Help needed on breakdown cover for horsebox

[Mary Poppins]

This insurance/breakdown malarkey is confusing!!

I have paid for my insurance through Anthony Evans as they gave a good price and I was happy with the provider they found for me. However, finding good breakdown service is another matter.

I am a member of the AA, and this covers my horsebox because it is under 3.5 tonnes. Therefore, if I breakdown I can just call the AA and they will sort out the horsebox. However, I also need cover to rescue my horse because the AA do not deal with animals. The AA have given me a number to call for PRP Rescue Services as they work in conjunction with them, but after calling their phone number all day and getting no reply, I am getting fed up with them.

I can get breakdown cover through Anthony Evans and for my local trips this initially sounds very good (only £59). However, when you read the small print, it states that when possible they will tow the broken down box with your horse in it, rather than provide a new method of transport. I'm not sure that this is a good idea, but then again, for my short distances would it be OK. And it does avoid having to take the horse out of the box and loading it into something else.

Another alternative I can see is to join the Organisation of Horsebox Owners as they provides me with the most comprehensive cover (and also states that VOSA and DEFRA have announced it illegal to tow broken down horseboxes - the exact opposite of the policy above). This will cost £140. This provides cover nationally.

As I am only doing very short local trips, can anyone suggest an alternative. £140 sounds expensive, but I would pay it if necessary.

I did call NFU to get an insurance quote, but they basically told me to go with Anthony Evans because there was no way they could beat that price. I even told them that they company had been very well recommended and asked them to tell me what their company provided me over and above the cheaper company. However, they wouldn't even give me a quote because they said it was a waste of time quoting me if I was just going to take the cheaper quote. Very strange. I felt like they couldn't wait to get rid of me. Now I haven't got NFU insurance, I don't think that I can access their breakdown cover.

Any advice is welcome. I am totally confused! (and my lorry is arriving in 2 hours!!)

 

[eml]

PRP/OHTO are the same people. We use them and have had fantastic service but they are not cheap . If however you are only going to be travelling within a limited mileage I think they have special cover for that for a lot less! So far we have them replace a tyre and restart when lorry died at a motorway service area, not needed horse off although they always ask how many may need transport etc. The thing that might make them unsuitable for you however is that they do not cover you within 1 mile of your base. We use a local HGV towing company for that if needed having first removed the horses ourselves.

Anthony Evans covered a friend of ours and she was horrified to be towed at an angle with the horse still on board. You may find there are local firms that provide limited mileage rescue.

 

[diplomaticandtactful]

we have used PRP for a number of years and had no problems with them, but ours is a car/trailer, so we have rac for the car, and prp for the trailer and its contents....

 

[eml]

I think NFU are better with bigger lorries , people with HGV/class c/c1 type licences , its a pity however as their included recovery is actually provided by PRP though not as inclusive as that under the OHTO/PRP banner!

You need to look closely at what you do, if only travelling locally where friends could rescue your horses RAC/AA towing cover may be acceptable.

 

[Mary Poppins]

Thanks for the advice. I won't be going much further than 5 miles at most before Christmas, and even after that I doubt I will ever drive much further than 15 miles away in total. I think that I might go for the Anthony Evans insurance as a back up to rescue my horse if I am absolutely stuck, but I am sure I could find someone to pick him up in a lorry rather than have him towed while still in the trailer.

My lorry has arrived and it is just fantastic. I am so excited about going places, but also apprehensive about driving it. I felt this way when I first got Ben and the answer then was to take a deep breath and get on him. I think I need to take the same attitude with the lorry - just get on and drive it.

 

[juliecwuk]

We have the RAC cover for the car (free with my bank) and the additional Horse Trailer Assist for the trailer...but not sure if thats an option for a horse lorry?

Think its a sensible option having some cover, but as you say im sure you can get someone to fetch Ben if the need ever arises, to avoid him being towed in a lorry at an angle.

And with regards to the lorry, you will be understandably anxious the first few times, but before you know it you will be fine! i am so pleased you found a lorry so quickly, you are going to LOVE having transport piccies of your first outing please!!