These days more and more people are searching for ways to save on their European holiday. One way to save on the rising costs of air travel is to drive to your destination.
However, while driving may be a cheaper and more convenient form of transportation, taking to the road comes with the risk of a potential breakdown, which can be a harrowing experience in a country you are unfamiliar with.
This is why it is imperative that any road trip outside of the UK be backed by the purchase of proper breakdown cover.
In many cases if you already own breakdown cover insurance, you may be able to upgrade or purchase temporary holiday coverage through your existing provider. For those who do not currently have a breakdown policy, you have the option of purchasing a full coverage plan that includes both the UK and Europe, or a single trip policy for the duration of your holiday.
European Breakdown Cover Basics
European breakdown cover provides a basic guarantee that your vehicle will either be repaired at roadside or brought back to the UK. In the event of a breakdown, service is supplied through an English speaking helpline which will walk you through the recovery process, as well as any further travel accommodations that may be required.
Without this coverage, you may be faced with the prospect of calling a recovery truck and arranging a tow or repair in a country and language you may be unfamiliar with.
Although the details of your coverage are different depending on the policy, generally European Breakdown provides the following services:
- Roadside assistance
- Recovery to a nearby garage
- Vehicle recovery back to the UK
- Repatriation for you and your passengers
- 24/7 English speaking helpline
- Overnight accommodation or onward transportation expenses
- Legal protection
How It Works
Companies that provide European Breakdown employ English speaking operators stationed in 24 hour call centres. When a breakdown occurs, these agents will then notify a local mechanic that is part of their European network.
If the incident cannot be resolved at roadside, the car will be towed to a nearby garage, at which point you will receive onward travel or overnight accommodations if your policy provides it. Lastly, if the car cannot be repaired, the coverage will assist in the delivery of the vehicle back to the UK.
Single or Multi-Trip Coverage
The single most deterministic factor in choosing a policy is the choice between single or multi-trip coverage. If you are planning multiple trips to Europe during your subscription period, most providers will offer to add European breakdown cover on top of a standard UK policy.
Conversely, those planning a short holiday can opt for single trip coverage, which provides insurance for the exact dates you specify with your provider, and is generally cheaper for short holidays of three days or less.
However, as costs tend to hover around £10 per day, driving for an extended period can be more expensive even for a single trip. On the other hand, in some instances you may only seek breakdown coverage for the day you depart and the return trip home, relying on public transportation once you reach your destination. In that case, opting for single trip coverage is considerably cheaper.
Ultimately, the choice between single and multi-trip coverage depends on the your travel intentions. Although it may be difficult to forecast where and how often you will visit Europe in a single year, knowing your personal travel habits and history can help you decide which option is more economical.
Coverage Level
Most companies offer annual, multi-trip coverage to Europe as part of their highest tier policy, and generally come with all the benefits contained therein. There is typically more variance with single trip coverage as it may not mirror the services you are entitled to for a breakdown in the UK.
Nevertheless, regardless of the type of coverage you choose, the policies will vary from company to company, and it is incumbent upon the customer to find the most suitable plan. For instance, the length of coverage for each trip can be limited to anywhere from 5 to 90 days, even for individuals who have opted for annual coverage.
Furthermore, some policies will place a general limit of up to £2,000 of breakdown cover, whereas others may institute £150 caps on more specific expenses such as garage labour. The RAC is one example of a company that will tow your car to a garage and provide recovery assistance back to the UK, but do so without any compensation for garage repair.
Excess
Similar to car insurance, some breakdown cover providers charge an excess that you must pay towards each claim. For example, if the repairs on your car total £500 and you have an excess of £200, the company will only pay the £300 difference. Often times the amount of the excess has a direct effect on the premium, so searching for a lower excess or excess-free cover may not necessarily be the cheaper option.
On the other hand, having a lower or excess-free policy ensures that you will not have to pay any cash upfront, and save you the burden of any unexpected expenses on your holiday.
Countries
Not all countries are covered in standard breakdown cover packages, and the covered areas will differ based on your provider. It is essential before you plan or depart on a trip that you ensure that the countries in both your route and destination are included in your plan. Most plans advertise coverage of over 40 European countries, but you should request a list and ensure that you are protected, particularly in more obscure regions.
