How does breakdown cover work?
When you buy breakdown cover from us, you’ll have immediate 24/7 cover for roadside assistance. You can also to choose to buy cover that starts up to 2 months later.
If your car breaks down , 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.
And there are several extras you can add on to make sure your cover suits your needs and budget:
National Recovery – if you and your passengers need to be taken home
At Home – we come to you if your car breaks down within 1/4 of a mile of home. And we’ll arrange a time that’s best for you.
Onward Travel – we’ll get you and up to 7 passengers where you need to be, up to 3 times a year, with:
- 72 hours' car hire to get you where you want to go
- Or, an overnight stay in a hotel
- Or, money towards public transport costs to help you finish your journey
Parts and Garage Cover – if your vehicle needs parts or garage work, we’ll be there to help out with your repair bills, so you can:
- Claim up to £500, including VAT (with a £35 excess) towards expenses if your vehicle needs parts or garage work after we’ve tried to fix it at the roadside
- Make up to 5 claims a year (6, if you cover more than 1 vehicle on a joint or family policy)
- Cover up to 4 vehicles on 1 policy
If you opt for National Recovery, At Home or Onward Travel, you’ll be able to use them 24 hours after you buy. And, if you add Parts and Garage Cover, you can get help with repair bills for breakdowns that happen after the first 14 days of your cover.
If you just want to cover the basics, you may prefer our cheapest no-frills cover . Basic breakdown cover gives you 24/7 cover at the roadside, with a tow to a nearby garage if you need it. It’s limited to 1 callout a year, and you can’t add any extras to it.
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. Repeat call-outs for the same fault will not be covered.
Does breakdown cover include repairs?
Our mechanics will do everything they can to get you back on the road. And our cover includes up to £5 worth of parts for roadside 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.
Does breakdown cover include accidents?
If you’re a Member with us, we can help you at the scene of a road traffic accident.
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.
If you’re not at fault, we can also refer you to our partner Claimfast for vehicle repair and car hire, and introduce you to our personal injury solicitors. We’ll also be on hand for post-accident support and advice.
Our Accident Response services aren’t available to Basic Breakdown Cover customers or anyone else who’s not a Member with us. If you’re not a Member, you’ll need to call your insurer for help.
Find out more on what to do if you’ve been in an accident.
What do I do if my car breaks down?
First of all, 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.
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.
Put your hazard warning lights on and wear a reflective jacket, if you have one.
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.
Do I have breakdown cover?
You may already have courtesy cover through your bank account or car manufacturer – if you’re not sure, it’s always best to check before buying cover.
What's AA membership?
You're a Member if you hold any level of UK breakdown cover with us, except Basic 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 you cover?
We’ll cover anything, as long as it's less than 3.5 tonnes (3,500kg) and no wider than 7ft 6in (2.3m). That’s including any caravans and trailers you’re towing.
This is to make sure our vehicles and equipment can recover your vehicle, if necessary.
It doesn’t matter how old it is or 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.
Will family cover still apply to students 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.
Will my UK cover work in the Republic of Ireland?
No, not under UK membership. However, our partners at AA Ireland will help you with the same level of service (apart from Parts and Garage Cover), if your car breaks down there.
If you'd like additional cover while travelling to the Republic of Ireland, our European breakdown cover offers emergency travel and accommodation costs, legal protection and more.
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.
I'm a Blue Badge holder – how can I register my needs and get more information?
Our Disability Helpline is free to Members and provides information about helping you drive in the UK and overseas. You can register your special requirements, which will help us tailor our breakdown services to you.
For instance, if you're a wheelchair user and hold breakdown cover with National Recovery, you might need our Onward Mobility Network of accessible vehicles, so you'll be able to travel in comfort and safety if we're taking your vehicle home.
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 customer.services@theaa.com, 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.
Broken down?
