AA vs RAC

Which is best, AA or RAC?

When deciding on breakdown cover, it’s important to do your research to work out the right provider and level of cover for you.

The AA is the biggest direct breakdown cover provider in the UK¹, followed by RAC. Below, we compare the breakdown cover options provided by the AA and RAC to help you decide which one is right for you.

We've got more expert patrols in more places, and we've also been rated the best breakdown service against all other major breakdown providers by UK drivers⁵ – so you can be confident you're getting reliable service when you choose us.

AA vs RAC breakdown cover

When you compare breakdown cover providers, it's worth considering the price and flexibility of cover, as well as reviews, accolades and recommendations. 

For example, the AA is the only major breakdown cover provider to be Which? Recommended in 2023 and for 6 years in a row.²

The table below provides a quick summary of some of the key differences between the AA and RAC.

Both the AA and RAC offer customers the option to upgrade their cover with different options allowing you to access more services and benefits. 

Get more details on how our breakdown products compare to RAC's below. 

What's included in AA breakdown cover compared to RAC? 

AA Roadside Assistance vs RAC

Use the table below to compare AA Roadside assistance vs RAC. 

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What types of breakdown cover does the AA offer? 

We know that price can be an important factor when you’re choosing your breakdown cover. That’s why we’ll always offer the most flexible and best value for money option we can. Just our standard, reliable Roadside Assistance. 

If you want more cover, you can always choose from our breakdown cover options. Different providers might give their additional options slightly different names, but ours include:

Generally, there are two types of breakdown cover available, personal cover and vehicle. Vehicle cover is the cheapest option, as it covers just one vehicle, no matter who's driving it. Personal cover, on the other hand, covers just you, but the cover applies to any vehicle you're travelling in (whether you're the driver or passenger).

Learn more about different types of cover in our breakdown cover guide.

Which? Recommended Breakdown Services Provider, 6 years running

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Which is best AA or RAC?

There are a few reasons we can call ourselves the best breakdown service provider in the UK:

• We have more members than any other provider

We have more customers than any other UK breakdown cover provider, including both customers who joined online and customers who called us to become a member.

• We have more dedicated patrols than any other UK provider

With more expert and dedicated patrols than our biggest competitor, we can cover more ground, attending and repairing more breakdowns than any other breakdown cover provider.

• Our Patrols are experts in their field

All of our new patrols must complete a robust induction programme, with technical skill and customer service at its core. But it doesn’t end there, we continually ensure that our patrols receive training to keep up with the latest developments in the automotive industry, along with ongoing competence and technical assessments. In a nutshell, they’re really good at what they do!

• We’re the UK’s most trusted breakdown cover brand

Compared to other breakdown cover providers, we’re consistently rated as the best service by UK drivers. This is backed up by the consumer experts at Which?, who’ve given us the accolade of being a Which? recommended breakdown service provider in 2023. This is the 6^th year running that we’ve received the accolade.

For more information on the claims above, visit theaa.com/best.

AA vs RAC response times for UK breakdown cover

We’re no slouches when it comes to breakdown repairs

Our expert patrols will usually get to you in less than an hour and get you back on the road within 30 minutes once they’ve arrived. We fix 4 out of 5 cars at the roadside, and we’re always at hand to help, come rain, hail or shine.

How much should you pay for breakdown cover?

We’re not here to tell you how much to pay for your breakdown cover, but we do offer different levels of cover to suit different circumstances. So, if you only have one vehicle, and it’s only you that drives it, our vehicle cover may be the best-value choice for you.

If you have more than one vehicle or you want to cover members of your family or household in other vehicles, our personal breakdown cover packages might be better for you – but they do cost more.

We don’t lump in any optional extras to our breakdown cover packages, unless you want them. Adding them in will raise the price, but give you more cover in more scenarios, so you’re in total control of how much you’ll pay.

What additional benefits do I get with an AA membership?

Once you become an AA member, you can enjoy the perks of our Smart Benefits, which include:

• Up to 15% off at over 1,000 UK pubs and restaurants
• Discounts on days out and family activities
• Further discounts on car hire, van hire, and vehicle checks
• The chance to win back the cost of your car insurance
• Member rates on MOTs, and much more

AA vs RAC European breakdown cover

Find a quick guide of what we offer for European breakdown cover compared to RAC below:

*RAC customers can only use both if they have "Extra" cover. With standard cover, RAC members can only choose one of the two.

Why choose the AA?

Wondering why you should choose The AA? Here’s why we’re the best breakdown cover provider:

• We’re a six-time Which? Recommended breakdown service provider, meaning we’ve been independently judged to be the best
• We’ve got more dedicated patrols than our biggest competitor
• We’ll give you unlimited call-outs for your vehicle, as long as it’s not a repeat call-out for the same fault within 28 days
• We like to be speedy! Our patrols will usually get to you in less than an hour and get you back on the road in around 30 minutes of arrival

Verify the above at theAA.com/Best.

We're the UK's biggest breakdown cover provider, with more expert patrols than anyone else

When you choose us, you’ll be joining millions of other customers who trust us in an emergency on the roadside. 

We've been consistently rated the best major breakdown service provider by UK drivers – against all other major breakdown providers – according to the Brand and Market Tracker study⁵ from September 2021 to September 2023. Plus, a recent report showed consumers rated the AA as the most trusted and recommended brand out of the ones included in the survey.⁶

On Trustpilot, 70% of our customers gave us an “Excellent” rating after we helped them with a breakdown.

The AA is the biggest direct breakdown service provider in the UK. That means more customers directly choose us as their breakdown cover provider than any other major breakdown provider¹. 

We also have more expert patrols than any other UK breakdown provider, and they've all received training in EVs.⁴ So whether you drive a petrol, diesel, hybrid or electric, we can help if you break down. 

Plus, our patrols will typically get to you in less than an hour and can usually get you back on the road within 30 minutes of arrival.⁷

Which? Recommended Breakdown Services Provider 2023

We're the only major breakdown cover provider to be a Which? Recommended Provider in 2023 and for 6 years in a row. Which? also rated our expert patrols' knowledge and courtesy as 5-stars.⁸

You’ll also be choosing a provider with a Defaqto 5 star rating.⁹

Learn how Green Flag breakdown cover compares to the AA.

Can I use the AA online or on my mobile?

Yes - you can access your account online or through an app on your phone. With our app, you can:

• Use tap and track to send us your exact location and request a mechanic when you break down.
• See a map of nearby petrol stations, garages and parking.
• Get reminders about your tax, service and MOT.

You can also report a breakdown online to send us your exact location and track your mechanic’s progress.

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