Truck & HGV breakdown assistance in France, 24/7
Broken down in France with a truck, lorry or coach? Our English-speaking dispatch sends the nearest equipped heavy recovery operator from our network for roadside repair, towing, tyres or recovery, anywhere in the country. Get an instant estimate and book online: the firm price is confirmed before the truck sets off.
- 24/7, all year
- Heavy wreckers up to 44 t
- Firm price before dispatch
- Anywhere in France
What to do if your truck breaks down in France
- Make it safe: hazard lights, high-visibility vest, everyone behind the safety barrier or off the carriageway.
- On a motorway: call 112 or use an orange emergency phone (roughly every 2 km). The operator sends the approved recovery company for that section.
- Anywhere else: call us or book below. Give the road number, direction and nearest marker post, junction or address.
- Have ready: vehicle type and weight, load (dangerous goods, reefer), registration and where you want the truck taken.
Heavy vehicle breakdown services
From a dead 24 V battery to an overturned articulated lorry, dispatch matches the job with the right heavy recovery equipment and confirms the price first.
Price and book your truck breakdown service
Instant estimate for your vehicle, then online booking. The firm price is confirmed by phone before the recovery truck sets off.
1. Estimate the price
Indicative range excluding VAT, based on vehicle, service and time.
Articulated lorry, tractor unit or trailer
Breakdown
- Towing package (hook-up + 20 km)€1,890–€2,890
- 10 extra km (€8–12/km)€80–€120
Loaded trailer: a relief tractor can be arranged to deliver the cargo while the tractor unit goes to the workshop.
On French motorways the approved recovery operator for that section is assigned and sets its own rates above 3.5 t: this estimate covers off-motorway jobs and the onward move once you have left the motorway.
Roadside truck repair: fix it before you tow it
Many truck breakdowns can be fixed where the vehicle stands. A mobile heavy-vehicle mechanic with a fully equipped service van and multi-brand diagnostics comes to the roadside, a truck stop, a loading bay or your depot, from €390 excl. VAT (call-out and first hour).
- 24 V batteries, starters and isolator switches
- AdBlue / SCR faults and limp mode
- Air system leaks, brakes stuck on
- Hoses, belts, cooling, gelled diesel in winter
- Trailer lighting and ABS / EBS connections
- Fault code reading and clearing
Heavy truck towing up to 44 tonnes
Trucks are towed on an underlift after the driveline is disconnected to protect the gearbox. For an articulated lorry, a relief tractor can take over your loaded trailer so the delivery goes ahead while the tractor unit goes to the workshop.
The towing package includes hook-up and the first 20 km, then a per-km rate. For long distances, low-loader transport is often cheaper.
Heavy truck towing prices
| Vehicle | Price excl. VAT |
|---|---|
| Light truck 3.5–7.5 t20 km included, then €5–7/km | €790–€1,190 |
| Rigid truck 7.5–19 t20 km included, then €6.50–9.50/km | €1,190–€1,790 |
| Heavy rigid over 19 t20 km included, then €7.50–11/km | €1,590–€2,390 |
| Tractor + semi-trailer (44 t)20 km included, then €8–12/km | €1,890–€2,890 |
| Bus or coach20 km included, then €8–12/km | €1,790–€2,690 |
Indicative prices excluding VAT. Nights (7pm–7am), weekends and bank holidays: +50% to +100%. The firm price is confirmed before the recovery truck sets off.
Roadside repair prices
| Vehicle | Price excl. VAT |
|---|---|
| Light truck 3.5–7.5 tCall-out + first hour | €390–€590 |
| Rigid truck 7.5–19 tCall-out + first hour | €450–€690 |
| Heavy rigid over 19 tCall-out + first hour | €490–€750 |
| Tractor + semi-trailer (44 t)Call-out + first hour | €490–€750 |
| Bus or coachCall-out + first hour | €490–€750 |
Indicative prices excluding VAT. Nights (7pm–7am), weekends and bank holidays: +50% to +100%. The firm price is confirmed before the recovery truck sets off.
