Annual European breakdown cover
Breaking down is the last thing you need when driving abroad. Call our 24/7 English-speaking helpline and we’ll get help as soon as possible. If your vehicle can be repaired, you'll be on your way. If not, we'll give you money towards repairs, or help with emergency accommodation or the cost of continuing your journey.
European roadside assistance in 48 countries
24/7 English-speaking helpline
In France, we’ll get to you within 46 minutes on average.
Unlimited trips per year, up to 90 days each trip
Choose your long term European breakdown cover
We offer two types of long term European breakdown cover for travelling to Europe all year round. See how they compare below.
RAC Comprehensive
For less than £120
RAC Comprehensive Plus
For less than £195
Above prices are based on European breakdown annual cover, in a vehicle up to 4 years old, travelling in zone 1.
What is annual European breakdown cover?
Annual European breakdown cover means you’ll be covered for all the trips you make to Europe during a year – up to 90 days per trip. It’s ideal for people who drive to Europe regularly, as it can work out cheaper than buying cover every time you go.
With our multi-trip European breakdown cover, you’re covered in 48 countries. This means you’ll be covered throughout Europe all year round, saving you the hassle of arranging European breakdown cover for every trip. All you need to do is choose the zones you require at the checkout.
And if you break down while you’re away, you’ll have access to a 24/7 English-speaking helpline and roadside assistance. Choose Comprehensive Plus to get the best cover in the market1.
What’s included with annual European breakdown cover?
Exactly what’s included with annual European breakdown cover depends on the level of cover you choose. No matter what, you’ll have access to our 24/7 English-speaking helpline and emergency help at the roadside – so you know you won’t be left stranded. Here’s what else you can get:
- Roadside assistance in Europe. If you break down, a recovery vehicle will come to your rescue and fix you at the roadside or get you to a nearby garage.
- Garage labour costs. If you’re taken to a garage for repair, you’ll be covered for up to £1,000 of labour costs if repairs are completed within 7 working hours. Parts aren’t included.
- Alternative travel or accommodation. If your vehicle’s in the garage, we cover up to £1,500 for your hire car or £500 towards hotel with Comprehensive cover. With Comprehensive Plus, we’ll cover up to £4,200 for your hire car and hotel.
- Getting you and your vehicle home (or ‘repatriation’). If your vehicle can’t be fixed before you’re due to go back to the UK, we can help get you and your vehicle back home (as long as it’s not beyond economical repair).
- Roadside assistance in the UK. If you break down in the UK and can’t be fixed before you’re due to leave, you can get a hire car to continue your trip to Europe.
Which countries are covered with annual European breakdown cover?
RAC European Breakdown Annual Cover is available in 48 countries across the continent. These countries are split into Zone 1, Zone 2 and Zone 3.
We also cover the offshore islands of all the countries within this zone.
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).
We also cover the offshore islands of all the countries within this zone.
What vehicles are covered with annual European breakdown cover?
Annual European breakdown cover is available for any vehicle of any age, as long as it’s registered in the UK. Just keep in mind that classic cars, minivans, light vans, motorhomes and minibuses must be less than 3.5 tonnes, 7.0 metres long including a tow bar, 2.55 metres wide and 3 metres high. Motorbikes must be over 121cc. We don’t cover mobility scooters. Our long term European breakdown cover is suitable for:
Cars
Motorcycles
Motorhomes
Minibuses
If you have a vehicle that is bigger than the sizes above, take a look at our specialist campervan, caravan and motorhome European breakdown cover.
Do I need annual or single trip European breakdown cover?
Whether you need annual or single trip cover depends on how often you drive to Europe, and how long you’re going away for.
Annual European breakdown cover is best if you drive to Europe multiple times in a year, as it usually works out cheaper per trip. You’ll be covered for unlimited trips during the year, for up to 90 days per trip.
Single trip European breakdown cover is usually best for one-off trips to Europe. You can buy cover for a trip lasting from one day up to 180 days.
Things to consider with annual European breakdown cover
What’s covered and what’s not depends on the level of cover you choose. So, make sure you check the terms and conditions before you buy. Here are a few things you should keep in mind with annual European breakdown cover.
- Each trip is limited to a maximum of 90 days. With annual European cover, you’re covered for unlimited journeys during your policy – but each trip is limited to a maximum of 90 days.
- There may be a claim limit. With Comprehensive Plus, you can make as many claims as you need per year. With Comprehensive you can make up to 3 claims per year, with a maximum of 1 claim per trip.
- The cost of parts isn’t covered. If we can’t repair your vehicle at the roadside, we’ll contribute towards garage labour costs and cover the cost of diagnosing the fault. But the cost of parts isn’t included.
- 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.
- Your vehicle. The age, make and model of your vehicle can affect the cost of your cover, but we do offer European breakdown cover for older cars.
- Reason for your trip. Our standard annual cover covers you when travelling for leisure. Travelling to Europe for business? Take a look at our European business breakdown cover.
Why choose the RAC?
5 Star Defaqto rating
We have a 5 Star Defaqto rating for both our Comprehensive and Comprehensive Plus cover.
We cover 48 countries
That’s more than most other providers.
Cover any vehicle
This includes classic cars, motorbikes, minibuses and minivans, of any age.
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FAQs
When choosing your cover, look at which countries you’re covered in. We’ve split countries into Zone 1, Zone 2 and Zone 3, to help you choose the right cover for you. You can choose which zones you’d like to be covered in when buying your policy.
A European breakdown cover annual policy covers you for all trips you might take in Europe during your year of cover – for trips up to 90 days. There’s no upper limit – you’re covered for breakdowns in Europe for 12 months from the date your policy starts.
The best annual European breakdown cover is the one that’s most suited to your needs. With unlimited European roadside assistance, a contribution towards labour costs as standard, and a 24/7 English-speaking helpline, we think ours is the best cover on the market. But to see for yourself, why not visit our European breakdown cover comparison page.
If you’re travelling to Europe for business, you’ll need to buy European business breakdown cover. Our European business cover means you can cover your fleet abroad, with cover in 48 countries and unlimited number of claims (each with a £2500 claim limit).
Your myRAC membership means you’re covered anywhere in the UK (and in the Republic of Ireland, if you live in Northern Ireland). But if you’re driving anywhere else in Europe, you’ll need separate RAC European Breakdown Cover to make sure you can get help if you break down.
With Comprehensive European breakdown cover, you’re covered in the UK for 48 hours before you’re due to leave for your trip. With Comprehensive Plus cover, you’ll get 7 days unlimited roadside assistance before you depart and 2 days roadside assistance with our Comprehensive cover (as long as you’re over ¼ a mile from home on both cover levels). If you’re looking for longer cover in the UK, check out our UK breakdown cover here.
If your car is UK-registered, you can keep it in most European countries for up to 6 months in any period of 12 months, without re-registering it.
But rules vary, so it’s worth checking for the specific countries you’re travelling to. Find out what you’ll need to know for each European country.
Page reviewed by: Andy Baker