Breakdown Cover FAQS

Here at the ETA we are proud of our breakdown policy and we hope you are happy with the cover it provides. However, you may be able to cancel your policy and obtain a refund based on the following regulations;

If you wish to cancel for any reason and do so within 14 days of the start date of the policy, you will receive a full refund, unless a valid claim has been made.

After the first 14 days, should you decide to cancel, you will receive a proportionate refund for the unused period of cover remaining, provided a valid claim has not been made.

We do not charge administration fees for making changes to your policy or for cancellations of cover.

Single-Trip European Breakdown Cover

You have the right to cancel this policy before your planned trip has started, you will receive a full refund if cancelled.  Once your trip has started, no refunds will be provided for cancellation requests.

For a full list of cover options which can extend your breakdown cover, see What We Cover.

You can upgrade your policy to include European cover at any time. We also offer European breakdown cover on a single-trip basis, which could work out more cost-effective. You can get an instant quote here.

If you wish to change your vehicle, the quickest way to do so is online, via our customer login area, here, alternatively you can call us on 0333 000 1234, use our Live Chat service, or email our customer care team, customercare@eta.co.uk with details of the change.

The full list of countries covered in Europe are as follows:

Andorra, Austria, Balearics, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Isles, Corsica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic,Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guernsey (for non-residents), Hungary, Italy,Jersey (for non-residents), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands,Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Romania, San Marino, Sardinia, Sicily, Slovak Republic,Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Vatican City.

Not sure if you have European cover included on your policy, check your policy schedule, which is available by accessing your policy online, here, alternatively you can call us on 0333 000 1234, use our Live Chat service, or email our customer care team, customercare@eta.co.uk and ask us to check the cover in place.

You can upgrade your cover for trips outside of the UK at any time by, the quickest way to do so is online, via our customer login area, here, alternatively you can call us on 0333 000 1234, use our Live Chat service, or email our customer care team, customercare@eta.co.uk.

Alternately, you can purchase European Breakdown Cover on a single-trip basis for trips lasting between 1-31 days. If you only make short or infrequent trips to continental Europe, this could offer the best value breakdown cover for your needs.

Yes, we offer European Breakdown cover on both an annual and single-trip basis.

Yes, but you need to inform your motor insurers of the collision first. If your motor insurers are not informed in the first instance, this may affect any claim made through. If you can, keep your motor insurer’s number on your mobile phone.

Don’t worry if you have broken down and are not sure of your ETA number. Our recovery team can identify you if you give us your full name and postcode.

If you break down in Britain, call 08000 737 283 or 0333 000 999.

If you break down in the rest of Europe, call 0044 1206 771 714.

If you are deaf or hard of hearing you can also text us on 07537 404 890.

Not as standard, Home Assist is available on certain cover options, you should check your policy schedule to see if Home Assist is included, or contact us to confirm. Home Assist means that if you breakdown within a quarter of a mile of your home, we will send a recovery agent to attempt to get your vehicle moving again, and, if not possible to do so, we will recover you to a local garage.

Yes. If you are a sole trader or using your vehicle for commuting to and from a place of work then you are covered as standard.

The following do not qualify for breakdown cover:

Vehicles greater than 3.5 tons.
Vehicles not maintained in a roadworthy condition, or those without a valid MOT (unless exempt) and valid road tax.
Vehicles which are already broken down at the time of applying for cover or being added to your policy.
Campervans, buses, minibuses, limousines, motorhomes, any vehicle with more than ten seats, horseboxes or agricultural machinery.
Recovery of caravans/trailers that do not have a standard 50mm tow coupling and/or which exceed 7 metres in length. Note that they are not covered for breakdowns or mechancial failure, only recovery with a vehicle that has broken down whilst towing.
Vehicles which are carrying livestock, refrigerated loads or hazardous chemicals.
Vehicles being used for courier or delivery services or carrying of fare paying passengers.
Vehicles modified in a way which affect its reliability or our ability to provide our service.
Vehicles being used for motor racing, rallies, contests, speed trials or for practice for any of these activities.

Cover is active 24 hours after purchase of your policy, or from the start date you have selected, if future dated. Note that this does not apply to upgraded or renewed policies

We have a commitment never to refuse assistance to an ETA customer; however, there are a few conditions applied to the amount of times you can claim. If you have more than three breakdown call-outs or claims during the policy year, we may ask to see documentary evidence that your vehicle is being properly serviced and maintained. In terms of personal breakdown cover, if documents cannot be provided for all vehicles for which the call-out have been made, then we require documentary evidence from the vehicle most used.

We offset all carbon emissions made by our business. This includes the CO2 emissions of the recovery vehicles that attend your call out.

Yes, we cover all vehicles as long as they do not fall into our significant exclusions (see below):

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Maximum vehicle weight: 3.5 t (gross vehicle weight)

Your vehicle, unless otherwise exempt, must have a valid MOT certificate and be registered with the DVLA.