Unlimited call-outs included in every package1
More dedicated patrols than any other UK breakdown service2
The AA vs RAC
Why you should join the AA over RAC
Get flexible and buildable AA breakdown cover from £7 a month – that’s what 10% of AA customers pay.*
Rated Great by our members on Trustpilot
Why choose the AA?
We’re the biggest direct breakdown cover provider in the UK. That means more people choose cover with us directly than anyone else.3 And for good reason.
- We’ve been rated the best breakdown cover provider for 2 years in a row.4
- We have more expert Patrols than anyone else and they’ve all received training in electric vehicles (EVs).
What’s included in AA breakdown cover compared to RAC?
When choosing a breakdown cover provider, it’s important to consider flexibility and limits on how often you’ll be able to use it. Here are some of the key differences between the AA and RAC’s breakdown cover:
- We offer free small replacement parts and free advice on garage or repair bills at our starting level of cover.
- We offer unlimited call-outs in every package.
- If you run out of fuel, we’ll give you enough to get going again.
Our Trustpilot rating
What our members sayRead reviewsReported breakdown on the app, was given an estimate of 45 minutes but the guy turned up within 15 minutes, diagnosed the fault and followed me to the nearest repair location. Excellent service all round!
Terry Faulkner
Our breakdown cover
We provide 24/7 roadside assistance and will try and fix your car on the spot. You can even track the mechanic right to your side. Just tap our free app and help's on the way.
- Call us out as many times as you need to, as long as it's not a recurring problem with your vehicle.1
- We cover vehicles of any age including cars, electric vehicles, vans, motorcycles, campervans and caravans.5
- Get up to 20% off at over 1,500 restaurants and pubs with the app.
- If you have an accident, we're here to support you with our Accident Assist service.
Build your cover with these options
At Home We come straight to your doorstep
National Recovery We’ll take you to any single UK location
Onward Travel We’ll help arrange alternative travel
Parts and Garage Cover
We'll help with repair bills after a breakdown
Good to know
*10% of new AA customers paid £5.99 for monthly vehicle breakdown cover. Source: survey of new business sales from theAA.com, 2 November 2023 to 31 January 2024.
1 Unlimited call-outs
Repeat call-outs for the same fault, within 28 days, will not be covered. Your call-out levels may affect future renewals
2 More Patrols than anyone else
The AA uses a fleet of dedicated vehicles – which means we own and manage them, and they are driven by our own patrols. These include breakdown vans, recovery trucks and other specialist vehicles to support a wide range of breakdown situations our members find themselves in.
Sometimes we may use garages to reduce wait times, but only when necessary. We’ll always let you know in advance.
We have more highly skilled Patrols than anyone else. And they’ve all received training in electric vehicles. The AA is the largest UK breakdown provider, with over 2,500 patrols compared to around 1,600 patrols for the second largest provider in the UK.
Source: Sources: AA Limited Annual Report and Accounts 2021 – 2,500 Patrols. RAC Group (Holdings) Limited Annual Report & Financial Statements 2021 – 1,600 Patrols.
3 Biggest direct breakdown service provider
The AA is the UK's biggest direct breakdown service provider. More customers directly choose us as their breakdown provider than any other major breakdown provider. These are people who actively join the AA online, by calling us up to become Members, or by speaking to an AA member of staff. We confirmed this by looking at the number of AA paid personal members published in the AA's Annual Report and Accounts for 2021 and comparing against our biggest competitor. Sources: AA Limited Annual Report and Accounts 2021 – 3.168m roadside paid personal members. RAC Group (Holdings) Limited Annual Report & Financial Statements 2021 – 2.563m consumer breakdown members.
4 Best major breakdown service provider
We’ve been consistently rated as the best breakdown service against all other major breakdown providers by UK drivers for the last 2 years according to the Brand and Market Tracker study.
The Brand and Market Tracker is a study conducted on behalf of the AA by an independent research provider (Old Street Data Science – trading name HGSR Ltd.) and the results are based on responses by participants who self-identify which provider they are with. Interviews are held with 1,500 respondents every quarter, who identify themselves as UK-based drivers, which is rolled up to 6,000 annually.
5 What vehicles do we cover?
Our breakdown cover includes most cars of any age (including classic cars), vans, motorbikes, caravans, and campervans. Your vehicle must be under 3.5 tonnes and 8ft 3in (2.55m) wide.
See theaa.com/best for details on sources 2 to 5.