Why we say we’re the UK’s number 1
We’re the UK’s number 1 breakdown service
Based on having more dedicated patrols than any other major UK breakdown provider
Find out how and why
More dedicated patrols
We have more expert and dedicated patrols than any other major UK breakdown provider.
We’ve confirmed this by looking at the number of patrols directly employed by The AA published in The AA Annual Report & Accounts 2026 and competitor data published in annual reports.1
More breakdowns attended
We get more people back on the road than any other major UK breakdown provider.
We’ve confirmed this by looking at the number of attended breakdowns published in The AA Annual Report & Accounts 2026 and competitor data published in annual reports.2
More personal members
We have more personal members than any other major UK breakdown provider. These are customers who have chosen to take out breakdown cover directly with The AA, rather than receiving cover through a business, fleet or third-party product.
This includes customers who have joined The AA online, by calling us to become members, or by speaking to one of our members of staff.
This is based on published personal membership numbers in The AA Annual Report & Accounts 2026 and comparable competitor reporting.3
The number 1 choice for EV cover among UK drivers
UK drivers have consistently rated us as their first choice for electric vehicle breakdown cover against all other major UK breakdown providers, according to the Brand and Market Tracker study from January 2024 to March 2026.4
Plus, you’ll know your electric vehicle is in safe hands with all of our patrols having ‘Level 1 – Electric Vehicle Awareness’ training, and over 98% of our Patrols trained in ‘Level 2 – Electric Vehicle Prepared’. The IMI EV Level 2 training has also become standard for any new joiners to our AA fleet.
The UK's best breakdown service
UK drivers have consistently rated us as the best breakdown service against all other major UK breakdown providers, according to the Brand and Market Tracker study from January 2024 to March 2026.4
Ratings
The independent rating experts at Defaqto have given our combined cover (Roadside Assistance with National Recovery, At Home and Onward Travel) 5 stars.5 Our breakdown cover is also rated excellent on Trustpilot (score of 4.8 from over 202,000 reviews, as of 1 May 2026).6
Speed and reliability
With our breakdown cover, you'll get unlimited call-outs included without it costing you any extra, as long as it’s not for a repeat call-out for the same fault within 28 days and subject to policy terms.7
Our patrols aim to get to you within an hour and get you back on the road in around 30 minutes of arrival – whether it's rain, hail or shine. This is based on our operational data on AA patrol response times.
In an independent reliability survey from What Car?, we scored higher for arriving within an hour than the other major UK breakdown providers, RAC and Green Flag.
Our patrols' expertise also means that we fix 8 out of 10 cars at the roadside. This is based on our operational data on the breakdowns that AA patrols respond to.
What's more, our handy app means you can report a breakdown with the tap of a button. Our expert patrols pinpoint your exact location while you can track us in real-time – right up until the moment we arrive.
Patrol training and expertise
Our patrols’ expertise is based on their extensive experience of working in the car repair and wider automotive industries – this experience is a prerequisite of our recruitment criteria. All new patrols must complete a robust induction programme which places customer service at its core and focuses on technical skill development, as well as our approach to breakdown service delivery.
Our focus on expertise doesn’t end once our patrols have passed their inductions and are out on the road. As part of our culture of continual professional development, our patrols are subject to ongoing competence and technical assessments, and we ensure they receive regular training to keep up-to-date with the latest developments in automotive technology.
We also have an internal mentorship programme which encourages knowledge sharing across our patrols and provides opportunities for coaching and technical support.
How we compare breakdown providers
When we compare breakdown providers, we focus on major UK providers that operate at national scale and publish comparable data. These include The AA, RAC and Green Flag, based on publicly available company reporting and industry data.
Our Brand & Market Tracker research also shows how UK drivers report their breakdown provider.4 Based on this survey, more UK drivers report using The AA than any other major UK breakdown provider.
The survey results also show that The AA, RAC and Green Flag are the most commonly reported breakdown providers among UK drivers, with the majority of respondents naming one of these providers.
This research is based on self-reported responses from UK drivers and reflects how drivers report their provider, rather than total customer or policy numbers.
Additional information
This webpage explains how relevant claims are measured. Our “number 1” and “best” claims are based on different specific measures and should not be interpreted as a single overall ranking.
- 1More dedicated patrols than any other major UK breakdown provider. Sources: AA Annual Report & Accounts 2026 – c. 2,700 patrols. RAC Group (Holdings) Limited Annual Results 2025 – 1,700 patrols. Green Flag operates a combination of directly employed patrols and third-party garage and recovery networks; comparable figures are not publicly disclosed.
- 2More breakdowns attended than any other major UK breakdown provider. Sources: AA Annual Report & Accounts 2026 – 3.5 million annual breakdowns attended. RAC Group (Holdings) Limited Annual Results 2025 – 2.4 million annual breakdowns attended. Comparable breakdown attendance figures for Green Flag are not publicly disclosed.
- 3More personal members than any other major UK breakdown provider. Sources: AA Annual Report & Accounts 2026 – 3.3 million roadside paid personal members. RAC Group (Holdings) Limited Annual Results 2025 – 2.8 million consumer breakdown memberships. Green Flag does not publish directly comparable personal membership figures.
- 4The Brand and Market Tracker is a study conducted in partnership with Dynata, the world’s largest first-party data company. The results are based on responses by participants who self-identify which provider they are with. The survey is completed by 1,500 respondents every quarter, who identify themselves as UK-based drivers. Results reflect self-reported responses from a representative sample of UK drivers and should not be interpreted as total market share by customers or policies.
- 5Defaqto is an independent provider of financial product ratings based on its own research methodology.
- 6Trustpilot ratings are based on customer reviews submitted to the Trustpilot platform and aggregated into an overall TrustScore.
- 7Unlimited call-outs are subject to policy terms, conditions and exclusions. This includes limitations such as repeat call-outs for the same fault within 28 days not being covered, and cover being dependent on the level of breakdown cover purchased. Full details are available at AA breakdown membership terms and conditions – April 2025.
We'll get you back on the road
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