European Breakdown Cover

European Breakdown cover is now harder to get for S1s - being 16 years or older - and can be prohibitively expensive. If you drive over to Europe two or three time a year, and particularly if you use more than one car (for example: Summer in the Lotus, Winter in the family bus) then a pretty cost effective method is to become an ADAC Plus member. As of June 2016 it cost €88 per year and is member-centric, like the AA. So you don't have to provide vehicle details to sign up and you're covered whatever you're driving.

Signing up is easy -

1) Send and email to service@adac.de asking to become a member. Here's the text I sent:

Hi,

I am interested in taking ADAC Plus membership starting from the <date>.

My Name is <name>, and my address is

<address 1> <address 2> <county> <postcode> <Country>

Many thanks in advance for your kind attention

<name>

Hallo,

Ich interessiere mich für Einnahme ADAC Plus-Mitgliedschaft ab dem <date> beginnen .

Mein Name ist <name>, und meine Adresse ist

<address 1> <address 2> <county> <postcode> <Country>

Vielen Dank im Voraus für Ihre Aufmerksamkeit

<name>

2) You'll get an email like this:

Dear Mr. Vincent,

thank you for your message and interest in joining ADAC.

Please note that the ADAC (Plus) membership provides a reduced range of services and benefits for members residing outside Germany. The classic membership covers breakdown assistance in Germany only.

ADAC Plus members will not be entitled to benefits such as spare parts dispatch, vehicle customs duties and scrapping, credits and cash service in Germany and in their country of residence.

In view of the above, would you please verify whether a local organisation offers a product that better suits your needs.

Under the FIA umbrella organisation, ADAC cooperates with other automobile clubs. We believe that your local automobile club might offer products that provide more comprehensive protection.

Please do not hesitate to get back to us with any questions.

Sincerely yours

Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club e. V. (ADAC e. V.) Mitgliederservice Mitgliedschaft+Versicherungen Tel.: 0 89 76 76 66 32 Fax: 0 89 76 76 63 46 http://www.adac.de/impressum

3) Just reply thus:

Hi,

I already have UK breakdown cover for the UK through <your breakdown provider> – but need European breakdown cover for our numerous trips into Europe through the year. I am happy that the reduced service levels still meet my needs, and ADAC’s price and reputation is why I am seeking cover from you.

Please let me know what happens next 

Best regards

<Name>

Hallo,

Ich habe bereits in Großbritannien Pannenschutz für das Vereinigte Königreich durch <your breakdown provider> - aber brauchen europäische Pannenschutz für unsere zahlreichen Reisen in Europa durch das Jahr. Ich bin froh, dass die reduzierten Service-Levels meine Bedürfnisse noch gerecht zu werden, und ADAC Preis und die Reputation ist , warum ich Abdeckung von Ihnen suche .

Bitte lassen Sie mich wissen, was als nächstes passiert 

Freundliche Grüße

<Name>

4) You'll get an email like this:

Sehr geehrter Herr Vincent,

vielen Dank für Ihre Nachricht.

Wir haben für Sie unter der Mitgliedsnummer 473983044 nun eine ADAC Plus-Mitgliedschaft ausgestellt. Die Unterlagen und die Rechnung dazu erhalten Sie in Kürze auf dem Postweg.

Bei Fragen stehen wir Ihnen gerne zur Verfügung.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club e. V. (ADAC e. V.) Mitgliederservice Mitgliedschaft+Versicherungen Tel.: 0 89 76 76 66 32 Fax: 0 89 76 76 63 46 http://www.adac.de/impressum

Which is giving you your membership number and that the card and payment details are in the post.

5)When the documentation arrives, it's all in German (surprise surprise). To pay, I sent the following email:

Hallo,

Ich habe jetzt meine Mitgliedskarte und Zahlungsanforderung erhalten - können Sie mir bitte sagen, die einfachste Möglichkeit, die Zahlung von Großbritannien zu machen?

Ich kann Kreditkarte , Debitkarte oder per Online-Banking bezahlen - ist es am besten, dies telefonisch tun oder können Sie mir Einzelheiten für Sie bitte die Online-Zahlung zu machen?

freundliche Grüße

<name>

Hi,

I have now received my membership card and payment request - can you please tell me the easiest way to make the payment from Great Britain?

I can pay be credit card, debit card or by online banking - is it best to do this by phone or can you provide me details for making the online payment please?

best regards

<name>

6) In return, they will send you an email like this:

Dear <name>,

thank you for your inquiry.

You can pay your ADAC dues by credit card. We accept VISA and MasterCard. Please mail the return section below, for privacy purposes in a closed envelope, to:

ADAC e.V. Mitgliederservice MVZ/MZ2 81014 München

or fax it to: +49 89 7676 4355

or e-mail to: beitrag.kreditkarte@adac.de

As soon as we have your reply we will charge the amount specified to your credit card.

Sincerely yours ________________________________________ Member no./Mitgliedsnummer: <membership number> <unique reference> ADAC e.V., Mitgliederservice MVZ/MZ2, 81014 München, Deutschland • please print -

Please charge the amount below to my

( ) VISA ( ) MasterCard

Amount: _____________________________ €, credit card no.: ______/______/______/______

3-digit card verification no: ________________ Expiration date: _____/_____ (in the card's signature field)

Cardholder's name: _____________________________________________________________

Date, cardholder's signature: ______________________________________________________

Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club e. V. (ADAC e. V.) Mitgliederservice Mitgliedschaft+Versicherungen Tel.: 0 89 76 76 66 32 Fax: 0 89 76 76 63 46 http://www.adac.de/impressum

7) Complete the form, scan it, then email it to the indicated email address and a day later you'll get a confirmation email saying it's all done.

SIMPLES! Hope this has been of some use....all of the German I used was straight out of Google translate, no need to be multilingual. I've read in loads of places on t'internet that ADAC have a number of excellent English speaking phone staff - just use the opening gambit "Sprichst du Englisch?" and you should be fine.