European Breakdown   | European Motor Insurance Cover

What European breakdown cover includes

Breaking down in the UK is inconvenient. Breaking down in rural France or on a Spanish motorway is a different problem. Your UK breakdown policy, if it covers Europe at all, usually only applies for a limited number of days per trip and may not include everything you need.

A proper European breakdown policy covers:

• Roadside assistance and towing to the nearest garage
• Alternative transport or hire car while your vehicle is being repaired
• Accommodation if you’re stuck overnight waiting for repairs
• Repatriation of your vehicle back to the UK if it can’t be fixed locally
• Emergency travel home for you and your passengers

How it differs from UK breakdown cover

The main difference is repatriation. Getting a car recovered across Europe is expensive, it can run to several thousand pounds without cover. Most standard UK policies don’t include this, or cap it at a level that doesn’t come close to the actual cost. European breakdown cover is designed to handle that.

What to do if you break down

Call the number on your policy document straight away. Don’t accept help from unofficial recovery vehicles that approach you on the roadside, it’s common in some countries and can lead to inflated bills. Pull well off the road, put your warning triangle out at least 50 metres behind the vehicle, and stay behind the barrier if there is one.

Adding breakdown cover to your policy

We can arrange European breakdown cover alongside your motor insurance. If you’re already a Stuart Collins customer and don’t have breakdown included, get in touch and we’ll sort it out before your next trip.