Enjoy your European adventure

Cover from £6 a day*

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Price for 1 day cover for up to 9 people travelling in a vehicle up to 1 year old in Zone 1.

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European Breakdown Cover

What is European breakdown cover?

European breakdown cover is a must if you're planning to drive your vehicle to a European country. In taking out cover you can rest assured that if your vehicle breaks down in mainland Europe help will be at hand. In the event of a breakdown, your vehicle can be fixed at the roadside or taken to a local garage for repair. It’s reassuring to know you can call for English-speaking help 24/7 and if your vehicle can’t be fixed before you go back to the UK, your European cover can help you and your vehicle get back home too. 

So, if you’re planning a European adventure, we offer flexible cover to suit you. Just take your pick from single trip or annual cover – and we’ll cover any vehicle of any age. You can get European roadside assistance and recovery in up to 49 countries. And if you choose our top level of cover, comprehensive plus you’ll have complete peace of mind knowing you’ve got the best cover in the market.

24/7 English-speaking helpline

Defaqto 5 Star Comprehensive & Comprehensive Plus cover

The BEST cover in the market1

Here's why RAC Comprehensive Plus is the best European breakdown cover in the market1

We're the only provider to cover all costs for roadside assistance in Europe.

You'll get a hire car and accommodation while your vehicle's being repaired – and we give you more to spend on both than anyone else.

We're the only provider to cover all costs to get your vehicle back home (as long as it's not beyond economical repair).

Standard

From £6*

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  • Up to £1,250 roadside assistance in Europe
  • We’ll pay up to £150 garage labour costs2
  • Up to £400 accommodation expenses or up to £400 to continue your journey
  • Up to £500 or the market value if lower, to get your vehicle back to the UK, providing your vehicle is not beyond economical repair
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defaqto five star rating

Comprehensive

From £7*

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  • Unlimited roadside assistance in Europe
  • We’ll pay up to £150 garage labour costs2
  • Up to £500 accommodation expenses or up to £1,500 to continue your journey
  • We’ll pay up to the market value of your vehicle to get it back to the UK, providing your vehicle is not beyond economical repair
  • UK roadside assistance up to the value of £300, 48 hours before your departure date
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defaqto five star rating

BEST cover1

Comprehensive Plus

From £9*

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  • Unlimited roadside assistance in Europe
  • We’ll pay up to £1,000 garage labour costs**
  • Up to £1,200 accommodation expenses and up to £3,000 to continue your journey
  • We’ll pay to get your vehicle back to the UK if it can’t be fixed, providing your vehicle is not beyond economical repair
  • Unlimited UK roadside assistance, 7 days before your departure date^
  • Replacement tickets if you miss your pre-booked train or ferry^^
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How can we help you?

Do you know the French for flat battery? (it's batterie à plat)

We have been helping motorists in Europe for over 120 years so we know how stressful it can be when your car breaks down. It can be even worse when it is in a different country where you may not be able to speak the language.


  1. An experienced case handler to manage your breakdown from start to finish
  2. Our technical experts will liaise with the garage to ensure you only pay for repairs you need
  3. We will cover the costs of dispatch for any replacement parts - please note we will not pay for the costs of the parts
  4. Average time to attend in France was 44 minutes†
  5. 56% of all breakdown in Europe are dealt with on the same day†
  6. 93% of all breakdowns in France attended within 60 minutes†
  7. We repair 55% of all breakdowns at the Roadside in France†
  8. English speaking incident managers on call 24/7 to help manage the repairs, towing and if needs be alternative travel or accommodation arrangements
  9. Up to 18 different languages spoken by our team 

Based on breakdown data collected between January 2018 and March 2019 on service levels in Europe

How does European cover work?


Your guide to European breakdown cover

Breaking down is the last thing you want when driving in another country – but taking out European breakdown cover brings peace of mind that help is at hand 24/7. It’s good to know you can call our English-speaking helpline anytime, so you can focus on what really matters: enjoying your adventure.  

