How do I buy breakdown cover?

In France, rather than having a contract with a firm such as the AA, a roadside assistance element (garantie assistance auto) is typically included in your car insurance policy, although in some cases it is an option

An emergency number to call is supplied. Bernadette Blanchard of AXA insurers Cabinet Claude Geay in Cognac said some firms’ policies have a franchise kilométrique, ie. a number of kilometres around your home where breakdowns are not covered and you must solve the problem yourself (eg. by calling a local garage etc).

With regard to their policies she said this is not the case, however if the accident is less than 30km from home a franchise applies to assistance for the driver (as opposed to the car), she said.