AA breakdown cover reviews

The AA, or Automobile Association, was founded in 1905. It’s most famous for providing car breakdown cover to motorists across the UK and helps around 3.5 million people a year. We’ve looked at what level of service you can expect to receive with AA breakdown cover.

What types of policies are on offer?

The AA provides roadside assistance if your car breaks down as standard. It has its own unique recovery fleet and it’ll provide you a hire car or hotel if needed, depending on your level of cover.

You can choose from the following types of cover:

Single personal cover

This cover is just for you as a driver or passenger in any vehicle that you’re travelling in.

Joint personal cover

Breakdown cover for you and someone you live with, as drivers or passengers in any vehicle. This is generally cheaper than purchasing 2 separate policies.

Family personal cover

You can get this cover for you and up to 3 other people you live with, as drivers or passengers in any vehicle. You can add family members, a partner, housemates and children, even if they’re students living away from home during term time.

Vehicle cover

As the name suggests, this is cover for a single vehicle and it doesn’t matter who is driving. If you only have one vehicle and don’t use other vehicles, then this could be the right policy for you.

Add-ons

Once you’ve chosen who the cover is for and the vehicles covered, then you need to choose if you want any extra cover. The options are:

At Home

If you can’t start your vehicle or it breaks down within a quarter of a mile of your home, you’ll get breakdown recovery to a nearby garage. In general, your car is at home for a majority of the time and around a third of all breakdowns happen at home, so this is a no-brainer.

National Recovery

If you break down and your vehicle can’t be fixed at the side of the road, then The AA will take you, your vehicle and up to 7 passengers to any single UK destination. If you’re travelling with a car full of kids and far from home, this add-on could be really handy.

Onward Travel

If you break down and your journey is stopped because of the repairs required, then The AA will help you with overnight accommodation or alternative transport. This could be a replacement hire car or money towards public transport costs.

Parts and Garage Cover

You can get costs covered up to £535 if you need repairs or work done at a garage after calling The AA out for a breakdown.

Tyre Cover

You can get up to £160 per tyre if your tyres need to be repaired or replaced after a breakdown.

Commercial Use

You’ll need this add-on if you have a vehicle being used to carry equipment, people or goods in return for payment.

Key Cover

Don’t get caught out if something happens to your car keys or house keys. If either are lost, stolen, broken or you’re locked out, The AA will arrange a replacement key or locksmith.

Keys can cost upwards of £300 to replace. Key cover with The AA costs £3 a month and offers cover up to £2,500 with no excess.

What does The AA’s breakdown policy cover?

Breakdown cover with The AA will help you get back on the road if your car stops working. The level of cover you have will depend on your policy, but in general you’ll be covered for the following:

Roadside assistance

If you break down at the side of the road (or at home if you have home assist), then a patrol will come to help you. They’ll try to assess the damage and fix it if they can.

Minor mechanical fixes

A lot of breakdowns happen due to common issues that can be fixed relatively easily. These are things such as flat batteries, tyre punctures or electrical faults.

Towing and recovery

If your vehicle is unable to be repaired, you’ll be towed to a safe place, which will likely be a local garage.

Running out of fuel or charge

If you run out of fuel or charge with an electric car, you’ll be given enough to get you to a petrol station or charging point. If not, you’ll be towed there. Either way you’ll be able to get back on the road quickly.

Does The AA offer electric vehicle breakdown cover?

Yes, The AA offers breakdown cover for electric vehicles. This includes help if you run out of charge you’re having battery issues or system warnings.

The AA has High Voltage Awareness trained patrols that will be able to assist you in a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or battery electric vehicle.

Patrols should include portable chargers and if a repair is not possible, your vehicle will be recovered to a charging point, garage or destination, depending on the level of cover.

99% of The AA’s patrols, which is more than 2,500, are level 2 EV trained. These provide specialised roadside, home and national recovery services.

The AA’s Freewheeling Hub is a clever way for AA patrols to safely tow vehicles, such as electric vehicles and SUVs, which normally cannot be lifted and towed.

What sets The AA apart from other breakdown cover providers?

