We’ve taken steps in response to coronavirus and we’re still here for you. 
We get to more motorists in 30 minutes than the other major breakdown providers1
More dedicated mobile mechanics than any other UK breakdown service2
Electric and hybrid vehicles covered at no extra cost
Breakdown cover
Bigger. Better. Faster.
We’ll get to you quicker than the other major breakdown providers, with cover starting from £6 a month.
Rated Great by our members on Trustpilot
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 vehicle3
- We cover vehicles of any age including cars, electric vehicles, vans, motorcycles, campervans and caravans4
- 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
NEW
Smart Breakdown Understand what your car’s really saying
Smart Breakdown
Introducing Smart Breakdown. Just plug in our device to find out what your car’s really saying.
- Helps spot problems before they become a real issue
- Helps us find what's wrong more easily
- Explains common faults and what to do about them
- Sends updates on your car’s health to your phone
Find out more about Smart Breakdown
Vehicle cover packages
Cover for 1 vehicle, whoever's driving it.
£12
for monthly cover
Unlimited call-outs
Call us out as many times as you need to, as long as it's not a recurring problem with your vehicle.
Roadside Assistance
24/7 cover for breakdowns over 1/4 mile from home. If we can't complete repairs at the roadside we'll take you and your vehicle to a nearby garage.
At Home
Brings cover to your doorstep and within 1/4 mile from home.
£18
for monthly cover
Unlimited call-outs
Call us out as many times as you need to, as long as it's not a recurring problem with your vehicle.
Roadside Assistance
24/7 cover for breakdowns over 1/4 mile from home. If we can't complete repairs at the roadside we'll take you and your vehicle to a nearby garage.
At Home
Brings cover to your doorstep and within 1/4 mile from home.
National Recovery
We'll take you, your vehicle and up to 7 passengers to any single UK destination if your vehicle can't be fixed.
Onward Travel
Car hire, overnight accommodation or costs towards public transport if we can't get your vehicle going again straight away.
What is breakdown cover?
With breakdown cover, you’ll get help from a trained mechanic if your car, van or motorcycle breaks down. Here’s how it works:
- As standard, if you break down over 1/4 mile from home a mechanic will try to fix your vehicle on the spot. If they can't, they'll take you to a garage. This cover is often called roadside assistance.
- You can also choose add-ons for your policy like cover at home, money towards garage repairs and hire car or travel costs.
- With personal cover, you can get help as a driver or passenger in any vehicle. Or you can choose to cover whoever’s behind the wheel with vehicle cover.
Without cover, it can be costly to get a repair or to be towed, so it’s usually simpler to get cover in advance. We’re on call 24/7, so you’ll have peace of mind that you’ll never be left stranded.
Want to know more? See how our cover works.
What our Members say
Reported breakdown on the appRead 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
Broken down now?
Don't buy online – call us 24/7 for instant cover: 0800 88 77 66
Don't buy online – call us 24/7 for instant cover: 0800 88 77 66
What is Car Breakdown Cover?
A breakdown cover policy covers you for roadside repairs if your vehicle breaks down while you’re out and about.
Most breakdown cover companies will offer roadside assistance as a minimum. This means a trained mechanic will come to fix your car if it breaks down on the road. If it can’t be fixed, it’ll be towed to a nearby garage.
Larger breakdown companies manage a fleet of vans and recovery trucks, with their own staff of expert mechanics. Smaller providers tend to use third-party garages and recovery operators to provide a breakdown service.
Some policies offer unlimited callouts a year, while others might limit the number of times you can call for help at the roadside.
Find out more on what to do if you break down
Why do I need breakdown cover?
Breakdown cover isn’t a legal requirement, but it does offer you support and protection if your car breaks down on the roadside.
Find out more on what to do if you break down
What happens if I break down without breakdown cover?
You can still call us to arrange cover and we'll come out to you – just call 0800 085 2721.
What are the different types of breakdown cover?
Our standard level of cover (Roadside Assistance) is available once you're more than ¼ mile away from home. We’ll help you any time of day or night in the UK, and if we can’t fix your vehicle by the roadside, we’ll tow you to a local garage for repair.
