As of: February 4, 2024, 4:00 p.m
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The ADAC is used by most drivers in Germany for car emergencies.
However, manufacturer warranties or other car clubs are also an option.
If you break down somewhere in your car because of a breakdown or damage, you're usually initially at a loss.
First of all, it is important to pay attention to elementary things: for example, putting on high-visibility vests before leaving the car and possibly setting up a warning triangle.
But then the question arises: What to do?
Who to call?
How to pay?
Then it's good to have breakdown insurance.
The most well-known is probably offered by the ADAC, but there are numerous – and often cheaper – alternatives that are also available in the event of a car emergency.
The classic: What the ADAC offers for at least 54 euros a year
If you break down in your car, most Germans pick up the phone and call the ADAC.
According to the figures for the 2022 financial year, which the ADAC published in May 2023, the club currently has over 21.4 million members.
This is a large proportion of all people with a driving license in Germany, which according to
Adac.de
was almost 58 million in 2021.
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If you want the ADAC to come in an emergency, you have to take out a membership there.
These are available in different tiers, starting with “Basic” for 54 euros, “Plus” for 94 euros and “Premium” for 139 euros per year.
The basic package includes roadside assistance, towing service and some small extras throughout Germany.
Plus members can access help throughout Europe and Premium members even worldwide.
The more expensive the membership fee, the more amenities the ADAC offers and the more costs it covers - these include, for example, the costs of a rental car, hotel accommodation, transport costs, scrapping, foreign health insurance, medical transport, emergency accident benefits, sick visits, delivery of medicines and glasses, liability insurance, Travel contract legal protection and numerous other services.
When it comes to roadside assistance, most people first think of the ADAC.
However, there are also alternatives.
© Sascha Steinach/Imago
Since June 1, 2022, the ADAC has also been offering breakdown assistance for bicycles.
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Alternatives: Other automobile clubs
The ADAC may be the car club that most Germans know and use most often.
However, there are also alternatives.
According to
Finanztip.de,
there are seven other providers operating in Germany whose tariffs are very similar to the ADAC's Plus package - but cost significantly less money.
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The cheapest is the KS Club membership for 49 euros in Driver Protection (KS/Auxilia), followed by the “Mobilschutz Basic” tariff from the Bruderhilfe Automobil- und Verkehrssicherheitsclub (BAVC) for 54 euros, the premium package from Mobil in Germany (mobile) for 58 euros and the comfort tariff of the Automobil-Club Verkehr (ACV) for 59 euros.
Also cheaper than the ADAC are the Classic tariff from the Auto-Club Europa (ACE) for 72 euros, the “AvD Help Plus” package from the Automobile Club of Germany (AvD) for 79 euros and full membership in the Auto- und Reiseclub Deutschland (ARCD) for 90 euros per year.
All of these tariffs also include Europe-wide use and coverage of the costs of roadside assistance and towing service, overnight stays and rental cars.
Letter of protection or mobility guarantee: Roadside assistance via insurance or manufacturer’s guarantee
If you don't want to become a member of a car club, you can also take precautions in the event of a breakdown in other ways.
For this purpose, for example, there are letters of protection that, according to
Dieversicherer.de
, can be taken out as an addition to your vehicle insurance.
For a certain amount per month, which varies depending on the insurance company and the scope of services, drivers with such a protection letter are entitled to on-site breakdown and accident assistance, onward or return service and the organization of a rental car in the event of an emergency.
Another option, according to
Pannenhilfevergleich.de,
is the manufacturer's mobility guarantee.
As a rule, only those who drive a new car are entitled to this.
In the event of a breakdown, this guarantee also covers towing of the vehicle and roadside assistance, as well as a number of other services depending on the manufacturer and offer.
The mobility guarantee can be extended through regular inspections.
You can also get a mobility guarantee for used cars if, for example, you have the inspections carried out in an authorized workshop.
Unlike the ADAC, which insures one driver, a mobility guarantee only covers this one car.
If a breakdown occurs with another car, the mobility guarantee does not apply.