Provider profile

RAC breakdown cover

The RAC began as the Royal Automobile Club in 1897 and is the oldest motoring organisation in the UK. The breakdown business has been separately owned since 1999 and competes head-on with the AA with its own patrol fleet.

By Breakdown Choices editorial team · Reviewed October 2026

How RAC cover is structured

The RAC's tiers are Roadside, Recovery, At Home and Onward Travel, available as vehicle cover or personal cover for an individual, a couple or a family. European cover is a separate product. The RAC also sells cover through many partner brands, so you may already have RAC-serviced cover via a bank, insurer or supermarket.

What stands out

  • Own patrols with a strong fix rate, plus a flatbed-capable contractor network for the jobs patrols cannot do.
  • EV capability. The RAC pioneered mobile EV charging units on patrol vans and its patrols are equipped for EV recovery without a flatbed in some cases, using a specialist trailer system.
  • Unlimited call-outs on its main policies, which matters for owners of older cars.
  • Battery replacement at the roadside, charged for the part.

Where it falls down

As with the AA, the new-customer price is competitive and the renewal price is not. Add-ons (key cover, tyre cover, misfuel, garage parts) push the total up quickly. Some customers report longer waits in busy periods when contractors are used.

Who it suits

EV owners, especially outside big cities, where the RAC's investment in EV recovery kit is a practical advantage. Households wanting personal cover for several drivers. Owners of older vehicles who want unlimited call-outs. Like the AA, it is not the budget option.