Breakdown cover

Our standard level of breakdown cover, Roadside Assistance, is available once you’re more than 1/4 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 eligible 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 eligible vehicle. Perfect if you own, borrow or regularly travel in more than one vehicle. Personal cover is our name for multi-car breakdown cover.

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 joint breakdown cover for you and one other person, or family cover for you and up to 3 other people in your household.

Optional extras

You can add the following optional extras to your breakdown cover:

• At Home – We’ll come to your doorstep if you have trouble starting the car at home
• National Recovery – We’ll take you, your vehicle and up to 7 passengers to a single UK destination
• Onward Travel – We’ll help with a replacement vehicle, one night’s accommodation or authorised public transport costs to a single UK destination
• Parts and Garage Cover – We’ll help towards expenses if your vehicle needs parts or garage work after we’ve tried to fix it at the roadside
• Tyre Cover – We’ll help with tyre repair or replacement bills after we’ve assisted you at the roadside
• Commercial Use – We’ll cover any eligible vehicle being used to carry equipment, people or goods in return for payment
• Key Cover – We’ll arrange a replacement key or locksmith if your car keys or house keys are lost, stolen or broken, or you’re locked out

We also offer European breakdown cover.

If you need help deciding on your level of cover, compare breakdown cover.

Here are some reasons to choose the AA for breakdown cover:

• We have more dedicated patrols than other major breakdown providers²

• We aim to get to you within 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 – use our app to report your breakdown, pinpoint your location and track our arrival
• If your vehicle needs extra work done, our patrols will tow it to a nearby garage
• Our Roadside Assistance, National Recovery, At Home and Onward Travel bundle has been awarded a Defaqto 5-star rating

See our breakdown claims

If you purchase breakdown cover with us 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 breakdown cover policy and the overall price for a year will be lower than 12 monthly payments. Please note that in some circumstances – such as promotions – annual payment may not be cheaper than 12 monthly payments. There’s no refund if you cancel after your 14-day cooling-off period. You can choose how your policy renews when you set up your cover and can opt out of autorenewal at any time if you change your mind.

We’ll use the payment details you provide to renew your cover automatically so that you’ll always be covered. Before the end of your first year, you’ll receive a renewal notice with the price of membership for your second year – so you’ll have plenty of time to change or cancel your cover

If you pay monthly

Your account will be debited every month until your breakdown cover 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.

Your payments may change at any point, but we’ll let you know at least 45 days in advance – giving you plenty of time to change or cancel your cover.

Our breakdown cover will activate 24 hours after purchase. You can also 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. You can buy instant breakdown cover at the roadside by giving us a call.

If you have breakdown cover with us, we may be able to help you at the scene of a road traffic accident with our Accident Assist service, subject to the circumstances and policy terms.

Once we’ve had the all-clear from any emergency services and you opt for Accident Assist to handle your claim, 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 recover your vehicle and tow it to a nearby garage.

Find out more on what to do if you’ve been in an accident

With Roadside Assistance, 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 eligible garage repairs.

If you add Tyre Cover, we’ll help with tyre repair or replacement bills.

We can’t be called out for routine maintenance or running repairs.

Along with 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.

Vehicles that are covered

Our breakdown cover includes most:

• Petrol/diesel/electric/hydrogen cars of any age (including classic cars)
• Motorbikes (including quads and trikes)
• Vans
• Motorhomes
• Minibuses
• Caravans and trailers on tow at the time of breakdown

If you have a vehicle-based policy, then the vehicle registered with The AA is covered for all drivers.

If you change your vehicle, please ensure that you update us promptly.

If you have a personal-based policy (single, joint, family) then a vehicle is covered only if the member is a driver or passenger in that vehicle when it breaks down. Assistance cannot be provided if drivers or passengers are abusive or uncooperative.

Weight and width restrictions

Your vehicle must be under 3.5 tonnes (3,500kg) and 8 foot 3 inches (2.55 metres) wide, excluding mirrors. The same maximum weight and width separately apply to any caravans or trailers you’re towing. Your vehicle must also be roadworthy, taxed and have an up-to-date MOT.

Please do not use breakdown cover for vehicles that are heavier than 3.5 tonnes or wider than 2.55 metres. Assistance cannot be provided for vehicles that have been vandalised or subject to malicious damage, as these are insured events usually covered by motor insurance.

Vehicles that are not covered

Our breakdown cover excludes vehicles that are:

• On trade plates
• Used to carry items or people for money – unless you include our Commercial Use product
• Non-motorised

Vehicles that can’t lawfully be used on a public highway are also excluded.

Yes – but you have to include our Commercial Use product to be covered. This includes, for example:

• Carrying items/people for money
• Delivery or collection of goods
• Transporting passengers
• Carrying equipment, tools or materials
• A combination of private/domestic and commercial purposes

If you call us out for a commercial vehicle and only have standard breakdown cover, we may not be able to help or may have to charge a service fee.

If you want to cover a fleet (three or more vehicles) you’ll need our business breakdown cover. If you want to cover a larger vehicle (3.5 tonnes or more or wider than 2.55 metres you’ll need to take out pay as you go cover.

No – this cover provides emergency assistance when a vehicle suffers a sudden or unexpected mechanical or electrical fault that prevents it from being driven or continuing a journey safely.

