Planning a European road trip or driving abroad while on holiday? Whatever the reason, if you’re driving in Europe, having breakdown cover in place should be something you seriously consider. If you have UK breakdown cover already, you should be aware that this won’t cover you outside of the country. You will need to have separate European breakdown cover – which could prove invaluable if you break down at the roadside of an unfamiliar motorway.
Both the RAC and the AA offer breakdown cover in Europe. Let’s take a look at what type of cover each provides.
Contents:
Comparing European breakdown cover reviews
Type of European breakdown cover
European Countries where cover applies
Cover – what’s included?
Comparing European Breakdown Cover Reviews
Customer recommendation can be a powerful influencer when it comes to assessing the quality and trust of a breakdown provider – perhaps it’s the strongest endorsement of all. Both the RAC and AA are reviewed and rated on Trustpilot, from people who have used the services of each respective provider. Scores can change on a daily basis as new reviews are added, and reviews are not exclusively related to AA European Breakdown Cover or RAC European Breakdown Cover but breakdown cover in general.
AA vs the RAC*
|
Cover Details: |
AA European cover |
RAC European cover |
|
If your vehicle breaks down and needs to be repatriated, we’ll cover all costs to get your vehicle home1 |
No |
Yes |
|
If your vehicle is being repaired we’ll pay £1,000 towards labour costs2 |
No |
Yes |
|
Whilst your vehicle is repaired we’ll cover the cost of accommodation3 |
Up to £500 |
Up to £1,200 |
|
We’ll also cover the cost of alternative transport up to £3,000 whilst your vehicle is repaired4 |
Up to £1,500 |
Up to £3,000 |
|
Broken down before you depart? We’ll provide roadside assistance before departure5 |
3 days |
7 days |
*Comparisons based on the top cover levels from the AA European Breakdown Cover and RAC Extra on 22/05/22. AA cover excludes the optional Parts and Labour benefit.
AA Terms & Conditions: https://www.theaa.com/~/media/the-aa/pdf/breakdown-cover/ebc-policy-booklet-current.pdf
RAC Terms & Conditions: https://www.rac.co.uk/pdfs/breakdown/ebc-web-ts-and-cs.pdf and here
1) Getting your car home (providing the vehicle is not beyond economical repair)
RAC Source: RAC terms and conditions page 8 and here
AA source: AA terms and conditions page 17
2) Garage labour costs included (providing the repairs are completed within 7 hours)
RAC Source: If repairs can be completed within 7 working hours. RAC terms and conditions page 7 and here
AA source: AA terms and conditions page 22
3) Accommodation expenses
RAC Source: RAC terms and conditions page 7, 8 and here
AA source: AA terms and conditions page 18
4) Expenses limit for alternative transport in Europe
RAC Source: RAC terms and conditions page 7, 8 and here
AA source: AA terms and conditions page 18
5) Breakdown cover in the UK (up to a ¼ mile from your home address)
RAC Source: RAC terms and conditions page 7 and here
AA source: AA terms and conditions page 16
Type of European breakdown cover
European breakdown cover is usually available in two different formats – single trip and annual cover. The difference is obvious. Single trip allows you to get cover for a specific trip, so it’s perfect if you’re driving on holiday and only need cover for a week. Single trip cover is available for just a day, so if you’re making a quick trip to France, for example, you can get cover just for that 24 hour period. This makes European breakdown cover flexible.
Annual cover, as the title suggests, covers you for the full year. So, if you drive frequently in Europe, making multiple trips, this might be a more cost effective option for you. It all comes down to personal preference and requirements.
Both the RAC and the AA offer single trip and annual cover policies for breakdown cover in Europe.
European countries where breakdown cover applies
Europe is a large continent, and different countries within it have different rules when it comes to road etiquette, speed limits, and laws. Something to be mindful of – as well as the fact that you won’t be automatically be covered in every single European country unless it is specified within your level of cover.
With the RAC and AA, you’ll find countries divided into set zones when it comes to breakdown cover. If you buy RAC or AA European breakdown cover, you can specify which zone you want cover for.
RAC cover 48 countries, AA only cover 47 countries:
RAC
Zone 1: Andorra, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, Republic of Ireland.
Zone 2: Austria, Denmark, Finland, Gibraltar, Italy, Liechtenstein, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain (with the exception of Ceuta, Melilla or the Canary Islands), Sweden, Switzerland, Vatican City.
Zone 3: 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, Serbia, Slovakian Republic, Slovenia, Turkey (in Europe plus Uskudar), Ukraine.
AA
Zone 1: Andorra, Belgium, Channel Islands, France, Germany, Isle of Man, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, Republic of Ireland.
Zone 2: Austria, Gibraltar, Italy, Liechtenstein, Portugal, San Marino, Spain (excluding Ceuta), Switzerland, Vatican City.
Zone 3: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine.
European breakdown cover – what’s included?
Prices and level of European breakdown cover will always be likely to fluctuate and change, depending on personal circumstances, vehicle being covered, and time and length of travel. But, it’s always useful to see what is included in your European breakdown cover policy – here’s a quick summary of what is typically included with both providers.
Remember, various levels of cover in terms of pricing will differ depending on your type of cover – the RAC’s European breakdown cover is available in two different formats – Standard and Extra – so you can tailor a package and a cost to your requirements. Use the information below as a guideline only.
Frequently asked questions
Does RAC European breakdown cover include repatriation of vehicles and passengers?
Yes. If you can’t drive your vehicle back to the UK, with Standard cover we’ll pay up to its market value to get it back. And with Extra, we’ll pay anything to get it back, as long as it isn’t beyond economical repair.
Does RAC European breakdown cover include garage labour costs?
It does – with Standard we’ll pay up to £150 garage labour costs (provided repairs are completed on the same working day) and with Extra it’s up to £1,000 (provided repairs are completed within 7 working hours).
Which is better the AA or the RAC?
With RAC European Breakdown Cover, we’ll cover the cost of labour if your car needs to be repaired in a garage (up to £1,000 with Extra, providing repairs are completed within 7 working hours). The AA make you add this as an extra. And on our top level of cover, you’ll get up to £3,000 to continue your journey and £1,200 accommodation expenses, versus £1,500 for travel and £500 for accommodation with the AA.
What level of European breakdown cover will I need?
It depends what you need. Our Standard cover costs less and means you’re well protected abroad. But if you want even greater peace of mind, Extra gives you extra cover, such as replacement tickets if you miss a pre-booked train or ferry, and larger allowances for onward travel and accommodation.
It’s also worth thinking about whether you want single trip cover for occasional journeys, or annual cover if you regularly drive in Europe.