[Santa]

Since it seems that the major breakdown assistance companies make high charges for recovery, what do others think is the best way to proceed after an accident in which the driver is not injured, but the car is undriveable?

[Dennis W]

If the car is causing an obstruction, then the police may engage a recovery truck to move it from the road.

Alternatively, ask your insurance company for their advice.

[Dennis W]

Originally Posted by Santa

Since it seems that the major breakdown assistance companies make high charges for recovery, what do others think is the best way to proceed after an accident in which the driver is not injured, but the car is undriveable?

I carry a little tag on the cars key ring Which gives a phone number for "Lookers Accident Aftercare"

Usually your insurance company will give you advice when you phone their Claim Line.

[Santa]

"Lookers Accident Aftercare" appear to be an accident management company. Whether that is a good thing or not, I am not sure.

If I was local to home and it was within business hours I would phone my repairer who has a friend who does recovery. The problem would be if I was not local.

I guess that the insurance company might help. Saga say they have approved repairers so they would probably arrange to recover the car too.

Thinking about it - If our car was damaged, it would certainly be a write off. I would have to decide whether to scrap it and get what I could from Saga, or phone round to get the cheapest quote to transport it home, and pay for the repairs myself.

[Rolebama]

My insurance covers recovery, after an accident, to a destination of my choice, irrelevant of mileage. Haven't had to use it, so can make no comment as to whether it works or not.

[Santa]

Mine would too - except that the car is not worth much, so they would most likely write it off. Even if they could claim from a 3rd party, they would still not consider it worthwhile to spend money on, even though it is perfectly sound.

[smudger]

Quote........."Usually your insurance company will give you advice when you phone their Claim Line."

I think if I was involved in a bump, and stuck in the middle of nowhere, I would want than "advice" from my insurance company?

I would want actual help, to get us and the car home, or at least to a garage. :confused:

[Snowball]

This thread has given me food for thought. Being caravanners, we are covered through the Caravan Club with Green Flag; which gives us double journey cover in the event of a breakdown whilst heading for a holiday destination.
However, since my VW service and maintenance contract (4-year maximum) terminated at the end of March this year, I have taken out a service contract with my local VW dealership. This gives me 10% discount on parts and labour. But my concern is that, if I broke down a good distance from home, and the vehicle had to be recovered to a garage, I would want this to be my home dealership. On the basis of what has already been said, I feel that I need to investigate my options more closely.

[Rolebama]

Santa, to reduce my premium, I have my voluntary excess above the value of my car. I checked at the time and was told that I would still be recovered regardless of whether I claimed or not, and that it did not count as part of my excess. Might be worth a quick phone call to check your situation.

[Santa]

Originally Posted by Rolebama

Santa, to reduce my premium, I have my voluntary excess above the value of my car. I checked at the time and was told that I would still be recovered regardless of whether I claimed or not, and that it did not count as part of my excess. Might be worth a quick phone call to check your situation.

"Recovered" can mean different things to different people. I don't know this, but your (and my) insurance company would certainly pay for the recovery to a storage yard. The question is whether they would pay to recover it to the garage of your choice which may be hundreds of miles away.

[Rolebama]

I have been assured that I would be recovered to a destination of my choice, but, as I said above, I haven't had to use it yet, so don't know how good or bad the experience would be.

[Dennis W]

In the military they call some of their recovery trucks "Wreckers" But they can be big 6 x 6 Foden or Scammell jobs

[smudger]

If recovery was such a big thing as regards to selling car insurance, you would think the insurance companies would make a big deal of it, the same way the do with courtesy cars, or not losing your excess if hit by an uninsured driver? :confused:

[Santa]

I believe that 'wrecker' is the generally used description of a recovery vehicle, from a Transit van with a hook on the back all the way up to a big 8 wheel Scania like this http://www.ditzj.de/html/en/trucks/s...gerber168.html

[Dennis W]

Anyway, back to the original question. If there is a serious accident to which the emergency services need to attend, then it is likely that the police will commission a recovery truck, which may take the vehicles to a police compound or facility for forensic examination.