SALE – SALE – SALE

European Breakdown Cover

SALE – 33% off European breakdown cover*

The best cover you can get^
  • 24/7 English-speaking helpline
  • Rescue in 46 mins on average, in France
  • Five star Defaqto rated cover
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*For annual European breakdown cover. Ends 01/12/23, 9am.
^Comparison based on RAC Extra European Breakdown Cover against the top level of cover from other major providers as of 16/05/23.

RAC European Breakdown Cover

  • European roadside assistance in 48 countries
  • 24/7 English-speaking helpline
  • Help in 46 minutes on average, in France
  • Five star Defaqto rated cover

Choose your level of European breakdown cover

SALE 33% OFF*
RAC Standard
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    Cover level – Comprehensive

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    Roadside Assistance in Europe

    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.

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    Up to £1,500 towards Onward Travel

    Get up to £500 accommodation expenses or up to £1,500 to continue your journey.

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    £150 towards garage labour costs

    We’ll pay up to £150 towards garage labour costs, provided repairs are completed on the same working day.

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    2 days Roadside Assistance before you go

    Get 2 days unlimited UK roadside assistance before you depart, for all breakdowns over a ¼ of a mile from home.

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    24/7 English-speaking helpline

    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.

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    Getting your vehicle home

    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.

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    Up to £1,500 to get you home

    If your vehicle can’t be fixed before you’re due to return, we’ll help get you and any passenger's home.

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    FREE European Legal Care

    We will cover you for legal costs, up to a maximum of £100,000 per claim.

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    Replacement train/ferry ticket

    We cover a replacement train/ferry ticket for 1 missed connection, if the delay is caused by a breakdown.

SALE 33% OFF*
RAC Extra
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    Cover level – Comprehensive Plus

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    Roadside Assistance in Europe

    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.

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    Up to £4,200 towards Onward Travel

    Get up to £1,200 accommodation expenses and/or up to £3,000 to continue your journey.

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    £1,000 towards garage labour costs

    We'll pay up to £1,000 towards garage labour costs, provided repairs are completed within 7 working hours.

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    7 days Roadside Assistance before you go

    Get 7 days unlimited UK roadside assistance before you depart, for all breakdowns over a ¼ of a mile from home.

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    24/7 English-speaking helpline

    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.

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    Getting your vehicle home

    We’ll cover all costs to get your vehicle back to the UK, providing it’s not beyond economical repair.

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    Up to £3,000 to get you home

    If your vehicle can’t be fixed before you’re due to return, we’ll help get you and any passenger's home.

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    FREE European Legal Care

    We will cover you for legal costs, up to a maximum of £100,000 per claim.

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    Replacement train/ferry tickets

    We cover replacement train/ferry tickets for up to 3 missed connections, if the delay is caused by a breakdown.

*For annual European breakdown cover. Ends 01/12/23, 9am.


What countries are covered by RAC European Breakdown Cover?

The RAC offers European breakdown cover in up to 48 countries across mainland Europe. 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. This includes, FranceSpainItalyGermany, Portugal and Belgium, as well as the Republic of Ireland

We also cover a range of other countries, including Albania, Armenia, Gibraltar, Moldova, Macedonia, Serbia and many more.

Zone 1 (includes France & Germany)

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

Show countries on a map

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Zone 2 (includes Spain & Italy)

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).

Show countries on a map

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What is European breakdown cover?


European breakdown cover means you’re protected if you break down in Europe. Our English-speaking helpline will arrange roadside assistance. If your vehicle can't be fixed at the roadside, we'll arrange for it to be taken to a local garage where repairs can be assessed. If it can’t be repaired before you go back to the UK, we’ll help get you, your passengers, and your vehicle back home. 

Read more about driving abroad and why you should take out European breakdown cover before travelling.

Why do I need European breakdown cover?


Even if you have UK breakdown cover in place, you probably won’t be covered for European roadside assistance abroad. If you're planning to drive to Europe i.e. to France or Spain – make sure you have European breakdown cover. If you don’t have any, it’s time to start looking up European breakdown cover policies.

Our comprehensive European breakdown is for cars, vans and minibuses. You can also get:

  • Motorhome European breakdown cover

  • Motorcycle European breakdown cover

  • Caravan European breakdown cover

European breakdown cover gives you complete peace of mind if your vehicle breaks down in Europe. We’ll cover any garage labour costs, either up to £150 (Standard) provided repairs are completed on the same working day or £1,000 (Extra), provided repairs are completed within 7 working hours.


What’s included in RAC European Breakdown Cover?


Exactly what and how much you’re covered for depends on the level of cover you chose. With our Defaqto 5 Star rated cover you’ll always have access to our 24/7 English-speaking helpline – so you know help is only a call away.

defaqto 5 star rating

Here’s what else you can get with the RAC:

  •  European roadside assistance and recovery.
    We'll arrange for a local garage to come out to you and inspect your vehicle – they’ll repair it at the roadside or recover it to the garage for repair.

