RAC car insurance

RAC car insurance review

RAC doesn't only offer breakdown cover - here's our analysis of car insurance from RAC to help you decide whether it has the policy for you.

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Millie Spark

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The RAC is best known for its breakdown service, but also offers several levels of car insurance to customers. Check out our guide to find out more about car insurance from RAC, like what’s included, how easy it is to claim and the pros and cons of the policy.

Who is the RAC?

RAC stands for the Royal Automobile Club. The UK-based company was set up in 1897 to provide a breakdown recovery service to those in need. Over the years, it has branched out to provide other services, such as car insurance, home insurance and travel insurance.

The RAC says it aims to provide customers with affordable, quality car insurance.

Who underwrites RAC’s car insurance?

RAC car insurance is administered by BISL Ltd. Policies are underwritten by a panel of insurers. For more information about the underwriters of your policy, please consult your policy schedule.

What are the RAC’s cover options?

The RAC offers three car insurance options. Below is a list of these policies and some of their features:

RAC Third Party cover

Third party is the minimum amount of car insurance that is legally required on UK roads. It covers damage caused to other people’s property or compensation in accidents that are deemed your fault.

RAC Third Party, Fire and Theft cover

Third party, fire and theft cover gives you slightly more protection than the basic third party cover.

If you are involved in an accident, the RAC will pay out to the third party. This cover also protects your car from damage caused by fire or theft.

However, it won’t pay out if your car is damaged in other ways such as a crash.

RAC Comprehensive cover

Comprehensive car insurance is one of the most extensive forms of cover you can get from the RAC.

It covers theft, fire and accidental damage to your own vehicle, as well as third party damage.

RAC’s Car Insurance Plus

This is the highest form of cover offered by the RAC. It has all the cover offered by Comprehensive cover with some added benefits such as lock replacement.

What type of car insurance is available?

  • Free motor legal protection cover up to £100,000 for the first 12 months of your policy.
  • Uninsured driver promise, meaning you won’t lose your no claims bonus if you are hit by an uninsured driver.
  • 5 star cover with RAC Car Insurance Plus policy.
A black box is a great way to save on your car insurance, especially if you’re a young driver.
  • No curfews – so you can drive where you want, when you want.
  • No mileage limits, or charges per mile.
  • No installation fees for the fitting of your black box – it will be fitted for free at a time and location that is convenient for you.
  • You will not lose your no claims bonus should you be hit by an uninsured driver.
More than once car in your household? The RAC’s multi-car insurance gives you the potential to save some money.
  • Separate no claims bonus policies for each car.
  • For every car you insure, you receive a 10% discount on your overall premium.
  • You can have a different renewal date for each car, or have them on the same date.
RAC short-term cover is ideal for those in need of immediate temporary car insurance. Check out some of the features below:
  • You can choose from 1 day to 28 days for your policy.
  • Cover begins as soon as you purchase your policy.
  • You can insure a wide variety of vehicles, such as cars, vans and motorhomes.
  • You can insure yourself on another car, or insure more drivers on your own vehicle.

What is covered under my policy?

RAC offers two levels of comprehensive car insurance. If you are responsible for causing an accident, you’ll be covered for damage to third party vehicles or property, as well as your own car.

Have a look at the table below to see what the two cover options from RAC offer.

Product NameRAC Third Party Fire and TheftRAC Standard Comprehensive
Damaged windscreen and window glass✓
Fire and theft✓✓
Personal belongings✓
Liabilities to third parties✓✓
Using the car abroad✓
Alternative travel costs✓
No claims discount✓
Replacement locks✓
Permanently fitted audio equipment✓

What is my excess?

An excess is the amount of money that you will have to contribute when you make a claim. The amount of your excess can change depending on variable factors such as your car and your driving experience.

Opting for a higher excess where possible could reduce the cost of your insurance premium.

If a claim is decided to not be at fault, it is possible for you to reclaim your excess payment from the third party involved.

Make sure you read through your policy schedule to find the full details concerning excess payments.

What is the claims process for the RAC?

If you find yourself needing to make a claim, you can call the RAC claims department on 0330 159 1062.

The hotline is in operation 24/7.

When making a claim, make sure that you have your claims number to hand as you will need it. You can find it in your policy information.

RAC car insurance customer reviews

On customer review platform Trustpilot, RAC has 4.2 out of 5 stars and a rating of “Great”, based on more than 59K reviews.

Things are not as bright on Reviews.io, where the company has 2.5 out of 5 stars, based on more than 860 reviews. Only 37% of customers say they would recommend the service.

Customers praise the good service, but some complained of extra charges and long wait times for assistance (updated December 2020).

Pros and cons of RAC car insurance

Pros

  • There is no excess to be paid for windscreen damage.
  • Uninsured driver’s promise – RAC offers protection against uninsured drivers – but only with the 5-star policy.

Cons

  • Not much information on third party car insurance.
  • Policy information is not easily accessible.

Verdict

The RAC website is not easy to navigate, but its policies offer decent benefits, including its third party, fire and theft policy.

The company’s comprehensive policy and the Plus policy both offer a good range of benefits, with lock replacement and windscreen cover included as standard. There is a guarantee on all approved repairs and an uninsured driver’s promise.

The offers compared on this page are chosen from a range of products we can track; we don't cover every product on the market...yet. Unless we've indicated otherwise, products are shown in no particular order or ranking. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations), aren't product ratings, although we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it; this is subject to our terms of use. When making a big financial decision, it's wise to consider getting independent financial advice, and always consider your own financial circumstances when comparing products so you get what's right for you. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables has the source: Moneyfacts Group PLC. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.
*Based on data provided by Consumer Intelligence Ltd, www.consumerintelligence.com (Mar ’24). 51% of car insurance customers could save £524.68

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