We offer European cover for any vehicle – whether it’s a classic car, motorbike, minivan or minibus. And unlike other providers, it doesn’t matter how old your vehicle is – we’ll cover it regardless. You can take your pick from two types of cover, depending on how often you’ll be driving in mainland Europe:

  • Single trip: This is short-term cover for a single tripfrom a minimum of just one day up to a maximum of 180 days cover.
  • Annual cover: This covers you for any trips you take to mainland Europe in a year. It can save you money if you’re a regular driver to Europe. 

What’s included in European breakdown cover?

Breaking down is the last thing you want when driving in another country – but taking out European breakdown cover brings peace of mind that help is at hand 24/7. It’s good to know you can call our English-speaking helpline anytime, so you can focus on what really matters: enjoying your adventure.  

We offer European cover for any vehicle – whether it’s a classic car, motorbike, minivan or minibus. And unlike other providers, it doesn’t matter how old your vehicle is – we’ll cover it regardless. You can take your pick from two types of cover, depending on how often you’ll be driving in mainland Europe:

  • Single trip: This is short-term cover for a single tripfrom a minimum of just one day up to a maximum of 180 days cover.
  • Annual cover: This covers you for any trips you take to mainland Europe in a year. It can save you money if you’re a regular driver to Europe. 

How much does European breakdown cover cost?

How much you’ll pay for your European cover can depend on:

  • Your level of cover: We offer 3 levels of cover: Standard, Comprehensive and Comprehensive Plus. The higher the level of cover, the more protection you’ll have, and the more it will cost. 
  • How long you’re away for: Single trips costs less than annual cover3. But if you’re a regular driver in mainland Europe, annual cover can save you money in the long run.
  • Where you’re going: We’ve split countries into 3 zones and how much your cover costs depends on which zone (or zones) you’re driving in. Find out more.
  • Your vehicle: The age, make and model of your vehicle can affect the cost of your European cover. This is because of the cost of repairs and parts vary from vehicle to vehicle. 

What happens if you break down without European cover?

If you break down without European cover, you’ll need to find a recovery company to tow you, and garage you can trust to fix your car. And you’ll have to cover all recovery, labour and repair costs yourself. If your vehicle can’t be fixed before you’re due to travel back to the UK, you’ll also need to cover the cost of getting you and your vehicle back home. And the further away from home you are, the more this will cost.

What to do if you break down in Europe

  • Pull over safely. Make sure you’re away from traffic or on the hard shoulder.
  • Get out of your vehicle. Keep a safe distance from moving traffic.
  • Call for assistance. Tell us your location and we’ll talk you through what happens next.

Already broken down? Contact us for assistance

United Kingdom
inc. Northern Ireland

0333 2000 999

Pay call

Republic of Ireland

1 800 535005

Freephone from a landline

France & Monaco

0800 942044

Freephone from a landline

Rest of Europe

0033 472435244

Pay call

Things you need to know when travelling in Europe

There are a number of requirements that you may not be aware of when driving in Europe, so we’ve created article on all the things you need to remember to take with you in a handy checklist with 20 top tips to help you be prepared before you depart on your trip. 

The top 10 best road trips in Europe

If you're looking for a European getaway look no further than our ten best road trips, complete with essential need-to-know advice for your holiday

Find out more   

21st May 2019

Driving abroad? Be prepared.

Find out why it is important to take out European breakdown cover before you go on a driving holiday abroad.

Find out more

30th May 2019

Driving in the EU in the event of a no-deal Brexit

Everything you need to know about driving in the EU in the event of a no-deal Brexit

Find out more   

12th Mar 2019

RAC European Breakdown Cover

RAC European Breakdown Cover provides you with peace of mind and comprehensive single-trip or annual cover you can rely on during your holidays.

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Which countries are covered?

RAC European Breakdown Cover is available in 49 countries – that’s more than most other providers. These countries are split into Zone 1, Zone 2 and Zone 3, so you can easily select the right cover for you and your trip. 

Click on a country to read a guide to local driving laws, travel advice, parking regulations, fuel availability and more.

We also have resources that go into more detail about our European breakdown cover offerings in France, Spain, Germany and Ireland.

  Andorra
  Germany
  The Netherlands
  Belgium
  Luxembourg
  Republic of Ireland
  France
  Monaco

We also cover the offshore islands of all the countries within this zone.

