Compare European breakdown cover
If you’re unlucky enough to break down while abroad, you need to know help is available. European breakdown cover is there to make sure everything runs as smoothly as possible. But before you buy, take the time to compare European breakdown cover and find out what features you need, and which cover is going to be best for you.
Exactly what’s included in European breakdown cover depends on your provider and the level of protection you choose.
Unlimited roadside assistance in Europe
Only the RAC covers all costs to get you to a garage – so you won’t have to shell out extra.
24/7 English-speaking helpline
Speak to experienced case handlers to manage your breakdown.
What should I look for when comparing European breakdown cover?
You'll want to look at some of the features that are traditionally offered as part of European breakdown cover policies. These are:
- 24/7 English-speaking helpline – so you won’t have to worry about a language barrier if you call for help.
- Accommodation and Onward Travel – if your vehicle can’t be fixed right away, we can organise a hire car to keep moving, or a hotel while your car's being repaired.
- Repatriation of vehicles – this means that, if your vehicle can’t be fixed before you’re due to travel home, your vehicle will be transported by to the UK. Whether this is available to you depends on the value of your vehicle and the level of cover that you've chosen.
- Garage labour costs – some policies cover all garage labour costs if your vehicle needs to be fixed. Others might not cover this expense, or will only cover it to a certain limit, so always check before purchasing.
- Roadside assistance in the UK – if your vehicle breaks down in the UK before you're due to leave, you can get a hire car to continue your trip to Europe. This is included in both our Comprehensive and Comprehensive Plus levels of cover.
What does the RAC offer that other providers don’t?
Our top level of cover – Comprehensive Plus – is officially the best cover in the market1. Let’s compare this to what other providers are offering – see how we measure up against the AA and Green Flag.
RAC Comprehensive Plus European Breakdown Cover | Euro Breakdown | |||
All costs covered for roadside assistance in Europe1 |
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| Time capped to 60 minutes for Roadside Assistance | |
We'll recover your vehicle back to the UK providing the vehicle isn't beyond economical repair2 |
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If repairs cost more than £500 you can choose to bring your vehicle home, providing it's not beyond economical repair3 | ||||
If your vehicle is repaired in Europe we'll contribute towards repairs if it's fixed on the day4 |
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We'll provide both transport and accommodation whilst your vehicle is repaired5 |
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We'll provide a hire car whilst your vehicle is repaired6 |
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We'll provide accommodation whilst your vehicle is repaired7 |
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We'll provide a hire car to continue your trip to Europe, if your vehicle cannot be repaired before your planned departure8 |
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We'll cover any age vehicle9 |
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1) We'll cover all costs for Roadside Assistance in Europe
RAC Source: Policy Schedule
AA Source: Terms and conditions page 17
Green Flag Source: Terms and conditions page 11
Euro Breakdown Source: Terms and conditions page 5
2) We'll recover your vehicle back to the UK providing the vehicle isn't beyond economical repair
RAC Source: Policy Schedule
AA Source: Terms and conditions page 19
Green Flag Source: Terms and conditions page 12
Euro Breakdown Source: Terms and conditions page 8
3) If repairs cost more than £500 you can choose to bring your vehicle home, providing it's not beyond economical repair
RAC Source: Terms and conditions page 8
AA Source: Terms and conditions page 19
Green Flag Source: Terms and conditions page 12
Euro Breakdown Source: Terms and conditions page 6
4) If your vehicle is repaired in Europe we'll contribute towards repairs
RAC Source: Policy Schedule
AA Source: Terms and conditions page 17
Green Flag Source: Terms and conditions page 11
Euro Breakdown Source: Terms and conditions page 6
5) We'll provide both transport and accommodation whilst your vehicle is repaired
RAC Source: Terms and conditions page 8
AA Source: Terms and conditions page 18
Green Flag Source: Terms and conditions page 12
Euro Breakdown Source: Terms and conditions page 5
6) We'll provide a hire car whilst your vehicle is repaired
RAC Source: Policy Schedule
AA Source: Terms and conditions page 18
Green Flag Source: Terms and conditions page 12
Euro Breakdown Source: Terms and conditions page 5
7) We'll provide accommodation whilst your vehicle is repaired
RAC Source: Policy Schedule
AA Source: Terms and conditions page 18
Green Flag Source: Terms and conditions page 12
Euro Breakdown Source: Terms and conditions page 5
8) We'll provide a hire car to continue your trip to Europe, if your vehicle cannot be repaired before your planned departure
RAC Source: Policy Schedule
AA Source: Terms and conditions page 17
Green Flag Source: Terms and conditions page 11
Euro Breakdown Source: Terms and conditions page 5
9) We'll cover any age vehicle
RAC Source: Not excluded in terms and conditions
AA Source: Terms and conditions page 14
Green Flag Source: Terms and conditions page 10
Euro Breakdown Source: Terms and conditions page 5
RAC terms and conditions here
AA terms and conditions here
Green Flag terms and conditions here
Euro Breakdown terms and conditions here
Compare our European breakdown cover
We offer two levels of cover, Comprehensive and Comprehensive Plus – both rated 5 out of 5 Stars from Defaqto. Compare European breakdown cover from the RAC below.
RAC Comprehensive
£4.17 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
£6.83 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 countries are covered by RAC European Breakdown Cover?
Whether you’re comparing short term European breakdown cover or looking for a longer-term policy, it’s important to know where you can use your cover.
You can get RAC European Breakdown Cover in up to 48 countries across mainland Europe, including France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Portugal and Belgium, as well as the Republic of Ireland. This also includes a range of other countries, including Albania, Armenia, Gibraltar, Moldova, Macedonia, Serbia and many more.
These countries are split into Zone 1, Zone 2 and Zone 3, so you can easily pick the right cover for you and your trip.
We also cover the offshore islands of all the countries within this zone.
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).
We also cover the offshore islands of all the countries within this zone.
Compare our single trip and annual breakdown cover
The type of cover you need depends on the length of your trip and how often you travel to Europe. Compare our single trip and annual policies below.
Single Trip European Breakdown Cover
Single Trip European Breakdown Cover protects you during a single return trip to Europe.
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.
Annual European Breakdown Cover
Annual European Breakdown Cover protects you for unlimited trips to Europe during the year.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Read more about driving abroad and why it’s important to take out European breakdown cover before travelling.
Yes, our European breakdown cover includes roadside assistance in the UK for 48 hours before you leave for Europe – or up to 7 days if you get our Comprehensive Plus cover. Or for longer-term breakdown cover in Britain and Northern Ireland, explore our UK cover here.
Our RAC Comprehensive Plus is the best European breakdown cover in the market1. And both our cover levels have a 5 Star Defaqto rating.
National recovery means that if we can’t fix your car at the roadside, we’ll tow it to a destination of your choice anywhere in the country. If you’re driving in Europe with RAC European Breakdown Cover, we’ll take you and your car back to the UK if it can’t be fixed while you’re away, as long as it’s not beyond economical repair.
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.
Page reviewed by: Andy Baker
