European breakdown cover
UK breakdown cover stops at the port. If you drive abroad, European cover pays for roadside help in a language you understand, recovery to a garage, and the expensive bit: getting you and the car home if it cannot be fixed.
| Provider | Cover basis | Network | Roadside | Recovery | Home start | Onward travel | European | Motorbike | EV | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The AA | Vehicle or personal | Own patrols | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Get a quote |
| RAC | Vehicle or personal | Own patrols | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Get a quote |
| Green Flag | Vehicle or personal | Contractor network | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Get a quote |
| GEM Motoring Assist | Personal | Contractor network | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Get a quote |
| Breakdown Direct | Vehicle | Contractor network | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | – | ✓ | Get a quote |
| Asda Breakdown Cover | Vehicle or personal | Contractor network | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | – | ✓ | Get a quote |
| More Than Breakdown | Vehicle | Contractor network | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | – | ✓ | Get a quote |
| RescueMyCar.com | Vehicle | Contractor network | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Get a quote |
| Tesco Bank Breakdown Cover | Vehicle or personal | Contractor network | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | – | ✓ | Get a quote |
Single trip or annual?
Single-trip cover is priced by the day and suits one holiday a year. Costs rise with the length of the trip and the age of the vehicle; many providers will not quote for cars over 10 or 16 years old. See our guide to single-trip European breakdown cover.
Annual multi-trip cover gives you a year of UK cover plus a set number of days abroad — commonly 90 days in total, with a per-trip limit of around 30 or 31 days. If you make two or more trips a year, or one long one, it is almost always cheaper. Our annual European cover guide explains the limits.
What European cover normally includes
- 24-hour English-speaking assistance line.
- Roadside repair and towing to a local garage.
- Contribution to garage labour costs (parts are usually your cost).
- Emergency accommodation or car hire while the car is repaired.
- Repatriation of the vehicle to the UK if it cannot be fixed within a set time, plus travel home for you and your passengers.
- Replacement driver if the driver is unable to continue.
- Some policies: cover for the journey to the port in the UK, misfuelling abroad and spare-parts shipping.
What to check before you buy
- Territorial limits. "Europe" varies by provider. Check that your destination and any country you drive through are listed; Turkey, Morocco and parts of eastern Europe are often excluded or extra.
- Vehicle age and value. Repatriation is often capped at the market value of the car. A 15-year-old vehicle may be covered for assistance but not for the journey home.
- Trailers and caravans. Usually covered if within length and weight limits, but confirm.
- Electric vehicles. Recovery to a charge point is now widely covered, but running out of charge may count as an excluded "lack of fuel" event. See the EV guide.
- Whose policy pays. If your UK policy is personal cover, the European extension may cover you in a hire car abroad; vehicle cover will not.
Post-Brexit practicalities
European breakdown cover has not changed in substance since the UK left the EU, but the paperwork around it has. A UK sticker is required on the car, insurance green cards are no longer needed for EU travel, and you may need an International Driving Permit for some countries. None of this is provided by breakdown cover — it is simply the admin that goes alongside it. Our France guide covers the specifics for the most common destination.
Provider summaries
The AA
The UK's largest breakdown organisation, with its own fleet of patrols and the widest range of add-ons.
- Best for
- drivers who want a patrol rather than a contractor and are happy to pay for it
- Cover basis
- Vehicle or personal
- Network
- Own patrols
RAC
Founded 1897. Own patrols, strong EV capability and a long-running rivalry with the AA on price and extras.
- Best for
- EV owners and families wanting a well-equipped patrol network
- Cover basis
- Vehicle or personal
- Network
- Own patrols
Green Flag
Part of Direct Line Group. Uses a nationwide network of local recovery operators rather than its own vans, which keeps prices keen.
- Best for
- value-focused drivers who are not fussed about a branded van
- Cover basis
- Vehicle or personal
- Network
- Contractor network
GEM Motoring Assist
A road-safety organisation first, breakdown provider second. Personal cover that follows you into any car, with a pay-and-reclaim option.
- Best for
- households with more than one vehicle, and older drivers
- Cover basis
- Personal
- Network
- Contractor network
Breakdown Direct
Online-only budget brand. No-frills policies serviced through an insurer-backed contractor network.
- Best for
- price-first buyers happy to manage everything online
- Cover basis
- Vehicle
- Network
- Contractor network
Asda Breakdown Cover
Supermarket-branded cover with simple tiers and monthly payment options. Underwritten and serviced by a third-party assistance company.
- Best for
- budget buyers who want to pay monthly
- Cover basis
- Vehicle or personal
- Network
- Contractor network
More Than Breakdown
Insurer brand best known for car and home insurance; breakdown is usually bought as an add-on to a More Than motor policy.
- Best for
- existing More Than car insurance customers
- Cover basis
- Vehicle
- Network
- Contractor network
RescueMyCar.com
Low-premium online brand that historically charged a call-out excess instead of a higher annual fee. Covers cars, vans and bikes.
- Best for
- low-mileage drivers who rarely break down
- Cover basis
- Vehicle
- Network
- Contractor network
Tesco Bank Breakdown Cover
Supermarket-bank cover in simple tiers, serviced by a major breakdown partner, with Clubcard pricing when available.
- Best for
- Clubcard holders who want straightforward tiers
- Cover basis
- Vehicle or personal
- Network
- Contractor network
Common questions
Does my UK breakdown cover work in Europe?
Almost never by default. Some premium personal policies include a limited number of European days, but most UK cover is UK-only and must be extended for travel abroad.
Does European breakdown cover include the journey to the port?
Some policies start cover from your home; others only once you have left the UK. If you break down on the M20 on the way to Folkestone, you need UK cover in force as well.
Can I buy European breakdown cover once I am abroad?
A few providers sell it after departure, usually with a waiting period and a higher price. It is far cheaper and simpler to buy before you leave.