Show countries on a map
Zone 2 (includes Spain & Italy)
  Austria
  Denmark
  Finland
  Gibraltar
  Italy
  Liechtenstein
  Norway
  Portugal
  San Marino
  Spain
  Sweden
  Switzerland
  Vatican City

We also cover the offshore islands of the countries within this zone, with the exception of Ceuta, Melilla or the Canary Islands (Spanish off-shore Islands).

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Zone 3 (includes Poland & Greece)
  Albania
  Armenia
  Azerbaijan
  Belarus
  Bosnia Herzegovina
  Bulgaria
  Croatia
  Cyprus (South)
  Czech Republic
  Estonia
  Georgia
  Greece
  Hungary
Kosovo
  Latvia
  Lithuania
  Macedonia
  Malta
  Moldova
  Montenegro
  Poland
  Romania
  Russian mainland (west of Urals)
  Serbia
  Slovakian Republic
  Slovenia
  Turkey (in Europe) plus Uskudar
  Ukraine

We also cover the offshore islands of all the countries within this zone.

Show countries on a map
European driving and travel advice

Both our breakdown cover and advice is comprehensive: select your destination and read through the tailored motoring information and advice on offer

  

This essential guide will cover the basics of your road trip, as well as giving you recommendations on some of the best drives to visit on your journey

  

Take advantage of our Breakdown Cover and explore the UK and Europe, and the unrivalled landscapes, by car

  

Buying European Breakdown Cover

Suffering car problems is problematic at the best of times, but the situation can feel much worse far away from home. If you're driving outside the UK, you need to be covered for specific European vehicle breakdown, so that you can benefit from European roadside assistance and European roadside recovery.

Even if you have UK breakdown cover in place, you shouldn't just assume that your vehicle has the same level of place abroad as at home. If you're planning on driving in Europe - taking a holiday in France or Spain, for example - you should make sure you have cover. If not, it's time to start looking up European breakdown policies. You can read more about the need for European breakdown cover here.

Q. What level of European breakdown cover do I need?

If you're a regular driver in several different European countries, then you might consider taking out an annual policy which you can add as an optional extra alongside your annual UK breakdown cover. It's comprehensive, covering vehicles that have broken down at the roadside as well as being recovered to a nearby local garage - so that's European roadside assistance and European roadside recovery taken care of.

We also provide cover for short visits or day trips which you can explore on our single trip page

Q. What countries are included in RAC European breakdown cover?

You'll struggle to find many European breakdown policies that are as comprehensive in its coverage. This policy provides European vehicle breakdown cover in 48 countries in continental Europe.

Of course, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Portugal and Belgium are included, as is the Republic of Ireland. But this policy also covers European breakdowns in a range of other countries, including Albania, Armenia, Gibraltar, Moldova, Macedonia, Serbia and many more. This means drivers will have access to European recovery services in virtually every country.

Q. Can I find cheap European breakdown cover?

You can - the RAC has flexible options so you can, if you wish, just get relatively cheap European breakdown cover for two weeks in France during the summer, for example. This allows you to tailor your breakdown cover exactly for your requirements, selecting the dates of your travel, the number of the people in the vehicle, and the European areas you'll be driving in. Cover will obviously be cheaper for a family of four spending a week in France than a football team touring several European countries for a month.

Q. Can I just get cover for a family holiday in Europe?

Yes, as cover is available on a single trip basis as well as annually. The RAC has three different policies, so you can compare European breakdown cover across these variations. Standard starts from just £6, Comprehensive is from £7 and the price of Comprehensive Plus begins at £9. Our RAC Comprehensive Plus policy has a Defaqto 5 Star rating, and includes garage labour costs up to £1,000 and unlimited emergency European roadside assistance and repair.

Q. Are all countries covered by all RAC European breakdown policies?

They are in our most comprehensive annual European breakdown policies. But we also allow motorists to pick and choose only the countries they will be driving in, and divide these countries into zones. Zone 1 covers France, Belgium, Monaco, the Republic of Ireland, Netherlands, Andorra, Germany and Luxembourg; Zone 2 includes Spain, Italy and others. Zone 3 includes Poland, Greece, Ukraine and the Russian mainland.

