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European breakdown cover in France

Complete peace of mind with RAC's Roadside Assistance in France

  • 24/7 rescue at roadside
  • Help to get home if you can't be fixed
  • 5 Star Defaqto rated cover
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Defaqto Expert Rated 5 Star
European Breakdown Cover

Breakdown cover in France

If you’re driving to France, breakdown cover isn’t a legal requirement. But if you have car trouble while you’re away, it can definitely come in handy. For example, if your brakes fail, you can easily call the RAC who can organise roadside assistance. If your car breaks down and you need to be towed to a garage, you’ll be covered for recovery costs.

UK breakdown cover doesn’t usually cover you in Europe – unless you’ve bought European cover as an add-on. That means you’ll need to buy a separate European breakdown cover policy before you go. Browse our breakdown cover in France for a single trip, or annual cover.

Get complete peace of mind whilst driving in France. And if you choose our Comprehensive Plus cover, you'll have the best cover on the market1.

24/7 English-speaking helpline

RAC recovery rate icon

Help in 50 minutes on average, in France

5 Star Defaqto rated cover

Compare our breakdown cover

We offer two types of European breakdown cover for you to choose. Both levels offer Roadside Assistance, 24/7 English-speaking helplines and free European legal help, ensuring peace of mind throughout your trip in France.

Read how else they compare against each other below.

RAC Comprehensive

£3.57 a day

Our trusted local experts will fix your vehicle at the roadside if you break down. And if they can’t, they’ll tow you to the nearest garage.
Get up to £500 accommodation expenses or up to £1,500 to continue your journey.
We’ll pay up to £150 towards garage labour costs, provided repairs are completed on the same working day.
Get 2 days unlimited UK roadside assistance before you depart, for all breakdowns over a ¼ of a mile from home.
You’ll always have access to our helpline – so you know you won’t be left stranded. And help is only a phone call away.
We’ll pay up to the market value of your vehicle to get it back to the UK, providing it’s not beyond economical repair.
If your vehicle can’t be fixed before you’re due to return, we’ll help get you and any passenger's home.
We will cover you for legal costs, up to a maximum of £100,000 per claim.
We cover a replacement train/ferry ticket for 1 missed connection, if the delay is caused by a breakdown.

RAC Comprehensive Plus

£5.75 a day

Our trusted local experts will fix your vehicle at the roadside if you break down. And if they can’t, they’ll tow you to the nearest garage.
Get up to £1,200 accommodation expenses and/or up to £3,000 to continue your journey.
We'll pay up to £1,000 towards garage labour costs, provided repairs are completed within 7 working hours.
Get 7 days unlimited UK roadside assistance before you depart, for all breakdowns over a ¼ of a mile from home.
You’ll always have access to our helpline – so you know you won’t be left stranded. And help is only a phone call away.
We’ll cover all costs to get your vehicle back to the UK, providing it’s not beyond economical repair.
If your vehicle can’t be fixed before you’re due to return, we’ll help get you and any passenger's home.
We will cover you for legal costs, up to a maximum of £100,000 per claim.
We cover replacement train/ferry tickets for up to 3 missed connections, if the delay is caused by a breakdown.

Above prices are based on European breakdown cover for a 14 day trip, in a vehicle up to 1 year old, travelling in zone 1.

What happens if I break down in France?

If you break down in France, what you do next depends on whether or not you have European breakdown cover.

If you have RAC European Breakdown Cover:

  1. Call the RAC’s English-speaking helpline on 0033 472 4352 44 (from a UK mobile), or 0800 942 044 (from a French landline only) – lines are open 24/7
  2. Our team will arrange Roadside Assistance for you
  3. When help arrives, they’ll fix your vehicle at the roadside or tow you to the nearest garage for further repairs
  4. Depending on what level of cover you have, we’ll also pay towards garage labour costs, Onward Travel expenses and accommodation fees while your car’s being fixed

If you break down on the motorway (‘Autoroute’), it works little differently. Find out more.

If you don’t have European breakdown cover:

  • You’ll need to find a recovery company to come out to you and tow you to a garage if needed
  • If your car needs repairs at a garage, you’ll have to find a garage nearby
  • In addition, you’ll need to cover all recovery and labour costs yourself

What to do if you break down on the motorway in France

If you break down on the motorway (‘Autoroute’) in France, call for help using the nearest orange emergency phone – even if you have European breakdown cover in place. This is because French motorways are privately managed.

