You're on holiday in Italy, or driving through France on your way to Spain, and your car decides it's had enough. The engine light comes on, there's a strange noise, and suddenly you're on the hard shoulder of the A7 outside Lyon with no idea what to do next.

It happens to thousands of drivers every year. Here's what you need to know.

First: safety, same as at home

The rules are the same everywhere in Europe:

Hazard lights on immediately
Hi-vis vest on before leaving the car — this is a legal requirement in most EU countries, and you can be fined if you don't have one
Warning triangle 50-100 metres behind the car (or a V-16 beacon if you have one)
Get away from the vehicle — stand behind the barrier if there is one

In France, you must carry a hi-vis vest for every passenger. In Spain, you technically need two warning triangles (though they're being phased out in favour of the V-16 light). Know the rules before you travel.

Who to call

Your insurance company

This should be your first call. Most European motor insurance policies include some level of European breakdown cover. Your insurer will arrange a local tow truck and deal with the language barrier for you.

Keep your insurance documents accessible — not buried in the boot under three suitcases. Save the emergency number in your phone before you travel.

European emergency number: 112

If there's any danger — accident, fire, people hurt — call 112. It works in every EU country and operators speak English.

Local breakdown services

If your insurance doesn't cover you abroad, you'll need to call a local service directly. This is where things get tricky because of the language barrier and not knowing local prices.

Some well-known national services:

Germany: ADAC (also assists non-members for a fee)
France: Call from the orange emergency phones on motorways — they connect you to the local concession holder
Italy: ACI (116 from any phone)
Spain: RACE, or call 112

The language problem

This is genuinely one of the hardest parts. You're stressed, your car is broken, and the mechanic speaks zero English.

Practical tips:

Google Translate — download the language pack offline before your trip
Write down your car's symptoms — "engine overheating", "strange noise from front left", "won't start"
Take photos and videos of what's happening — a video of that weird noise is worth a thousand translated words
Use an app — platforms like Priority Help Car let you find nearby professionals and communicate through the app regardless of language

Getting your car fixed locally vs transporting it home

This depends on what's wrong:

Fix it locally if:

It's a minor repair (battery, alternator, tyre, simple sensor)
The car is driveable after the fix
The repair cost is under 500 €

Transport it home if:

It's a major mechanical failure (engine, gearbox, major electrical)
Parts aren't available locally
The repair quote is suspiciously cheap (quality concerns)
Your car is under warranty and should be repaired by an authorised dealer

International vehicle transport costs between 800 € and 3,000 € depending on the distance. Your insurance may cover all or part of this — check your repatriation clause.

Documents to keep

Whatever happens, keep everything:

Towing receipts
Repair invoices (ask for them in English if possible, or at least with itemised parts and labour)
Photos of the breakdown location and the car
Any police reports (required in some countries for insurance claims)
Communication records with your insurance company

You'll need all of this to claim on your insurance later.

Before your next trip

Check your insurance covers European breakdown
Save your insurer's emergency number in your phone
Download offline maps and translation apps
Carry at least one hi-vis vest per passenger
Have a warning triangle or V-16 light
Keep a basic emergency kit (water, phone charger, torch)

Bottom line

Car breakdowns abroad are stressful but manageable. Safety first, call your insurance, and keep all documentation. If you need to compare local towing or transport options quickly, having an app that connects you with local professionals can save you hours of phone calls in a language you don't speak.

Your car broke down abroad — here's exactly what to do