When you are on a road trip abroad and something goes wrong, the last thing you want is to fumble through a search engine trying to find the right number to call. This guide lists emergency numbers, roadside assistance contacts, and practical advice for every major European driving destination. Bookmark it, print it, or save it to your phone for offline access.
The single most important number to remember is 112. It works in every EU and EEA country, connects to all emergency services, is free from any phone (including mobiles without a SIM card), and operators in most countries can handle calls in English. But country-specific numbers often reach the right service faster, and roadside assistance requires different contacts entirely.
Understanding 112: The EU-Wide Emergency Number
The 112 number was established by the European Union in 1991 and is now active in all 27 EU member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. It also works in the United Kingdom, Turkey, and several other non-EU countries.
What happens when you call 112
- The call is routed to the nearest emergency call centre (known as a PSAP, Public Safety Answering Point).
- The operator can dispatch police, fire, or ambulance services depending on your emergency.
- In most countries, the operator can identify your approximate location through your phone's signal, but always state your location clearly.
- English-speaking operators are available in most Western European countries. In Eastern Europe, English support is improving but not guaranteed. If the operator cannot understand you, they will try to transfer you to someone who can.
- Calls to 112 from mobile phones work even if you have no credit, no SIM card, and your phone is locked (as long as it has battery and network coverage).
Pro tip: Programme 112 into your phone's emergency contacts. On most smartphones, you can make emergency calls from the lock screen by tapping "Emergency" on the PIN entry screen. Practise finding this feature on your phone before you travel.
Country-by-Country Emergency Numbers
Below is a comprehensive reference for every major European driving destination. Numbers are listed as: general emergency, police, ambulance, fire, and roadside assistance where available.
Western Europe
United Kingdom
- General emergency: 999 or 112
- Non-emergency police: 101
- NHS non-emergency: 111
- Coastguard: 999 (ask for coastguard)
- Roadside assistance: AA (0800 887 766), RAC (0330 159 1111), Green Flag (0345 246 1557)
France
- General emergency: 112
- Police: 17
- Ambulance (SAMU): 15
- Fire (Pompiers): 18
- Roadside assistance: Call the emergency phone on the motorway hard shoulder (orange pillars every 2km) or 112 for on-motorway breakdowns. Private assistance is not permitted on French motorways; the local authorised recovery firm will be dispatched.
Germany
- General emergency: 112
- Police: 110
- Fire and ambulance: 112
- Roadside assistance: ADAC (+49 89 22 22 22), available to non-members for a fee
Netherlands
- General emergency: 112
- Non-emergency police: 0900 8844
- Roadside assistance: ANWB (088 269 2888), Route Mobiel (088 007 6800)
Belgium
- General emergency: 112
- Police: 101
- Roadside assistance: Touring (070 344 777), VAB (070 344 888)
Luxembourg
- General emergency: 112
- Police: 113
- Roadside assistance: ACL (+352 26 000)
Southern Europe
Spain
- General emergency: 112
- National police: 091
- Guardia Civil (highways): 062
- Local police: 092
- Ambulance: 061
- Roadside assistance: RACE (900 100 992), or DGT traffic information (011)
Portugal
- General emergency: 112
- Roadside assistance: ACP (+351 219 429 103)
Italy
- General emergency: 112 (being rolled out as unified number)
- Police (Carabinieri): 112
- State police: 113
- Fire: 115
- Ambulance: 118
- Roadside assistance: ACI (803 116 from Italian phones, +39 02 66 165 116 from foreign phones)
Greece
- General emergency: 112
- Police: 100
- Ambulance: 166
- Fire: 199
- Tourist police: 171 (English-speaking officers)
- Roadside assistance: ELPA (10400)
Croatia
- General emergency: 112
- Police: 192
- Ambulance: 194
- Fire: 193
- Roadside assistance: HAK (1987)
Central Europe
Austria
- General emergency: 112
- Police: 133
- Ambulance: 144
- Fire: 122
- Mountain rescue: 140
- Roadside assistance: OAMTC (120), ARBO (123)
Switzerland
- General emergency: 112
- Police: 117
- Ambulance: 144
- Fire: 118
- Helicopter rescue (REGA): 1414
- Roadside assistance: TCS (140)
Czech Republic
- General emergency: 112
- Police: 158
- Ambulance: 155
- Fire: 150
- Roadside assistance: UAMK (1230)
Poland
- General emergency: 112
- Police: 997
- Ambulance: 999
- Fire: 998
- Roadside assistance: PZM (981)
Hungary
- General emergency: 112
- Police: 107
- Ambulance: 104
- Fire: 105
- Roadside assistance: MAK (188)
Northern Europe
Sweden
- General emergency: 112
- Non-emergency police: 114 14
- Non-emergency health: 1177
- Roadside assistance: Assistancekaren (020 912 912)
Norway
- General emergency: 112 (police), 110 (fire), 113 (ambulance)
- Roadside assistance: NAF (+47 23 21 31 00), Viking (+47 06 000)
Denmark
- General emergency: 112
- Non-emergency police: 114
