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 if you break down anywhere over ¼ mile from home.
Recovery up to 10 miles
If we 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 – so you’re covered whatever happens.
Free vehicle check
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 £6.97 a month†
24/7 Roadside Assistance
5 callouts a year
Recovery up to 10 miles
Cover in any vehicle (driving or passenger)^^
SALE – up to 33% off*
Standard
From £6.95 a month†
24/7 Roadside Assistance
5 callouts a year
If we can’t fix you, we'll take you anywhere in the UK. Starts after 24 hours.
FREE car health check
Cover in any vehicle (driving or passenger)^^
SALE – up to 33% off *
Extra
From £9.39 a month†
24/7 Roadside Assistance
Unlimited callouts
If we can’t fix you, we'll take you anywhere in the UK. Starts after 24 hours.
Home cover
FREE car health check
Cover in any vehicle (driving or passenger)^^
*Max 33% applies to new Standard cover for 1 person. Ends 01/06/26, 9am. †At least 10% of new customers pay this for single-person cover.
Should I get vehicle or personal breakdown cover?
Think about how you usually move around. If you often travel in different cars, personal cover gives you more flexibility. If you mainly rely on one car, vehicle cover is likely the simpler choice.
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.
What our expert says
“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.”
CEO, RAC Consumer Roadside
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.
Tyre Replace
Puncture? No problem – you're covered for the cost of 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 replace them, saving you £315 on average.
What's covered with personal breakdown cover?
What you’re covered for depends on the level of breakdown cover you choose. We offer 'Basic', 'Standard', 'Extra' and 'Complete' cover. Here’s what’s included with each:
- Basic: 5 callouts per year; with 1 additional callout for every person added to the policy, and Roadside Assistance
- Standard: 5 callouts per year; with 1 additional callout for every person added to the policy, Roadside Assistance and National Recovery
- Extra: Unlimited callouts, Roadside Assistance, National Recovery and At Home.
- Complete: This provides you with the most breakdown cover features. In addition to everything in Extra, our Complete cover also includes Onward travel. Plus get a FREE MOT at selected RAC garages. With family breakdown cover, you'll get 2 FREE MOTs.
You can also add extra cover – including Onward Travel, Battery Replace, Key Replace and Tyre Replace.
Breakdown cover options
Family breakdown cover
Family breakdown cover provides vehicle cover for several members of your family within a joint policy.
Multi-car breakdown cover
Our multi-car breakdown cover is perfect for friends or families with multiple cars.
European breakdown cover
Driving over to Europe? You’ll need European breakdown cover. Choose from single trip or annual trip.
Vehicle breakdown cover
With vehicle breakdown cover, your vehicle will be covered no matter who’s driving it when it breaks down.
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