national recovery

Recovery to anywhere in the UK

If you break down, we’ll take your vehicle and passengers where you need to go

National Recovery in the UK

Breaking down a long way from home can be expensive. But with National Recovery (also known as Relay), you’re covered nationwide.

  • If you break down and we can't fix your vehicle at the roadside, we'll help you finish your journey.
  • We'll tow you, your vehicle and up to 7 passengers wherever you need to go.
  • Choose any single UK mainland destination, like back home or to the start or end of your journey.
  • We’re ready to rescue you 24 hours a day, 365 days a year so you’ll never be left stranded.

    There's no limit to how many times you can use National Recovery. Call us out as many times as you need to, as long as it's not a recurring problem with your vehicle.

How can I buy National Recovery?

If you're new to the AA, you can add National Recovery to your cover when you buy online. If you already have AA cover, get a quote and update your policy on 0343 316 4444.

What is National Recovery?

National Recovery is an add-on to our breakdown cover which comes with extra benefits. It helps you to finish your journey if you break down on your way to somewhere.

    • With our standard roadside assistance, we’ll tow your vehicle to the nearest garage for repairs if we can’t fix it at the roadside.
    • When you add National Recovery, we’ll still try to fix your vehicle at the roadside. If we can't, we’ll help you finish your journey.
    • Our National Recovery service will tow your vehicle or use a flat-bed recovery truck to take you to any single UK mainland destination.

    National Recovery breakdown cover is also sometimes called Relay.

Exclam 800black 3 Broken down?

Member or not, we can help. Call 24/7 on 03330 046 046

Member or not, we can help. Call us 24/7 on 03330 046 046

Call now

When can I use National Recovery?
Buy today, ready tomorrow – it’s as simple as that. National Recovery activates 24 hours after you buy. Once activated, you'll be able to get help 24/7.
How often can I use National Recovery?

When you buy AA breakdown cover you get unlimited call outs. That means you can call us out to a breakdown as many times as you need to each year, as long as it’s not a recurring problem with your vehicle.

If you add National Recovery to your breakdown cover, there’s no limit to how many times we’ll rescue you, either with a tow or a flat-bed recovery truck.

Is National Recovery different to Onward Travel?

Yes. National Recovery and Onward Travel are different add-ons which you can add to your breakdown cover.


  • National Recovery means we’ll tow your vehicle and its passengers to any single UK mainland destination of your choice if you break down.
  • Onward Travel means we’ll arrange car hire, public transport or a hotel room if you break down and we can’t repair your vehicle right away.

You can add both to your breakdown cover when you build your package. For help choosing, here's how to compare breakdown cover.

Find out more about Onward Travel.

Is National Recovery different to Roadside Assistance?

Our standard breakdown cover includes nationwide Roadside Assistance. That means we’ll come to your rescue if you break down, as long as you're more than 1/4 mile from home. But if we can’t fix your car at the roadside, we’ll tow it to the nearest garage for repairs.

With National Recovery, if we can’t fix your vehicle, we’ll tow or recover you on a flat-bed truck to any single destination of your choice. It just needs to be on the mainland UK. National Recovery gives you all the benefits of Roadside Assistance as well as helping you to finish your journey.

What is AA Relay?
National Recovery used to be called Relay, so the services are the same. They both mean that we’ll tow you to any single UK mainland destination of your choice if you break down and your vehicle can’t be repaired.
New to the AA?

0330 053 1100

Buy breakdown cover online today, or give us a call.

We're open 8am to 7pm, Monday to Friday; 9am to 5pm, Saturday.

Call now

Already with us?

0343 316 4444

Call us now to get a quote and update your policy.

We're open 8am to 7pm, Monday to Friday; 9am to 5pm, Saturday.

Call now