Find the best breakdown cover policy for you by comparing deals from leading UK insurers
Are you taking your motorbike around the French Alps this summer? Or venturing around the forests and wine trails of Germany on your annual break? If so, chances are you would have considered taking out European motorcycle breakdown cover.
This type of cover helps if you are riding your motorcycle in any European country that is covered by the policy and offers you roadside assistance should you need it on your travels.
Breakdown cover can help transport your two-wheeled steed to a nearby garage for repairs or even bring it back to your home address in the UK if needed. It may include cover to help you with your onward journey.
By taking out European motorcycle breakdown cover, you put your mind at rest knowing that whilst travelling on your bike, moped or scooter through Europe, you are protected.
Having UK motorcycle breakdown cover doesn’t necessarily mean you are protected on roads outside the UK. But if your UK policy includes European motorbike breakdown cover, check the small print to ensure you are properly protected for your trip, from length of stay to countries you are visiting.
💡 Top tip: It might be worth considering a policy upgrade if you haven’t got the level of cover you want from your UK policy.
It depends on the policy you buy. Usually, if your bike breaks down unexpectedly, the most basic level of coverage will offer you roadside assistance.
This is where you choose your policy based on the level of cover you require, and you have the option to add on any extras that are needed. Make sure your car insurance doesn’t already have breakdown cover included or you’ll be wasting money and doubling up on cover.
When a breakdown occurs, make sure you contact your breakdown provider. They will be there to help you and arrange the next steps. You can also get instant breakdown cover on the roadside, should your bike break down unexpectedly.
A mechanic will be sent out to help you on the side of the road, they will either try and fix it there and there, or two it to a nearby garage. Certain policies also include a courtesy car to help you get back on the road.
What type of motorbike breakdown cover is available:
You can buy cover for a single trip, ensuring that if anything happens to your bike while you’re outside of the UK, you are protected.
An annual policy gives you cover all year round and allows you to travel around Europe on your bike whenever you want – although some may have limits on the amount of days you can travel abroad (always check the small print before riding off).
There are numerous factors that can affect the cost of your cover:
Some motorbikes, such as custom or vintage bikes, may have higher repairs cost or maybe more liable to break down. Breakdown cover premiums can be affected by the age, make and model of your motorbikes.
Again, the type of motorcycle you are riding will ultimately affect the cost of your policy. Bike types are priced differently as they all vary in repair costs depending on whether they are a scooter, moped, or a classic bike.
The level of cover or the number of additional options you add to your cover will all influence the price. When it comes to European cover, check the small print carefully to ensure that you are covered for the length of time you are travelling and the countries are you driving in.
Insuring more than one motorcycle typically increases the cost of your policy, however in some cases, a multi-bike breakdown policy may work out cheaper than having a few separate policies.
Depending on what policy you take out will determine the level of coverage you will get from your breakdown policy. But most policies will cover you for:
A qualified mechanic will come to you on the side of the road and try to fix the issue that caused your bike to break down. If they are unable to fix it at the side of the road then they will get a low loader and transport it to the nearest garage for repairs.
Some breakdown policies, if the technicians aren’t able to repair on the side of the road, will transfer you to your next destination, or even offer a courtesy vehicle so you can carry on your trip.
Most of the breakdown call lines will have an English speaker on hand to help guide you through the process and get help dispatched to you ASAP.
Getting the best breakdown cover is a matter of cutting costs where you can and finding cover that's right for your needs. Here are a few tips to help you find a policy that's right for you:
By upping your excess, it will lower the cost of your policy, however the amount you pay might go up if you make multiple call outs. There are also policies that have unlimited call outs, so it pays to do your research. It is crucial to find a balance that does not leave you in a difficult financial position if you make a claim.
Always shop around when choosing your breakdown cover and compare different quotes. Never take the first offer as there may still be cheaper policies available.
Paying slightly more for your policy could offer you a greater cover. Always read the policy details in case your provider’s policy offers a host of free add-ons.
MoneySuperMarket has won the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award, an independent seal of excellence, which recognises businesses that consistently deliver a world-class customer experience.
Comparing quotes from different insurers allows you to find the best deal out there.
We can do this work for you.
We've been around since 1993 and are the UK's most recommended price comparison website
We take the effort out of shopping around. Get quotes from top insurers in minutes.
Our mission is to save you money. We save our customers £1 bn+ on their bills every year
Weigh up what represents the best value when choosing motorcycle breakdown cover for a European road trip. For example, it might only cost £10 to £20 more to upgrade from basic cover, which limits how much you can claim for different elements, to a more comprehensive policy. If you are going on a long trip, it may actually be cheaper to buy an annual policy, than take out single trip cover for an extended period.
Faith Archer Personal Finance Expert
Even though the UK is no longer part of the EU, your European motorcycle cover should protect you in the UK.
You can take your motorcycle to Europe as long as you have the right legal licence and take the correct documentation with you.
If you are involved in an accident on your motorbike while driving abroad, then your travel insurance should cover you. As long as you hold the correct UK licence to ride your two-wheeled vehicle - mopeds, scooters and motorcycles up to 1125cc are usually included.
But when it comes to damage to your motorbike as a result of that accident, your travel insurance will not cover you for that.
We get paid by the companies we work with, but the payment we get doesn’t have any bearing on the information we provide. We get paid in different ways, depending on the type of product or service you buy through us. Our goal is to search deals from as wide a range of companies as possible, but we only show results from our partner providers.
Our comparison service is, and will always be, free to use.
One of the best ways to get the lowest prices and best deals is to compare quotes from different companies. We do the work for you, comparing quotes side-by-side and giving you all the information you need so you can choose the right deal for your needs and your wallet.
We don’t give recommendations or financial advice, but we give you clear information so you can choose financial products that suit your circumstances.
No, not every company can be included in our service. This is because some companies don’t want their products included on comparison sites, and some decide that they would rather not pay a fee. There are also a few smaller providers who can struggle to cope with the volume of customers that can find their products if they appear on MoneySuperMarket.
Our goal is to search deals from as wide a range of companies as possible so that you can choose the deal that suits you.
No, at this time breakdown insurance is not an eligible product for unlocking our SuperSaveClub rewards. It is also not included in our Price Promise.
Reviewed on 8 Dec 2025
YouGov Survey 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2025. Net Recommend score derived from “Which of the following online service websites would you recommend to a friend or colleague, or tell them to avoid?” Base: Current Customers of (MoneySuperMarket n=18,382, Compare the Market n=16,802, Go.Compare n=10,162, Confused.com n=8,229, Uswitch n=528).
From 01.06.23 to 31.05.24 MoneySuperMarket customers received £1.59bn estimated savings based on (i) SuperSaveClub reward redemptions, and (ii) savings claims per product multiplied by the number of sales. Products included - Car, Home, Pet and Travel insurance, Broadband, Credit Cards, Loans and Mortgages.
Accurate as of September 2025
