RAC breakdown cover

The cost of breakdown cover varies depending on several factors.

The Basic cover for one vehicle is the cheapest option, starting from £6.95 per month.

However, the total cost depends on the level of cover you choose (Basic, Extra, or Complete), the type of cover (personal or vehicle), the number of vehicles or people you want to cover, and any additional add-ons you might need, such as Onward Travel, Key Replace, Battery Replace, or Tyre Replace.

If you’re looking to get a quote for breakdown cover, the simplest way is to do so online.

You can begin the process by clicking on the provided link, and it should only take a few minutes to complete. Alternatively, you can give us a call at 0330 159 1019 to get a quote over the phone.

If you experience a flat tyre, you can contact us for assistance under your breakdown cover. We will attempt to repair your tyre, install your spare tyre, or aid you in locating a replacement tyre.

Additionally, we offer an optional ‘Tyre Replace cover‘ that provides cover for up to five new tyres per year, each worth up to £150, in case your tyres get punctured or damaged.

It is possible to combine car insurance with breakdown cover. Certain car insurance providers offer the option to purchase breakdown cover as an additional feature.

It’s important to note that some providers may only offer basic breakdown cover, requiring you to pay extra to upgrade. Therefore, it’s recommended to check if breakdown cover is already included in your car insurance before making a purchase.

RAC Car Insurance and RAC Temporary Car Insurance are examples of providers that offer the option to add breakdown cover to their policies.

Roadside assistance is a category of breakdown cover, sometimes known as ‘roadside breakdown cover’. This kind of cover involves us coming to your aid if you experience a breakdown at the roadside, and towing your vehicle up to 10 miles if it can’t be repaired immediately.

There are other types or levels of cover available as well. At Home cover, for example, applies when you experience a breakdown on your driveway or within a 1/4 mile of your home. National Recovery, on the other hand, involves cover for long-distance towing beyond the 10-mile limit offered by basic roadside assistance.

It’s possible to transfer vehicle breakdown cover from one vehicle to another. This kind of cover is specific to a particular vehicle, and the transfer can be done at no cost either online via your MyRAC account or by contacting us by phone.

However, it’s important to note that personal breakdown cover, which provides cover for you regardless of the vehicle you’re in, cannot be transferred to another individual.

Using breakdown cover has no impact on your no-claims bonus because it is a distinct service from car insurance.

Breakdown cover is not typically included in car insurance policies as a standard feature.

Unless your car insurance policy includes breakdown cover as an optional extra, it’s a good idea to purchase a separate breakdown cover policy to ensure that you can receive assistance if your vehicle breaks down.

It is possible to get breakdown cover for vehicles of any age through the RAC. However, it’s worth noting that our battery replace cover is only available for cars less than 15 years old.

Yes, breakdown cover is well worth it.

Having breakdown cover means that if your car breaks down, you’ll have access to 24/7 roadside assistance to help you in your time of need.

Without this cover, getting help can be costly, and you may need to call upon a costly recovery firm that charges by the hour for their services.

Breakdown cover can therefore save you money, time, and stress in such situations.

Breakdown cover typically covers the cost of repairing your vehicle at the roadside, which can usually be done by our patrols for 4 out of 5 vehicles.

However, any expenses incurred for replacement parts, fuel, or batteries would be charged to you.

It’s essential to keep in mind that if your car requires additional repairs at a garage, your breakdown cover may not include the cost of such repairs.

Unlike insurance policies, most breakdown cover plans do not require you to pay any excess fees. Your membership typically entitles you to round-the-clock access to roadside assistance, with free fitting and labour for any repairs needed on site.

However, you may be responsible for paying the cost of any replacement parts used to repair your vehicle at the roadside. Choosing one of our breakdown cover extras, such as Tyre, Battery, or Key Replace, can help prevent any unforeseen expenses in such circumstances.

The RAC offers breakdown cover for vehicles of any age, including hybrids, electric cars, classic cars, motorbikes, campervans, and vans.

Your vehicle must be registered in the UK, weigh no more than 3.5 tonnes, be no longer than 6.4 meters, and have a width of no more than 2.5 meters (roughly the size and weight of a Ford Transit long wheelbase van). Motorcycles above 49cc (or 121cc in Europe) are also eligible.

