RAC Arrival Scheme

[Mudlark]

i was chatting to the RAC man at the Bristol VW Show about adding european cover to my membership. He recommended a newly improved cover plan they have called the RAC Arrival scheme for motorhome/caravan owners.

Includes all the usual cover.
Includes 12 months membership of the C&CC Club and access to their discounts etc. (no idea how useful that is.)
Removes all surcharges for old vans
Add european cover on the same basis (van repatriation included)

For us; 12 months, two named drivers for UK, any vehicle plus any motorhome; roadside, recovery and at home plus european cover for a total of £270.00

Seems good to me and as i am driving off towards Croatia in July we want to make sure the precious van will be brought home if necessary!

Deal or no Deal ?

[syncrosimon]

Sounds very good to me, you cant be too careful. What price peace of mind?

[jebiga41]

going to croatia at the end of july/ beginnning of august could convoy it let me know

[Al Housman]

Have you looked at joining the ADAC (German motoring organisation)? I did two years ago when I fetched my syncro from Germany.Basically it cost (then) about 75 Euros for one years membership (just like us joining RAC/AA) but covers you for all of Europe including repatriation.Not really sure how it compares with what you've been offered but ADAC does have a really good reputation, and I've heard tell that they're prepared to speak English if your German's not up to it.

[Mudlark]

Sounds a good deal too; though I'm a little more comfortable with an english based/speaking company; not strong on German. Would be good if people actually got to report their personal experiences when things do go wrong.

[mattk918]

I've had pretty good service from ADAC..... however I was living in Germany at the time. Broke down 3 times whilst out there, once in Slovenia and twice in Austria. Got me going again in Slovenia and back to Munich both times from Austria. Fine speaking to them in English in my experience, but obviously all the documentation is only in German. I still have ADAC cover now I am back in Blighty, though I have heard it can be pretty hard to cancel "corrrectly"!!!!

[sonic23]

Mark...I've been looking at the small print of my HIC policy and it says repatriation of the vehicle up to the market value. (now that's not going to be much for a 25 year old van is it!!?!)

Now - I've just been onto the RAC site and the info that I can find on their European cover says the same thing.

When we were chatting on Saturday, I was under the impression that the Arrival scheme was a guarnateed repatriation scheme regardless of market value....or did i get that bit wrong?

(You've got me interested in this because I've got to re-insure in the next few weeks, and we're off to SW France for 3 weeks in Sept....so decisions need to be made on breakdwon cover!!)
cheers,
Rich

[Mudlark]

Hi Rich

Best man to speak to would be the RAC man who was at the VW show; I will pmail you his mobile number. I have signed up already; my membership pack for the RAC has not arrived, but the pack for the C&CC club arrived yesterday; I cant see i would use much of what c&cc have to offer!

[Aidan]

but the cost of c and c membership is effectively free cos the discount from RAC membership for being ca nd c member is the same as membership fee, the mags good, the campsite directory brilliant and the certified sites total peace and quiet and value for money it's great

c and c big sites are just big sites fine if that's your thing of course and occasionallly are all you can have in an emergency in a strange part of the country so at least the mebership discount on club sites amkes up for it a dadge if you use them.

[Al Housman]

The repatriation thing is well worth checking.When our last camper went bang in Switzerland about 8 years back the repatriation cost to the RAC was about £1000 plus our hire car and fares etc and they made it clear that if it hadn't been worth bringing back we would have had to leave it or fetch it ourselves.A mate lost his car in Portugal (poor fool it was an Astra!) thinking he was covered until having a relatively minor problem (something daft like radiator or suchlike) which for some reason couldn't be fixed quickly.RAC wouldn't help him.
I've checked ADAC and can find no mention of age of vehicle or value.I too found it hard to persuade them that I didn't need to renew but that's no big deal compared with the service they offer.

Maybe worth checking what the rac/AA value is to repatriate before signing up to a service which is a lot less than you thought.

If anybody needs some simple phrases to help apply to ADAC I'm happy to help-and no,I'm not on commission.

[Mudlark]

the campsite directory brilliant and the certified sites total peace and quiet and value for money it's great

Your probably entirely correct Aidan; I have not looked at it in any detail; whan a box of what look like brochures get delivered (and there are a fair few of them) its easy to dismiss the whole and miss out on what might be valuable.

I will be taking a closer look and if there are discounts to be had Im all for it !

[Al Housman]

BTW some useful stuff on Wiki about ADAC .

[syncropaddy]

going to croatia at the end of july/ beginnning of august could convoy it let me know

Can I have my power steering shaft before you go please! You took it on holidays to the UK with you and it never sent a postcard home so Im damned if its going anywhere else ...... !!

[Aidan]

going to croatia at the end of july/ beginnning of august could convoy it let me know

Can I have my power steering shaft before you go please! You took it on holidays to the UK with you and it never sent a postcard home so Im damned if its going anywhere else ...... !!

en vacance