The AA includes Accident Assist as standard in its policies. Not all providers offer this. This means that if you have an accident, The AA will recover your vehicle, manage the insurance claim on your behalf (regardless of who you are insured with) and provide a hire car even if your own insurance policy doesn’t include one.

Breakdown cover providers don’t always offer unlimited callouts as standard, but The AA does (as long as it’s not a repeat fault). Other providers will cap callouts at 5 per year, so this is a real advantage.

The AA patrols have a unique multi-fit universal wheel. This can be used on almost any car, which allows you to drive somewhere to get your tyres replaced if you have a spare, rather than waiting for a truck to tow you there.

Freewheeling Hubs mean The AA stands out for EV drivers. Because most EVs can’t be towed with two wheels on the ground without causing damage to the motor, The AA has these hubs in their standard vans. They can be fitted to your car and tow you immediately with a normal patrol van.

Claims process

If you need assistance from the AA, you can call 0800 88 77 66 or use the AA app.

Customer reviews

The AA fared brilliantly in our 2026 customer satisfaction survey of breakdown service customers – coming first, with 92% of its customers saying they’d recommend the service to a friend. Most customers praised the “reliable” service and “felt in safe hands”, although not all felt the service had arrived quickly when they’d needed it.

One said: “They helped me quickly knowing I had children in the car.”

Another commented: “Always there – albeit rather slowly – when needed. The people who come out to save you are always amazing!”

The AA has received around 200,000 reviews on Trustpilot and has a score of 4.8 out of 5, which is classed as “Excellent” (last updated: April 2026).

Pros and cons

Our verdict

The AA is probably the most well-known car breakdown service in the UK, but there are a few providers that offer a more comprehensive service as standard.

Get started by visiting The AA’s website and sign up for a policy. If you have read this review and decided that The AA breakdown cover is not for you, you can also compare other breakdown cover policies on the market.

Frequently asked questions

• Can you pay monthly for AA membership?

  Yes, it’s possible to pay a monthly premium. If you pay monthly, you’ll pay more overall than paying annually.

• Can you join the AA when you're already broken down?

  Yes, you can. But if you’re a non-member and call for instant breakdown cover, you’ll join us as a member and will need to pay a surcharge to use the service. This makes a callout more expensive than if you were already a member.

• What is AA Home Start?

  This is breakdown cover within a quarter of a mile of your house.

• How long does it take for The AA to come out?

  The AA says its patrol will usually reach you in under an hour and aim to have you back on the road within about 30 minutes of their arrival.

• How far will The AA tow you?

  You’ll be towed to a nearby garage that can carry out the repairs you need. If you include National Recovery in your policy and The AA can’t fix your vehicle at the roadside, then you, your vehicle and up to 7 passengers will be taken to any single UK destination. That could be your home, your preferred garage for repairs or anywhere most convenient for you.

• How much does it cost to join The AA?

  The cost of cover will depend on your own circumstances. Policies are customisable though and you can opt for more premium cover.

  The AA said 10% of new AA customers paid £5.49 for monthly vehicle breakdown cover in a survey of new business sales from theAA.com between 1 January 2026 to 31 March 2026.

  It’s also possible to get breakdown cover through packaged bank accounts or from the dealer when you buy a car. Check if you already have an option before purchasing.

• Does The AA offer European driving protection

  Yes, you can purchase European breakdown cover with The AA. You’re able to buy single-trip or multi-trip policies.

  If you have a UK policy with The AA you might be able to get a discount on an annual policy.

  If you have breakdown cover through your packaged bank account then it might offer you European cover through The AA.

Written by

Jason Loewenthal

Senior writer

Jason is a writer and editor. He worked as a senior subeditor for Finder for 5 years and in that time became familiar with a wide range of financial products and services. Before that, he worked for Australian Associated Press. He has a BA from Macquarie University in Australia. Jason loves to help other people find new ways to save money. See full bio

Co-written by

Danny Butler

Publisher

Danny was a publisher at Finder specialising in insurance and investing. He previously worked at the global insurer Aon and has appeared in national media giving advice on insurance. Danny holds a BA in International Business from the University of Plymouth and has undying loyalty to his average-poor football team, Portsmouth FC. See full bio

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