Types of breakdown cover in France

If you’re driving around France, you’ll need a European breakdown policy that covers you for France and any other countries you’re travelling to in Europe.

European breakdown cover is usually split into two types of cover - single trip and annual trip.

Single trip European breakdown cover (not offered by Asda Money)

Single journey European breakdown cover often includes:

- A one-off journey to Europe.

- For trips for one day up to 90 days.

- Both breakdown cover and roadside assistance in Europe and the UK.

Annual European breakdown cover (offered by Asda Money)

Annual European breakdown cover usually includes:

- Unlimited journeys into Europe across one year.

- Up to 180 days per trip.

- Both breakdown cover and roadside assistance in Europe and the UK.

Getting cover for a single trip may be cheaper than an annual policy, but you might not get all the benefits you would with an annual policy. Plus, it’s limited to that single trip. This means that any future trips would require a new policy, which could end up costing more in the long run.

At Asda Money, we offer European breakdown cover as an annual policy with prices starting from £216 for the year. It covers:

• Roadside assistance
• Local recovery up to 10 miles from the location of the breakdown
• A dedicated 24/7 English-speaking helpline
• Recovery to anywhere in the UK
• Home assistance
• Hire care, alternative transport or overnight accommodation

Do you need breakdown cover to drive in France?

It’s not a legal requirement to have breakdown cover whilst driving in France, but it’s something you may want to consider.

If you break down in Europe without the right cover, you’ll need to arrange everything yourself. This could end up being very stressful if you’re in a country you don’t know well and where you can’t speak the language.

Having the right breakdown cover when you’re travelling in France means any stress and hassle is taken away. All you need to do is call our 24-hour helpline and we’ll take care of the rest.

What happens if I break down in France?

If you break down in France and have European breakdown cover, find a safe spot to pull over and put your hazard lights on. Then, make sure it’s safe to get out of the car and find a safe area to call our 24-hour helpline on +44 1689 891 063. We’ll arrange for a local professional to attend your breakdown. They will either fix your car at the roadside or tow it to a local garage.

If you don’t have European cover, it’s up to you to find a local recovery company to come out and either repair your car there and then, or tow it to a local garage for any necessary repairs. You’ll have to cover all the costs yourself too.

As French motorways are privately owned, if you break down on the motorway in France then you will need to use an orange emergency phone. These are positioned every 2km along the motorway. If you can’t find an orange phone, then call 112.  The emergency services will then send help to recover your vehicle. Once you’ve been towed to a safe place, call our 24 hour helpline (+44 1689 891 063) and we’ll be able to assist further.

What car insurance do I need to drive in France?

When driving in France you must have third-party insurance as a minimum.  This type of car insurance covers you if you injure someone and cause damage to their car. But it doesn’t cover injuries to you or damage to your own car.

If you have comprehensive cover in the UK, then be careful not to assume you will automatically have the same level of insurance driving in Europe. It’s important to check your policy details thoroughly before you set off, as some providers won’t offer the same level of insurance when you’re in Europe. You may also be limited to the number of days you’re covered on the continent.

Buying a separate European insurance policy may be an easier option. Comprehensive European car insurance will cover third-party damages, fire and theft and injuries to you, your passengers, and your vehicle.

Tips for driving in France

Driving in France is slightly different than driving in the UK so it’s important that you understand the rules of the road before your trip. As already mentioned, you’ll need the correct car insurance in place, and you may want to consider European breakdown cover and travel insurance options for your holiday, too.

In an emergency

In an emergency, dial 112 from anywhere in Europe and you’ll be connected to an operator who will then connect you to an emergency service in France. The operators will speak both French and English. Emergency telephones connected to an SOS service are also located every 2km on motorways.

Driving laws in France

First and foremost, in France, you’ll need to drive on the right side of the road.

To drive in France, you must be aged 18 and over and hold a full, valid driving licence. Driving licences issued in the UK, the EU and EEA countries are accepted.

You must have a UK sticker displayed in the rear windscreen and you must carry a copy of your motor insurance certificate.

If you do break down in France, then you must use a reflective hi-vis jacket and a warning triangle. You also need headlight convertors to prevent drivers from being blinded by bright headlights.

When overtaking cars or other vehicles, the general rule is to overtake on the left. The exception is in lane traffic where there are slow-moving lanes. You’re then allowed to overtake on the right. You should only use your horn to warn other drivers about imminent danger.

At some junctions, the ‘Priorite a Droite’ rule may apply. This means that priority should be given to traffic coming from the right. There will be signs to indicate whether this rule applies, so look out for them.

It’s important to get to know the various speed limits used in France:

• Urban areas: 50 km/h
• Rural areas: 80 km/h-90km/h
• Dual carriageways: 100 km/h-110 km/h
• Autoroute: 100 km/h-130 km/h

The international three-colour traffic light system is used in France, but with a slight difference as there is no amber light after the red light.

When an amber light is flashing it means caution, slow down, or proceed but also give way to cars coming from the right-hand side. When a red light is flashing it usually means no entry. A red light with a yellow arrow means you can continue in the direction of the arrow as long as you give way to pedestrians and other cars travelling in that direction