Breakdown insurance will it recover a boat & trailer?

[Ianfs]

I've been with the RAC for a few years now only because they will recover the boat and trailer if the car breaks down whilst towing, the trailer from ball to end is 7.4m. I've had a ring around and Google search today as its up for renewal and all the other break down/recovery services including Green Flag, Britannia and many others only cover a boat and trailer up to 7m from tow ball to the end of the skeg/light board whichever is longer, 2.3m wide or 3m tall.

The AA was the funniest, the guy on the end of the phone said they would recover the trailer but not with the boat on it. He said that the boat insurance company would pay for the boat to be lifted off and recovered separately and the AA would then recover the car and the trailer.

There can't be many boats with a length from ball socket to skeg/prop less that 7m.

Who are you guys with?

[ChrisH]

Interesting. I am with Britannia and chose them as one of the few who would repatriat my boat or caravan from Europe if needed.
I'm almost certain I have checked length requirements with them as I am over 7m and there was no issues. Just checked their online details. No mention there either of a length restriction. Used them in Spain to change a wheel. V v good service .

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

[Bigplumbs]

I am with the AA and about 4 years ago I broke down with the boat and trailer and they recovered the lot. No one measured anything but it was a 17 foot boat on its trailer. I would call them again or better just stay with RAC as they seem OK. If it aint broke don't fix it

Dennis

[shibbs]

I'm with AA, and I have to say they have been fantastic both times I've needed them.
Twice, first time was a wheel bearing on the trailer went on the M27. They came, no questions of length or anything, low loader, put it on the back and recovered it. Not even to my address but to where I wanted it. Great service!
Next time was a few weeks back, cars water pump gave up leaving me stranded at northney marina.
They came, after a bit of tooing and frowing, decided that the best option, because two different vehicles were required for the car and boat, that they would tow the boat back to where I keep it. Then the low loader would be there waiting to pick me up and take me back to the car to recover that back to my house!
Really couldn't fault them, great service, gave me real confidence in them!

[shibbs]

(Just wished they had just fixed the water pump though because it was actually a really quick simple job! )

[betty boop]

Green flag for me through Esure insurance for a few years, I called them at the time to confirm boat and car recover and they agreed it was covered otherwise it was back to AA. The only reason Im not with AA was price, they had a great service attended the trailer many times and repaired it if they could but you know what its like when you get a good deal, proof will be in the eating.

The only time Ive called green flag was my estate boot lock failed, all they offered was a piece of string to lash it down & Im not convinced the local cowboys who turn up are worthy of anything other than working KwiKfit but waiting to be proved wrong.

[Ianfs]

I'm now wondering if its something to do with the night shift at the call centres. Britannia rescue last night said that they don't cover trailers over 7m, 2.3m wide and 3m high.

Chris, after your post I looked again this morning and found a summary of cover. It clearly says they WILL cover a Caravan or Trailer up to 8m, so I called them to confirm and they said it was correct. However, any other vehicle must be 7m x 2.3m x 3m, the operator apologised and said that some of them get confused and get it wrong........I'll say.

Green Flag absolutely insisted they will not cover a boat and trailer where the total length inc draw bar is greater than 7m, I suspect the drivers probably wouldn't check, however I wouldn't want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere with some officious oik on the other end of the phone arguing that they cant take the boat.

Shibbs, I'll check the AA again with the day shift. The guy on the phone was insistent that they were not insured to take a boat, the trailer yes but not the boat. I laughed when he told me and asked him to check again, but he said he knew that was the case because he had just dealt with a breakdown call about a guy towing a boat and he had to get the boat off the trailer then they will rescue them. I really thought he was having a laugh, but he was very insistent. I've tried calling again but spent 20mins already waiting for an answer.

RAC have just lost out as the sales number I called last night weren't able to cover this 7m rule thing but they have another department which does and they were supposed to call but didn't. Having checked with Britannia this morning again, I'm going to go with them. Thanks Chris.

[mlines]

I am with Britannia for the trailer cover they give.

We blew a tyre a couple of years ago and although I had a spare tyre I did not have a wheelbrace that fitted the trailer wheel nuts (schoolboy error as the car wheels had a different size)

So I called Britannia Rescue and said that a tyre had blown on the trailer and although I had a good spare I could not change it over. All I wanted was a man in a small van with the correct wheelbrace.

However the assistant insisted on taking the full boat details and the car (Range Rover) details. She then said that this was a heavy recovery and they only had one special vehicle available and it was a two hour wait whilst it came around the M25. Despite my protests that all that was needed was the correct size wheel brace she insisted that I had to wait for the correct vehicle.

True enough a couple of hours later this huge truck turned up, he took one look at the problem and said "You need the correct wheelbrace" and swiftly changed the wheel over. As he drove off he asked why we didn't ask for a man in a van with the right tool as it would have been quicker.

Needless to say I filled in a customer feedback form!

[ChrisH]

No problem Ian. My reason to choose them was purely cost for European recovery. So i have annual cover for me and my wife. Top level including European cover and repatriation for car and trailer for less than the AA wanted for their European cover.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

[betty boop]

Noting is easy is it? lookalike I have to bin Green flag then and go looking else where AGAIN. A Minor issue but this is really why I hate trailering sometimes and be can't be A''sed with it all.