What to do if you break down in France

On this page

1. Step 1: Get safe
2. Step 2: Call the right people
3. Breaking down on an autoroute
4. Step 3: Let your breakdown cover take over
5. Dealing with a French garage
6. Print an emergency card
7. Useful French phrases
8. Before you go
9. FAQs

If your car breaks down in France, your first job is to get everyone safe: hazard lights on, hi-vis vests on before anyone gets out, and everyone away from the traffic. Who you call depends on where you are. On an ordinary road, call your breakdown cover. On an autoroute, only approved local firms are allowed to help, so call from an orange emergency phone, with the SOS Autoroute app or on 112, and contact your own cover once you’ve been towed off.

Step 1: Get safe

1. Get off the road if you can: into a lay-by, car park or rest area, or as far to the right as possible.
2. Hazard lights on.
3. Hi-vis vests on before anyone gets out. French law requires one for each person, kept in the cabin, not the boot.
4. Everyone out on the side away from the traffic. In France that’s the right-hand side, which in a UK car is the driver’s side, so passengers on the left should slide across. Get behind a barrier or well away from the road.
5. Warning triangle: on an ordinary road, put it at least 30 metres behind the car, unless doing so would put you at risk. On an autoroute, don’t: motorway operators strongly advise against it.

Not wearing your vest or not warning other drivers when you’re stopped on the road can mean a fine of up to €750, usually a €135 fixed fine. More in French driving kit.

Step 2: Call the right people

Save your breakdown cover’s number in your phone before you leave, and check your mobile works in France. When you call, have your policy number, the car’s registration, and your location ready: the road number, the direction you’re travelling and the nearest town or junction.

Breaking down on an autoroute

French autoroutes have their own rules. According to the French consumer authority (DGCCRF), only approved breakdown firms may work on autoroutes and express roads, so your UK provider can’t send its own patrol. The motorway operator APRR’s advice is to:

1. reach the next rest area if you can, or stop on the hard shoulder as far right as possible
2. put your vest on before getting out, and get everyone out on the right and away from the traffic
3. call from an orange emergency phone (signs show the way to the nearest one), with the free SOS Autoroute app, which shows them where you are, or on 112

An approved firm usually arrives in about 30 minutes. For cars and light vans its price is set by ministerial order (8 December 2025):

That covers the call-out and a tow to a place you choose up to 5 km past the next exit; longer tows cost extra. Keep the receipt: the AA, for example, says its European cover customers can claim back what they pay to have their car moved off a French autoroute. Check what your own policy says. More in driving on French autoroutes.

Step 3: Let your breakdown cover take over

European breakdown cover from a UK provider usually works like this: a local agent comes out, tries to fix the car at the roadside, and if they can’t, takes it to a local garage. If the repair takes days, many policies pay towards a hotel, a hire car or travel home, and some bring the car back to the UK if it can’t be fixed. The limits vary a lot: the AA, for example, lists up to £1,500 for alternative travel and up to £500 for emergency hotel costs.

Tim’s breakdown was on the N165 near St Nazaire, a main road rather than an autoroute, so the autoroute rules didn’t apply and his RAC cover handled it from the start.

Before you go, check:

• that your cover includes France (European cover is often an add-on)
• the limits for hotels, hire cars and onward travel, and whether it brings the car home
• whether it refunds an autoroute tow
• any age or mileage limits on the car

Our guide to European breakdown cover compares what to look for.

Dealing with a French garage

If your car goes to a garage, France’s consumer authority, the DGCCRF, sets out what you’re entitled to:

• Prices on display: garages must show their hourly labour rates and fixed prices, including VAT, at the entrance and reception.
• A quote (devis): not compulsory, but recommended for significant work, and usually free. Once you sign it, it binds the garage to the work, the price and the timescale.
• A repair order (ordre de réparation): describes the work and the estimated cost before it starts. The garage must tell you if more work turns out to be needed.
• An itemised invoice (facture) for any bill over €25, showing each part and whether it’s new, used or exchange.
• Your old parts are yours: you can ask for them back, except for free warranty repairs and exchange parts.

If your breakdown cover is handling the repair, let them deal with the garage, and don’t agree to work or pay without checking with them first, or they may not reimburse you.

Print an emergency card

Print this card, add your breakdown and insurance numbers, and keep it in the glovebox.

If it goes wrong in France

Print this card

Print it, fill in your numbers, and keep it in the glovebox with your documents.

