What should I do? How should I get back from Barnsley to Hampshire after car prang

[User63847439572]

Sorry posting in this topic for traffic

came to visit friends for weekend (myself and 3dc) set off this morning and has minor accident going into back of someone v soon after setting off. That was at 11am.
car is undriveable as coolant has all leaked out,
called RAC and insurance.
RAC are sending a recovery truck and said we can travel with it. Drive is about 4 hours.
they initially said 1pm, now it’s 4.-4.30pm hopefully.

recovery company have said they won’t take us the whole way, only to Watford Gap where they’ll be asking RAC to arrange another recovery truck from. There might be a wait there.

insurance company say we’re not covered for help getting home and even if we were would just be reimbursed.

uber is coming up at about £360 but doubt anyone would pick it up anyway.

train doesn’t look feasible.

Potentially could ask someone to collect us from Watford gap (2.5 hrs from home) but it’s a lot to ask.

what would you do?
go with truck and risk a long wait at services?
think of another way to get home? Kids are 8-15yrs

I think the first sentence should be taken as a warning to others.

Depending on the level of cover you have, the recovery company may only take you to a local garage whereas with full cover you would have been taken home and the car to the garage of your choice or even a hire car.
This is why we have never been tempted to have roadside assistance added to our car insurance, our standalone cover ensures all vehicles (and drivers) in the household are fully covered.
I know many see it as an unnecessary expense but you don't know how much you would miss it until it happens to you.

Thank you yes we got home just before midnight!
and no not been put off at all 🤣

have learnt a lesson though that recovery drivers have to stay within a certain radius in order to be exempt from the rules about hours of driving or something. So if you’re being recovered a long way there will be relay/s and you’re better off getting home another way!

Watford Gap (motorway service station in the middle of nowhere on the M1) is a totally different place to Watford. The two places are nowhere near each other.

But your problem wasn't really the relay, it was the level of cover you had. If you had full cover then they would have taxied you home yesterday even if the car didn't arrive until today. I've had this before, it really is worth paying for the everything cover.

This is true
Don’t remember weighing up the options or my thoughts process around it but will definitely look at it at renewal