breakdown cover

Brilliant breakdown cover + serious savings

Breakdown cover from just £7.95 a month*.
Plus up to £150 of driving savings!

We get to most breakdowns in 60 mins or less

Our patrols fix 4/5 on the spot

Up to £150 of savings on servicing, tyres and more

*New, single vehicle-based cover. £7.95 a month for Basic cover.
^For 1 nominated vehicle when added to Extra or Complete cover. New customers only. Ends 08/12/23, 7am.

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*New, single vehicle-based cover. £7.95 a month for Basic cover. ^For 1 nominated vehicle when added to Extra or Complete cover. New customers only. Ends 08/12/23, 7am.

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  • Defaqto

RAC Breakdown Cover

Service you expect. Savings you don’t.

Orange van? Yellow van? You know you’re getting a quality service from a trusted brand. But with us, you don’t just get brilliant breakdown cover in the UK. We make driving cheaper and easier, all year round. With up to £150 of driving savings on servicing, tyres and more, it’s breakdown cover that pays for itself!

Brilliant breakdown

AA
100+ years experience
Dedicated fleet of patrols
Usually arrive within the hour
Our patrols fix 4/5 on the spot

Serious savings

ONLY WITH THE
AA
Mobile mechanics – members save £20 on a service
FREE upgrade at renewal
FREE car health check
Up to £20 off tyres
FREE legal advice

Breakdown cover explained

What is car breakdown cover?

Breakdown cover is a type of insurance that means you get help if your vehicle breaks down. It can help you get back on the road if you have a flat battery, clutch or other engine problems.

Breakdown cover is available for most vehicles, including cars, electric vehicles, vans and motorbikes. It isn’t usually covered as a part of your motor insurance, but it’s always worth checking with your provider.

If you break down and are unable to get your vehicle moving again, a mechanic or trained professional will be sent to help. If they can’t fix your car on the spot, they’ll tow you to a nearby garage.

We offer breakdown cover across a range of vehicles including cars, hybrid and electric vehicles, motorbikes and more.

What types of breakdown cover are there?

You can buy breakdown cover for cars, an alternative vehicle, or a person in any vehicle.

  • Vehicle breakdown cover means your vehicle is covered no matter who is driving. You can cover up to 3 vehicles that are registered at the same address.
  • Personal breakdown cover means you’re covered in eligible vehicles as a driver or passenger. You can cover up to 5 people from the same household on the same policy.

Which level of cover is best for me?

We offer 3 levels of cover: Basic, Extra and Complete. Roadside Assistance is available with all cover levels. And if you need more cover – for example, ‘National Recovery’ – you can choose Extra or Complete. You can also add optional extras, like ‘Onward Travel.’

Here are the main differences to help you find the right cover for you.

Basic

This is our cheapest breakdown cover option, at just £7.95 a month. And if we’re running an offer, you might find an even better price. It includes:

  • Roadside Assistance
    We’ll fix you on the spot, if you’re ¼ mile from home. Or if we can’t, you'll get breakdown recovery up to 10-miles to a garage or another destination.
  • 5 callouts
    You can call us out up to 5 times a year, with 1 additional callout added for every person or vehicle added. If you need more than this, our Complete cover includes unlimited callouts.

Extra

In addition to Roadside Assistance and 5 callouts, our Extra cover also includes:

  • National Recovery
    Instead of a 10-mile tow, we'll tow you and your passengers to any garage or destination the UK.

Complete

This provides you with the most breakdown cover features. In addition to everything in Extra, our Complete cover also includes:

  • Unlimited callouts
    You can call us out as many times as you need, as long as it’s not for a recurring problem.
  • At Home
    We’ll rescue you at home or within ¼ mile of your home.
  • FREE MOT
    You’ll also get a FREE MOT at selected RAC garages, worth up to £55. With Family Breakdown Cover you’ll get 2 Free MOTs~.

Find more information in our complete guide to breakdown cover.

Compare our breakdown cover

Basic £7.95 a month
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    FREE car health check

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    5 callouts
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    Roadside Assistance

FREE Battery Replace – worth £42^
Extra £12.50 a month
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    FREE car health check

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    5 callouts
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    Roadside Assistance
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    National Recovery
FREE Battery Replace – worth £42^
Complete £17.50 a month
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    FREE car health check

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    Unlimited callouts
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    Roadside Assistance
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    National Recovery
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    At Home
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    FREE MOT

    Worth up to £55, at selected RAC garages

^For 1 nominated vehicle when added to Extra or Complete cover. New customers only. Ends 08/12/23, 7am.
Prices above are for single vehicle-based cover.