Here’s what to do if you break down on the motorway in France:

  1. Don’t call the RAC – instead, use one of the orange emergency telephones positioned every 2 km along the motorway
  2. If you can’t get to one of these orange phones, call the emergency services on 112
  3. The emergency services will send help and you’ll be towed to safety
  4. Once you’ve been towed to a designated safe area, call the RAC on 0033 472 4352 44
  5. We’ll send assistance and talk you through next steps

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Important contact numbersIf you're driving to France, keep important phone numbers stored in your contacts, including:

RAC European Breakdown from anywhere in Europe

0033 472 4352 44

RAC European Breakdown from a French landline only

0800 942 044

Emergency Services

112

British Embassy in Paris

0033 144 5131 00

Here's a really important bit of information. You can dial 112 from anywhere in Europe and an operator will connect you to an emergency service in the country you're visiting. Operators can answer your call in their native language and English.

You should also store contact details of your accommodation and onward destinations. Then if your plans change because of a breakdown, or you know you’ll be delayed for a long time, you can call ahead and let people know.
If you’re travelling to a hotel or other accommodation, it’s also useful to have contact numbers relating to these as you can update on your situation.

Preparing for your visit to France

Make sure you have the right kit with you when you’re driving in France. In Europe you can be fined up to €530 for not having the right driving equipment in your car. Check what you need, and get a European Driving Kit from us before you set off to make sure you don’t get caught out.

It’s important to check your car is in good working condition before you travel, to make sure the chances of breaking down in France are low. Prevention is always better than a cure, and there are steps drivers can take to reduce the chances of requiring roadside assistance:

Check your tyres

This is one of the most important maintenance tasks you can carry out on your car. Check your tyre tread yourself or get them assessed by a professional. Worn tyres can be dangerous, so if any are in poor condition, get them replaced.

Windscreen wipers

Before travelling, check your windscreen wipers are in good condition, free of any tears. If they’re damaged, they won’t operate properly, which can affect your driving.

Check your oil and coolant levels

Measure and top up the screen wash, oil and coolant levels in your car. It’s worth carrying extra to top up during your journey, especially if you’re driving long distances.

Fill up with fuel

Ensure you have a full tank of fuel. Of course, you’ll be able to refuel when driving in France but you’re likely to be on unfamiliar roads. So filling up your tank before travelling will give you one less thing to worry about.

Get your vehicle serviced

If you’re driving in France for longer than a couple of weeks, you might want to get your car serviced at a garage before you leave the UK. Find your nearest RAC approved garage today.

Read more about driving in France with our country guide here.

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What our members are saying

Speedy response on both occasions I needed them, were able to help us get our car fixed and provided hire car so we could still be mobile whilst on hols in France, glad we had the cover!

Dean M

I can highly recommend the RAC for this country and European travel. When I broke down in France they towed my car, and gave me a hire vehicle. I used them yesterday and they were here in 10 minutes and fixed my issue immediately. 1st class service!

Rochelle S

Roadside van came out. to where we were staying on holiday. response time was excellent . he took the time & effort to diagnose an intermittent injector wiring fault. he fixed the car so we could continue our holiday. parts are no on order to make a proper repair.

Dave B

Completely fabulous! The response was fast and the rescue efficient. Every attempt was made to communicate each step clearly and each stage of the plan. This enabled less panic and more focus. I couldn’t have asked for more. Been a member for over a decade and probably only needed help 3 times and each time I’ve had a very positive experience so thank you very much.

TC

Have been a member for over 50 years covering the UK and Europe and have never been let down despite needing the service in France, Germany, Spain and the UK.

Mr Holmes

What are the driving rules in France?

The rules of the road in Europe differ to those in the UK and France is no different, so make sure you read up on these before you travel.

Here are some of the most critical laws when driving in France:

  • Drive on the right and overtake on the left
  • At intersections, drivers give way to vehicles approaching from their right (unless the roundabout is the old-fashioned version, in which case you give way from the left. Most roundabouts in France have been now upgraded, however read more about it in this article.)
  • Only sound the horn sparingly
  • Seats belts are compulsory for drivers and all passengers
  • It’s illegal to drive in France wearing headphones
  • Children under the age of 10 can’t travel on the front passenger seat without a special child restraint
  • Speed limits vary depending on the type of road and weather conditions – for more details on that and rules of road, read our driving in France guide

You can also read our top ten tips for driving in France.

