Breakdown cover

Cheap breakdown cover
Basic and full cover from £57/year

A lot of people are spending more than necessary on breakdown cover by allowing it to automatically renew annually. This guide highlights the most affordable comprehensive policies, ways to reduce costs for AA and RAC coverage, and additional tips to maximize your savings.

Top picks

• Top breakdown deals, incl… 
  • £57/yr AutoAid full cover
  • Basic RAC/AA cover from ‘£81/yr’
  • Full RAC/AA cover from ‘£145/yr’

• European cover from £24 for three weeks
• Discount for Rescuremycar.com, Startrescue & Compare Breakdown Cover

Breakdown cover need-to-knows

As traditional motoring clubs become a thing of the past, roadside recovery services have become a major industry. It’s time to set aside loyalty and prioritize finding the best deal. Here are six essential points to consider before reviewing our top recommendations…

1 – Never auto-renew – haggle to get a discount

When it comes to negotiating, you don’t have to be in a bustling market to achieve success. Negotiating for breakdown cover can be just as effective. In a recent survey from December 2023, the RAC was found to be the most amenable to negotiation, with the AA not far behind.

Our Breakdown Cover Haggling Guide will equip you with the strategies needed to secure significant savings.

We’ve heard numerous stories of customers improving their breakdown cover deals with just a phone call and a touch of charm.

Read our full Breakdown Cover Haggling guide for tips on how to haggle successfully.

2 – New car? Basic cover may be enough

If you’ve recently purchased a new, dependable vehicle, it’s likely that breakdown cover is included in your package, as many manufacturers provide it for the initial year. If this applies to you, there’s no need to pay for an additional policy—just make sure it meets your requirements.

For older vehicles or those with a history of breakdowns, opting for a comprehensive service policy might be wise. In the UK, there are three primary types of cover. Policies featuring only the first type are considered ‘basic’, while those offering all three types are referred to as ‘full service’:

• Basic cover. It typically means your car will be fixed at the roadside or towed to a local garage. But it won’t usually cover you if you breakdown close to your home.
• Home start. In addition to basic cover, you will be covered for a problem if your motor won’t start at home.
• Onward travel. If your car’s kept in a garage for repairs, this generally means you’ll get a hire car for up to three days, plus a night’s accommodation. It also covers costs if you need to continue by public transport.

3 – Always check whether you’re covering a car or a person

You have the option to choose coverage specific to a single vehicle, or you can select personal coverage, which offers protection regardless of the car you’re driving or even if you’re a passenger. Personal coverage generally costs more, so it’s best to opt for it only if you anticipate needing it.

If you rarely switch vehicles, the more expensive policy may not be necessary. However, if you frequently drive other people’s cars, it might be worth considering.

Additionally, it’s important to note that if you’re towing a caravan, your policy typically extends to cover this as well. Most specialized caravan policies lack breakdown coverage, so if your caravan encounters damage from a pothole and becomes immobile, your car’s breakdown policy will usually cover the cost of towing it home or to a repair shop.

4 – A joint policy can be cheaper than two (or three or four) single policies

Purchasing a policy that covers both partners or the whole family generally proves more cost-effective than securing individual policies for each member of the household. For instance, Eversure Gold* and AutoAid* offer coverage for you and your spouse at approximately £58 per year, the same rate as for a single individual.

On the other hand, the AA* provides basic coverage for £107.50 for an individual, or £135 for a couple. The RAC* offers comparable rates at £101.75 for one person and £137.75 for a pair. While you might find cheaper options by using cashback sites, these examples illustrate that joint policies often offer better value compared to two separate individual plans.

5 – Check if your bank account covers you

Some bank accounts with monthly fees provide breakdown cover, so it’s worth verifying if you already have this coverage.

Many premium accounts, which require a monthly fee, bundle various products, including breakdown insurance. Before purchasing a separate policy, check if you already have this coverage included.

It may be advantageous to choose an account with added benefits rather than buying insurance separately. However, make sure to do the calculations and only opt for bank or building society coverage if you plan to utilize all the included features (which often encompass mobile phone and travel insurance) and if it proves more economical than purchasing separately.

A notable option is the Nationwide FlexPlus account, priced at £156 per year. This account offers personal European breakdown cover, including home start and onward travel, as well as mobile phone and worldwide travel insurance.

For additional premium bank accounts that include breakdown cover, refer to our Packaged Bank Accounts guide. If you suspect you were mis-sold such an account, consult our Packaged Accounts Mis-selling guide for more information.

6 – Driving in Europe? Ensure you’re covered

Heading to Europe? Ensure your breakdown coverage extends there.

If you frequently travel to Europe, it’s worth considering an annual breakdown policy that includes European coverage.

For those who only need coverage for a few days or weeks each year, a basic UK policy that can be upgraded to include Europe might be more cost-effective. Be sure to confirm that this option is available before purchasing the policy and inquire about the activation time—some policies have a 15-day waiting period before the extension is active, so it’s crucial to plan ahead.

Check our Cheap European Cover section for top deals on both annual and single-trip coverage.

Lastly, remember to arrange travel insurance and inform your car insurer to secure additional protection while you’re abroad.

Top-pick breakdown cover

We’ve divided the offers into two categories: full service and basic. The full service options are provided by well-known companies like AA and RAC. Additionally, we have a section dedicated to European travel coverage, offering choices at various levels of protection. Check out our top recommendations below to find the policy that best suits your needs.

Top-pick deals with full service cover

We define ‘full service’ policies as those that include home breakdown coverage along with roadside assistance and onward travel benefits. Onward travel typically encompasses the cost of a rental vehicle, overnight lodging, or public transportation.

