Is the road assistance really necessary for Greece or is it just a “luxury”? We all know that feeling: the car is packed (and the trunk is full, because there is always one more bag to take), the kids are in the back, and off we go to the sea. Through Macedonia or Bulgaria, in all of our minds, the smell of salt and the first morning coffee on the beach are already there, or at Evzoni, as soon as we cross the border.

And while driving through cities and villages, everything is fine, but when we find ourselves on stretches where there is nothing and no one, let’s be completely honest - hardly any of us don’t think, even for a second: “What if my car breaks down right here?”

Road breakdowns happen even with new cars, let alone with those that already have some mileage. When this happens abroad, in Greece for example, the romantic image of a vacation is instantly shattered.

If the vehicle breaks down on the highway,

• local towing services need to be called first and negotiated with, which is not easy,
• and then the removal of the car from the road, which is also very expensive.
• After that comes the search: where to find a mechanic and how to explain the issue to them? In which language?
• In the end, this unplanned adventure costs a lot and seriously disrupts the budget you have set aside for your vacation.

Therefore, purchasing road assistance is no longer a luxury, but a basic part of trip preparation, equally important as the green card or travel insurance.

Breakdowns do not happen all the time and not to everyone but…. Nevertheless, a well-chosen package makes a huge difference.

• When you sit behind the wheel aware that you have covered the costs of on-the-spot repairs, as well as towing and transportation for your family, that is a huge thing, especially if you are traveling with children or older family members.

Only then do you realize how important the package you have chosen is:

• what exactly the package covers,
• how quickly the team arrives on site,
• whether unlimited towing is included,
• and whether you will still have to take out hundreds of euros from your own pocket in the end.

Why Atlas?

There are many options on the market today, but when choosing who to entrust your family’s safety on the road to, you look at tradition and realistic coverage. Atlas has been successfully operating for over 18 years and takes care of our drivers on the roads throughout Europe. They have a real network of partners behind them, thousands of successfully resolved assistance cases, and, most importantly, drivers who have safely returned home.

The most important thing you get by purchasing a package is security and peace of mind.

• If you don’t want to carry money “just in case” and search for mechanics in a foreign country, the fact that you have someone to call at any time and from any location where you are, is priceless.

What do you actually get and what should you pay attention to?

Before you purchase any package, don’t just “glance over” the price, which is important for every family budget. You choose the right package based on three things:

• the destination you are heading to,
• the age of the car,
• and the number of passengers.

Some packages cover only the driver, while others allow transportation for the whole family or accommodation organization while the vehicle is being repaired.

• Check what is actually covered. What does the basic package include and what does the extended one cover?

Good assistance in a foreign country and under the hot sun should include:

• On-the-spot repair and/or at a service center, if it’s a minor issue, so you can continue your journey immediately. These are usually things like a flat tire, a cracked windshield, and similar issues. If the car needs to stay in service for a few days, there are packages that can provide you with a rental car for that period, up to 4 days.
• Unlimited towing - don’t just check if the package includes towing\, but also how much it covers in terms of amount or mileage. For more serious breakdowns in Greece\, when the vehicle needs to be transported to Serbia\, the cost can exceed 1\,000 euros. Some assistance services calculate the mileage from where the towing service departs to the vehicle\, not from the place of breakdown\, which is Serbia (Belgrade\, Niš\, Novi Sad\, etc.). A package with limited coverage can leave a significant part of the cost on the driver. Therefore\, it is important to check the towing conditions in advance\, especially if you are traveling long distances.
• Passenger care, not just vehicle care - transportation of all passengers to the destination (so you don’t stay by the road while the car is being repaired) or accommodation organization if the repair takes longer.

What Atlas has is their highly developed network of partners in Greece, which guarantees a quick response time. When your car breaks down in the sun with kids inside, every minute of waiting less, is important.

Advice: When choosing a package, pay attention to the additional benefits that certain options offer.

• For example, within certain packages, Atlas offers perhaps the most significant convenience for long journeys - completely unlimited towing back to Serbia or to the desired service, regardless of the mileage.

For those of us who travel hundreds of kilometers to Greek beaches or islands, this is a factor that makes a huge difference.

Practical situations that reveal the weaknesses of coverage

Numerous situations are possible, you have surely encountered some yourself.

Driving on the highway in Greece late at night, and the engine starts losing power. You pull over to the side of the road and realize that the vehicle cannot continue.

• If you have a package that covers only the territory of Serbia, at that moment you are left to rely on local towing services. Their prices can be unpredictable and often very high. Language is also a problem when tiredly trying to find a mechanic or towing service.

On the other hand, if you have the international package, you call assistance that sends a partner from the network, organizes towing to the nearest workshop, and, if necessary, provides you with accommodation until the issue is identified and ultimately towing back home, if needed. The cost difference can be several hundred euros, and the difference in stress and time is immeasurable.

Another common situation is a flat tire or a discharged battery in the hotel parking lot. Many packages cover such minor interventions without additional charges.

• This means that you don’t have to look for a local mechanic or wait for help that may not arrive quickly. These details may seem small until you find yourself in a real situation, where every minute of waiting affects the schedule of the day.

The third example is a more serious breakdown that requires longer repairs. If the engine or transmission require spare parts that are not immediately available, the vehicle can stay in the service for several days.

• In that case, a package that covers accommodation and alternative transportation, or a rental car, allows you to continue your vacation, instead of waiting in an unknown place or returning home without a vehicle.

The financial difference in these scenarios can be drastic, but the difference in stress and the safety of your family is simply immeasurable.

Roadside assistance is not an expense - it is an investment in safety that applies throughout the year, both on the way to your favorite Greek beach and in everyday driving through Serbia.

Before you start packing, look at the detailed offer of Atlas packages, compare the options, and choose the one that best suits your habits and type of vehicle.

How to contact Atlas?

If you have any doubts or want advice on choosing a package, Atlas’s call center is available at the number: +381 61 313 5333.

Safe travels and drive safely!

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