Green Flag vs AA breakdown cover
When buying breakdown cover, choosing the right type of cover for your needs is important. That’s why it can be helpful to compare breakdown cover providers such as the AA and Green Flag and what they offer.
The AA is the biggest direct breakdown cover provider in the UK1, while Green Flag is another major provider. Below, we compare the types of breakdown cover they offer.
The AA vs Green Flag breakdown cover – at a glance
If you’re comparing breakdown cover providers, it’s useful to compare various factors, such as reviews, flexibility and any restrictions that may apply.
For example, the AA covers vehicles of all ages with all types of cover2, while Green Flag only covers vehicles less than 16 years old with Personal Cover.
Use the table below to compare some of the key aspects of the AA and Green Flag breakdown cover.
| Key points | The AA | Green Flag |
|---|---|---|
| Which? Recommended Breakdown Services Provider 2023 |
✓ Yes – Which? Recommended in 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018 |
✗ No |
| Number of branded patrols3 |
2,700 – And all of our patrols receive electric vehicle training every 5 years |
250 – Green Flag is rolling out a small fleet of branded patrols to operate alongside a 'smart network of rescue specialists' |
| Covers vehicles of all ages at all cover levels |
✓ Yes |
✗ No – Personal Cover only applies to vehicles less than 16-years-old |
| Hire car provided? |
✓ Yes – Hire car provided for 72 hours with Onward Travel |
✓ Yes – Hire car provided for 48 hours with Recovery Plus and EuroPlus packages |
|
Repair costs covered |
✓ Yes – If you add Parts & Garage Cover to your policy, we’ll cover repair costs up to £535 |
✗ No – Green Flag doesn’t offer Parts & Garage Cover |
The AA price shown above is available to new customers on a rolling monthly basis (this doesn't take into account any sales, offers or promotions).
Find out our top tips on how to compare breakdown cover.
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In this article
What's included in Green Flag breakdown cover compared to the AA?
It can be useful to look at the different cover levels on offer when comparing breakdown cover providers.
The AA’s starting level of cover is called Roadside Assistance. Green Flag’s is called Rescue.
Both these cover levels provide unlimited call-outs, 24/7 cover from 1/4 mile from a home and a tow to the nearest garage if your car can’t be fixed at the roadside.
But there are some key differences between AA Roadside Assistance and Green Flag Rescue. The below table highlights the similarities and differences between them.
AA Roadside Assistance vs Green Flag Rescue
| Features | AA Roadside Assistance | Green Flag Rescue |
|---|---|---|
| Roadside help |
✓ Yes |
✓ Yes |
| Free small replacement parts |
✓ Yes – We can provide £5 worth of small replacement parts |
✗ No |
| Recovery to nearest garage | ✓ Yes |
✓ Yes |
| Member benefits | ✓ Yes – Discounts on restaurants, car care, days out and travel | ✗ No |
| Unlimited call-outs4 | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Covers vehicles of all ages at all cover levels |
✓ Yes |
✗ No – Personal cover is limited to vehicles less than 16-years-old |
| 24/7 cover 1/4 mile from home |
✓ Yes |
✓Yes |
| Free advice on garage or repair bills |
✓ Yes |
✗ No – Once taken to a garage. it’s up to you to sort out any repairs |
Read our breakdown cover guide for answers to frequently asked questions on breakdown cover.
The AA and Green Flag personal and family breakdown cover
Both the AA and Green Flag offer vehicle, personal and family breakdown cover options.
Personal breakdown cover will cover you (the driver) in any vehicle. Family breakdown cover includes you and up to 3 people who live with you.
But Green Flag personal and family breakdown cover only applies on vehicles less than 16-years-old. The AA covers vehicles of any age.2
Green Flag and AA additional breakdown cover levels
At the AA, we pride ourselves on our flexible and buildable cover. So with our add-ons, you can tailor-make your breakdown cover to exactly what you need:
- At Home – breakdown cover that starts at your doorstep.
- National Recovery – if we can’t fix your vehicle at the roadside, we provide a car towing service to any single destination on the UK mainland.
- Onwards Travel – if your vehicle needs repairs that stop your journey, we’ll help with alternative transport or an overnight hotel stay.
- Parts and Garage Cover – if you need work done to your vehicle after breaking down, we’ll cover costs up to £535.
With the AA, you can opt for just our standard Roadside Assistance or add as many or as few of the above options on to make your cover work for you. We also offer European breakdown cover if you need it.
Learn more about how our breakdown cover works.
Green Flag has different breakdown cover packages available which provide extra features in addition to those offered at its starting level of cover (Rescue):
- Rescue Plus – includes misfuelling cover and cover at home.
- Recovery – includes misfuelling cover and vehicle recovered to preferred UK destination.
- Recovery Plus – includes misfuelling cover, cover at home, vehicle recovered to preferred UK destination, choice of hire car / cost of alternative transport / overnight stay and rail fare covered.
- EuroPlus – includes misfuelling cover, cover at home, vehicle recovered to preferred UK destination, choice of hire car / cost of alternative transport / overnight stay, rail fare covered and European breakdown cover.
None of the Green Flag breakdown cover packages include Parts and Garage Cover.
Who is the cheapest, AA or Green Flag?
It depends on your needs.
Both the AA and Green Flag’s breakdown cover pricing is based on risk. This means you need to provide details to get a quote and see how much your cover costs.
The AA only requires your home postcode and date of birth to get an initial quote. But Green Flag requires the following details:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Address
- Vehicle registration
Green Flag will use these details to provide you with a quote.
Only 10% of people are eligible for the lowest breakdown cover prices offered by Green Flag, which means most people won't be eligible for these prices.
Which? Recommended Breakdown Services Provider, 6 years in a row.
Is Green Flag as good as the AA?
The AA is the UK's no.1 breakdown cover provider. Plus, we have a bigger breakdown recovery fleet and more Which? recommended accolades, including 2023*. The AA also covers vehicles of any age, and offers member benefits, free small replacement parts (up to £5's worth) and free advice on garage or repair bills, while Green Flag doesn't.
*Verify the above at theaa.com/best.
Is AA faster than Green Flag?
With more dedicated patrols than anyone else, we get more people back on the road than any other breakdown cover provider*. We'll usually get to you for repairs in under an hour, and get you back on the road within 30 minutes of arrival. However, with so many factors at play in different types of breakdowns, we can't guarantee repairs within a certain timeframe.
*Verify the above at theaa.com/best.
How much should you pay for breakdown cover?
There is no set amount you should pay for breakdown cover. Rather, you should consider your individual needs and build a breakdown cover policy that suits you. With us, you can do just that.
For example, if you only want to cover one vehicle with Roadside assistance, you can do that for a low price. If you'd like personal cover for yourself in any vehicle, with extra options like At Home or Parts and Garage cover for more cover in more scenarios, then it may be worth paying a little more.
Which is the best breakdown cover company in the UK?
We're the UK's best breakdown cover provider.
The AA has been rated the best major breakdown service provider for 2 years according to the Brand and Market Tracker study6 and a recent report showed consumers rated the AA as the most trusted and recommended brand out of the ones included in the survey.7
