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.<\/p>
The AA provides roadside assistance if your car breaks down<\/a> as standard. It has its own unique recovery fleet and it\u2019ll provide you a hire car or hotel if needed, depending on your level of cover.<\/p> You can choose from the following types of cover:<\/p> This cover is just for you as a driver or passenger in any vehicle that you\u2019re travelling in.<\/p> 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.<\/p> 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\u2019re students living away from home during term time.<\/p> As the name suggests, this is cover for a single vehicle and it doesn\u2019t matter who is driving. If you only have one vehicle and don\u2019t use other vehicles, then this could be the right policy for you.<\/p> Once you\u2019ve chosen who the cover is for and the vehicles covered, then you need to choose if you want any extra cover. The options are:<\/p> If you can\u2019t 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.<\/p> If you break down and your vehicle can\u2019t 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\u2019re travelling with a car full of kids and far from home, this add-on could be really handy.<\/p> 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.<\/p> You can get costs covered up to \u00a3535 if you need repairs or work done at a garage after calling The AA out for a breakdown. <\/p> You can get up to \u00a3160 per tyre if your tyres need to be repaired or replaced after a breakdown.<\/p> You\u2019ll need this add-on if you have a vehicle being used to carry equipment, people or goods in return for payment. <\/p> Don\u2019t get caught out if something happens to your car keys or house keys. If either are lost, stolen, broken or you\u2019re locked out, The AA will arrange a replacement key or locksmith. <\/p> Keys can cost upwards of \u00a3300 to replace. Key cover with The AA costs \u00a33 a month and offers cover up to \u00a32,500 with no excess.<\/p> 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\u2019ll be covered for the following:<\/p> 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\u2019ll try to assess the damage and fix it if they can. <\/p> 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. <\/p> If your vehicle is unable to be repaired, you\u2019ll be towed to a safe place, which will likely be a local garage.<\/p> If you run out of fuel or charge with an electric car, you\u2019ll be given enough to get you to a petrol station or charging point. If not, you\u2019ll be towed there. Either way you\u2019ll be able to get back on the road quickly.<\/p> Yes, The AA offers breakdown cover for electric vehicles<\/a>. This includes help if you run out of charge you\u2019re having battery issues or system warnings. <\/p> 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. <\/p> 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.<\/p> 99% of The AA\u2019s patrols<\/a>, which is more than 2,500, are level 2 EV trained. These provide specialised roadside, home and national recovery services. <\/p> The AA\u2019s 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.<\/p> 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.<\/p> Breakdown cover providers don\u2019t always offer unlimited callouts as standard, but The AA does (as long as it\u2019s not a repeat fault). Other providers will cap callouts at 5 per year, so this is a real advantage.<\/p> 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. <\/p> Freewheeling Hubs mean The AA stands out for EV drivers. Because most EVs can\u2019t 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.<\/p> If you need assistance from the AA, you can call 0800 88 77 66<\/strong> or use the AA app.<\/p> The AA fared brilliantly in our 2026 customer satisfaction survey<\/a> 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. <\/p> One said: “They helped me quickly knowing I had children in the car.”<\/p> Another commented: “Always there – albeit rather slowly – when needed. The people who come out to save you are always amazing!”<\/p> 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).<\/p> 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.<\/p> 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<\/a> on the market.<\/p>Single personal cover<\/h5>
Joint personal cover<\/h5>
Family personal cover<\/h5>
Vehicle cover<\/h5>
Add-ons<\/h4>
At Home<\/h5>
National Recovery<\/h5>
Onward Travel<\/h5>
Parts and Garage Cover<\/h5>
Tyre Cover<\/h5>
Commercial Use<\/h5>
Key Cover<\/h5>
What does The AA\u2019s breakdown policy cover?<\/h3>
Roadside assistance<\/h5>
Minor mechanical fixes<\/h5>
Towing and recovery<\/h5>
Running out of fuel or charge<\/h5>
Does The AA offer electric vehicle breakdown cover?<\/h3>
What sets The AA apart from other breakdown cover providers?<\/h3>
Claims process<\/h3>
Customer reviews<\/h3>
Pros and cons<\/h3>
Pros<\/h4>\n
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Cons<\/h4>\n
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Our verdict<\/h3>
Frequently asked questions<\/h3>
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