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Original poster

Help! Car written off in France on first day of hols

146 replies

theAntsareMyFriends · 08/08/2022 06:57

Having a holiday nightmare and any advice would be amazing.

Our car broke down on the way from the Eurotunnel. Black smoke and oil dripping out. We were on the motorway and got towed to the nearest town but the man told us the car was finished.

Lucky we are travelling with family who ferried us and all our stuff in their very small car to our holiday place so are in a safe place where we can stay for 2 weeks.

We now have to work out what to do to sort out or scrap our existing car, get a car we can use to enjoy the next 2 weeks (in a very rural location) and some way to get all 5 of us, plus luggage and bikes home at the end.

My DP is even considering getting a train to the UK, buying a car and coming back. If the current car is totally unfixable then this might be our only option.

We don't have European cover with my breakdown service (thought I did but turns out not) and we don't really want to spend lots of money towing my current car around to still find out it can't be fixed or it can be fixed but would take months.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

OP posts:
Threelittlelambs · 08/08/2022 08:53

The insurance cover covers the person, not the car, does your DH have separate cover?

MrsPnut · 08/08/2022 08:53

We had our 2016 car breakdown in France in 2020. We were given a hire car which we had to change at Calais but then we drove that one home and Enterprise collected it from our house the next day.
It took about 3 weeks for our car to be delivered back the dealership in the UK and then a nail biting 2 weeks for Kia to agree to replace the engine under the warranty.

SuspiciousBanana · 08/08/2022 09:15

I think realistically you’re going to need to hire a car for your holiday and then tackle the breakdown as a separate issue.

Ypu should be able to return a hire to euro tunnel? Can you arrange for someone to pick you up on the other side?

I know you say you have bikes but perhaps you need to leave them with your car on your way home.

Sounds like a nightmare situation to be in and I really hope you manage to enjoy your time away despite all of this hassle and stress.

50k and 6 years is definitely not an old worn car though. So it’s certainly worth a second opinion. Unless of course someone forgot to put oil in the engine and it all needs replacing!! (We lost a decent low milage relatively new car that way but thankfully it wasn’t me who was that stupid!)

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Driving & parking
MsRosley · 08/08/2022 09:16

Just an idea, OP, but there's quite a lot of online groups for English people living in France. It might be worth posting on some asking if anyone has a right-hand drive car they want to get rid of.

Scepticalwotsits · 08/08/2022 09:22

SpiderinaWingMirror · 08/08/2022 08:29

It is impossible to get a car repaired in France in August. I used to work for an insurer and we had a firm that recovered accident damaged and broken down cars front all over Europe to the port of Dover for a fixed fee. It was honestly the only thing to do.

Most things in France in august are not open or almost impossible, the country switches to holiday mode. Head office is in France where I work and they don’t even record august as a sales month and all activity stops.

I would try and get a second opinion on it from a local if possible as the mechanic probably doesn’t want to touch it at this time

Hohofortherobbers · 08/08/2022 09:27

Your insurance is going to want to see the car, you're going to have to get it home, what do your insurers say?

crossstitchingnana · 08/08/2022 09:28

My car packed up a week before my UK holiday. It's 6 years old and we were told "not worth repairing". We hired a car for our holiday and are now taking it for a fourth opinion to see if we can get a lower quote. IMO I can pay a few grand and get a 6 year old car or find mega money for a new one. Good luck.

Creepymanonagoatfarm · 08/08/2022 09:31

When my car broke in France I had it fixed there. Was much cheaper than at home in England!

AlisonDonut · 08/08/2022 09:35

Creepymanonagoatfarm · 08/08/2022 09:31

When my car broke in France I had it fixed there. Was much cheaper than at home in England!

It's August. It is holiday time here. It's too damn hot to work in the day let alone come in specifically for a British family who forgot to get insurance.

AndreaC74 · 08/08/2022 09:35

2nd hand car prices are crazy, i bought my old company car for 5k in 2020, Webuyanycar valued it at 4.5k, forecourts around 6.5k.

Now with 112k on the clock, Webuy value it at 8k, seen similar cars on forecourts for 10 or 11k.

So, spending 2 or 3k to get your far lower mileage car repaired, may be a good option.

Hope you get it to a good garage today.

Filly65 · 08/08/2022 09:38

Hi not sure how far from Calais you/the car is but can recommend
Garage du Moulin,
1345 avenue Roger Salengro
CALAIS 62100
+33321822494

They are used by AA, RAC etc.

We had a major breakdown in our motorhome that needed a big engine rebuild, motorhome was nearly twenty years old but they still got the parts. They spoke some English which was helpful and I think charges are regulated in France so they should be able to give you a good idea of the price.

We had a car rental that we returned to UK in and dropped back when we went to pick up the motorhome the following week but we could have left in the UK, I think it was enterprise.

LynetteScavo · 08/08/2022 09:41

I think the easiest and cheapest option would be to try to get it repaired in France, otherwise you are abandoning a car which would otherwise be worth several thousand pounds. Is it a make of car a garage in France could find the parts for?

Or you just "abandon" the car to the garage, hire a car in France take the ferry home and hire another car on the other side. Then one of you go back and get the car when the garage have eventuality fixed it.