Exclusions
In addition to looking for what is included in your breakdown cover, it is also important to remember what is excluded. Many policies will advertise the virtue of roadside assistance and towing to a local garage, but will neglect to mention that you will be responsible for the repairs. Other companies may compensate you for repairs, but place a cap on the total amount, or pay for the garage labour but not the parts and equipment.
Be sure to enquire whether a policy accounts for emergency expenditures. For example, some European motorways are strewn with emergency telephones that are handled by the local police. In the event of a breakdown, the police will call for a local recovery agent that may not be connected to your insurance network, especially if the recovery agent is outside the network of any UK motoring organisation.
In this instance, you will be responsible for the cost of recovery. A good policy, however, will reimburse you for this expense, so be sure to confirm whether this is the case.
Compare European Breakdown Policies
The following is a breakdown of the various UK providers of European breakdown cover and their differences in price and coverage:
Green Flag
Green Flag Motoring Assistance has been providing breakdown assistance since 1971. They offer both single trip and an annual Europlus option which covers cars under 16 years of age for a total of 90 days. Repair, recovery, onward travel and messaging services are included. However, there is no coverage for attached caravans or trailers.
- Single Trip – £10.40 per day
- Multi-Trip – £126 per year
- Notable Exclusions – No caravan/trailer coverage, cars no older than 16 years
Insurance Choice
Insurance Choice is a subsidiary of AXA Assistance which has provided repair and recovery services since 1983. They offer no single trip coverage, instead providing inexpensive multi-trip coverage as part of their Gold policy for vehicles under 10 years old. Unfortunately, coverage is limited to only 19 EU countries.
- Single Trip – None
- Multi-Trip – £69 per year
- Notable Exclusions – Coverage in only 19 EU countries, cars must be under 10 years of age
The RAC
In the business of roadside assistance for over a century, the RAC offers both single and multi-trip policies with provisions such as repair, recovery, and repatriation to the UK in 47 countries, as well as onward travel and emergency accommodations.
- Single Trip – £9.90 per day
- Multi-Trip – £103.50 per year
- Notable Exclusions – Messaging service
The AA
One of the oldest motoring organisations in the UK, the Automobile Association has been providing breakdown assistance since 1973. Their expansive network extends across Europe with vehicle recovery, repair, and alternative travel assistance. The annual policy also offers compensation for legal expenses up to £75,000.
- Single Trip – £9.05 per day
- Multi-Trip – £92.19 per year
- Notable Exclusions – Messaging service
Asda Breakdown
Britannia Rescue’s Asda Breakdown provides European coverage as part of their premium tier service. In addition to standard recovery assistance, the plan provides repatriation to the UK for you and up to 7 passengers and coverage for trips as long as 180 days.
- Single Trip – None
- Multi-Trip – £10.75 per month
- Notable Exclusions – Messaging service
Tesco Bank
Tesco has a slightly different approach to coverage based on the length of typical holidays. Their 8-day and 22-day coverages include most of the amenities that other providers offer with two notable exceptions: repatriation to the UK for you and your passengers and overnight accommodation in the event repairs cannot be made at roadside.
- Single Trip – £36 per 8 days
- Multi-Trip – £52 per 22 days
- Notable Exclusions – Repatriation to the UK, emergency overnight accommodation
Europ Assistance
Unlike most UK providers, Europ Assistance has its roots in 1960s France. The company offers repair and recovery for both your car and any trailers or caravans in tow.
- Single Trip – £10.60 per day
- Multi-Trip – £80 per year
- Notable Exclusions – Messaging service
Breakdown Direct
As part of their Option 401 plan, Breakdown Direct issues coverage throughout Western Europe. The policy stipulates that each trip be limited to 31 days or less, and that total travel does not exceed 90 days for each subscription period. Single trip coverage is also offered starting at £12.45 per day.
- Single Trip – £12.45 per day
- Multi-Trip – £99 per year
- Notable Exclusions – Messaging service
ETA Breakdown Cover
A non-profit organisation, the Environmental Transport Association provides a number of discounts and competitive pricing plans unique to the business. However, you must sign up for an annual European Breakdown Cover as they do not offer single trip coverage.
- Single Trip – None
- Multi-Trip – £96.01 per year
- Notable Exclusions – Messaging service
More Than
As part of their annual coverage, More Than gives you access to your own personal customer manager to provide personalised assistance with the same agent whenever you require help. The policy delivers standard European breakdown assistance. Coverage for caravans and trailers are not included.
