Breakdown / Recovery Products (Which One)

[Our Gee]

Annual insurance renewal time again. Most insurers offer the option to include some form of Breakdown Service at an appropriate extra premium. I have been looking at this in detail and the products offered do seem to vary quite a lot with regard to just what is included. Does anyone have any experience of buying Breakdown Service other than that included or recommended by their insurer. BMW Motorrad Insured Warranty will sell me their Breakdown Assist only, albeit at a quite expensive price and I have had poor experience with them in the past.
Thanks.

[David.]

Have recently taken out breakdown cover with AutoAid. It is personal cover for you & Mrs to ride/drive any vehicle.

I applied using this link, Personal Based Breakdown Cover - AutoAid Breakdown after 60 days, you get £6 cashback.

[Our Gee]

Thanks David, just had a quick look at the link and the Auto Aid web site. Might have missed it but no mention of Motorcycles anywhere. I don’t doubt that you will have thoroughly confirmed your requirements before you purchased. Do you know if Auto Aid will send an experienced “Motorcycle” breakdown/recovery facility and not just some guy with a van which has happened to me in the past.

[David.]

Yes, AutoAid do cover motorcycles. AutoAid don't have their own fleet of vehicles, they use agents. I too have experienced non-motorcycle specialists turning up with inappropriate vehicles to recover a motorcycle, this included BMW. Within the UK, the best experience has been when the recovery was provided by SOS Motorcycle Recovery. Unfortunately, SOS don't seem to offer personal cover, choosing to work via insurance companies and breakdown providers, SOS Motorcycle Recovery – Professional Motorcycle Transport Services

If and when you require recovery, the key thing is to stress to the agent that motorcycle recovery is necessary with an appropriate vehicle and operator. Just spotted in the SOS customer reviews that one recovery/collection was arranged by AutoAid. It seems to be a bit of a lottery as to who turns up. The driving force is likely to be keeping the waiting time down to a minimum. As per my most recent experience, it looks like BMW now use SOS. AutoAid have confirmed that they do indeed use SOS themselves plus other motorcycle specialists.

[Stu]

I have always got mine with my insurance! its always worked out cheaper especially since I get European cover

[Doctor T]

I got full European breakdown and recovery for free with my insurance. Before i used ADAC base in Germany. As with a lot of recovery services here they use independent companies within the UK. In my time with them,(8 years) there were cheaper than RAC, AA, Green flag etc. Had to use the 3 times. Once in Portugal. Where they recovered me to Santander, they paid for the boat with a cabin and the onward from the UK port. 2nd i broke down in Suffolk. Fixed on the spot. 3rd Brokedown in Rome. The bike couldn't be fixed in 48 hours so they put me up in a local B&B for 3 days.
You don't have to live in mainland Europe to belong to them

[David.]

Breakdown cover is available from Eversure, Breakdown Cover | Feefo Platinum Award 2021 | Eversure Insurance

Found them via Martin Lewis MSE website, Compare breakdown cover: Cheap roadside assistance - MSE (moneysavingexpert.com)

[Sharkfighter]

I have one from my previous employer, pay monthly but I’ve got life insurance. Worldwide travel insurance, home emergency and a plethora of other things. Breakdown cover both UK and Europe covers both myself and my wife, £26 a month. I’ve had to use the breakdown when the clutch went n my car and it was a local garage that came out.

[David.]

Motorcycle Breakdown Cover Comparison, Motorcycle Breakdown Cover Comparison 2022 - Biker Rated

NOVA Direct, Motorcycle Breakdown Cover | Motorbike Breakdown Cover - Nova Direct (nova-direct.com)

I know someone who has used NOVA Direct, I believe it was for roadside assistance only, recovery wasn't required.

[Doctor T]

Dynamo breakdown and rescue Charge £28.00 per year. Include pictures and home start. The UK only. My son uses them for his KTM. He only called them out once. Chain snap. Put him up overnight in a travel lodge, with forwarding travel to the nearest bike shop the next morning. Think they pay up to £50 per night for a hotel room.

[David.]

Dynamo breakdown.

Breakdown Cover | Online Quote | Dynamo Cover

[Doctor T]

That's the one. Full European cover must be new

[David.]

Before I used ADAC based in Germany. You don't have to live in mainland Europe to belong to them.

From what I have read elsewhere, ADAC are no longer offering breakdown/recovery to new customers residing outside of Germany.

[Doctor T]

They will David but you have to call them. My mother purchased Recovery from them in December last year for her car. Made sense as see visits friends in Germany and Norway up to 6 times a year. Also, it was cheaper and covered more than European cover from the RAC and the AA.
She did have cover with them until 4 years ago and had no problem getting recovered this time. Perhaps she was classed as an old returning customer and not a newbie. So you may be correct

[David.]

They will David but you have to call them.

Please could you provide any ADAC contact details, thank you.