TENS of thousands of British families travelling to Europe by road this summer risk an average bill of over £3,000 for repatriation and other associated costs when their car breaks down according to latest research by Motoreasy, the car care specialist.

The new data has revealed the real cost of being repatriated home from the top five European holiday destinations after breaking down.

Two-thirds of those travelling to Europe use the second family car, which is usually older and more likely to break down.

David Gerrans, managing director of Motoreasy, said: "Over 75,000 of the one million holidaymakers expected to drive to the Continent this summer will require breakdown assistance during their trip. As many as 10,000 will need repatriation back to the UK."

The cost of repatriation could be over £1,500, and call out charges, vehicle parts, unplanned accommodation and new tickets could more than double that figure upon returning home.

Distance remains the key factor in the cost of getting the car home, which is bad news for those making the 1,000-mile trip to Portugal for Euro 2004. Holiday spots closer to home, such as France and Germany will cost less, though still a significant amount.

Mr Gerrans added: "The combination of warmer climes and vehicles more accustomed to local shopping trips and the school run having to complete journeys of over 1,000 miles without being properly prepared is a recipe for disaster.

"When booking holidays, people don’t want to think about the chances of something going wrong. However, with the heavy costs involved, prevention and preparation are absolutely essential."

Motoreasy suggest getting your car properly serviced before travelling as well as checking your oil and coolant levels.