Emergency numbers

• 112 Any emergency, anywhere in the EU
• 15 Medical emergency (SAMU)
• 17 Police and gendarmerie
• 18 Fire brigade, also road accidents
• 114 By text, for deaf or hard-of-hearing people

Broken down: ordinary road

1. Get off the road if you can. Hazard lights on.
2. Hi-vis vests on before anyone gets out.
3. Everyone out on the right, away from the traffic: in a UK car, passengers slide across.
4. Warning triangle at least 30 m behind, if it's safe.
5. Call your breakdown cover.

Broken down: autoroute

1. Reach a rest area if you can, or stop far right on the hard shoulder.
2. Vests on, everyone out on the right, away from the traffic. No triangle.
3. Call from an orange emergency phone (at least every 2 km), the SOS Autoroute app or 112. Not your UK cover first.
4. Fixed tow price 2026: €151 (up to 1.8 t) or €186.72 (1.8 to 3.5 t), +50% nights, weekends and public holidays. Keep the receipt.

Accident

1. Stop. Leaving the scene is a criminal offence.
2. Hazards, vests, make the scene safe. Call 112 if anyone is hurt.
3. Swap details; photograph cars, damage, road and signs; get witnesses.
4. Fill in the constat amiable together. Don't sign what you don't understand: use the Observations box.
5. Call your insurer as soon as you can.

Useful French

• Je suis en panne. I've broken down.
• Il y a des blessés. People are injured.
• J'ai besoin d'une dépanneuse. I need a tow truck.
• Je suis sur l'autoroute A…, direction… I'm on the A… heading for…
• Je ne suis pas d'accord. I don't agree.

My numbers

Breakdown cover helpline Breakdown policy number Insurer's 24-hour claims line Insurance policy number Car registration

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Useful French phrases

Before you go

• Buy European breakdown cover, or check your existing cover includes France, and read the limits.
• Save the helpline number in your phone and keep the policy documents in the car.
• Put a hi-vis vest for each person in the cabin and the warning triangle in the car.
• Get the car serviced and check tyres, including the spare, oil, coolant and lights.
• Download the SOS Autoroute app if you’ll be using autoroutes.

What to do if you break down in France FAQs

What should I do if my car breaks down in France?

Get off the road if you can, put your hazard lights on, and put on your hi-vis vest before getting out. Get everyone out on the side away from the traffic. On ordinary roads, put your warning triangle at least 30 metres behind the car if it's safe to, then call your breakdown cover. On an autoroute, call from an orange emergency phone, with the SOS Autoroute app or on 112.

Who do I call if I break down on a French autoroute?

Not your UK breakdown company first. Only approved breakdown firms may work on French autoroutes and express roads, so call from an orange emergency phone (at least every 2 km), with the SOS Autoroute app or on 112. Once you're towed off the autoroute, call your own breakdown cover.

How much does a breakdown tow cost on a French autoroute?

Prices for cars and light vans are set by the French government. In 2026: €151 for vehicles up to 1.8 tonnes and €186.72 for 1.8 to 3.5 tonnes, or €226.50 and €280.08 at night, at weekends and on public holidays. This covers a tow to within 5 km of the next exit. Some UK breakdown providers, such as the AA, say you can claim it back.

Should I put out a warning triangle in France?

On ordinary roads, yes, if it's safe: French rules say at least 30 metres behind the car. On autoroutes, motorway operators strongly advise against it.

What is the emergency number in France?

112 works across the EU and the operator puts you through to the right service. France also has 15 for medical emergencies (SAMU), 17 for the police and 18 for the fire brigade, who also attend road accidents.

Do I need breakdown cover to drive in France?

It isn't a legal requirement, but without it you pay for any tow, repairs, hotel and travel yourself, and getting a car back to the UK can cost a lot. Check that your UK cover includes Europe, and what it actually pays for.

Will a French garage give me a quote?

Ask for one: in French a quote is a devis. It isn't compulsory, but France's consumer authority recommends one for significant work and it's usually free. Once signed, it binds the garage to the work, price and timescale. For any bill over €25 the garage must give you an itemised invoice.

What happens if my car can't be repaired in France?

That depends on your cover. Many European breakdown policies pay to bring the car back to the UK and for your onward travel or a hotel, up to set limits. Without cover, you'd arrange and pay for this yourself.