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Things to carry in your vehicle

When driving in France you are required by law to carry the following items:

  • Reflective jackets (one for each occupant, these must be kept inside the vehicle within easy reach)
  • Warning triangle (compulsory in every vehicle with 4 wheels or more)
  • Headlamp beam deflectors (depending on your car, you will either need deflector stickers or have to adjust the beam manually)
  • Breathalysers/alcohol test (carrying these are no longer a legal requirement, but given the lower alcohol limit compared to England, having one in your car is useful)
  • A UK sticker (if your vehicle’s registration doesn’t have a UK identifier)
  • Spare bulbs (by law you’re also mandated to carry a spare bulb kit for your vehicle, as the French police deem it necessary to replace it there and then on the grounds of safety. For a few pounds to buy a kit, you could avoid unwanted attention and a fine)
  • Snow chains (may also be needed in some areas during winter. These areas will be indicated by signs and are compulsory, so it is worth having them in your car if your visiting during winter)

Our European driving kit will have all of these items – a simple purchase can help you avoid hefty on-the-spot fines.

Make sure you are insured before travelling to France

Aside from driving, there are other considerations to think about before heading off on your holiday in France. You should have travel insurance in place, covering the dates of your holiday. Browse RAC Travel Insurance today.

Stay prepared all year round with European breakdown cover.

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Driving in France FAQs

When driving in France, you’ll need:

  • A full, valid UK driving licence
  • Proof of ID (passport)
  • Motor insurance certificate
  • V5 registration document
  • A UK sticker, unless your number plate already features one (‘GB’ identifiers are no longer valid)
  • Reflective jackets for each passenger
  • Warning triangle
  • Headlamp beam deflectors (if you can’t adjust the beam manually)
  • Breathalyser/alcohol test (while no longer mandatory, it's advisable to carry due to the lower blood alcohol limit compared to the UK)
  • French ‘clean air’ sticker (Crit’Air vignette) in certain cities
  • Snow chains in certain areas during winter
  • Safety helmets for motorcyclists and their passengers

A European Driving Kit will have most of the items you need. Read more about what you need when driving in France.

Yes, after Brexit you can still drive with your British driving licence. Just make sure it's valid and bring along an International Driving Permit if you don't have a mainland UK licence. While a Green Card is no longer required, you’ll need to check if your car insurance covers you for driving in Europe.

Yes, you can drive in France with a valid UK licence as long as it’s valid. If you intend to stay in France for longer than one year and your licence was issued after January 2021, has expired or has less than 6 months’ validity remaining, you’ll need to exchange your UK licence to a French licence.

That depends on your level of France breakdown cover. RAC European Breakdown Cover covers 48 countries but operates in zones. If you’re covered for breakdown in Zone 1, that covers you when driving in France and also Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany – but not Spain or Italy, so if you plan to cross the border and into those countries, you’ll need to get cover for driving in Zone 2.

No, you do not need an international driver’s license if you plan to rent a car in France. Non-EU licence holders are required to have an international driving permit if the licence isn’t French.

You do not need a green card to drive in France.

You will need car insurance, so make sure to check with your insurer if your UK policy covers you while board. Learn more about Driving in France.

France Breakdown Cover FAQs

It’s not a legal requirement to have breakdown cover when driving in France. But if you have car trouble while away, having cover can save you time and money.

Our average time to attend to a breakdown in France is 50 minutes – and 93% of calls were answered within 15 seconds.

Yes – RAC Comprehensive and Comprehensive Plus European Breakdown Cover both provide a hire car if required. RAC Comprehensive European Breakdown can provide a hire car for six days, while Comprehensive Plus can provide a hire car for 23 days. Terms and conditions apply.

Page reviewed by: Andy Baker

More reasons to choose the RAC

RAC repair time icon

We’ll cover the cost to a local garage with unlimited European Roadside Assistance.

Best cover you can you get1 when driving in Europe.

RAC recovery rate icon

In France, we’ll get to you within 50 minutes on average.

RAC patrol van icon

We repair 60% of all breakdowns on the same day in France

1Comparison based on RAC Comprehensive Plus European Breakdown Cover against the top level of cover from other major providers as of 16/05/23.

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