Extend your cover
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.
Avoid big bills
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 £160 on average.
Key Replace
Lost your car keys? We'll replace them, saving you £300 on average.

Breakdown cover to suit you

At the RAC, we provide breakdown cover tailored to your needs.

What our members are saying

How we give you more

Save on fuel with the myRAC app

Find the cheapest place to fill up. Plus get help if you break down, and never miss a date with handy reminders.

A free car health check when you join

Only with the RAC. Make sure your car’s in tip-top condition with a free 20-point health check.

Our patrols fix 4/5 on the spot

RAC patrols fix most vehicles on the spot. And repairs are done in just 30 minutes on average.

5* Defaqto Rating

Our Complete cover with Onward Travel is rated 5 stars by Defaqto.


Enjoy exclusive perks for free


Free legal helpline
Expert legal advice on driving, property, employment and more.
FREE accident care
Expert advice to help you back on the road quickly if you have an accident.2
Everyday discounts
FREE hot drinks, 20% off gym memberships and savings on travel and trips.

Answers to your questions

Q. How much is breakdown cover?

Our cheapest breakdown cover starts from £7.95 a month. This is our Basic cover for 1 vehicle. Exactly how much your breakdown cover costs depends on:

  • The level of cover you choose – Basic, Extra or Complete

  • The type of cover you choose – personal cover usually costs more than vehicle cover

  • How many vehicles or people you cover – the more you add, the more it will cost

  • Whether you need add-ons – like Onward Travel, Key Replace, Battery Replace or Tyre Replace

Q. How can I get a breakdown cover quote?

The easiest way to get a breakdown cover quote is online. You can get started here – and it only takes a few minutes.

Alternatively, you can call us on 0330 159 1111.

Q. Does my breakdown cover include tyres?

If you get a flat tyre, you can call us for help. We’ll try to fix your tyre, fit your spare tyre for you, or help you find a replacement tyre.

You can also buy ‘Tyre Replace cover’. This covers you for up to 5 new tyres a year, worth up to £150 each, if yours are punctured or damaged.

Q. Can I combine car insurance with breakdown cover?

Yes, you can. Some car insurance providers allow you to buy breakdown cover as an added extra. You may find that they only offer basic breakdown cover, and you need to pay extra to upgrade. Before you buy breakdown cover, you should check that it’s not already included with your car insurance. RAC Car Insurance and RAC Temporary Car Insurance both include the option to add breakdown cover.

Q. Is roadside assistance the same as breakdown cover?

Roadside assistance is a type of breakdown cover. You might also see it referred to as ‘roadside breakdown cover’. It means that we’ll rescue you if you break down at the roadside, and tow you up to 10 miles if we can’t fix you on the spot.

Other types (or ‘levels’) of cover are also available. These include At Home, which covers you on your driveway (or if you breakdown within a ¼ mile from home). And National Recovery, which covers you for a long-distance tow (instead of just 10 miles).

Q. Can you transfer breakdown cover?

If you have vehicle breakdown cover (which covers a particular vehicle), you can transfer your cover to another vehicle. You can do this on your myRAC online account, or by calling us on 03301 591 466. There’s no charge for this.

If you have personal breakdown cover (which covers you personally in any car), you can’t transfer your policy to another person.

Q. Does using breakdown cover affect no claims?

Breakdown cover is separate from car insurance, so it won’t affect your no claims bonus.

Q. Is breakdown cover covered by insurance?

Car insurance doesn’t include breakdown cover as standard. Unless your car insurance offers it as an extra, it’s worth buying a separate breakdown cover policy to make sure you can get help if you break down.

Q. Can you get breakdown cover for an older car?

Yes. There isn’t an age limit on the cars the RAC cover. Only our Battery Replace cover is limited to cars less than 15 years old (and no more than 150,000 mileage).

Q. Is breakdown cover worth it?

The short answer is yes. Breakdown cover can save you money, time and stress if your car breaks down. You’ll have 24/7 roadside assistance if you're stranded on the side of the road and need help.

If you don't have breakdown cover and something goes wrong with your car, getting help can quickly become expensive. You may have to call out an expensive recovery firm who could charge by the hour for their services.

