European breakdown cover FAQs

You’ll need European breakdown cover if you take your car anywhere in Europe that isn’t the UK.

You may find it’s already covered in your policy so make sure you check it before heading off.

If you’re not covered in the rest of Europe you can buy standalone European breakdown cover or you may be able to add it to your UK breakdown policy – just check your cover level details within myRAC.

RAC European Breakdown Cover prices vary depending on the level of cover you choose and your travel circumstances such as:

For example, if you’re travelling a few times a year it might be cheaper to get annual cover and add it to your existing UK Breakdown Cover.

If you don’t have UK Breakdown Cover head to our Europe page to get a European breakdown quote. You can find more details on our Comprehensive and Comprehensive Plus cover levels here.

If you do have UK Breakdown Cover and want to add European Rescue please call 0330 159 1111.

If you’re travelling with more than 9 people you’ll need to call us for a quote on 0330 159 1111

If you’ve bought online you’ll receive your documents via email soon after your purchase.

If you’ve requested paper documents these should arrive within 5 working days. You’ll also receive them through myRAC.

Please remember you need to be in the UK when you buy. See our European Breakdown Cover T&Cs here.

Yes, but you’ll need to be in the UK when you buy online. You’ll receive your documents by email, soon after for easy access to them.

If you’re already abroad, you can’t buy European breakdown cover.

Get your European Breakdown quote now!

Yes, travel to the Republic of Ireland is included in Zone 1 which is our cheapest zone.

The RAC provide breakdown cover for the UK and 48 other countries in Europe only.

See our list of countries here.

Most of the time we can help but French motorways are privately managed so you’ll be rescued initially by them.

1. Call 112 or use an emergency phone along the motorway.

Keep your receipts and request authorisation from RAC so you can claim costs back within your RAC European Policy limits.

2. Once you’ve been towed to a safe location, give us a call on 0330 159 1111 so we can help you.

We recommend, if possible, to leave the motorway at the next exit or pull into a service area if you start to hear or feel a problem with your vehicle.

If this isn’t possible pull onto the hard shoulder close to the verge, with your wheels turned into the verge and close to an emergency phone if possible.

If your vehicle breaks down on a motorway, follow these steps to keep safe:

Our RAC vans don’t operate in Europe. Instead you’ll be helped by the external service providers and partners we work with.

With up to 18 languages spoken in our European contact centre we’re well equipped to help translate in European breakdown situations.

Depending on your level of cover we’ll also help with:

24 hours a day, every day of the year.

We also have technical experts on hand during normal workings hours to help you where we can.

48 countries are covered by RAC’s European Breakdown Cover. Check out what countries are included in each zone here.

This depends on your cover level…

Single trip

Annual

To qualify for RAC European Breakdown Cover your vehicle must:

If your vehicle, motorhome, caravan or trailer is outside these dimensions take a look at our Arrival Breakdown Membership which covers any size vehicle.

Cover only valid when the journey starts from and returns to the UK.

For a full list of vehicle restrictions for RAC European Breakdown Cover, please see our T&Cs.

Luggage, personal items, goods and bicycles are not covered by your policy, including when travelling in a recovery or replacement vehicle.

These are your responsibility and must be covered on other types of insurance such as personal travel insurance.

RAC European Breakdown Cover allows 9 people, including the driver to travel as standard, if the vehicle allows it.

You’ll need to ask for additional cover if you have more than 9 people travelling.

If your vehicle breaks down, we may need to organise more than one recovery vehicle, taxi or hire car if it’s within your policy limits.

It’ll depend on your cover level...

RAC Comprehensive Plus single trip and Annual Cover

RAC Comprehensive single trip

Some countries still recognise the UK Blue Badge:

Most other countries have informally agreed to recognise it, but you’ll need to check local parking laws before travelling.

Some countries provide notices in the local language you can display next to your blue badge. You can find these here.

It’s often quicker to get the help you need online. To see other frequently asked questions to help you manage your breakdown membership, you can visit some of our member query pages:

To speak to us about your existing or a new membership, please call 0330 159 1111

Mon-Fri 8am to 7pm, Sat 9am to 5pm, bank holidays 9am to 5pm.

Email us your query by clicking here