RAC vs AA breakdown cover
The RAC and the AA are two of the biggest and most popular breakdown cover providers in the UK. But before you decide who to go with, it’s important to do your homework to see how the cover compares.
Here’s a handy guide to help you compare the differences between AA breakdown cover and the RAC’s.
Let's compare cover
When comparing the RAC and AA’s breakdown cover, it’s a good idea to start by checking what they include as standard with the cover.
For example: The RAC is the only provider that includes At Home cover as standard for new members.
The AA’s entry-level cover is just ‘Roadside Assistance’, which only covers you ¼ mile from home. To get any more cover (including cover at home), you need to upgrade.
The table below compares what the AA and the RAC include as standard.
| RAC | AA | |
|---|---|---|
| Roadside Assistance | ||
| At Home | At Home cover is an optional extra |
|
| Taxi for 20 miles if your vehicle is in the garage |
What else is included with the RAC compared to the AA?
If you need extra cover to meet your needs, both the AA and the RAC offer different levels of breakdown cover.
For example: With the RAC you can upgrade from ‘Standard’ to ‘Unlimited'. You can also choose ‘add-ons’, like Onward Travel for extra reassurance. With AA breakdown cover, you can build your cover with lots of different options.
See below for what you can get when you upgrade your AA membership, compared to the RAC.
| RAC 'Unlimited' + add-on options | AA 'Build your cover' options |
|---|---|
| At Home Cover if your car breaks down at home, and a tow to a garage if we can’t get your car up and running again. Unlike many breakdown providers, we include At Home breakdown cover as standard Unlimited callouts As many callouts as you need during a year as long as it's not for a recurring problem National Recovery Tow you and your passengers to any garage or any destination in the UK. Add-on options
|
At Home Cover if you break down at home , or within 1⁄4 mile (included as Standard with the RAC) National Recovery Tow you and your passengers to any garage or any destination in the UK Onward Travel Hire car for 3 days, public transport or taxi if your vehicle can't be fixed straight away Parts and Garage Cover Help with repair bills if you need new parts or garage work |
For more information about our levels of cover, visit our RAC Breakdown Cover page. You can also find out more about our latest deals here.
Let’s Compare Reviews
It’s always helpful to know what existing members think of their breakdown provider and they service they’ve had. You can do this by searching online for independent reviews online. Here’s how RAC and AA reviews and scores compare on Trustpilot.
| Trust Pilot score (out of 5) | RAC: 4.2* | AA: 4.2** |
* based on 82,051 reviews, data on 19/04/2022
** based on 25,662 reviews, data on 19/04/2022
Should I choose the AA or the RAC?
| RAC | AA | |
|---|---|---|
| Large fleet of uniformed patrols and vans |
|
|
| Number of vehicles fixed at the roadside | 4 out of 5 in 30 minutes on average |
8 out of 10 in 30 minutes on average |
| Number of years’ experience | 125+ years Founded in 1897, the RAC is the longest running breakdown cover provider in the UK. |
115 years The AA was founded in June 1905. |