{"id":21521,"date":"2018-09-17T09:00:36","date_gmt":"2018-09-17T13:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/?p=21521"},"modified":"2020-09-08T11:48:21","modified_gmt":"2020-09-08T15:48:21","slug":"campervan-breakdown-in-europe-what-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/blog\/campervan-breakdown-in-europe-what-now\/","title":{"rendered":"Campervan Breakdown in Europe \u2013 What Now?"},"content":{"rendered":"
It\u2019s every campervan enthusiast\u2019s worst nightmare \u2013 breaking down. Doing so in the UK means braving the rain to try to work out what the problem is, spending several minutes weighing up whether you know enough about campervans to fix it, and then a quick phone call and waiting for the rescue vehicle to arrive. We didn\u2019t say it was fun, but at least it\u2019s straightforward.<\/span><\/p>\n But what happens if you\u2019re not in the UK? If, like so many adventurers, you\u2019ve taken your wheels across the water to continental Europe \u2013 whether as a cheaper alternative to flying or through a simple desire to tour your way around the patchwork of countries that make up the continent \u2013 and disaster strikes?<\/span><\/p>\n As the saying goes, \u2018prevention is the best cure\u2019 \u2013 and never is this truer than when it comes to vehicle breakdown. Of course, accidents happen and things will go wrong from time to time \u2013 that\u2019s the nature of probability and life \u2013 but being prepared for such eventualities and taking measures to avoid them arising in the first place should be top of your list.<\/span><\/p>\n The easiest way to avoid anxiety and stress when driving your campervan abroad is to get a breakdown package that offers cover in Europe. Most UK breakdown companies offer cover, though not all offer the same deals or packages, so it\u2019s worth hunting around for the best price for your circumstances. You can usually get European cover added on to any existing policy. But if your current provider won\u2019t cover you overseas, it\u2019s worth checking out <\/span>Euro Breakdown<\/span><\/a> who specialise in continental cover, especially for motorhomes.<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re planning to travel through countryside and wilderness, avoiding the larger towns and cities, it\u2019s worth stocking up on basic replacement items such as bulbs, fuses and wiper blades. You\u2019d hope the repair van would stock the parts you need, but it\u2019s risky to expect this in rural areas, and the amount you\u2019ll have to pay out is nothing when compared to the peace of mind it provides. It\u2019s also worth getting your campervan serviced and replacing any older tyres before you hit the tarmac, to give maximum safety and reassurance on the road.<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re not familiar with the local language, it\u2019s helpful to research some key phrases \u2013 even if it\u2019s just the equivalents for things like \u2018flat tyre\u2019, \u2018the engine won\u2019t start\u2019 and \u2018something went clunk\u2019. Equally, check local driving laws and regulations to make sure you don\u2019t inadvertently break the law whilst waiting for rescue. The RAC have a great <\/span>fact file<\/span><\/a> for most countries detailing key information for drivers.<\/span><\/p>\n Another option is to check if your insurance policy offers roadside assistance in Europe, whether as standard or for an additional fee, as this may be cheaper than buying separately. Plenty of insurers are recognising the popularity of such policies, and it\u2019s especially useful to consider when your current policy comes up for renewal. Try using a campervan insurance comparison site such as <\/span>Compare Van Insurance<\/span><\/a> where you can search a wide range of companies that offer roadside cover alongside standard insurance to find the best price possible.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n It\u2019s all very well knowing <\/span>how <\/span><\/i>to get the right cover, but you\u2019ll also need to ensure it <\/span>is <\/span><\/i>the right cover. It\u2019s easy to think in UK terms, that you just need a garage and maybe a hotel overnight if you\u2019re stranded \u2013 especially when you\u2019re no more than half a day\u2019s journey from home at any given point. But when you consider how large some European countries are, and how far from home you\u2019ll be, there are many other factors to take into account when you cross the border:<\/span><\/p>\n As we all know, fixing something isn\u2019t necessarily the magic cure that makes the problem go away. Sometimes the best you can get is a temporary solution \u2013 so if your vehicle is problem-prone, getting cover with unlimited callouts is worth it, though sometimes there are additional charges for multiple callouts for the same issue. Equally, having a provider who\u2019ll offer to help you in the days leading up to and following on from your official holiday is useful, in case you meet with misfortune on the road to or from home.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n If you\u2019ve already made your way to Europe and find yourself stuck, the first option is always to see if you can add European cover to your existing policy. Call your roadside assistance provider and ask them \u2013 though as with anything last-minute and urgent, you\u2019re likely to find you pay a more hefty fee than you would to arrange this in advance.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n If that\u2019s not an option, your next task is to find a local garage that can carry out the repairs. The internet is a fantastic resource in these kinds of situations, but going into local shops will often reveal business cards for nearby professionals, and can be a good way of sourcing a mechanic. Check opening times and days, as many continental countries still take Sundays (and sometimes Wednesday afternoons) off. <\/span><\/p>\n If both those options fail, then the only thing left to do is make the best of things! If you\u2019re in a scenic area, try to find somewhere to stay (either in a hotel or in your campervan, if you\u2019ve broken down off the carriageway) and spend a few days exploring the area \u2013 after all, making new discoveries is part of the fun!<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve got the cover you need, there\u2019s nothing to stop you setting off on your adventures. All that remains is to make sure you\u2019ve got key phone numbers with you \u2013 ideally already saved in your contact list or written on pieces of paper in purses, wallets, and in the campervan itself \u2013 as well as ID, cover documentation and policy numbers, as well as your campervan manual. If the latter eludes you, then Haynes offers a generic but comprehensive <\/span>Motorcaravan Manual<\/span> that gives you all the info you need on how your vehicle works. This is a fantastic resource to have, even if you\u2019re staying in the UK.<\/span><\/p>\n I hope you enjoyed: Camper van Breakdown in Europe \u2013 What Now? Here are a few articles I know you’ll like reading:<\/strong><\/p>\n Should You Purchase a Vehicle While Living Abroad?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n A Quick Tour Around the Dominican Republic<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nPlan Ahead<\/b><\/h2>\n
Get the Right Cover<\/b><\/h2>\n
Repatriation<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Repairs<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Onward travel<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Number of callouts<\/b><\/h3>\n
Towing<\/b><\/h3>\n
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If You\u2019re Not Covered<\/b><\/h2>\n
Hit the Road<\/b><\/h2>\n