Warning: AA cover for vans

[Mark Griffin]

I expect many people have got cover from the AA and also have vans they use to move kit about. Until recently that's not been a problem. They have come and sorted out issues with my Merc Sprinters, V'hall Vivaros etc BUT a friend and fellow historical professional was recently treated very poorly with much inconvenience and cost to himself.

There is a clause in the small print in the AA contract that says LGV vehicles over a certain length, mainly LWB types, are only attended to at the AA's discretion as they class them as commercial vehicles. The membership for a commercial body is over £1k so that's a bit of a difference. It seems that dispatchers have now been told that the clause is now going to be enforced so I'd urge people to read the small print lest your groups kit is left stranded because of even a minor fault unless you cough up.

No idea about the RAC or green Flag etc.

[Bucket]

Its the same problem with the RAC, which i found out recently, so i have now changed cover. For any one whos interested i ow use a company called "The Rescus Company". I've called them out a couple of times and i've had a really good service from them.
bucket

[Victim]

Any idea when the RAC invoked this ? I've been with them for years but the last call out to the Tranny was July last year - on the way to Kelmarsh, as it happens.

[squamatus]

I have an Iveco Daily 29L9 - the smallest one - 3.2 tonnes GVW. My insurance is with Commercial Vehicle Direct and includes breakdown cover. I can't fault them in this or any other service, they are always spot on. The only downside is that every year at renewal I have to "Go Compare" to get a decent price, which they will then match! They only give breakdown cover for vans up to 14 years old. (I have 2 years in which to upgrade to a newer model!) Worth considering them, I'd say. I use my can for business, but I think they cover noN-commercial use too.

[Mark Griffin]

My chums encounter was mid April. It seems to be for the longer vehicles so a swb tranny might be ok.

[Jackie Phillips]

The membership for a commercial body is over £1k

As a member of the NMTF, my commercial AA policy cost less than £100 per year for the top level of cover.

[Mark Griffin]

Sounds like a mighty sensible plan!

[latheaxe]

I dont see how the AA can sell a policy to someone knowing they have a LWB van and then will not attend if needed.This would mean the AA are knowingly selling policies that are useless to the recipient which I am sure is illegal.Is there more to this story ?? maybe he was pulling a trailer as well when he broke down or he didnt tell them he had changed vehicle??.I have looked at my policy and can find nothing in the small print..

[Mark Griffin]

The AA policy doesn't cover a specific vehicle, it covers the policyholder who can ask them to attend any vehicle, even a friends. Or you'd have to keep notifyng them of what vehicles you were intending to drive.

He was just in his van, nothing else.

[acecat999]

green flag / caravan club cover

http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/insurance- ... d-recovery

Designed for you
No size or weight restrictions, we cover any combination of car, caravan and motorhome.
Dual recovery - If you break down on your way to a site and your vehicle can't be fixed we'll take you to your holiday destination and back home again (Roadside and Recovery, Premium UK).
No extra charge for specialist equipment if your outfit gets stuck on soft ground.
24 hour cover, 365 days a year - with or without your caravan, tent or motorhome.
If your caravan cannot be towed, we'll still recover it (Roadside and Recovery, Premium UK).
Cover for any driver in your vehicle.
No patrols just the right response vehicle every time - A nationwide network means we send the right vehicle for your needs not just the nearest one.
Rapid Response Pledge - if one of our specialist technicians does not reach you within an hour, you can claim £10.
Option to purchase extras - including personal cover and additional vehicle cover.

[Vic James]

The person was in a LWB Transit with a tow bar but not towing ,,`caugh out ` by a 18ft lenght rule which is in the small print
but he had not seen it and had been paying for a policy that didn`t cover his vehicle for years . Two other re enactors found
the same problem when they checked ,, I had my cover Docs for TRS with me and they are ok up to 21ft . Which is why
Bucket and Danny and [ maybe] the person in question are now with TRS .

[GazB]

As an owner/driver of a long wheel base high top transit van, with a tow bar and often when going to events towing a trailer with AA breakdown cover I just phoned them to check this out.

The standard roadside recovery DOES cover you for a LWB transit van as long as the laden weight does not exceed 3.5 tonnes, like wise no problems if you are towing a trailer but again the combined laden weight of van and trailer does not exceed 3.5 tonnes. There is no length restriction either.

Hope this clears things up !

[Mark Griffin]

Not really, as I've just done the same thing and the 18ft rule as in the policy details does apply. When they feel like it it seems....

[Mark Griffin]

and how at the roadside they can tell what your laden weight is is anyones guess.....

[Dave1971]

Our AA commercial fleet policy doesn't cover the person it is restricted to a particular vehicle and our mwb transit has been recovered twice in the last year without a problem.

[Mark Griffin]

Yes, because you have a commercial fleet policy. Thats not the issue. Its a 'normal' roadside or domestic policy that's the issue

[latheaxe]

The AA policy doesn't cover a specific vehicle, it covers the policyholder who can ask them to attend any vehicle, even a friends. Or you'd have to keep notifyng them of what vehicles you were intending to drive.

He was just in his van, nothing else.

When I took my policy out with the AA they asked for my van details even though the policy is to the person and not the vehicle..

[purple peril]

Would not touch the AA for anything, ever again.

[acecat999]

they have the rule about 3.5 tonnes because their recovery trucks have to stay within their GTW. obviously. having been recovered when towing it took Green flag a while to find something that could carry the range rover and tow the caravan. almost ended up with 2 trucks.

getting a feck off big tow truck out costs more. getting 2 trucks costs even more especially recovery these days.