Instant breakdown cover

If there is nowhere secure for you and any passengers to wait, or you feel unsafe at all, then you should call the police to inform them that you have broken down.

Yes, the emergency services telephones positioned along motorways are free to call. They connect directly to the police, or the Highways Agency.

If you break down without cover, there’s a fixed fee for the RAC to attend and support you. We offer a range of cover types to meet your needs – most without a callout charge if you’re covered before you break down.

Some basic faults can be fixed. You may have changed a flat tyre before and, with a spare wheel on board, can do this again yourself. If you feel confident in fixing the problem then you can try – but you must be in a safe position first. If you're in any doubt or don’t feel safe, call the RAC for help.

We understand that breaking down can be stressful and so we aim to get to all breakdown situations as quickly as possible. If a vulnerability is disclosed or suspected, our call centre team are trained to ease anxiety and prioritise the patrol attendance.

You can get breakdown cover from lots of different places, including:

If you’re not sure whether you have breakdown cover, it’s worth checking your records before you buy. This includes your emails and hard-copy documents. You can also call a provider to see if you’re covered.

We can help you at the roadside if your vehicle breaks down in Europe, as long as you’ve bought RAC European Breakdown Cover before your trip. We can help you in up to 48 countries across mainland Europe. These countries are split into zones, so you can easily select the right cover for you and your trip. We can’t help you in Europe if you don’t have suitable cover before your trip.

Please call us on 0330 159 8743 and we’ll be happy talk you through your options. You’ll get access to immediate emergency breakdown cover and we can also discuss options to get you ongoing breakdown cover.

If we can’t fix you on the spot, you can choose which garage you go to. If you buy emergency cover, you’ll get a 10-mile tow included and can pay if you need to go further.

For members, keep in mind that if you don’t have National Recovery as part of your cover, you’ll also be limited to a 10-mile tow with the option to pay if you need to go further.

We'll take you to an RAC approved garage or garage of your choice. Please talk to your patrol when they arrive.

Having breakdown cover isn’t a legal requirement – you won’t be breaking the law if you don’t have it. But if you drive without breakdown cover and you break down far from home, it may be difficult (and expensive) to get help.

If you’re already broken down, you can get immediate emergency breakdown cover by calling 0330 159 8743. You can’t buy this online.

When buying breakdown cover online, you can set your cover to start on the same day you buy it. This means if you buy cover and then break down on the road later that day, we’ll come rescue you. But you can’t buy this cover after you’ve broken down.

When buying in advance, some of the other extra features and add-ons won’t start until a while later. National Recovery and Onward Travel start 24 hours after your main cover starts, and Key Replace, Battery Replace and Tyre Replace start 7 days later.

Breakdown cover can be included when you buy car insurance, but it can differ depending on your provider. It’s always best to check your policy documents to see if it is included.

If you’re currently broken down without cover, call our team on 0330 159 8743. Already a member? Report your breakdown online.

If you feel like you’re in immediate danger, you should contact the emergency services. Find out more information around what to do if your car has broken down.

If your car’s broken down at home with no breakdown cover, please call the RAC non-member number on 0330 159 8743. We’ll talk you through your options and help you find the right cover. If you already have cover with us, you can report your breakdown online.