- Single Trip – None
- Multi-Trip – £58 per year
- Notable Exclusions – Coverage for trailers and caravans, messaging service
European Driving and Money Saving Tips
Once you have narrowed down your choices of coverage and provider, the next step is to examine the details of each plan. With any type of insurance vehicle, there is an inordinate amount of small print that distinguishes one policy from another.
Limits
All insurance has boundaries with regard to coverage. This could be limits to the number of days you are covered during a subscription period, limits to the cost or types of repairs covered, or limits to the level of service. Go over the policy details to ensure that the coverage is either comprehensive or concentrated in the areas you wish to insure.
Given the number of options available on the market, there is no need to opt for a less than satisfactory plan. Some things to consider when scouring the details of a policy are:
- Total days covered
- Countries covered
- Repatriation for your passengers
- Maximum amount you can claim per trip
- Maximum amount available for onward travel/emergency accommodation
- Reimbursement for recovery services outside of the network
Money Saving Tips
Often times European Breakdown is included as part of your existing breakdown cover or separate insurance plan. Home, travel, and car insurance companies typically offer bundled coverage for special circumstances along with their normal products which could be cheaper than purchasing separate breakdown cover.
Another tool you can utilise is an insurance comparison site. Rather than research and request a quote from each individual provider, you can enter your information and let the site crawl the web for all the available deals that suit your needs. As most customers are unaware of anything beyond the major insurance providers, an online comparison not only saves time but allows you to perform a more thorough and detailed search.
Avoiding Breakdowns
Having breakdown insurance protects us from the unpredictable and the unavoidable. Regardless, most of the breakdowns that occur each year are due to circumstances within our control. Taking the proper precautions can reduce the chances of your car breaking down and entitle you to the benefits that come with no claims discounts and decreased premiums.
Routinely performing basic checks to tyre pressure, oil and water will ensure your car is properly maintained and more likely to survive a gruelling road trip.
Driving in Europe Checklist
Having the right paperwork is just as important in a breakdown situation as your policy. Without the proper identification, you may slow the recovery process and eat into the time remaining on your holiday. Run down the following checklist before you make your departure:
Driving licence
Many companies provide alternative transportation for a breakdown. If you have the option of a courtesy car, you will need your original driving licence in order to operate it, which means those accustomed to carrying only a photo licence will need to bring its paper counterpart.
Vehicle registration document
Many emergency telephones on the motorway are connected to the local police department. At some point, police officials may want to verify that you are the owner of the vehicle. In order to avoid any confusion, you should bring your vehicle registration. If you are loaning the car from another person, you will need to show a letter of authority from the owner as well as a Vehicle on Hire certificate.
Road Atlas and Emergency Supplies
Being prepared for a breakdown allows you to remain in control emotionally and expedite the recovery process. A road atlas can help you identify your location to recovery personnel, and bringing along warning devices such as an orange cone can keep you and your car safe from oncoming traffic.
Credit card
A credit card represents not only a financial security blanket, it also serves as identification. Many companies that work in the repair and recovery business use credit card swipes in order to electronically verify your identity.
Mobile phone
In an unfamiliar location, you may not wish to chance wandering off in search of an emergency telephone in order to call services that may not speak English. Having a mobile phone will allow you to contact your insurance companies and have them arrange for a repair service. Most breakdown companies will offer a 24/7 English speaking helpline to assist you in the event of car trouble.
If you choose to use the emergency telephones, on the other hand, many of them will be answered by the local police, who will then contact a recovery company that may not be covered by your policy.
Other Tips for Driving in Europe
Taking a road trip to Europe can be a long odyssey that requires patience and organisation, especially if you are travelling with small children. Whether you are travelling with family or friends, there are many games and distractions you can employ to keep your passengers occupied.
The situation can be exacerbated if your car breaks down and you become stranded in an area for a protracted period of time. Always overcompensate by bringing along more entertainment than the length of the trip requires.
In addition to the usual movies, audiobooks, and video games, keep a list of creative road games handy that can be used to fill down time. As a typical recovery service takes up to an hour to reach your location, having a ready distraction can prevent your passengers from becoming further frustrated by the situation.