For caravans and motorhomes, the RAC Arrival product provides roadside assistance and recovery services. Please visit our vehicle eligibility page for further information about which vehicles may be excluded from cover.

Your Roadside Assistance and At Home breakdown cover begin on the start date you select when purchasing, as long as your vehicle hasn’t already broken down.

If you opt for Extra or Complete cover, you also receive National Recovery, and you can choose to add Onward Travel, which both become active 24 hours after purchase.

Key Replace, Battery Replace, and Tyre Replace cover start 14 days following your breakdown cover’s start date.

If you have already experienced a breakdown, do not purchase breakdown cover online. Instead, please call 0330 159 8743 for assistance.

You have the option to pay monthly or upfront for the entire duration of your plan.

As part of your RAC membership, you will also have access to exclusive discounts on a range of car maintenance, travel, and leisure-related products and services.

This includes discounts such as 25% off airport parking, up to 51% off theme park tickets, and many more. To view all available RAC Rewards, please refer to the relevant section on our website.

If you use your vehicle for business purposes, you will need to obtain RAC Business Breakdown Cover instead.

We offer 12 or 24-month contracts for commercial cars, vans, taxis, minibuses, and other vehicles used for business purposes.

European cover is not included by default with your UK breakdown cover. However, we provide exceptional European breakdown cover options to ensure you are protected while travelling in Europe. You can add European Rescue to your existing policy or purchase European breakdown cover as a standalone policy.

Our European breakdown cover provides cover in a variety of European countries, including Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, and many others. If you choose to purchase European breakdown cover as a standalone policy, you can choose between a single-trip cover for a one-time journey or annual cover for multiple trips during the year.

If you experience a breakdown and have pets in your vehicle, we will provide assistance to you.

If we cannot repair the issue immediately, you may require recovery services. In such cases, pets may travel in the patrol or recovery vehicle, subject to the discretion of the patrol or recovery driver and their owners.

However, please note that this is entirely at the owner’s risk. Our patrols and recovery drivers have the right to decline to transport any animals in their cab.

We suggest informing us of any pets in your vehicle when you call us for assistance.

Yes. We cover cars of any age without imposing any age restrictions. However, our Battery Replace cover only applies to vehicles that are less than 15 years old and have covered no more than 150,000 miles.

In the event that we are unable to repair a punctured tyre, we will assist you in reaching a garage using our multi-fit wheel. However, the cost of a new tyre is not covered by the breakdown cover, and you would need to pay for it separately.

Nevertheless, if you have added Tyre Replace to your cover, you would be entitled to receive up to 5 new tyres annually, each worth up to £150 if they cannot be repaired after being punctured or damaged.

Yes, you may set your roadside and at-home cover to commence immediately upon signing up for RAC breakdown cover. However, if you have already experienced a breakdown and do not have cover, you cannot purchase breakdown cover at this point.

Instead, you can opt for our emergency cover by calling 0330 159 8743, and we will arrange emergency cover for you.

European breakdown cover is undoubtedly worth it as it offers protection against being stranded in the event of a breakdown while travelling abroad.

With the cover, we provide immediate roadside repair or assistance in finding a local garage if necessary.

However, without cover, you may face more significant difficulties finding help if your car breaks down while on holiday or business trips in Europe.

The level of European breakdown cover that is appropriate for you depends on how often you travel to Europe.

• If you make multiple trips throughout the year, an Annual Comprehensive or Comprehensive Plus cover may be ideal for you.
• if you plan to take one or two trips, consider the Single trip Comprehensive or Comprehensive Plus cover.

While European breakdown cover is not a legal requirement, it is still essential to have cover while driving abroad. Without it, getting help in the event of a breakdown can be costly and even more stressful, particularly if you are unfamiliar with the language.

By having European breakdown cover, you have access to an English-speaking individual available 24/7 to help you arrange everything. Additionally, depending on the type of cover selected, you may be eligible for partial or full cover for roadside assistance and garage labour costs.

At the RAC, we offer various flexible options that cater to different budget levels. Our cheapest level of cover is ‘Comprehensive,’ with eight days of European breakdown cover available for less than £6 per day†.

