When your car breaks down in Ireland, one of the first questions to ask is: am I already covered for towing? The answer depends on your insurance policy, and many drivers are surprised to discover they have more cover than they thought — or significantly less.
The minimum legal requirement in Ireland. Covers damage you cause to other people and their property. It does not cover recovery of your own vehicle. If you break down, you pay for towing out of pocket.
Adds cover for your vehicle being stolen or damaged by fire. Still does not typically include breakdown recovery or towing.
The most complete level of cover. Many but not all comprehensive policies include some form of roadside assistance or breakdown cover. This is where it varies most between insurers — some include it as standard, others as an optional add-on, and some don’t include it at all.
When an Irish insurance policy includes breakdown assistance, it typically covers:
What it often does not cover:
💡 Tip: Check your insurance documents now, before you need them. Look for sections titled “Motor Breakdown Assistance”, “Roadside Recovery” or “Emergency Cover”. Note the phone number and keep it in your car.
If your insurance doesn’t include breakdown cover, you can buy it separately. The AA and RAC both offer standalone breakdown memberships in Ireland, typically ranging from around €60–€150 per year depending on the level of cover chosen. This can be significantly cheaper than paying for a single emergency callout.
If you’re not covered by insurance, membership or a manufacturer warranty, you’ll need to arrange and pay for your own recovery. In this situation, getting multiple quotes is important — recovery prices vary considerably between Irish operators.
TowingIreland.ie allows you to submit your breakdown details once and receive competing quotes from local recovery companies simultaneously. This is typically faster and more cost-effective than calling operators one by one.
If your car is involved in an accident and needs to be recovered, the situation is different from a standard breakdown. In an accident where the other party is at fault, their third party insurance should cover recovery costs. In a single-vehicle accident or where fault is disputed, your own comprehensive policy may cover recovery — but this could affect your no-claims bonus. Always check with your insurer.
If anyone is injured in a road accident, call 999 or 112 immediately. Do not move injured persons unless they are in immediate danger. Recovery of the vehicle is secondary to the safety of all involved.
If your insurance doesn’t cover towing, use TowingIreland.ie to get competing quotes from local Irish recovery companies. Free to use, no commitment until you accept a quote.
🚗 Get Free QuotesDisclaimer: TowingIreland.ie is a comparison platform and acts solely as an intermediary between customers and independent recovery operators. All prices quoted are estimates based on market research and will vary by company, location, distance and vehicle type. TowingIreland.ie is not responsible for the services or pricing of any individual tow company. Always verify pricing directly with your chosen operator before confirming a booking. In an emergency, call 999.