Best European Breakdown Cover UK 2025: Expert Review

Breaking down on the road can be a nightmare, especially when driving in an unfamiliar country. The problem is that most UK breakdown policies don’t provide cover when driving abroad. That’s why finding the best European breakdown cover is essential for your peace of mind. With the right policy, you can avoid the challenge of locating a reliable mechanic and potentially costly repairs.

In this guide, we review some of the top policies and features, such as roadside assistance, vehicle recovery to the UK, and customer support hours. Whether you take an annual holiday to Spain or regularly drive to visit family in France, our top picks can help you find the right cover for your needs.

After reviewing a wide range of the best European breakdown cover, we’ve narrowed down our top picks to 5.

Score: 4.5/5

Pros

Cons

The RAC is among the most well-respected names in the auto industry and offers 2 types of European cover: Comprehensive and Comprehensive Plus. Both policies provide roadside assistance, a 24/7 English-speaking hotline, free legal assistance, and reimbursement for replacement train or ferry tickets.

The main difference between the 2 policies is coverage limits. For example, the Comprehensive plan includes £1,500 for onward travel costs, while the Comprehensive Plus plan offers £4,200. Likewise, the Comprehensive plan covers up to £1,500 for return travel expenses, compared to £3,000 on the Plus plan.

You can also include features such as key, battery, and tyre replacement, although you’ll need to pay an additional fee.

One downside is that you can make only 3 claims on your policy.

Why buy? Expert verdict

Founded in 1897, the RAC is an excellent choice if you’re looking for an established brand with a large customer base. While RAC European cover limits differ between the 2 policies, both offer features most drivers need when travelling in Europe.

Emergency response times are impressive, with support typically arriving within 50 minutes in France. Ratings run high, too, with many reviewers praising its customer service.

Another plus is that the RAC has the highest payout limits across several categories, offering legal cover of up to £100,000, £3,000 for hire cars, and £1,200 for emergency accommodation. These figures are more than double those offered by some competitors.

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Score: 4.4/5

Pros

Cons

Start Rescue provides short-term and annual cover in 40 countries for cars and motorbikes. Policies include unlimited roadside assistance, a UK-based 24/7 hotline, and emergency accommodation, including breakfast.

The company also covers the cost of car transport to the UK if not repaired within 48 hours. Unlike some competitors, Start Rescue will recover your vehicle if it’s inoperable due to an accident or vandalism.

Note that cover is available only for cars up to 10 years old, and payout limits are lower than some other providers.

Why buy? Expert verdict

Although Start Rescue offers annual cover, we named it our top pick for single-trip policies because of its short-term protection for 1-31 days. We’re impressed that the company offers several attractive perks that aren’t standard with other providers. For example, Start Rescue pays out if you lose your car keys.

In addition, you can add European breakdown cover to your current UK Start Rescue policy plan. At the time of writing, you’ll also get a 25% discount on the company’s travel insurance if you buy European breakdown cover.

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Score: 4.4/5

Pros

Cons

With access to more than 60,000 rescue operators, the AA offers single, multi-trip, or 1-day breakdown cover in 44 countries. Its policies cover cars, vans, motorcycles, campervans, and caravans of any age. In addition to full roadside assistance, AA provides emergency hotel accommodation, car recovery if it can’t be repaired, legal costs, and alternate transport as standard on all policies.

As an optional extra, you can include parts and labour on your policy, which covers garage and repair bills. However, you can claim only 3 times per year with multi-trip cover.

Why buy? Expert verdict

The AA is an ideal option for a short stint in Europe, considering its temporary breakdown cover that includes all the features of longer-term policies. The company is also worth a look if you have an older vehicle, as it covers cars of all ages.

We particularly like the AA’s cover limits. They’re higher than some competitors, so you won’t be out of pocket for a costly breakdown. For example, the legal expenses cover limit is £50,000. The company’s extensive network of rescue operators also ensures you get help quickly in an emergency.

Of the companies we reviewed, the AA has the highest number of rescue operators at 60,000, while other market leaders typically have fewer than 5,000 technicians.

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Score: 4.3/5

Pros

Cons

Britannia Rescue is part of the LV= insurance group, one of the largest insurers in the UK. Its UK & European Assist plan covers 42 European countries, including roadside assistance, car recovery to the UK, and emergency overnight accommodation.

Britannia doesn’t offer European breakdown cover as a standalone policy. Instead, you’ll need to bundle it with your UK breakdown cover, which includes protection for anyone driving the car and same-day recovery from anywhere in the UK.

Car recovery and alternate transport have a 10-mile limit, and personal cover, which allows you to drive any vehicle, must be added as an optional feature.

Why buy? Expert verdict

Combining UK and European breakdown cover can protect you at home and abroad. This option makes Britannia Rescue particularly attractive if you visit Europe multiple times during the year. It also saves time searching for a new policy and can help streamline your financial management.

As one of the UK’s largest insurers, LV= is a 5-star Defaqto-rated company. What’s more, you can add breakdown cover to your car insurance policy for an additional fee if you’re an existing customer. Britannia was also recently named the fastest breakdown company, making it a top choice for getting help quickly.

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Score: 4.3/5

Pros

Cons

Green Flag offers single- and multi-trip cover across 38 European countries. With both types of coverage, you’ll receive 24/7 roadside assistance, English-speaking support, and legal expenses cover. If local mechanics can’t repair your car, the company will cover the cost of returning it to the UK. In addition, Green Flag provides a chauffeur if the main driver can’t continue due to illness or death.