- Roadside assistance: FDM (+45 70 13 30 40)
Finland
- General emergency: 112
- Non-emergency police: 0295 419 800
- Roadside assistance: Autoliitto (+358 200 8080)
Iceland
- General emergency: 112
- Roadside assistance: FIB (+354 511 1212)
- Road conditions: 1777
Southeast Europe
Romania
- General emergency: 112
- Roadside assistance: ACR (9271)
Bulgaria
- General emergency: 112
- Police: 166
- Ambulance: 150
- Fire: 160
- Roadside assistance: SBA (146)
Slovenia
- General emergency: 112
- Police: 113
- Roadside assistance: AMZS (1987)
Turkey
- General emergency: 112
- Police: 155
- Gendarmerie (rural areas): 156
- Ambulance: 112
- Fire: 110
- Roadside assistance: TTOK (0212 282 8140)
What to Say When You Call Emergency Services
In a stressful situation, it is easy to forget basic information. When you call an emergency number, be ready to provide the following in a clear, calm voice:
- Your location — The road name or number, the direction of travel, the nearest town, and any landmarks. On motorways, look for kilometre markers on the crash barrier or verge posts.
- What has happened — Accident, breakdown, medical emergency, fire. Be specific: "two-car collision" is more useful than "there's been an accident."
- How many people are involved — And whether anyone appears injured.
- Any hazards — Fuel spillage, vehicle on fire, blocked carriageway, debris on the road.
- Your phone number — So they can call you back if the call drops.
Pro tip: If you do not speak the local language, speak slowly and clearly in English. State "English, please" at the start of the call. Most 112 call centres have multilingual operators or access to interpreters. Keep your sentences short and factual.
Embassy and Consular Contacts
Your country's embassy or consulate can help if you lose your passport, are arrested, or need assistance in a serious emergency. They cannot pay your bills or get you out of jail, but they can provide guidance, emergency travel documents, and contact your family.
How to find your embassy quickly
- UK citizens — Search "UK embassy" followed by the country name on gov.uk, or call +44 20 7008 5000 (FCO 24-hour global response centre).
- Irish citizens — Department of Foreign Affairs: +353 1 408 2000.
- US citizens — State Department: +1 202 501 4444 (from overseas) or contact the nearest US embassy.
- Australian citizens — Consular Emergency Centre: +61 2 6261 3305.
- Canadian citizens — Emergency Watch: +1 613 996 8885.
Save your embassy's local number in your phone before you enter each country. Most embassies have a 24-hour emergency line for citizens in distress.
Roadside Assistance: What Your Policy Covers
Your domestic breakdown cover may not work abroad, or it may cover you differently. Here is what to check before you travel.
Key questions for your provider
- Does my policy cover European travel? Many UK breakdown policies offer European cover as an add-on.
- What is the response time guarantee? In remote areas, this matters enormously.
- Am I covered for vehicle repatriation if the car cannot be repaired locally?
- Is there a limit on the number of callouts?
- Does the cover include accommodation and onward travel if my car is off the road overnight?
If your existing cover does not extend abroad, consider a standalone European breakdown policy. Providers like the AA, RAC, ARC Europe, and Allianz Partners all offer trip-based or annual European cover.
Pro tip: Save your breakdown provider's international phone number, not the domestic one. The UK freephone 0800 numbers do not work from foreign networks. Check your policy documents for the +44 international number and save it before you leave.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 112 work everywhere in Europe?
Yes. 112 is active in all 27 EU member states, all EEA countries (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein), Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Turkey, and most Balkan nations. It is the safest number to remember because it works across the widest range of countries. Even in countries with their own emergency numbers, 112 will always connect you to the right service.
Can I call 112 without a SIM card?
Yes. EU regulations require that 112 calls are connected from any mobile phone, even without a SIM card, without credit, or on a locked phone. The phone simply needs battery power and to be within range of any mobile network, not necessarily your own provider's network. This makes keeping an old charged phone in the glove box a sensible backup strategy.
What if the emergency operator does not speak English?
Start with "English, please" spoken slowly. Most 112 centres in Western Europe have English-speaking operators or rapid access to interpreters. In Eastern Europe and Turkey, English may be less readily available. In this case, focus on communicating the essentials: your location (road number and town), the word "accident" or "fire" or "ambulance," and the number of people involved. The what3words app can communicate your precise location without any language at all by providing a three-word code the operator can look up.