Be sure to mark your calendar a month before your policy renewal date. This gives you the opportunity to compare prices and make a switch if you find a better deal, or use the comparison to negotiate a better rate with your current insurer.

£57/yr AutoAid full cover

Full service cover

Cheapest way to get new AA/RAC cover

The major players in the breakdown cover industry are the AA and RAC. Below, we’ve outlined their basic and comprehensive service plans.

When purchased directly, these policies tend to be among the pricier options. However, significant savings can often be achieved by purchasing through cashback sites. Therefore, when applicable, we highlight the best available cashback offer (or the closest equivalent).

If we mention a cashback price, it represents the cost after the cashback is applied. Keep in mind that you should initially budget for the full price, as cashback payments can take several weeks or even months. Treat cashback as a potential saving rather than a guaranteed one until the funds are actually received, as issues can arise.

Basic RAC/AA cover from ‘£81/yr’

Basic AA and RAC cover

(i) Always remember cashback is never guaranteed. (ii) You can also get basic cover using Tesco Clubcard vouchers at twice their value.

Full RAC/AA cover from ‘£145/yr’

Full service AA and RAC cover

(i) Always remember cashback is never guaranteed.

European cover from £24 for three weeks

If your vehicle experiences a breakdown while driving across the continent, it will typically be repaired either at the roadside or at a nearby garage. The following prices are based on a three-week journey through France in a three-year-old Honda Jazz, providing a comparison of different providers. For longer trips, visits to multiple countries, or older vehicles, expect the costs to be higher.

If you plan on making two or more trips to Europe, or if you frequently drive there (such as living in Northern Ireland and visiting the Republic of Ireland regularly), it’s beneficial to consider an annual European breakdown policy, or evaluate whether coverage through a packaged bank account offers better value.

Be sure to note your renewal date a month in advance so you have time to compare prices and switch providers if needed, or use the compared prices to negotiate with your current provider.

European cover

(i) We have little feedback to share on Compare Breakdown Cover. (ii) You can also get RAC Europe cover using Tesco Clubcard vouchers at twice their value.

Looking for one-off or specialist policies?

If you’re in need of coverage for a single trip or require a specialized service, our partners offer a platform to compare roadside recovery rates.

While it might not capture every top deal and isn’t guaranteed to find the absolute lowest price, it can efficiently locate a competitive quote tailored to your specific needs.

Check special deals

Some companies offer special promotions, and certain car insurance providers include complimentary breakdown assistance as part of their coverage (refer to our Car Insurance guide). Currently, these include:

ExEconomics Blagged car breakdown offers

How to complain about your insurance provider

The insurance sector often struggles with a poor reputation for customer service. What might work well for one person can be a frustrating experience for another.

Frequent issues involve delayed or denied claims, unjust charges, or hidden exclusions buried in the fine print.

Initially, it’s beneficial to contact your insurance provider directly. If that approach fails, consider using Resolver, a free complaints management tool. Resolver assists in handling your complaint and, if necessary, facilitates escalation to the Financial Ombudsman Service, also available at no cost.

Car breakdown Q&A

Q – How safe are these policies?

A – No one can foresee the future, and even the most dependable companies may experience difficulties. When making a purchase, it’s wise to consider whether you have any safeguards in place if the company you’re buying from goes under.

After consulting with the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), we’ve learned that, unfortunately, you wouldn’t have coverage for breakdowns if the worst were to occur.

Q – What happens if the breakdown company damages my car?

A – Even though it’s rare, it’s important to be aware of the procedure. When your car is returned after being towed, you will typically receive a document to sign.

If you suspect that the recovery company has caused any damage to your vehicle, do not sign the document. Instead, report the damage to the recovery company immediately, even if you’re still at the scene.

• Collect as much evidence of the damage as you can. Capture photos—your phone’s camera can be useful for this if you don’t have another option—and promptly write a report detailing the incident.

Document everything thoroughly, including the name of the recovery company, as well as the times and dates. Afterward, reach out to the company to learn about their plan to address the issue.

• What if the damage isn’t repaired? If you’re dissatisfied with how the situation is handled, it’s time to file a written complaint. The formal process for this should be outlined in your policy terms and conditions. These documents should have been provided to you, but if you can’t locate them, simply request another copy.
• If the issue persists… Although the FSCS does not offer refunds, you can still file a complaint with the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) if the companies are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Rest assured, all the companies we feature are FCA-regulated.

The FOS is an impartial and free service that resolves disputes between consumers and businesses at no cost to you. Before approaching the FOS, you must allow eight weeks to pass from the time you first lodge your complaint with the company. For detailed information, refer to the Financial Rights guide.

Q – What if I need assistance and my pets are in the vehicle with me?

A – If you experience a breakdown with your pets in the vehicle, you can still access roadside assistance. However, the transportation of your pets will depend on the policies of your insurance provider.

RAC guarantees assistance for vehicles with pets on board, but they will assess each situation individually to determine whether it’s safe for the animals to be transported in the recovery vehicle or in your vehicle if it’s being towed.

The recovery driver will decide if pets can be transported, generally allowing them to accompany the driver unless the pets are distressed, aggressive, or if the driver has allergies. Guide dogs, however, are permitted to travel with their owners unless there’s a safety concern.

The AA commits to transporting pets with their owners as long as it does not pose health and safety risks, and the responsibility for the pet’s well-being falls on the owner. Note that the AA does not provide transportation for livestock or horses due to practical reasons.

Make sure to inform your insurer about your pets when requesting assistance if you break down.

For more information, check page 16 of the AA’s policy booklet and the RAC website.