SALE – 33% off European breakdown cover in France*
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*For annual European breakdown cover. Ends 23/04/24, 9am.
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 you get a puncture and don’t have a spare, you can easily call for English-speaking help. 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 best cover on the market1.
24/7 English-speaking helpline
Help in 46 minutes on average, in France
Five Star Defaqto rated cover
To make sure you’re in the know about France breakdown cover and what to do if you break down in France, read our handy guide below.
Contents:
What happens if I break down in France?
What to do if you break down on the motorway in France
Important contact numbers
Preparing for your visit to France
What are the driving rules in France?
Things to carry in your vehicle
Other considerations before you go
Comprehensive
Roadside Assistance in Europe
We’ll pay up to £150 towards garage labour costs. Provided repairs are completed on the same working day
Get 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 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 up to £1,500
Get 2 days’ UK Roadside Assistance before you depart, for all breakdowns over a ¼ of a mile from home
24/7 English-speaking helpline
FREE European Legal Care
Replacement train/ferry ticket for up to 1 missed connection, if the delay is caused by a breakdown
Comprehensive Plus
Roadside Assistance in Europe
We'll pay up to £1,000 towards garage labour costs. Provided repairs are completed within 7 working hours
Up to £1,200 accommodation expenses and/or up to £3,000 to continue your journey
We’ll cover all costs to get 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 up to £3,000
Get 7 days’ UK Roadside Assistance before you depart, for all breakdowns over a ¼ of a mile from home
24/7 English-speaking helpline
FREE European Legal Care
Replacement train/ferry tickets for up to 3 missed connections, if the delay is caused by a breakdown
*For annual European breakdown. Ends 23/04/24 9am.
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:
If you break down on the motorway (‘Autoroute’), it works little differently. Find out more.
If you don’t have European breakdown cover:
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:
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.
If you’re travelling to Europe for a short trip, check out our single trip European breakdown cover product today.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
You can also read our top ten tips for driving in France.
When driving in France you are required by law to carry the following items:
Our European driving kit will have all of these items – a simple purchase can help you avoid hefty on-the-spot fines.
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.
Inform your bank, too. You may be using your debit and/or credit card while in France, so they need to be aware of any possible upcoming transactions. Contact your mobile phone provider – check on call and SMS rates while in France, and any roaming charges you might incur.
Stay prepared all year round with European breakdown cover.
When driving in France, you’ll need:
A European Driving Kit will have most of the items you need. Read more about what you need when driving in France.
There are some things drivers in France are required by law to carry:
You can buy each one separately, or get the items you need in a handy European Driving Kit.
In some areas during winter, snow chains are compulsory. Spare bulbs are also recommended. Motorcyclists will need safety helmets for themselves and their passengers. Find out more about what you need to bring when driving in France.
Yes, you can still drive in France after Brexit. Your licence will be recognised within France as long as it is valid.
Yes, you can drive in France with a 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, you'll need to exchange your UK licence to a French licence.
If you’re driving in France with a vehicle registered in the UK, it must display the letters ‘UK’. If your number plate doesn’t have this UK ‘identifier’, you’ll need a UK sticker.
Since 28th September 2021, the identifier displayed for UK registered vehicles driving abroad has now changed from GB to UK. The identifier can be incorporated in vehicle number plates (along with the Union Flag) or as a separate sticker. Remember, a number plate or sticker with the letters GB together with the Council of Europe golden stars isn’t valid for driving abroad, unless you’ve got a UK sticker too.
Find out more about the documents you’ll need for driving in France.
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.
You can drive UK registered cars in France for 6 to 12 months. This only applies if you have the right to be in France for this length of time.
In some rural parts of France, the priority to the right rule still exists. This means that cars coming out of side roads take priority here, so be particularly careful when driving in these areas.
It’s important to understand the laws and rules of the road if you plan on driving while on holiday. Read our article on driving in France to find out what you need to know before your next trip.
Yes, as long as it’s valid. Paper licenses are usually valid until you turn 70.
No, you do not need an international driver’s license if you plan to rent a car in France.
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.
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 46 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.
We’ll cover the cost to a local garage with unlimited European roadside assistance.
Best cover you can you get1 when driving in Europe.
In France, we’ll get to you within 46 minutes on average.
We repair 60% of all breakdowns at the roadside 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.