It does not cover cosmetic, non-emergency, self-induced faults or where we suspect third-party interference. Please do not try to use it as a replacement for routine servicing, maintenance, or repairs, or to cover faults caused by actions or omissions of the driver.

If you try to use this policy for a vehicle that has not been serviced or maintained appropriately, we may not be able to help or may have to charge a service fee.

Yes – this cover provides assistance for vehicles that are roadworthy and road-legal. It does not cover vehicles that are unsafe, unroadworthy, unlawful, overladen or being used improperly.

Throughout the life of the policy, please ensure that vehicles are serviced annually (or following manufacturers’ guidelines), are maintained in line with manufacturer guidelines, are in good condition and safe to be driven on the road. Please also ensure that vehicles are taxed, insured and have a valid MOT certificate.

If you try to use this policy for a vehicle that’s not roadworthy or road-legal, we will not be able to help you get back on the road.

No – assistance cannot be provided if we have attended your vehicle and you call us out for the same fault within 28 days, unless you can provide proof that a permanent repair has been completed by a garage. Please arrange for a permanent repair to be made following a temporary repair carried out by us.

Cover will not be provided for any known faults that existed before you purchased cover, so please do not try to claim for them. If you try to use this policy for a vehicle with a known fault or still has a temporary repair, we may not be able to help or may have to charge a service fee.

If we’re unable to fix your vehicle at the roadside and need to tow you and your passengers, we do our best to welcome domestic pets at our discretion. If we can’t take your pet, we’ll try 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 eligible vehicle – so we can take your pet where they need to go safely. We will transport assistance dogs unless it is not possible for health and safety reasons. We cannot transport horses or livestock.

Find out more on what happens to your pets when you break down

You can’t buy cover online if you’ve already broken down. You can buy instant breakdown cover at the roadside by giving us a call.

If you buy our breakdown cover online it will activate 24 hours after purchase. You can also choose to buy cover that starts up to 2 months later.

No, our breakdown cover can be paid for monthly or annually. Continuous members paying monthly can cancel their AA breakdown cover at any time by giving a minimum of 30 days’ notice – any payments due within the 30-day notice period would need to be paid.

Yes, breakdown cover includes flat tyres.

After you report a breakdown, a patrol will fit your spare or temporarily fix your tyre so you can drive safely. If that’s not possible, we’ll recover your vehicle to a garage. You’ll need to pay for the tyre repair or replacement yourself. We don’t provide new tyres or permanent tyre repairs at the roadside.

If you have Tyre Cover on your breakdown cover policy, we’ll reimburse you for up to £160 towards each tyre after your claim is approved.

You’ll get unlimited call-outs throughout the year. However, repeat call-outs for the same fault within 28 days will not be covered. The number of call-outs you make may affect future premiums.

If our patrol can't fix your vehicle at the roadside, we'll tow you to our choice of local repairer or a local destination of your choice, provided it’s no further.

The details you give us (postcode and date of birth), the number of people you cover and the options you add to your breakdown cover policy will change how much it costs. Get a breakdown cover quote to find out how much it’ll cost based on your needs.

Yes - if you have drivers in your household temporarily living away from home at university or a temporary address in the UK, they're still included in your family breakdown cover policy if they’re still registered to the member’s home address.

It can be cost-effective to have in the event of a breakdown. Not having cover can lead to expensive costs for roadside assistance and garage repairs. Additionally, having breakdown cover can give you peace of mind that you can get help in various situations (including being stranded in dangerous places such as motorways).

There’s no excess to pay with our standard Roadside Assistance. But if you need new parts or need repairs at a garage, you’ll have to pay for it yourself.

However, you can customise your policy by adding Parts and Garage Cover, which lets you claim up to £535 towards repairs each time you use it. You can claim up to 5 times a year, with just a £35 excess to pay each time.

Here’s how cover for replacement parts and garage labour works:

• It pays for many of the spare parts used in roadside repairs that normally include a charge
• It’ll pay towards work done in a garage after a breakdown, as long as the work is included in the policy

We have 2 options if you want to cover a vehicle for commercial purposes.

If you want to cover up to 2 vehicles, you can include Commercial Use in our standard breakdown policy.

If you want to cover a fleet (3 or more vehicles) you’ll need our business breakdown cover.

Call our free helpline on 0330 053 0460

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.

If you require any additional adjustments (e.g. documents in large print, audio or Braille) or you need us to tailor our service to your specific requirements in the event of a breakdown, call us on 0330 053 0460

Textphone users can prefix this number with 18001

If your current situation is affecting how you manage your finances and you require additional help or support, call us on 0330 053 0460

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 – we’ll come and rescue you. If you’re not already covered, additional charges apply if you need help immediately.

If you’re already with us, you can also report a breakdown and pinpoint your location using The AA 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

If you’ve got vehicle cover, change your vehicle details as soon as you can.

With single, joint or family personal cover, you’ll only need to change your vehicle details if you have Commercial Use or Parts and Garage Cover added to your policy.

It’s simple to change your vehicle details online, and we’ll check that your new vehicle is eligible (terms and conditions apply). Vehicle changes may be limited under the policy.

We’ll help with breakdowns that happen from 24 hours after you’ve updated us.

If you have Tyre Cover, you’ll only be able to claim for tyre repairs or replacements after the first 7 days.

If you have Parts and Garage Cover, you’ll only be able to claim for new faults that occur after the first 14 days.