RAC vs Green Flag

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Green Flag Breakdown Cover

When choosing a breakdown cover provider, it’s a good idea to do your homework. Here at the RAC, we’re proud to be one of the biggest and most popular providers in the UK. But how do we compare with Green Flag breakdown cover? 

Here’s a handy guide to help you compare the difference between RAC and Green Flag breakdown cover. 

Let’s compare RAC and Green Flag breakdown cover

When comparing breakdown cover from Green Flag and the RAC, a good place to start is checking what they include with their entry-level breakdown cover.

For example: The RAC’s ‘Basic’ and ‘Extra’ cover includes Roadside Assistance and a 20-mile taxi from the garage. You’ll also get 5 callouts a year; with 1 additional callout for every person or vehicle added. If you need At Home cover or unlimited callouts, you can upgrade to ‘Complete’.

As for Green Flag breakdown cover, their entry-level ‘Rescue’ cover only includes Roadside Assistance. To get more cover, you can upgrade.

The table below shows a comparison of what Green Flag and the RAC include with their entry-level breakdown cover.
 

  RAC Green Flag

Roadside Assistance

 

 

20-mile taxi from the garage

 

 


For more information about our levels of cover, visit our RAC Breakdown Cover page. You can also find out more about which promotions we're running by heading to our dedicated deals page.


What else is included with Green Flag compared to the RAC?

In addition to the entry-level cover, higher levels of cover are also available. Here’s a brief comparison of the options offered by Green Flag and the RAC.  

RAC cover levels

If you need more cover, you can upgrade from ‘Basic’ to ‘Extra’ or ‘Complete’.

What’s included with ‘Extra’?

As well as Roadside Assistance, our ‘Extra’ cover also includes National Recovery – which means that if we can’t fix you on the spot, we’ll tow you to any garage or destination in the UK. In addition, you get 5 callouts, with 1 additional callout added for every person or vehicle added.  

What’s included with Complete? 

As well as everything in ‘Extra’, our ‘Complete’ cover also includes At Home – which covers you at or within ¼ mile of your home address. With ‘Basic’ and ‘Extra’ you’re not covered for this. Plus you’ll get a FREE MOT at selected RAC garages. And with our family breakdown cover, you’ll get 2 Free MOTs~.

Need more cover? You can add Onward Travel to get a hire car for up to 3 days if your car is in the garage for repair.

For even more reassurance, you can also choose from a selection of ‘add-ons’. These include Battery Replace, Key Replace and Tyre Replace. None of these are available with Green Flag car breakdown cover.

Green Flag breakdown cover levels

You can choose between five levels of cover. These levels of cover can include cover At Home, National Recovery, Onward Travel and European cover. You get unlimited callouts with every level of cover.

Green Flag's onward travel product offers a hire car for a maximum of 2 days (48 hours).



Join the RAC today to start building your breakdown cover

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Other differences between Green Flag and RAC breakdown cover

As well as comparing levels of cover and reviews, you should also look in more detail at what Green Flag can offer compared to the RAC. For example, don’t forget to check things like vehicle age restrictions, hire car limits and the number of vehicles each provider typically fixes at the roadside. 

  RAC Green Flag
Are there any vehicle age limits?

No
The RAC covers vehicles of any age, no questions asked

Yes
If you choose personal cover, you’re only covered in vehicles up to 15 years

Do they have a large fleet of uniformed patrols? Yes
RAC patrols have been with us for 12 years on average
No
Green Flag operates a ‘smart network of rescue specialists’ instead
What’s the hire car limit with onward travel? 3 days 2 days only
How many vehicles do they fix at the roadside? Our patrols fix 4/5 on the spot.
With repairs done in just 30 minutes on average.
Unknown

How many years’ experience?

125 years
Founded in 1897, the RAC is the most experienced breakdown cover provider in the UK.
39 years
Green Flag was set up in 1971 as the National Breakdown Recovery Club
 

Join the RAC today to start building your breakdown cover

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do the RAC and Green Flag provide travel assistance after a breakdown?
Whatever level of cover you have, the RAC will offer you a taxi up to 20 miles to get home or somewhere else, if your car’s in the garage overnight. Green Flag don’t offer this as standard.
Is Green Flag better than RAC?

Finding the right provider for you depends on your needs, so it’s worth checking what each one includes in their cover levels before you buy. The RAC is the most experienced breakdown cover provider in the UK (founded in 1897), with a trained fleet of uniformed patrols. But Green Flag relies on a ‘smart network of rescue specialists’, rather than their own mechanics.

Green Flag cover doesn’t have a lot of the extra features that will make your breakdown experience as stress-free as possible. For example, the RAC offer a taxi home up to 20 miles, but with Green Flag you’ll have to pay extra or sort out your own transport if you get stranded far from home.

