Breakdown Cover Articles

What Everybody Ought To Know About European Car
Breakdown Cover

Are you planning to take your car overseas?

If so, getting the right European car breakdown cover should be one of your first priorities. If you want to avoid paying hundreds of euros to be rescued from the side of a German autobahn or French autoroute, getting the most comprehensive European breakdown cover is vital.

Whilst cost will always be a factor when you’re choosing breakdown cover, it’s important that you also seek out a policy which offers high quality, comprehensive cover. Here’s what you should look for.

Make sure you’re covered for the countries you’re travelling to

A key factor to take into account if you’re taking your car overseas is to make sure that your European breakdown policy covers the countries you will be driving in. Most policies cover the main countries such as France, Germany and Spain but always check the small print if you’re planning to travel off the beaten track.

Reimbursement for breakdown expenses

If you break down in the UK, it’s generally easy to call your breakdown company for assistance. However, things are often different on the continent.

In many European countries, if you break down on a major road the police answer the emergency telephone call. A local recovery service will be sent to you and it is rare that these companies have links with UK insurers. This means that you may have to pay for the breakdown assistance that you receive.

So, when buying European car breakdown insurance you should ensure that your insurer will cover such costs. Many car breakdown cover providers will reimburse the cost of breakdown assistance including recovery and roadside repairs in Europe if you provide the receipts on your return.

Language assistance

A phrase book and a translation app on your smartphone might get you so far when travelling overseas, but trying to deal with a breakdown may be trickier. When buying European care breakdown cover, look for a provider that has English speaking assistance around the clock.

Repatriation and recovery

If you suffer a serious mechanical failure when you break down abroad, it may simply not be possible for your car to be repaired at the roadside. You then face the very real prospect of being stranded in a foreign country, thousands of miles from home.

Good quality European car breakdown cover will include both recovery and repatriation. This means that your vehicle and passengers will be returned home under the terms of your breakdown insurance. In addition, if the driver falls ill or is unable to drive the car through injury, good cover will also ensure that any stranded passengers are returned home.

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