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RAC: Breakdown Cover reviews

1.41
Based on 160 reviews, last reviewed 11th Jun 2025
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Latest highest rating:

5

Excellent service from start to finish. Excellent service from start to finish. Logged my breakdown through the RAC app and was allocated assistance within 5 minutes. The patrol officer; Ma... Read more Reviewed on: 8th June 2025
Bob Desmond 's avatar
Bob Desmond

Latest lowest rating:

1

Terrible company, don't bother. Terrible company, pay almost £100 a year for essentially f*** all, had an awful experience with them and they wouldn't give me any compensation and on... Read more Reviewed on: 11th June 2025
Maggie 's avatar
Maggie

About this product

Like many drivers, breaking down is not something we want to think about! But when it happens, You'll be thankful that you're with a good breakdown cover provider. That's were our RAC breakdown cover reviews come in. You can read and write YOUR RAC Breakdown cover reviews. We started Smart Money People to help drivers like you to find the best breakdown cover based on our honest reviews. Together, we can make financial services work better for everyone.

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RAC Breakdown Cover reviews (160)

Appalling Service & Abnoxious Staff

1
Broke down almost 100 miles from home with failed breaks at 8:30 pm, initially reported my breakdown online only to be given a 270 minute wait for recovery. Rang to explain I was on my own almost 100 miles from home in the freezing cold and was then given a 90 minute waiting time. Waited 90 minutes no one came. Called again to be told even though it says 90 minutes it could be any time, what's the point of an eta with no arrival time. Was then told it was my fault for not explaining the situation correctly, even though my explanation had been consistent through all dialog. Waited till 2:30 am the next day in the freezing cold to be recovered and was told I would be taken to a garage of my choice close to home, I thought great may be home by 4:00am. Recovery truck driver dumps me at services half way home telling me someone will be there to take me the rest of the way home. Gets to the half way point and guess what, no other recovery there to take me home and now told its not possible to get a recovery until later in the day. Was then promised that I could get a taxi paid home and they would arrange for the car to be collected from the services if I left the key at services reception. Eventually got home at 7:00am the next day with car still 50 miles away. Rang again 2 hours later at 9:00am to be told there was no way I could get my car back today and I was lying that someone would even suggest that was possible. Rude, obnoxious, deceitful, lying and inconsiderate staff who just fob you off with complete nonsense. Had to get my car recovered back the last 50 miles privately at a cost of £235 to myself. RAC To the rescue LOL Reviewed on: 21st January 2023

Damaged my vehicle and denied all liability. Then proceeded to charge me for another year. Then charged my £25 to cancel. Disgusting way to treat customers.

1
Damaged my vehicle and denied all liability. Then proceeded to charge me for another year. Then charged my £25 to cancel. Disgusting way to treat customers. Reviewed on: 11th January 2023

Cannot deliver my car back

1
Called for a breakdown recovery on Saturday 17th December 2022 was told 4.5 hours. After 4 hours was told it will be quicker to get it towed home. At 17:30 a third party turned up to take it into storage for the night. Got a taxi home with the RAC saying my car would be delivered to my home Sunday 18th. It is now 20:00 and the RAC now say the return of the car has nothing to do with them and they do not know when it will be returned. Call the 3rd party they say not been instructed by the RAC to deliver my vehicle. Is this a type of theft? Absolutely disgraceful service even got told at one point it was my own fault for breaking down at such a busy period. Reviewed on: 19th December 2022

Disgusted

1
Been with RAC for years but never needed a call out, until today. Car wouldn’t start. RAC recorded message said that unless I was in unsafe situation I wouldn’t get a call out and said to report breakdown on another day instead!!!! This was a nationwide message. I rang an alternative recovery firm who attended within 30 mins. It cost me £50 which I’m annoyed about having to pay, but made me realise I needn’t pay RAC another penny. How can they sell me a service that they are unable to perform. I can’t even get a refund of my policy fees. Steer clear of this company Reviewed on: 19th December 2022

Warning - 45-hour wait!!!

1
It has been 42 hours since I broke down and they have not arrived, I called just now and they told me it will be another 3 hours, they have not even offered me compensation. I think there's no need to write any more, flabbergasted! Reviewed on: 19th December 2022

RAC is Rubbish team

1
RAC is Rubbish team, I reported the car broke down last night, and I went to work at 11 o'clock today, but no one responded. Would never use this lousy company. It is also a fraudulent company. I bought a free replacement battery and 4 tires. A few months ago, the car could not be started. The technician came and told me to start and run for 2 hours to keep charging. After a week, I paid for the battery installation. The tire puncture was the same result this time, and I paid for the tires myself. Please be careful with this rubbish service company. Reviewed on: 19th December 2022

Appalling service.