However, the cost of your cover will vary based on your car’s age and the length of your stay abroad.

It’s essential to note that single-trip cover is generally cheaper than annual cover as it only applies to one-time travel abroad. However, if you are a frequent traveller to Europe, an annual cover may offer better value for money.

Yes, we offer cover on both a single-trip basis and annually, making it possible to get one-off cover for a family holiday. At the RAC, we offer two different policies, allowing you to compare European breakdown cover between these two variations.

Our RAC Comprehensive Plus policy boasts a Defaqto 5-Star rating and includes unlimited emergency European roadside assistance and repair, as well as up to £1,000 for garage labour costs.

Yes, our European breakdown cover can assist in getting your car safely back to the UK, also known as repatriation, if needed. The cover level varies depending on the policy you select.

Comprehensive cover includes vehicle repatriation cover up to the insured vehicle’s market value, while Comprehensive Plus cover includes unlimited cover, provided that your vehicle is not beyond economic repair.

We offer European breakdown cover for all types of vehicles, regardless of age.

This includes cover for cars, minivans, campervans, light vans, and minibuses with no more than 17 seats, as well as caravan, motorhome, and motorcycle European breakdown cover (motorcycles 49cc and over), as long as they meet specific requirements.

To be eligible for cover, the vehicle you wish to cover must be a private vehicle (not a commercial vehicle) and permanently registered in the UK, Jersey, Guernsey, or the Isle of Man.

Additionally, the vehicle must not exceed the following size restrictions: no more than 7 meters long, 3 meters high, and 2.55 meters wide (including any carried load), with a maximum legal laden weight of 3,500 kg (3.5 tonnes), which is also known as the Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM).

If you require caravan or motorhome European breakdown cover exceeding the above limits, our RAC Arrival policy will be suitable for your needs.

No, your standard RAC Breakdown Cover policy does not cover you in Europe unless you have added European breakdown cover to your policy. Without the additional cover, your policy only provides cover within the UK.

If you are uncertain whether you have European breakdown cover or not, it is advisable to review your policy documents to ascertain precisely what is included in your cover.

European breakdown cover offers pre-departure cover in the UK for both Comprehensive and Comprehensive Plus policies, allowing you to get roadside assistance before your trip and even receive a hire car to get to Europe if required.

The cover level you choose determines what you’re covered for:

• Comprehensive: You’re eligible for roadside assistance in the UK up to 2 days before your departure date and a hire car for 6 days.
• Comprehensive Plus: You’re eligible for roadside assistance in the UK up to 7 days before your departure date and a hire car for 23 days.

If you experience a breakdown while travelling abroad and do not have European breakdown cover, we regret to inform you that we cannot assist you in getting back on the road. As a result, it is essential to arrange cover before leaving the UK.

In the absence of European breakdown cover, you will be responsible for making your arrangements, such as finding a reliable local recovery company to rescue you and a trustworthy garage to repair your vehicle. You will also be required to cover all of these expenses on your own.

Yes, with RAC Temporary Car Insurance, it is possible to get short-term insurance cover for trips lasting up to 30 days for cars, vans, and motorhomes.

Additionally, you can extend this cover to include driving in Europe, making it ideal if you are borrowing a vehicle or sharing the drive and require comprehensive cover.

You may select cover for a period ranging from one hour to 30 days, and cover takes effect almost immediately.

Whether or not your car insurance policy provides cover for driving in Europe is dependent on your insurance provider.

While some policies may include cover for several days of driving in Europe, it is critical to review your car insurance policy documents before beginning any journey to ensure that you have the appropriate cover in place.

You may also choose to purchase a comprehensive short-term insurance policy and add extra European cover.

You can customise your policy for up to 30 days of cover and purchase it online, providing you with nearly immediate driving cover.

RAC European Breakdown Cover is distinct from your UK membership, so you do not need to be an RAC member to acquire it.

However, if you are an RAC member, you may access all of your policy documents and European cover details via your usual MyRAC account or the MyRAC app.

While you do not require a green card to drive in Europe, you must have a valid UK driving licence and car insurance. Furthermore, certain countries have regulations concerning additional items that you must have with you.