  •  Contribution to garage labour costs.
    If you’re taken to a garage for repair, we’ll cover any garage labour costs, either up to £150 (Standard) provided repairs are completed on the same working day or £1,000 (Extra), provided 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 Standard cover. With Extra, we’ll cover up to £4,200 for your hire car and hotel.

  •  Getting you and your vehicle back to the UK.
    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).

  •  Cover before your departure.
    If you break down in the UK and can’t be fixed before you’re due to leave, you can have a hire car to continue your trip to Europe.

  •  10% off travel insurance.
    When you buy European breakdown cover from the RAC, you’ll also get 10% off RAC Travel Insurance.

  •  £100,000 towards legal fees.
    If you’re involved in an accident while abroad, we’ll give you up to £100,000 towards legal fees.


Avoid unexpected costs


Legal fees covered

Up to £100,000 towards legal costs.

Save €1,650 in repatriation costs^^

We’ll cover the costs of getting your vehicle back to the UK. Providing it’s not beyond economical repair.

Up to £1,000 towards labour

With Extra, we cover the cost of labour completed within 7 working hours.

^^Based on the average costs of repatriation in 2022 by Opteven.

Do I need single trip European breakdown cover or annual European breakdown cover?


Whether you choose our single trip or annual cover really depends on how often you drive through Europe each year, and how long your trips are.

Single Trip European Breakdown Cover

  • You can buy cover for a trip lasting from one day up to 90 days.

  • It’s ideal if you only plan to drive to Europe once or twice a year – as it’s likely to work out cheaper than an annual policy.

  • Cover for cars, motorcycles, motorhomes, and caravans.

Annual European Breakdown Cover

  • For each trip, you’re covered for up to 90 days.

  • This type of cover is ideal if you regularly drive to Europe. If you travel more than twice a year to Europe, it’s likely to work out cheaper than buying single trip cover each time.

  • Cover for cars, motorcycles, motorhomes, and caravans.

What vehicles are covered by RAC European Breakdown Cover?

Our European breakdown cover isn’t just for cars. We also cover motorhomes, campervans, minibuses, vehicles towing caravans or trailers, motorcycles (121cc or over) and vans. They must be:

  • Registered as a private vehicle in the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or Isle of Man

  • A maximum of 3,500 kg (3.5 tonnes) when fully loaded. This weight is called the gross vehicle mass (GVM)

  • A maximum of 7 metres long (including a tow bar), 3 metres high and 2.55 metres wide – including any load you’re carrying

Cars
Motorcycles
Motorhomes
Minibuses

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 2 levels of cover: Standard and Extra. 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 usually costs less than annual cover. 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.

  • 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.


Why the RAC offers the best European breakdown cover on the market^

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

With Extra 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, with our Extra (as long as it's not beyond economical repair).

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


Essential driving to Europe checklist


  • Vehicle log book (V5C). This shows that you’re the registered keeper. If we need to bring your broken down vehicle home, we won’t be able to do this without a copy of your vehicle log book. If you’re driving a hired or leased vehicle, you need the VE103 to show you’re allowed to use it abroad.

  • UK sticker. Display a UK sticker on the rear of your vehicle, even if the number plate has the EU symbol. This is not needed in the Republic of Ireland. GB stickers and identifiers are no longer valid.

  • International Driving Permit (IDP). If you don’t have a photocard driving licence, you’ll need to get an international driving permit. You can get one from the Post Office at a cost of £5.50. You may need more than one type depending on which countries you’re driving through. Find out more here.

  • Trailer registration. Some commercial and non-commercial trailers must be registered before towing to or through most EU and EEA countries. If you plan to take out European caravan breakdown cover then it’s important to check your trailer before travelling. Find out more.

  • Insurance green cards are no longer required for UK motorists driving in the EU.

Read more about driving in the EU post-Brexit

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 a garage you can trust to fix your car. This can be tricky, especially if you don’t know the area and you don’t speak the language. You’ll also have to cover all recovery and labour 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

If your vehicle breaks down when you’re travelling in Europe, there’s no need to panic:

  • 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.



More reasons to choose RAC European Breakdown Cover

We've been helping motorists for over 125 years so we know how stressful it can be when your car breaks down. It can be even worse when you're driving in Europe, where you may not be able to speak the language. But don't worry, we're here to help.

Experienced case handlers to manage your breakdown from start to finish.
We’ll cover the cost to a local garage with unlimited European roadside assistance.
Best cover you can you get^ 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.

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

FAQs

Q. Is it worth getting European breakdown cover?

Having European breakdown cover means you won’t be left stranded if your car breaks down abroad. We can repair your vehicle at the side of the road, or help you find a local garage if needed. If you don't have cover, you may find it more difficult to get help if you have car trouble while you're away.

Q. Is it a legal requirement to have European breakdown cover?

European breakdown cover isn’t a legal requirement. But it’s important to have cover if you’re driving abroad. If you break down without cover, getting help can be expensive. And if you don’t know the language, it can be even more stressful.

With European breakdown cover, you’ll have an English-speaking person on the phone 24/7, who can arrange everything for you. And you’ll be covered for some or all costs for roadside assistance and garage labour, depending on what cover you pick.

Read more about driving abroad and why it’s important to take out European breakdown cover before travelling.