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 08/08/2022 09:51

I hate to say this, but get a second opinion and take what the French say with caution. This is after parents having a holiday home there for past 20 years and their friends living there too.

Sometimes they'll overcharge you for a cheaper job (because you're English), sometimes they'll think because you don't understand if you don't speak French that well, they can fleece you or tell you something needs the wrong thing fixed, they'll do that. Unless you know someone French who knows a good mechanic etc. And most mechanics will be on 'les vacs' now.

Second a PP's suggestion of hire car through supermarkets, much better value than the usual hire companies.

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 08/08/2022 09:52

AlisonDonut · 08/08/2022 09:35

It's August. It is holiday time here. It's too damn hot to work in the day let alone come in specifically for a British family who forgot to get insurance.

Show quote history

Agreed, never never forget insurance abroad!

bestbefore · 08/08/2022 09:54

Have you got travel insurance? Or have you checked your car insurance?

Fuuuuuckit · 08/08/2022 09:56

I broke down in France (no European breakdown cover either) and it cost me nearly £400 to be recovered off the motorway, and then to a garage (no more than 15 miles altogether). I can't imagine how much it would cost to be towed to Dover.

On a 6 year old car I'd get a second opinion about getting it fixed (not at a main dealer either), then scrapped, then coming home on the train. You might be able to recoup some of the travel costs through your travel insurance as your means of transport is kaput.

InTheShadeOfTheFigTree · 08/08/2022 09:56

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 08/08/2022 09:51

I hate to say this, but get a second opinion and take what the French say with caution. This is after parents having a holiday home there for past 20 years and their friends living there too.

Sometimes they'll overcharge you for a cheaper job (because you're English), sometimes they'll think because you don't understand if you don't speak French that well, they can fleece you or tell you something needs the wrong thing fixed, they'll do that. Unless you know someone French who knows a good mechanic etc. And most mechanics will be on 'les vacs' now.

Second a PP's suggestion of hire car through supermarkets, much better value than the usual hire companies.

Our experience certainly doesn't chime with this, but maybe it's the case if you are in an area with a lot of holiday homes?

Our mechanic is brilliant, super cheap and will do anything he can to help you out.

As I said OP, if you can intimate roughly where you are, you never know, someone might have a bit of local knowledge.

AndreaC74 · 08/08/2022 10:02

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 08/08/2022 09:51

I hate to say this, but get a second opinion and take what the French say with caution. This is after parents having a holiday home there for past 20 years and their friends living there too.

Sometimes they'll overcharge you for a cheaper job (because you're English), sometimes they'll think because you don't understand if you don't speak French that well, they can fleece you or tell you something needs the wrong thing fixed, they'll do that. Unless you know someone French who knows a good mechanic etc. And most mechanics will be on 'les vacs' now.

Second a PP's suggestion of hire car through supermarkets, much better value than the usual hire companies.

Not my experience.

Whatever the issue, always found the French to be quick, honest and reliable.

Whereas i ve been ripped off by UK garages before.

JumpTheGun · 08/08/2022 10:07

Doesn’t help the OP at all but my car broke down in France, fortunately had bought European cover and they arranged everything for us including towing my car back to the UK to our local garage for repair.

We all make mistakes but breakdown cover is really necessary.

Grumpybutfunny · 08/08/2022 10:13

Where in France are you? Might be cheaper to post on the local Facebook groups for Dover for recovery guys to come collect you and take it back to the UK. Then you can go as foot passengers on the ferry plus arrange repair in the UK.

AndreaC74 · 08/08/2022 10:14

@JumpTheGun who did you use? RAC didn't have a clue and we ended up doing all the running around inc getting it repaired.

RAC said they didn't know how to get car back to UK, as a recovery truck wouldn't be able to cross the channel and the ferry company wouldn't allow a broken down vehicle on the boat with no means to get it off at the other end if a tow truck wasn't available at the UK end.

So said i'd have to come back for it, which they'd only give a small amount towards.

JumpTheGun · 08/08/2022 10:20

AndreaC74 · 08/08/2022 10:14

@JumpTheGun who did you use? RAC didn't have a clue and we ended up doing all the running around inc getting it repaired.

RAC said they didn't know how to get car back to UK, as a recovery truck wouldn't be able to cross the channel and the ferry company wouldn't allow a broken down vehicle on the boat with no means to get it off at the other end if a tow truck wasn't available at the UK end.

So said i'd have to come back for it, which they'd only give a small amount towards.

AA I think. Going back quite a few years now (definitely pre-Brexit). We were close to Calais (on our way back to the ferry) - a tow-truck came to pick us up, it then got towed by a port vehicle onto the ferry, towed off, and then put onto another tow truck that was waiting for us on the other side. We literally did nothing other then make the first phone call.

maddy68 · 08/08/2022 10:26

Hire a car in France for your holiday.

Get a second opinion on the car what did they say was the issue?

Get on with holiday.

notimagain · 08/08/2022 10:34

Another resident who has to say we've generally found French mechanics fine and helpful....but you'll struggle getting most anything done this time of year.

Wherever you are labour isn't cheap

RB68 · 08/08/2022 10:35

I would say hire a small car for getting around there whilst away, then for coming home split luggage with family and use small car to get to Ferry and hire car from ferry port in UK collect luggage from family at port with car and drive home. If covered by breakdown company get them to sort.