What is personal breakdown cover?
Personal breakdown cover protects you as a named driver or passenger, rather than covering a specific car. So you can get help if you break down, no matter what vehicle you’re in^^. Even if you aren’t driving.
With the RAC, personal breakdown cover includes motorbikes, many vans and classic cars of any age. You get 24/7 support across the country. And you can add your partner or housemate to the same policy. So it’s often cheaper than taking out separate plans.
Cover in any vehicle
You’re covered as a driver or passenger – so no matter the journey, we’ll rescue you.
Help in 60 minutes
We get to most breakdowns in 60 minutes or less.
Our patrols fix 4 out of 5
RAC patrols fix most vehicles, with repairs done in just 30 minutes on average.
What does RAC Personal Breakdown Cover include?
With our personal breakdown cover you’ll have 24/7 protection, no matter whose vehicle you’re in. It covers cars, including EVs, and motorbikes (49cc and over), plus minibuses and vans that meet certain requirements. You’re covered as a driver or a passenger. And you can get extras like National Recovery or home cover. So you can tailor your cover to fit your needs.
24/7 Roadside Assistance
Our patrols will come out to you any time, day or night.
Recovery up to 10 miles
If our expert roadside patrols can’t fix you on the spot, we’ll tow you to a local garage up to 10 miles.
National recovery
With our Standard, Extra and Complete cover levels, we’ll take your vehicle and up to 8 passengers anywhere in the UK.
Home cover
1/3 breakdowns happen at home. With our Extra and Complete cover levels, we’ll rescue you if you break down at your home address too.
Unlimited callouts
Our Extra and Complete cover levels include unlimited callouts for help whenever you need it.
Free vehicle check
Make the most of your free vehicle check and catch small issues that could lead to expensive repair bills.
Compare RAC Personal Breakdown Cover
Compare our personal breakdown cover levels below and find the right cover for you. You can also get add-ons to our Basic, Standard and Extra cover including onward travel, battery replace, key replace and tyre replace.
Basic
From
£5.49
/month*
5 callouts
24/7 Roadside Assistance
Cover in any vehicle (driving or passenger)^^
National Recovery
Home Cover
Hire car
Legal expenses
Standard
From
£9.99
/month*
5 callouts
24/7 Roadside Assistance
If we can’t fix you, we'll take you anywhere in the UK. Starts after 24 hours.
Cover in any vehicle (driving or passenger)^^
Home Cover
Hire car
Legal expenses
Extra
From
£9.99
/month*
Unlimited callouts
24/7 Roadside Assistance
If we can’t fix you, we'll take you anywhere in the UK. Starts after 24 hours.
Home Cover
Cover in any vehicle (driving or passenger)^^
Hire car
Legal expenses
Complete
From
£13.79
/month*
Unlimited callouts
24/7 Roadside Assistance
If we can’t fix you, we'll take you anywhere in the UK. Starts after 24 hours.
Home Cover
Hire car
Legal expenses
Cover in any vehicle (driving or passenger)^^
*At least 10% of new customers pay this for single-person cover. ^^There are certain restrictions to the types of vehicles that can be covered.
Rated 'Excellent' on Trustpilot
Still not sure? We’re trusted by over 15m members and have an ‘Excellent’ Trustpilot rating – so you know you’re in safe hands with our UK breakdown cover.
Should I get vehicle or personal breakdown cover?
Personal breakdown cover
Personal breakdown cover protects you as a person in any vehicle^^. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a driver or passenger, or what car you’re in – your own or someone else’s. This type of cover is useful if you use more than one vehicle or often travel with different drivers.
Vehicle breakdown cover
Vehicle breakdown cover protects one specific vehicle. The cover stays with that vehicle, so anyone who drives it is covered if it breaks down. This is a good option if you mostly use one car, or if your household shares a vehicle. And if you’re looking to cover more than one vehicle, we offer a multi-car breakdown cover option.
Types of personal breakdown cover
There are three main types of personal breakdown cover: single person, joint, and family. They all cover you as a driver or a passenger in any eligible vehicle. If you want to include someone on your policy, they need to live at your address and be added as a named member. Otherwise, they won’t be able to use your breakdown cover.
Single personal cover
Covers one person in any eligible vehicle, as a driver or passenger.
Joint personal cover
For two people who live at the same address. Perfect for couples or housemates.
Family cover
Family breakdown cover protects up to five people you live with.
What our expert says
CEO, RAC Consumer Roadside
“The great thing about personal breakdown cover is that it follows you wherever you go. Borrow a car, hop on the back of a friend’s motorbike – it doesn’t matter. Even if they don’t have cover, you’re still able to call for help.”
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What optional extras do we offer
Tailor your personal breakdown cover with extra add-ons to make sure you have everything you need.
Onward Travel
Can’t do without your car? Get a hire car while yours is in the garage with Onward Travel.
European Rescue
With RAC European Rescue, you’re covered in 48 countries across Europe. So you can have complete peace of mind® when driving abroad.
Business Cover
Use your vehicle for your job? Get cover for work and leisure with Commercial Cover or Business Use.
Tyre Replace
Puncture? No problem – get Tyre Replace and you're covered for the cost of up to 5 new tyres a year.
Battery Replace
Get a new battery if we can't recharge yours – saving you £200 on average.
Key Replace
Lost your car keys? We'll pay for the replacement, and a locksmith if needed, saving you £315 on average.
Breakdown cover to suit you
At the RAC, we provide breakdown cover tailored to your needs.
Personal Breakdown Cover - FAQs
Yes. You can add up to 5 people to your personal breakdown cover policy, as long as they live at your address.
New members
Just choose ‘personal breakdown cover’ and select the number of people you’d like to cover.
Existing members
Let us know how many people you’d like added to your policy. Just call 0330 159 8454.
On all our cover levels, we’ll come to your rescue if you break down at someone else’s house. We’ll try to fix you there and then, or we’ll tow you to a garage if we can’t. Just remember, Basic and Standard cover only applies to breakdowns over ¼ mile from your address, so if you break down at a house that’s less than ¼ mile from home, and you’re on Basic or Standard, you won’t be covered – that’s the only exception.
With personal breakdown cover (and vehicle-based cover), you’re covered all over the UK. But if you’re driving abroad, you’ll need separate cover. Luckily we offer European breakdown cover, for single trips and travel throughout the year, so you can get peace of mind driving on the continent.
There’s one exception – if you’re resident in Northern Ireland, you’re covered when you drive anywhere in the Republic of Ireland under your normal UK breakdown cover.
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Page reviewed by: Andy Baker. Last updated 14/05/26