Think carefully before taking out European roadside recovery - if you're visiting a country once for a short period, it makes sense to look at specific European personal cover. If you're visiting several countries more than once during a period of time, an annual policy, offering excellent all-round European roadside assistance, could well be worth it.

Q. Will European breakdown cover help to get my car back to the UK?
If required, our European breakdown policies can help to get your car safely back to the UK - or repatriation, in other words. Again, there are different levels of cover depending on your policy. Standard has vehicle repatriation cover of up to £500, Comprehensive has cover up to the market value of the insured vehicle, and Comprehensive Plus has unlimited cover. This is providing your vehicle is not beyond economical repair.
Q. What vehicles are eligible for European Cover?

We insure most vehicles types and we also cover vehicles that are towing caravans or trailers so long as they meet the following criteria. The insured vehicle must be one of the following and must be permanently registered in the United Kingdom, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man as a private vehicle: car, motorcycle 121cc or over, motor caravan, motor home, minibus fitted with not more than 17 seats including driver, light van, estate car, MPV, or 4x4 sport utility vehicle.

The vehicle must also have:

  • A maximum legal laden weight of 3,500kg (3.5 tonnes). This weight is called the Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM)
  • Maximum overall dimensions of: length 7m; height 3m; width 2.55m (all including any load carried).

  • If your vehicle is over the size specified above, RAC Arrival might best suit your needs.

Please refer to the Terms and Conditions for further details.

Whether you're popping to Paris or setting off for a two-week stay in Spain, we have flexible cover options to suit you.

  

Find out what the RAC offers that the AA and Green Flag don't

  

Read the praise we have received from our customers regarding our European Breakdown Cover

  

For more information about our European Breakdown Cover please refer to our Insurance Product Information Document or our Terms & Conditions

  

PDF

Download and complete a claim form within 90 days of your planned return date

  

Dont' let anything spoil your break. Single Trip European Breakdown Cover from RAC covers you for breakdowns, roadside assistance & more - all from just £6.

  

If you’re heading for Belgium and the Netherlands and planning to drive, it’s important you know the rules of the road and have breakdown cover in place.

  

If you’re driving in Germany, it’s important that you have European Breakdown Cover in place to provide roadside recovery and assistance should you need it.

  

If you’re planning on driving in France, then you need to be prepared - here’s the RAC guide to European Breakdown Cover and rules of the road.

  

Before driving in Spain, prepare properly by understanding the road rules, checking your vehicle and arranging the right level of breakdown cover.

  

If you’re planning on driving in Italy, then you need to be prepared - here’s the RAC guide to European Breakdown Cover and rules of the road.

  

If you’re planning on driving in the Republic of Ireland, then you need to be prepared - here’s our guide to European Breakdown Cover.

  
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03 numbers are charged at national call rates and included in inclusive minute plans from landlines and mobiles. Calls may be monitored and/or recorded.

Full terms and conditions apply.

Maximum benefits payable under the policy - please read the terms and conditions policy booklet for details. Additional cover available in some areas upon payment of an additional premium.

* Price for 1 day cover for up to 9 people travelling in a vehicle up to 1 year old in Zone 1.

1 Comparison based on RAC Comprehensive Plus European Breakdown cover against the top level of cover from other major providers as of 05.02.2019. For full details visit  rac.co.uk/eurocompare

2 If repairs can be completed within the same working day.

3 This comparison based on the purchase of TWO single trip Comprehensive Plus policies, for a 1-year-old vehicle, to zone 1, for 14 days, up to 9 people travelling, and not towing. The cost of these two single trip policies is £135.92 (£67.96 each) – compared to an annual Comprehensive Plus policy, which costs £117. 35.

** If repairs can be completed within 7 working hours.

^ Unless a breakdown occurs within a ¼ of a mile from your home

^^ Up to 3 missed connections, if the delay is caused by a breakdown

† Based on breakdown data collected between January 2018 and March 2019 on service levels in Europe

RAC European Breakdown cover arranged and administered by RAC Financial Services Limited (Registered No 05171817) and provided by RAC Insurance Ltd (Registered No 2355834). Registered in England; Registered Offices: RAC House, Brockhurst Crescent, Walsall WS5 4AW. RAC Financial Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in respect of insurance mediation activities. RAC Insurance Ltd is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

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