You can cover just your vehicle, or you can choose to cover yourself and up to 3 other people in any vehicle you’re travelling in:
Vehicle cover – cover for one single vehicle in your household, no matter who’s driving it. Great if you’re sharing a car with friends or family.
Personal cover – cover for you as a passenger or driver in any vehicle. Perfect if you own, borrow or regularly travel in more than one vehicle.
If you live with others who also need cover as a driver or passenger in any car, you can opt for a policy the covers them too. Choose cover for 2 people (joint policy for you and one other person), or family cover (you and up to 3 other people in your household).
If you add the following optional extras to your cover, we’ll also
- help you carry on your journey (Onward Travel)
- take you, your passengers and vehicle to any single UK destination (National Recovery)
- come to your doorstep (cover At Home), if you have trouble starting the car at home
- help towards expenses if your vehicle needs parts or garage work after we’ve tried to fix it at the roadside (Parts and Garage Cover).
We also offer European breakdown cover.
If you need help deciding on your level of cover, you can compare breakdown cover.
Why choose AA breakdown cover?
As the UK's largest breakdown company, we rescue someone every 11 seconds.
We get to most of our customers in under an hour – and we give priority to people in vulnerable situations.
We’ve got you covered if your car, motorbike or caravan breaks down and needs repairing by the roadside.
We’ll come to your rescue anywhere in the UK. Call us right away, or use our app to report your breakdown, pinpoint your location and track our arrival.
Our brilliant patrols get 8 out of 10 cars back on the road (that’s a 77.2% fix rate by one of our mechanics, average from July 2020 – June 2021).
If your vehicle needs extra work done, they’ll tow it to a nearby garage, as standard.
Our Roadside Assistance, National Recovery, At Home and Onward Travel bundle has been awarded a Defaqto 5-star rating.
Find out more on how our cover works
Can I pay monthly or annually for AA breakdown cover?
You can choose to pay annually by card or direct debit, or monthly by direct debit.
If you pay annually, you’ll pay up front for a fixed 12-month policy and the overall price for a year will be lower than 12 monthly payments. There’s no refund if you cancel after your 14-day cooling-off period though. Your policy will automatically renew each year unless it's cancelled.
If you pay monthly, your account will be debited every month until your policy is cancelled. This gives you the convenience of paying per month, together with the flexibility of being able to cancel your cover at any time. After the 14-day cooling-off period, you'll just need to give us 30 days' notice.
We only offer continuous payment options online. However, if you want to make a one-off payment for a year of cover, call us on 0800 085 2721.
When will my breakdown cover start?
Our breakdown cover will activate 24 hours after purchase. You can also to choose to buy cover that starts up to 2 months later.
Just so you know, you can’t buy cover online if you’ve already broken down. If you need to buy cover at the roadside, call us on 0800 88 77 66.
Does AA breakdown cover include accidents?
If you’re a Member with us, we can help you at the scene of a road traffic accident with our Accident Assist service.
Once we’ve had the all-clear from any emergency services, we’ll do our best to make repairs to your vehicle so it’s safe to drive away from the scene. If that’s not possible, we’ll tow it to a nearby garage.
Find out more on what to do if you’ve been in an accident
Does AA breakdown cover include repairs?
If we can’t get you going again, we’ll tow you to a nearby garage, where you'll need to cover the cost of any repair work.
If you add Parts and Garage Cover, we’ll help cover the costs of garage repairs, which might work out cheaper.
We can’t be called out for routine maintenance or running repairs.
What's AA membership?
Along with cheap breakdown cover, membership gives you extra perks such as restaurant deals and offers on car hire, added incentives the longer you're with us, and discounts on our other services.
Are there any restrictions on the vehicles the AA cover?
We’ll cover anything, as long as it's less than 3.5 tonnes (3,500kg) and no wider than 8ft 3in (2.55m). That’s including any caravans and trailers you’re towing.
This is to make sure our vehicles and equipment can recover your vehicle.
It doesn’t matter how old it is or the mileage. However, if they're used for work – such as taxis, limos or delivery vehicles – we can't offer the optional Parts and Garage Cover.
Is my pet covered if my car breaks down?