1
Absolutely shocking, 3rd-rate service. My daughter has only been driving for a few months - her car broke down on a cold, wet night at 1130pm. At 5am a local breakdown service eventually arrived, there being no RAC patrol available. The local operator hadn't even been requested until 3.30am, despite the RAC knowing my daughter was alone. Needless to say, we'll never pay for RAC cover again, and will spread the word as to the shocking level of service provided. Reviewed on: 19th December 2022

Appalling Service

1
Appalling Service My Complaint Initial call at around 14:00 went fine got an estimated time of around two 2hrs, I notified the call operator than this is a mobility vehicle and we have a disabled person on board and would need a wheelchair taxi to transport her home, I was told this gets arranged when the recovery arrives. I received a call around 15 minutes later asking were is the vehicle going to, to which I answered I don't know its a mobility vehicle and needs repairs as it is undrivable. Anticipating problems I called some taxi firms no wheelchair taxi's available. I then proceeded to arrange alternative transport as the weather conditions were freezing and light was failing.. At 16:00 I called RAC again asked for progress and was put on hold for around 2 minutes. The operator then said they were waiting for me to call them back with an address to where the vehicle will be taken, once again I said I don't know as it needs repairs,. At this point I was discussed as I was not told this in the initial call and follow up call (Please listen to you recording) the operation was rude and said I should know this. I was then told that the vehicle would not be recovered until I had a address to where the vehicle would be taken. (This is absolutely appalling as there was a disabled person in a wheelchair still in the vehicle in freezing conditions (this person is wheelchair bound has a swallowing disorder and needs specialized food and drink.. Your call operator would not listen and the alternatim stood if I don't give a address to where the vehicle will be taken no recovery. I said that they can take the vehicle to the owners home address and gave the operator the address. I then informed the operator that the vehicle was going to be left at this stage to which I got a rude reply that then he would close the job. At this point and before this point I was fed up with the operator's lack of knowledge or understanding and may have become somewhat agitated that this person would not listen and kept telling me to listen to him. I left the vehicle there and took the disabled person and her support staff (the driver) back to her home as all attempts to reason with your call handler had failed. I then complained RSA Motability and they then took the recovery further. I received a call from RAC at around 6pm letting me know that there was no RAC recovery vehicle and that this job had been outsourced. I was asked to return to the vehicle, I explained that this was not going to happen and once again explained the circumstance as to why we left the vehicle, this call operator seemed more understanding and said they would put a note on file. I then received a call around 9pm from the recovery company (who were professional and I cannot fault anything they spoke to me about) to get directions to the vehicle. RAC Response Thank you for taking the time to contact us. I'm xxxx and it's my job to look into your experience and let you know what happened. I understand you were unhappy with the attitude of our Breakdown Specialist on this occasion when you called during a breakdown on 13 December 2022. Whilst I'm sorry you've felt the need to raise concern, I can confirm my colleague was correct in their advice. RAC does not know where a vehicle needs to be taken and it is down to the customers to check with their insurance and let us know the tow destination. I apologise for any misunderstanding and I'm sorry you feel aggrieved by the situation. Our customer's satisfaction is of paramount importance to us and I'm very sorry you weren't happy with the way your call was handled. I'd like to thank you for contacting RAC and I assure you that in no way was any discourtesy intended towards you. Just so you know, I've passed on your feedback to the relevant team to make them aware. The RAC has been around for 125 years, and feedback from our members has always helped us improve our service. Thank you for taking the time to bring this to our attention. Yours sincerely Reviewed on: 15th December 2022

Do not use RAC

1
Rac so not come out. I told RAC my car had broken down roadside 3 days ago. They give a timeslot, don't come don't contact you. You call them and the same thing happens again and again. Cancel cover if you are with them because you are wasting your money. Reviewed on: 10th December 2022

Waste of time and money.

1
It's currently 1:33am and I've been waiting for recovery for 10.5hrs. Every time I've rang I get fobbed off by being told someone from dispatch will ring me yet here I am still stranded. I've had to pay out for a taxi to get my wife and my 6yr old son home and I'm now also going to lose a days wages as I'm going to miss work. Unhappy is an understatement. Reviewed on: 21st November 2022

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