Q. Does breakdown cover include repairs?

Breakdown cover includes the cost of fixing your car at the roadside (which our patrols can do for 4 out of 5 vehicles). We just have to charge for any replacement parts, fuel and batteries. But if your car needs further repairs at a garage, your breakdown cover won’t include the cost of those.

Q. Do you pay excess on breakdown cover?

Unlike insurance, you don’t have to pay excess on most breakdown cover. Your membership covers you for 24/7 access to roadside assistance and includes free fitting and labour if you need repairs at the roadside.

If we need to use any replacement parts to fix your car at the roadside, you’ll have to pay for these. But you can help avoid unexpected bills by choosing one of our breakdown cover extras, such as Tyre, Battery or Key Replace.

RAC Breakdown Cover explained

Q. What vehicles do the RAC cover?

We provide car breakdown cover for vehicles of any age. We also cover hybrids, electric vehicles, classic cars, motorbikes and vans. Your vehicle must be:

  • UK registered
  • a maximum of 3.5 tonnes, 6.4 m long (and 2.5 m wide – that’s roughly the weight and size of a Ford Transit long wheelbase van)
  • a motorcycle over 49cc (or 121cc in Europe)

For caravans, campervans and motorhomes, we can offer roadside assistance and recovery with our RAC Arrival product.

View our vehicle eligibility page to find out which vehicles are excluded.

Q. When does my breakdown cover start?

Roadside Assistance and At Home cover begin on your start date, as long as you haven’t already broken down. You can select this when you complete your purchase.

With Extra and Complete cover you also get National Recovery and the option to add Onward Travel which both start 24 hours later.

Key Replace, Battery Replace and Tyre Replace cover start 14 days after your breakdown cover start date.

If you’ve already broken down, do not buy online. Please call 0330 159 8743.

Q. Do I pay monthly or annually?

You can choose to pay on a monthly basis or pay upfront for the full length of your plan.

Q. What RAC Rewards are included?

Your RAC membership also comes with exclusive discounts on car maintenance, travel and leisure. This includes 25% off airport parking, up to 51% off theme park tickets and more. See all your RAC Rewards.

Q. What if I use my vehicle for business?

You’ll need RAC Business Breakdown Cover instead. You can choose a 12 or 24 month contracts for commercial cars, vans, taxis, minibuses and more.

Q. Does RAC Breakdown Cover protect me if I travel to Europe?

European cover doesn’t come as standard with your UK breakdown cover. Luckily, we also offer the best European breakdown cover on the market.3 To make sure you’re covered if you travel to Europe, you can:

You’re covered in Ireland, France, Spain, Italy and many other countries in Europe. If you buy European breakdown cover as a standalone policy, you can choose between single-trip cover for a one-off journey – or annual cover for multiple trips during the year.

Q. Do you provide breakdown recovery if I have a pet in the car?

If you break down and have pets in the car, we’ll come out to help you. If we can’t fix you there and then, you may need a recovery. In this case, pets can travel in the patrol or recovery vehicle at the discretion of the patrol or recovery driver and their owners. But please bear in mind that this is solely at the owners’ risk. Our patrols and recovery drivers also have the right to refuse to take any animal in their cab.

We recommend that you let us know if you have pets in the vehicle when you call us.

Q. Does the RAC cover cars over 10 years old?

Yes. There isn’t an age limit on the cars we cover. Only our Battery Replace cover is limited to cars less than 15 years old (and no more than 150,000 mileage).

Q. Can I join RAC and use it immediately?

You can set your roadside and at home cover to start immediately. But you can’t buy breakdown cover if you’ve already broken down. If you’ve broken down without cover, call 0330 159 8743 and we’ll arrange emergency cover for you.

Car broken down?

Have you broken down? Whether you’re an existing RAC member or not, we’re here to help you. Find out what to do below.

I’m already a member

If you bought directly from the RAC:

The quickest way to get help is online. Report your breakdown here.

If you'd prefer to speak to a member of the team, call us on 0333 2000 999. Lines are open 24/7.


I’m not a member

Call us on 0330 159 8743 to arrange instant cover. Do not buy RAC Breakdown Cover online.

If you buy breakdown cover online after breaking down, we won’t be able to come out to help you.


Join the RAC now for complete peace of mind

How else can we help?

European breakdown cover
Driving over to Europe? You’ll need European breakdown cover. Choose from single trip or annual trip.
Compare breakdown cover
See how we compare to other breakdown cover companies, like the AA and Green Flag.
Breakdown cover deals
View the latest offers and promotions on RAC Breakdown Cover today.