What a complete nightmare, you're abroad on holiday & your car breaks down, leaving you stranded in the middle of nowhere. You're unable to speak the language and the nearest garage is 100 miles away. At times like that, the cost of European roadside assistance looks like money very well spent. There are different levels of cover, for example the RAC offers two levels of cover: Basic cover provides Roadside assistance & recovery to a local garage in 47 countries Repatriation of you, your passengers and the vehicle to the UK
Comprehensive cover consists of single trip or annual cover, with all the benefits of Basic cover plus: Cover starts from when you leave your home in the UK Supply of a replacement car so you can continue on your trip* Cover of any accommodation costs whilst your car is being repaired*
Some of the benefits of european breakdown cover through the RAC are: We'll arrange for your car to be fixed at the roadside or towed to the nearest garage in 47 European countries English-speaking Incident Managers available 24-hours a day We'll arrange for you and up to seven passengers and your vehicle to be repatriated to the UK if needed An extensive network of local service providers across Europe to get you back on the road as fast as possible.
Although the differences in policies are too many to detail, there a few other factors to consider when booking your policy - mostly affecting those who drive older cars. The age limit for cover varies according to the com pany - some set a limit of 10 years old, others will go to 11. The biggest factor, though, is a little-known clause in most policies that states that the breakdown cover will not repatriate your car if it is worth less than the cost of transportation. The RAC says it costs around £1,200 to bring a car back from the French Riviera - you can probably double that price from a steamy Athens. The final thing that should be noted is that breakdown policies will, in the main, only bring your car back following just that - a breakdown. If your car is no longer driveable as the result of a crash that is your fault, the breakdown policy doesn't kick in - that's down to your insurance company and will depend on the policy you hold. Also, they do not pay for any spare parts your car may need, but will cover the cost of having them sent from the UK. | 