We do our best to welcome pets wherever possible. If we can't take your pet, we'll do what we can to help get them home.
We recommend you use suitable travel carriers for your pet or restraints that you can use on any vehicle – so we can take your pet where they need to go safely.
Find out more on what happens to your pets when you break down
Will family breakdown cover apply to students living away from home?
Yes – if you have drivers in your household living away from home at university or a temporary address in the UK, they're still covered.
Do you offer business breakdown cover?
Yes - if you use your vehicle for work, we can help. Whether you have one vehicle or a whole fleet, we've got you covered with business breakdown cover.
We cover cars, vans, minibuses, taxis and more specialist vehicles.
What do I do if my car breaks down?
Follow these four steps if you break down:
1 – Make sure you’re in a safe place. Move your vehicle off the road if possible, or pull up onto the hard shoulder if you’re on the motorway.
2 – Stay well away from moving traffic – it’s usually safest to get out of your car (using the doors facing away from passing traffic) and wait behind a barrier.
3 – Put your hazard warning lights on and wear a reflective jacket, if you have one.
4 – Once you’re safe, give us a call on 0800 88 77 66. We’ll come and rescue you, even if you’re not a Member yet.
If you’re already with us, you can also report a breakdown and pinpoint your location using our app. It's the fastest way to ask us for help and track our arrival.
Find out more on what to do if your car breaks down
What should I do if I buy a new vehicle?
You only need to let us know if you have vehicle cover. Tell us as soon as you can, so we can update your membership details – and check your new vehicle is eligible (Ts&Cs apply). Once you've updated us, you’ll be covered in 24 hours.
How do I register as a Blue Badge holder?
Call our free helpline on 0800 26 20 50.
If you need information in large print, audio or Braille, just ask – you can email our customer services team at [email protected], or let us know when you call our helpline.
If you’ve broken down, you can text us on:
07860 027 999
To use the Next Generation Texting Service (NGTS – formerly known as Text Relay), just add 18001 at the start of any of our numbers.
Policy documents
Our breakdown cover policy documents give you the terms and conditions of the contracts that make up AA Breakdown Membership and AA Parts and Garage Cover (AA Breakdown Repair Cover).
They are split into two parts:
- the policy
- the membership arrangement and administration contract
AA Breakdown Membership
The current version below applies to cover bought or renewed on or after 29 November 2021:
AA Breakdown Membership Terms and Conditions Booklet – November 2021
AA Parts and Garage Cover (AA Breakdown Repair Cover)
The current version below applies to cover bought or renewed on or after 29 November 2021:
AA Parts and Garage Cover Terms and Conditions Booklet – November 2021
Member Extras
This applies to cover bought on or after 29 November 2021:
Member Extras Terms and Conditions Booklet – November 2021
Good to know
1 What Car? Reliability Survey, November 2020
2 More mobile mechanics
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 mobile mechanics than anyone else. And they’re all absolutely lovely. The AA is the largest UK breakdown provider, with over 2,700 patrols compared to around 1,600 patrols for the second largest provider in the UK.
Source: AA Staff List (2,714, May 2021) and RAC website (1,600, May 2021).
3 Unlimited call-outs
Repeat call-outs for the same fault, within 28 days, will not be covered.
4 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.
About the price
Prices shown include insurance premiums payable to the insurer(s) and a fee payable under a separate contract between you and Automobile Association Insurance Services Limited (AAIS) for arranging and administering your cover. Please see the terms and conditions for more information.
AA Breakdown Cover is arranged by Automobile Association Insurance Services Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). You can check their register online. Registered office: Fanum House, Basing View, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 4EA. Registered in England and Wales number 2414212."
How do you use my data?
To find out how we use your data, please read our website privacy notice and our specific roadside product privacy notice.
For more information, there's also our cookie policy and website terms and conditions.
What does the Which? endorsement mean?
The AA has been the top rated Which? recommended provider for third-party breakdown for 2 years running and endorsed as a Which? recommended provider since 2018. The Which? recommended provider endorsement is only awarded to companies that score highly in their category and based on Which?’s assessment benchmarks, plus customer scores and star ratings gathered through their regular surveys.
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