Les vacances d'été approchent. Comment bien se préparer en 8 points !

Yet, stranded far from home, a motorist without cover soon sees the bill climb: a simple local tow costs between €150 and €300, while repatriation from Spain can reach €2,000. Add the hire of a replacement vehicle, unplanned hotel nights and return tickets, and the total cost of a serious breakdown comes to between €2,000 and €3,500, excluding the vehicle repair itself. A reminder that a successful departure is prepared before you even set off.

Eight tips before setting off on your holiday journey

As a general rule, a well-maintained vehicle helps you avoid many a mishap on the road. That said, an older vehicle with high mileage deserves a little time to reduce the risk of a breakdown and make the trip easier.

1. Have your vehicle checked at the Diagnostic Center

This is the essential starting point. The ACL Diagnostic Center offers the “Holiday Test”, which covers all of a car’s risk points: battery, tyre condition, suspension, wipers, lights and fluid levels. The assessment is carried out by independent expert mechanics, with no conflict of interest with a repair workshop. An objective report is handed to you once the check is complete. The Diagnostic Center is open in Bertrange from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Book ahead: slots fill up quickly in June.

2. Check your tyre pressure

If you do not have time to call in, still take a moment to check your tyre pressure and the general condition of your car, as well as the proper working of the air conditioning. Summer means heat, and the comfort of the occupants matters just as much for driving safely.

3. Stop by the ACL Shop

The Club’s shop is the ideal place to prepare your trips. You will find travel guides, road maps and atlases, a selection of road-safety items and leisure items for children. It is also where you can buy the motorway vignettes required in several European countries, as well as electronic toll badges. The Bip&Go badges for France, Spain, Portugal and Italy are available at the ACL offices in Bertrange and Ingeldorf. Members enjoy a 10% discount on all in-store purchases. Note, too, that in some countries tolls operate on a “free flow” basis: a barrier-free system in which you pay for the motorway without stopping. Camera-equipped gantries read the number plate (or an electronic toll badge) while the vehicle travels at normal speed, and payment is then made online. If you forget, however, the bill rises over time.

4. Worth knowing: vignettes and environmental zones

Several countries require a motorway or environmental vignette. This is the case in Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia and the Czech Republic, among others. In France, the Crit’Air sticker may be needed to drive in certain low-emission zones of major cities. The ACL shops can supply some of the vignettes you need depending on your destination. If you are unsure about the rules in force in the countries you are crossing, the ACL’s mobility advisers can inform you on the spot.

5. Get a tailor-made route

The ACL offers a tailor-made route service. Be sure to use it, in particular to check for roadworks under way along your route: summer is always a time of major works. The ACL’s advisers can also tell you about events likely to affect traffic on your way, whether festivals, sporting competitions or lane closures.

6. Hire a vehicle suited to your trip

Do you drive a city car day to day but are setting off five-strong for three weeks in Spain? ACL Clubmobil offers compact and family cars, vans and accessories such as child seats, roof boxes and dog cages for hire. Members benefit from preferential rates. The two rental branches are located in Bertrange and Ingeldorf. Remember to book early: large touring cars and family SUVs are snapped up as early as May.

7. Check your membership and Europe-wide assistance

Heading abroad on holiday with an expired membership is an unnecessary risk. The ACL membership card is valid in Luxembourg and across Europe, with a 97% satisfaction rate for assistance services. In the event of a breakdown or accident abroad, the ACL provides roadside assistance available 24/7 in Luxembourg and across Europe through its partners, in order to restore members’ mobility as quickly as possible. Check your membership status on myACL before you leave, or call in at a branch to put your situation in order.

8. The ACL app: a handy tool on the road

The ACL app lets you locate all the electric charging points available in Luxembourg, follow traffic developments in real time and, in an emergency, press the mobile eCall button for rapid assistance with automatic transmission of your location. Your membership card is also available there in digital format.