FLEET operators are being urged to make certain their vehicles are covered for breakdowns abroad as the holiday season approaches.

AA Business Services is warning that many company car drivers might be unaware they are not covered for vehicle failures overseas, and that only a small number of organisations take out European breakdown cover as standard for their drivers.

The AA is now advising all drivers planning a summer getaway to check that their cover is valid for Europe.

Adrian Waters, general manager for commercial sales at AA Business Services, said: 'The cost of an incident abroad could be significant. For example, in France it would be £50 just to have the vehicle towed off the motorway, and could cost up to £2,000 to have it brought back to the UK.

'An irreparable breakdown can not only ruin a trip abroad, it could also mean that the company car is stuck on the Continent when it should be back in the UK.'

He added that drivers of rented or leased vehicles need special paperwork before they can take their car abroad, as original registration documents are not allowed out of the country.

Waters said: 'We are now able to supply the VE103A forms – needed for hire or lease vehicles taken abroad – when drivers take out our Five Star European cover.'