Mid)                  £1812       £1968               £2450
Gibraltar (South)           £1812       £1968               £2450

  • This is for unaccompanied repatriation only
  • The above price is for a standard car / 4x4
  • Caravans, Trailers & Motor homes = above rate x 2
  • All prices exclude VAT.

Robinson continues, "One of the key things for motorists would be the stress and worry if they did breakdown in a foreign country and didn't know what to do. Communicating with local garages could be difficult if you aren't fluent in the mother tongue. Green Flag customers can just call us, and we would get our trained linguists to make all the arrangements."

Green Flag European Cover will also cover:

  • Breaking down in the few days before you go away
  • Emergency roadside repairs and emergency labour costs
  • Location and dispatch of spare parts
  • Flexible options if the car is out of use
      - e.g. taking you and your passengers to the intended destination and then returning you to the vehicle once repaired
      - or accommodation for you and passengers while the vehicle is repaired
      - or money towards hiring another vehicle
  • A chauffeur provided if the only driver is taken ill
      - if the only driver was unable to drive.

To help prevent summer breakdowns, Green Flag recommends drivers service their cars before a long journey and pay particular attention to the following:

  • Oil: Make sure you also check your vehicle's handbook to determine how often the oil filter needs to be changed.
  • Tyres: It is important to check tyre pressure as incorrect levels could lead to punctures.
  • Windscreens: The screen wash should be topped up regularly to shift dead flies and dust in the summer months.
  • Lights: Lights need to be cleaned regularly to ensure you can see and be seen clearly in the dark.
  • Water: The water helps the cooling system of the car, which, if incorrect, can lead to overheating of the engine, especially if the weather is hot and you are stuck in queuing traffic.
  • Petrol: It may sound obvious, but always make sure you have enough petrol to make your journey. Green Flag responds to hundreds of calls every week from people who have run out of fuel.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

  • Green Flag provides rapid breakdown cover 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
  • Green Flag's incident management centre in Leeds manages around 1m breakdown incidents each year
  • Customers have access to a national network of thousands of independent recovery agents in the UK and on mainland Europe.

For more information please contact:

Claire Foster
Green Flag Press Officer
Tel: 020 8285 8682
Email: claire.foster@rbs.co.uk