Green Flag may dispatch spare parts for your vehicle if mechanics aren’t available nearby. You’ll also be covered if your car breaks down up to 7 days before your trip.

Why buy? Expert verdict

Green Flag could be your choice if you prefer a well-known brand with a strong industry reputation. It offers flexibility on single-trip policies and cover for up to 90 days.

If you’re stranded, the company’s app can pinpoint your location using GPS to help roadside assistance reach you sooner. The website also has a nifty tool that estimates the price of repairs before running a quote.

Green Flag combines many vital elements of breakdown cover, such as unlimited call-outs and discounts for not claiming. The company also provides transport back to the UK for up to 9 passengers if quick car repair isn’t possible.

✍️ Have you tried this breakdown cover? Share a rating and review for Green Flag Breakdown Cover.

European breakdown cover falls into 3 categories: one-day, single-trip, or annual cover.

One-day policies provide temporary breakdown cover if you’ll be in Europe for 24 hours or less. Despite the short duration, these policies typically offer the same features as other plans.

Single-trip European breakdown cover protects you for a specified number of days if you take 1 trip, such as an annual holiday. Your cover is active during your trip and ends when you return home, typically up to 1 month and sometimes 180 days.

Annual multi-trip policies cover you for several visits to Europe, but protection is often capped at 90 days per trip. The number of trips you can take per year is also limited.

With some providers, you can choose between vehicle cover and personal cover. Vehicle cover applies to the car named on the policy regardless of who is driving. Personal cover applies to a specific driver, which means you’ll be covered when driving any vehicle.

What type of European breakdown cover do I need?

When travelling in Europe, consider which policy suits your specific circumstances according to factors like your car type, length of trip, and frequency of travel.

A single-trip policy may be the right option if you visit Europe once or twice yearly since you’ll pay only for the cover you use. For example, a family with 1 holiday abroad annually is probably better off with a single-trip policy.

However, an annual multi-trip policy could be better and less expensive if you visit Europe several times over the next 12 months. A multi-trip policy might be ideal if you have family living in Europe and you see them regularly.

Whether you need vehicle or personal cover depends on how you plan to drive when you’re away. Personal cover could be ideal if you’re driving more than 1 car. However, vehicle cover may do the trick if you always take the same car to Europe.

Most European breakdown insurance includes emergency roadside assistance. A mechanic will attempt to repair your vehicle at the breakdown site, and if they can’t fix the problem, they’ll arrange towing to a local garage.

Many policies also include onward travel costs, which lets you finish your journey if a repair shop can’t repair your car quickly. They may arrange to hire a car or pay your travel expenses so you can reach your destination.

European breakdown may also cover the cost of replacement parts and labour, although not all policies include it. Some policies may cover returning your car to the UK if necessary.

Cover may include lost keys, misfuelling, and repairs to your car within a certain number of days before your trip. If these aren’t standard on your policy, you may be able to add them as an extra feature for an additional fee.

When you’re looking for European breakdown cover, consider the following:

Customer support levels

Breaking down abroad can be distressing, so be sure the company offers 24/7/365 support should the worst happen. A company that provides an English-speaking hotline is ideal if you aren’t fluent in another language.

The age of your car

While there are no guarantees, older cars are more likely to break down than newer models. If you’re driving an older vehicle, you may want to consider a policy that welcomes it and offers more comprehensive cover.

Policy exclusions

As with any financial product, read the terms and conditions of the policies you’re considering to ensure your ability to claim. Some companies may not cover multiple call-outs, while others may not cover cars in a poor state of repair.

Countries covered

Check that a policy covers the country you intend to visit. Don’t assume your destination is on the list, as the countries covered can vary among providers.

Add-ons

Many providers offer add-ons to help customise your cover, such as key, battery, and tyre replacement.

We chose our top brands based on our investigation of the best breakdown cover on the market. We evaluated company website information, industry reviews, and customer feedback while considering our own experiences as experts.

When rating a company, we looked at several key features, including:

Levels of cover

During our comparison, we looked into the fine print of various policies to check if the plans are as attractive as they appear. We also considered the amounts a company would pay if you needed to make a claim.

Speed of response

We assessed a wide range of reviews from existing customers to learn how quickly the company responded to emergency call-outs.

Policy price

Although prices vary depending on individual circumstances, we ran a range of quotes to gauge the affordability of each provider. We also looked at other factors that could affect the overall policy price, such as the number of claims allowed during the policy period.

Does Brexit affect European breakdown cover?

No, your policy is still valid after Brexit, even though the UK is no longer part of the EU.

Can I extend my European breakdown cover?

Yes. Some companies allow you to extend your cover if you decide to stay in Europe longer than planned. However, you should contact your provider before your policy expires to verify and make arrangements.

How is European breakdown cover different from travel insurance?

European breakdown and travel insurance offer different types of protection. Breakdown cover applies to costs associated with car failure. Travel insurance covers lost luggage, stolen items, trip delays and cancellations, medical emergencies, and other situations, depending on the policy.

Finding the best European breakdown cover can provide invaluable peace of mind when driving in another country, especially if you don’t speak the language. It covers the cost of repairs and can help with the practicalities of continuing your journey and getting you and your loved ones home safely.

Evaluate your needs carefully and look for the provider that’s the best match. With European breakdown cover, it’s wise to consider factors such as the country you’re travelling to, your car’s age and condition, and any policy exclusions.

We hope this guide has been a helpful starting point for you to stay safe while driving on the continent.