Arrival European Breakdown Cover

Breaking down without cover could ruin your holiday. So we've partnered with The Camping and Caravanning Club to bring you complete peace of mind when travelling in Europe.
Together with our brilliant breakdown cover and specialist benefits designed for caravans, motorhomes and campervans, help is at hand when you need it most.

European roadside assistance in 48 countries

24/7 English-speaking helpline

Help in 46 minutes on average, in France

Five Star Defaqto rated cover

What's included in your breakdown cover?

Arrival European breakdown

£8 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 up to £3,000 to continue your journey.
We’ll pay up to £150 towards garage labour costs, provided repairs are completed on the same working day.
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.
If you get stuck in snow, mud, flood or sand we'll help to get you out if it’s safe for us to do so. If needed, we’ll also pay for a specialist to recover your vehicle, providing it is not on private land. 
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.

Price is based on Arrival European breakdown cover for a 14 day trip, in a vehicle up to 1 year old, travelling in zone 1.

Do I need Arrival European Breakdown Cover

If you’re driving a caravan, campervan or motorhome, standard European Breakdown Cover might not cut it. It allows for motorhomes and minibuses, plus light vans, and vehicles towing caravans or trailers, but only up to a certain size and weight.
Arrival European Breakdown Cover has no size or weight restrictions. So check the table below to see if you need cover that goes the extra mile.

Standard European Breakdown Cover

Arrival European Breakdown Cover

Weight

Under 3,500kg (3.5 tonnes) fully loaded

Unrestricted

Length

Under 7 metres (including tow bar)

Unrestricted

Height

Under 3 metres

Unrestricted

Width

Under 2.55 metres (including any load you're carrying)

Unrestricted

Seats

A minibus with 17 seats or less, including the driver

Unrestricted

What countries are covered by RAC European Breakdown Cover?

The RAC offers European breakdown cover in up to 48 countries across mainland Europe. These countries are split into Zone 1, Zone 2 and Zone 3, so you can easily select the right cover for you and your trip. This includes, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Portugal and Belgium, as well as the Republic of Ireland.
We also cover a range of other countries, including Albania, Armenia, Gibraltar, Moldova, Macedonia, Serbia and many more.

We also cover the offshore islands of all the countries within this zone.

Map of Europe showing which countries are part of Zone 1

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).

Map of Europe showing which countries are part of Zone 1 and Zone 2

Arrival European breakdown cover FAQs

A single-trip Arrival European breakdown policy is valid for one return trip lasting up to a maximum of 90 days. When you buy your cover, you need to let us know how long you’ll be away for. The price you pay will be based on this.

If you have RAC European Breakdown Cover, please call to let us know you’ve broken down. You’ll speak to our English-speaking team, and they’ll talk you through next steps. The number you need to call depends on which country you’re in when you break down:

If you’ve changed your vehicle, please call 0330 159 1111 to let us know. Otherwise, your Arrival European Breakdown Cover won’t apply to the correct vehicle.

The cost of parts in Europe varies from country to country and garage to garage. If you don’t have Arrival European breakdown cover, you’ll also have to pay garage labour costs. With Arrival European Breakdown Cover, you’ll be covered up to £150 provided repairs are completed on the same working day.

With the RAC, you’ll have access to an English-speaking helpline. So you don't need to worry if you don’t speak the local language.

Arrival European Breakdown cover single trip is ideal if you only plan to drive to Europe once or twice a year. It’s likely to work out cheaper than an annual policy. But if you drive to Europe more regularly, it’s worth considering annual Arrival European breakdown cover, as it may cost you less per trip.

Yes, our single trip Arrival European breakdown cover is designed for one-off trips.

RAC European Breakdown Policy FAQs:

If you have RAC European Breakdown Cover and need our help, we’ll rescue you as normal. You’ll have the same level of protection as before Brexit, unless we’ve told you otherwise.

Your UK driving licence is still valid to drive in EU countries. But you’ll also need to take these documents with you.

  • Your vehicle’s log book (V5C). This proves that you own the vehicle.
  • A green card may be needed for some European countries.

It’s your responsibility to make sure you understand what you need when driving to Europe after Brexit. Find out more about driving in the EU after Brexit.

When you buy your cover, we’ll send your policy documents to you in the post.

If your vehicle breaks down, your policy booklet contains the contact details you need to get help from us.

The number to call changes based on the country where your breakdown happens:

You may sometimes have to pay for a service up front and claim the cost back from us. To do so, please make sure you first have our agreement to reimburse your costs by contacting us before you claim. Then download and email your claim form (including receipts) to [email protected]. Make sure your vehicle registration number is in the subject field. You can find the claim form and more information here.

Arrival European Breakdown cover single trip is ideal if you only plan to drive to Europe once or twice a year. It’s likely to work out cheaper than an annual policy. But if you drive to Europe more regularly, it’s worth considering annual Arrival European breakdown cover, as it may cost you less per trip.

Yes, our single trip Arrival European breakdown cover is designed for one-off trips.

Defaqto Expert Rated 5 star 2023

RAC European Breakdown Cover
Get peace of mind with our comprehensive European breakdown cover.
Annual European breakdown cover
With annual breakdown, you’ll be covered year-round when travelling in Europe.
Compare European breakdown cover
See how we compare to other European breakdown cover providers.