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.
Key points | The AA | RAC |
---|---|---|
Unlimited call-outs at all levels of cover3 |
✓ Yes |
✗ No |
Number of patrols4 |
c. 2,800 – And all of our patrols receive EV training every 5 years |
1,600 |
Which? Recommended Breakdown Services Provider 2023 |
✓ Yes – Which? Recommended in 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018 |
✗ No |
Trustpilot score |
4.5 |
3.9 |
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.
In this article
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.
Features | The AA | RAC |
---|---|---|
Breakdown assistance at the roadside |
✓ Yes |
✓ Yes |
Unlimited call-outs | ✓ Yes |
✗ No – Only with Complete cover |
Cover for any age of vehicle | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Tow to a nearby garage | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Free small replacement parts |
✓ Yes – Up to £5 of replacement parts |
✗ No |
Member discounts |
✓ Yes – Discounts on restaurants, car care, days out and travel |
✓ Yes – Discounts on car care, days out and travel |
Accident assistance |
✓ Yes – Recovery of your car, and support through the insurance claim, including a hire car. Learn more about our Accident Assist service. |
✓ Yes – Recovery of your car, and support through the insurance claim, including a hire car |
Free advice on garage or repair bills | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
Get 24/7 cover from the UK's largest fleet of patrols.
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
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 6th 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:
Key points | The AA | RAC |
---|---|---|
No. of repairers |
60,000+ |
- |
24/7 English speaking helpline? |
✓Yes |
✓Yes |
5-star rated by Defaqto? |
✓Yes |
✓Yes |
Discount on European breakdown cover for current AA/RAC members? |
✓Yes (10%) |
✗No |
Recovery of your vehicle back to the UK? | ✓Yes | ✓Yes |
Alternative accommodation and travel arrangements? | ✓Yes | ✓Yes* |
Money towards legal costs? | ✓Yes | ✓Yes |
*RAC customers can only use both if they have "Extra" cover. With standard cover, RAC members can only choose one of the two.