MANY breakdown policies cost the price of a coffee each month, and in exchange, they cover the cost of calling out assistance if your car were to conk out.
For many policyholders, it also offers peace of mind.
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While household names like the AA and RAC dominate the market, numerous other providers offer excellent service at lower prices.
And if you’re already covered, auto-renewing your existing policy might not be the cheapest option.
Here’s everything you need to know about the best breakdown cover providers, along with a comparison of the best providers in the UK for 2025.
What is breakdown cover?
Breakdown cover is a form of insurance for your vehicle.
In the event it breaks down, it covers the cost of assistance.
This can include anything from a flat tyre to a complete engine failure that forces you to stop.
Typically, your insurer will send out a mechanic who will try and carry out repairs at the scene. If they can’t, then your vehicle will be towed to the nearest garage.
Most policies won’t cover the costs past this point, and if they do, there’s usually a limit in place.
Some also won’t pay out in some specific instances, like misfuelling.
According to the garages the Sun looked at, typical charges for a call-out to a quieter road were £85.
If you break down on the motorway, the police can charge a removal fee of £192.
Breakdown cover is particularly handy if you’re making any long journeys across the country or in Europe.
Without it, you’ll need to call a local garage, which may charge hefty fees for coming out to pick up your car.
What does breakdown cover include?
When comparing your options, your insurer might use broad terms like “roadside assistance” and “onward travel” within your terms. This is what some of these terms mean:
- Roadside assistance: Covers the cost of a mechanic who will service your vehicle if it breaks down at the side of the road.
- National recovery: If your vehicle can’t be repaired on the side of the road, then national recovery will pay for your vehicle to be towed to a garage. Depending on your policy, this can be to a local garage or one anywhere in the UK.
- Onward travel: Covers the cost of accommodation, car hire or public transport costs to allow you to complete your journey.
- Home cover: If your car breaks down at home or near your registered address, then this covers the cost of servicing your vehicle. It could come in handy if, for example, your car has a flat battery and won’t start at home.
Compare breakdown cover
There are multiple breakdown providers on the market, but not all offer great value for money. These are some of the best providers based on price, cover, and callout response times.
RAC
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Shop breakdown cover at RAC
Monthly price: From £5.49
Included as standard: Five call-outs a year, roadside assistance, recovery up to 10 miles
The RAC is a big provider of breakdown insurance, being one of the few that covers millions of customers.
Its basic policy isn’t as comprehensive as the AA — it only offers five callouts a year (as opposed to unlimited) and in the event it can’t fix your car, it will only take it to a garage in a 10-mile radius.
But if you’re after a premium package, then RAC Extra could prove to be decent value.
In addition to roadside assistance, unlimited call-outs, national recovery anywhere in the UK, and home cover, it also offers a vehicle health check similar to an MOT.
The RAC also offers an AA price promise: if your AA quote is cheaper for the same level of cover, the RAC will beat it by 20%.
DEAL ALERT
RAC is running an offer for Sun readers that nabs you a £30 gift card when you spend £99 on breakdown cover.
Simply sign up using this link, complete your purchase, and after a 90-day validation period, you’ll be rewarded with a gift card in your inbox.
You can select a gift card from retailers including Amazon, M&S and Tesco, or you can simply have it as a pre-paid Mastercard — perfect for treating yourself or someone else.
This offer ends on 31st October 2025.
- Get a £30 gift voucher when you spend £99 on RAC Breakdown Cover – here
The AA
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Shop breakdown cover at The AA
Monthly price: From £5.49
Included as standard: Unlimited call-outs, roadside assistance, at-home cover
The AA is one of the biggest breakdown providers around, with over 2,700 patrol cars across the UK.
Its breakdown packages come in three tiers, with the popular middle option providing all standard features and national recovery.
Its more expensive package offers all these options as well as onward travel.
AA customers also get access to Smart Benefits, a programme offering a range of discounts.
This includes up to over a third off your MoT test, up to 15% off airport parking, and further discounts for car hire abroad.
Green Flag
Shop breakdown cover at Green Flag
Monthly price: From £3.75
Included as standard: Unlimited call outs, roadside assistance, recovery
Green Flag, part of the Direct Line Group, offers five levels of cover.
For something more comprehensive, the Rescue Plus tier provides cover at home, onward travel, and reimbursement for garage collection costs.
New customers can also take advantage of Green Flag’s latest offer, which promises to be at least half the price of the RAC or AA.
If it is not, and you decide to use Green Flag, you can send both quotes to the insurer, and they will refund the difference.
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Start Rescue
Shop breakdown cover at Start Rescue
Monthly price: From £2.38
Included as standard: Unlimited call outs, roadside assistance, recovery up to 10 miles
Start Rescue is one of the cheapest providers of breakdown cover, offering a comprehensive service despite its low price.
It’s customer-favourite three-star package provides unlimited call-outs, home assist, and emergency overnight accommodation, among other perks.
It costs £39.76 a year, or £3.31 a month.
Britannia Rescue
Shop breakdown cover at Britannia Rescue
Monthly price: From £2.75
Included as standard: Unlimited call outs, roadside assistance, recovery up to 10 miles
Britannia Rescue’s most expensive package, UK and European Assist, costs £152 a year but comes with alternate transport and accommodation, same day breakdown recovery to anywhere in the UK, and cover for anyone driving the vehicle.
The other five star rated policy, UK Recovery & Home Assist, includes the same level of cover but doesn’t offer European breakdown insurance.
For those looking for something more affordable, Roadside Assist is its cheapest package at £33 a year, or £2.75 a month.
This just includes cover for anyone driving the vehicle, assistance for more than a quarter of a mile from your home and local recovery from 10 miles where you’ve broken down.
What are the different types of breakdown cover?
Breakdown cover normally comes in two types:
- Personal breakdown cover — Covers you as a driver or passenger in any vehicle. This might be preferable for someone who drives multiple cars a year
- Vehicle breakdown cover — Tied to a specific car, ensuring cover regardless of who’s driving. It’s a good option for families in shared vehicles
How much is breakdown cover?
Breakdown insurance varies in price as some policies offer more comprehensive policies while others offer cheaper, but often less detailed, coverage.
Basic policies can cost as little as £2 a month, while more comprehensive cover starts at £8 a month.
Is breakdown cover worth it?
With cover typically around £6 a month, you’re looking at paying about £72 for a year’s coverage. And according to quotes the Sun looked at, it usually costs around £200 to be towed off the motorway.
So, on a basic level, three years of paying the average premium should cover the cost of being towed off the motorway.
But this insurance is more complex. Policies that offer onward travel, cover in Europe, and home assist will be more expensive – but could be more valuable to certain drivers depending on where they drive and how frequently they break down.
Does breakdown cover include repairs?
Some breakdown policies will pay out a specified amount for repairs. Check your policy documents to see what you’re entitled to.