Channel ports and cross-border hubs
Many English-speaking drivers break down on the way to or from a ferry or the Channel Tunnel. A flat 24 V battery after a long wait, a starter, a tyre or a reefer unit can often be fixed on a truck park in time for your crossing.
Main truck corridors we cover
- A1 / A26Channel ports to Paris and eastern France
- A10 / A63Paris – Bordeaux – Spain (Biriatou)Local page (French)
- A6 / A7Paris – Lyon – MarseilleLocal page (French)
- A31Luxembourg – Metz – NancyLocal page (French)
- A4 / A35Paris – Strasbourg – GermanyLocal page (French)
- A43 / A40Fréjus and Mont-Blanc tunnels to ItalyLocal page (French)
French rules foreign truck drivers should know
Motorway recovery
On toll motorways only the approved operator for that section may recover your vehicle. Above 3.5 t its rates are not regulated: ask for the price first.
Weekend driving bans
Goods vehicles over 7.5 t are generally banned from Saturday 10pm to Sunday 10pm and on public holidays: plan the restart after a repair accordingly.
Winter equipment
From 1 November to 31 March, mountain areas require chains for at least two drive wheels on vehicles with a trailer; rigids and coaches can use 3PMSF tyres instead.
Invoicing
Prices exclude VAT; VAT is applied on the invoice under the EU rules for your company. Payment by card or bank transfer, invoice and photo report in your company's name.
How truck breakdown assistance works
- 1
Tell us what happened
By phone or online: vehicle, weight, load, exact position (road, marker post, direction) and destination.
- 2
Firm price and equipment
Dispatch selects the nearest suitably equipped heavy recovery operator and confirms price and ETA.
- 3
Safe intervention
Scene protection, diagnosis, roadside repair when possible, otherwise towing, recovery or transport.
- 4
Drop-off and invoice
Delivered to your chosen workshop or site, photo report and invoice in your company's name.
Truck breakdown in France: FAQ
How much does truck breakdown recovery cost in France?
Roadside repair starts from €390 excl. VAT (call-out and first hour). Towing starts from €790 for a light truck and €1,890 for a tractor and semi-trailer, with 20 km included and a per-km rate after that. Uprighting an overturned truck is priced after assessment, from €3,900. Nights, weekends and bank holidays carry a 50% to 100% surcharge. The firm price is confirmed before the recovery truck sets off.
My truck broke down on a French motorway. Who do I call?
Get behind the safety barrier and call 112 or use an orange emergency phone. On French toll motorways the operator sends the approved recovery company for that section, whose rates are not regulated above 3.5 t. Once your vehicle has left the motorway you are free to choose who handles the next step: we can organise the repair, the move to your workshop or a relief tractor for your trailer.
Do you speak English?
Yes. Our dispatch handles requests in English and French, for drivers, fleet managers and breakdown assistance providers. Give us the location, vehicle details and a contact number and we call you back with the price and arrival time.
How do foreign hauliers pay?
We invoice your company with prices shown excluding VAT; VAT is applied on the invoice under the applicable EU rules. Payment is by card or bank transfer. You receive an intervention report with photos.
Can you tow a loaded 44-tonne truck?
Yes, with a heavy 6x4 or 8x4 underlift wrecker after the driveline is disconnected to protect the gearbox. A loaded trailer can be taken over by a relief tractor so the delivery goes ahead while the tractor unit goes to the workshop.
Do you handle buses and coaches?
Yes: roadside repair, tyres and towing of buses and touring coaches with wreckers equipped for long overhangs. Passenger safety comes first and onward travel is coordinated with your operations team.
Can you repatriate my truck to the UK or another country?
Yes, on request: towing to a workshop across the border or low-loader transport if the vehicle cannot be towed. Tell us the pick-up address, the destination and the vehicle condition for a firm quote.
Truck broken down in France? Call us now
Tell us the location, vehicle and load: we confirm the equipment, firm price and arrival time before the recovery truck leaves.
Job coordinated by Uber Dépannage with a suitably equipped heavy recovery operator from our network.
Version française :dépannage et remorquage poids lourd 24h/24