Q. Does the RAC offer cheaper European breakdown cover?

The RAC offer flexible options to suit your budget. ‘Standard’ is our cheapest level of cover. The longer you go away for, the more your cover will cost. The price of your cover will also vary depending on how old your car is.

It’s worth knowing that single trip cover is cheaper than annual cover, as it only covers you for a one-off trip abroad. But if you travel to Europe regularly, annual cover can provide better value for money.

Q. Can I get one-off cover for a family holiday?

Yes, as cover is available on a single trip basis as well as annually.

The RAC has two different policies, so you can compare European breakdown cover against providers such as the AA and Green Flag.

Our RAC Extra policy also has a Defaqto 5 Star rating. Enjoy complete peace of mind with emergency European Roadside Assistance and repair from the RAC. Our Extra cover also includes a contribution towards garage labour costs as up to £1,000, provided repairs are completed the same day.

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 up to the market value of the insured vehicle, and Extra has all costs covered. This is providing your vehicle is not beyond economical repair.

Q. Does my standard RAC Breakdown Cover policy cover me in Europe?

No. If you haven’t added European breakdown cover to your policy, your standard RAC Breakdown Cover policy will only cover you in the UK.

If you’re unsure, it’s worth checking your policy documents to see exactly what’s included in your cover. You can also log in to MyRAC to check your cover.

Q. Does European breakdown cover include the UK?

With both Standard and Extra, you’ll have pre-departure cover in the UK before you leave for Europe. This means you can get roadside assistance before your trip and a hire car to get to Europe if needed.

What you’re covered for depends on the level of cover you choose:

  • Standard: You’ll have roadside assistance in the UK up to 2 days before you’re due to leave the UK and a hire car for 6 days.
  • Extra: You’ll have roadside assistance in the UK up to 7 days before you’re due to leave the UK and a hire car for 23 days.

Q. Can I get help if I break down abroad without European breakdown cover?

If you break down abroad but you don’t have European breakdown cover, unfortunately we won’t be able to help you get back on the road. That’s why it’s important to get European breakdown cover sorted before you leave the UK.

Instead of calling us for help, you’ll need to make your own arrangements. For example, you’ll need to find a local recovery company to rescue you, as well as a garage you can trust to fix your vehicle. You’ll also have to recover all these costs yourself.

Q. Can I get short-term car insurance to cover me for my trip?

Yes you can – RAC Temporary Car Insurance offers short-term insurance policies for trips of up to 30 days for cars, vans and motorhomes and allows you to extend this to cover driving in Europe – perfect if you’re borrowing a vehicle or sharing the drive and need comprehensive cover in place. Choose from between 1 hour and 30 days of cover, and you’ll be covered to drive almost instantly.

Find out more about this type of cover.

Q. Will my car insurance policy cover me for driving in Europe?

Some car insurance policies will cover you for a number of days driving in Europe, but it depends on your insurance provider. You should always check your car insurance policy documents before starting any trip to ensure you have the right cover in place.

You could choose to purchase a comprehensive short-term insurance policy and add additional European cover. Tailor your policy for up to 30 days of cover, purchase online, and you’ll be covered to drive almost instantly.

Read more about our temporary car insurance.

Q. Can I add European cover to my RAC membership?

RAC European Breakdown Cover is separate from your UK membership, so you don’t need to be an RAC member to get it. But if you are an RAC member, you can access all your policy documents and details for your European cover through your normal MyRAC account, and in the MyRAC app.

Q. Can I drive to Europe from the UK?

You can drive to Europe from the UK, but you need to follow the requirements of the country you’ll be travelling to. At a minimum, you’ll need your UK driving license, valid insurance, and your vehicle documentation, but many countries ask more of UK drivers. Find out everything you need to drive in different parts of Europe.

Q. Can you drive a UK car in Europe?

You can drive a UK car in Europe, but you need to have the right insurance, documentation, and car equipment to make sure you’re following the correct driving rules.

You’ll need:

  • A valid driver’s licence
  • Valid vehicle insurance
  • Vehicle registration documents (your log book, or a VE103 if you’ve rented your vehicle)

You may need:

  • Emissions stickers (for certain European cities)
  • Headlight converters
  • A UK sticker
  • A reflective jacket and warning triangle in the car

While your right-hand drive vehicle will not be a problem, if you don’t have the correct legally required items, you may face a penalty. So be sure to check the local rules before you travel.

Q. Can I use a European disabled badge in the UK?

Yes, you can use a European disabled badge in the UK.

When the UK left the European Union in 2020, they stopped being a part of the EU Disabled Parking Scheme. Since then, they have informally agreed to recognise the EU disabled parking card in the UK.

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. 

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European Driving Kits

No matter what country in Europe you are driving, we have a European Driving Kit to suit your needs.

9th August 2022

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Driving in Europe checklist

This essential checklist will tell you everything you need to know for driving in Europe, from what to take with you to things to remember when you get there.

3rd Jan 2020

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10 lesser-known French road rules

To help you out, here’s an overview of the quirkier French motoring rules you might not know about.

29th July 2019



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