Is Green Flag cheaper than RAC?
Green Flag’s basic package is often cheaper than the RAC’s entry-level cover. But with the RAC, our ‘Basic’ cover includes a 20-mile taxi from the garage if your car needs repairs. Green Flag’s doesn’t include this.
How much is Green Flag breakdown cover?
Green Flag doesn’t list the prices of its UK breakdown cover on its website – you have to input your details to get a quote. Which could mean you pay more or less depending on where you are and what car you drive. You can find prices for RAC Breakdown Cover on our home page.
Does Green Flag breakdown cover include replacing ignition switch?
Green Flag breakdown cover doesn’t include the cost of parts, so it’s likely you won’t be covered for replacing an ignition switch. And as Green Flag use a network of contractors, there’s no guarantee the person who comes out to help you will have one.
Does Green Flag breakdown cover include misfuelling?

If you’ve put the wrong fuel in your vehicle, Green Flag won’t cover the cost of draining and disposing of it, or any damage it might have caused.

The RAC doesn’t cover misfuelling as standard, but we do offer a dedicated wrong fuel recovery service – and RAC members get a £50 discount on the full price.

How does the RAC compare with Green Flag's European breakdown cover?
Both the RAC and Green Flag offer breakdown cover in Europe. Take a look at our RAC vs Green Flag European breakdown comparison to see what level of cover you can get with each provider.

Free MOT terms and conditions:

  1. The promotion is for one free MOT (up to the statutory maximum fee of £54.85) and is available to new customers purchasing Complete cover.
  2. You must purchase RAC Breakdown Cover online direct by visiting www.rac.co.uk or by calling us on 0330 159 0382.
  3. Not available to members amending or renewing an existing policy or on purchases during a breakdown situation.
  4. Each MOT can only be redeemed per unique voucher code.
  5. This offer will be fulfilled on behalf of RAC by a third party (Who Can Fix My Car).
  6. You must keep your RAC Breakdown Cover for 12 months in order to be eligible for this offer. We reserve the right to recover the cost of the MOT if this condition is not complied with.
  7. Providing your payments are up to date and you haven’t cancelled your cover you'll receive an email within 15 working days after your policy starts containing your unique voucher code and details on how to book your free MOT.
  8. You will then have a further 12 months from the date of this email to book your MOT. After this date the offer will be deemed to have expired and cannot be reissued.
  9. You will need to provide a printed copy, or show the email containing the unique voucher codes and the RAC membership number to the garage on the day of the MOT.
  10. The free MOT can only be redeemed at RAC Approved Garages bookable via the WhoCanFixMyCar platform. To find your nearest RAC Approved Garage click here.
  11. Please note that not all RAC Approved Garages are able to offer MOT's for motorbikes.
  12. Offer may be withdrawn at any time.
  13. No cash or other alternatives available.
~2 Free MOTs terms and conditions with family breakdown cover:
  1. The promotion is for two free MOTs (up to the statutory maximum fee of £54.85) and is available to new customers purchasing Complete cover on personal cover for 3 – 5 people.
  2. You must purchase RAC Family Breakdown Cover online direct by visiting www.rac.co.uk or by calling us on 0330 159 0382.
  3. Not available to members amending or renewing an existing policy or on purchases during a breakdown situation.
  4. Each MOT can only be redeemed per unique voucher code.
  5. This offer will be fulfilled on behalf of RAC by a third party (Who Can Fix My Car).
  6. You must keep your RAC Breakdown Cover for 12 months in order to be eligible for this offer. We reserve the right to recover the cost of the MOT if this condition is not complied with.
  7. Providing your payments are up to date and you haven’t cancelled your cover you'll receive an email within 15 working days after your policy starts containing your unique voucher codes and details on how to book your 2 free MOTs.
  8. You will then have a further 12 months from the date of this email to book your MOT. After this date the offer will be deemed to have expired and cannot be reissued.
  9. You will need to provide a printed copy, or show the email containing the unique voucher codes and the RAC membership number to the garage on the day of the MOTs.
  10. Your free MOTs can only be redeemed at RAC Approved Garages bookable via the WhoCanFixMyCar platform. To find your nearest RAC Approved Garage click here.
  11. Please note that not all RAC Approved Garages are able to offer MOTs for motorbikes.
  12. Offer may be withdrawn at any time.
  13. No cash or other alternatives available.

Following a breakdown, if you’re taken to a garage, we’ll reimburse you for a taxi home up to 20 miles

Competitor comparison based on insured cover described in the Green Flag policy document. Excludes European cover. Information correct as of 20th Oct 2020.

Breakdown cover arranged and administered by RAC Financial Services Limited (Registered No 05171817) and provided by RAC Motoring Services (Registered No 01424399) and/or RAC Insurance Ltd (Registered No 2355834). Registered in England and Wales at RAC House, Brockhurst Crescent, Walsall WS5 4AW. RAC Motoring Services and RAC Financial Services Limited are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. RAC Insurance Ltd is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

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