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RAC: Breakdown cover reviews

Name: Breakdown cover
Rating: 1.71 (182 reviews)

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1.45

Based on 182 reviews, last reviewed 19th Dec 2025

100% decrease in 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

11% increase in 1 star reviews

in the past 90 days

13%

79%

Latest highest rating:

5

Reliable and cheaper I have not had to use RAC this year but I have in the past and they came in a reasonable time. They are cheaper than the AA . I onl... Read more Reviewed on: 12th September 2025

Latest lowest rating:

1

would never use again! would never use again!!! full service booked on my driveway, Technician spent most of the 1hr 15mins total time either on the phone or sat in his van... Read more Reviewed on: 19th December 2025

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About this product

RAC breakdown cover is available in three levels – Basic, Standard and Extra.

RAC claim to get to most breakdowns in 60 mins or less and say that patrols fix 4/5 breakdowns on the spot. In the myRAC app you can get savings on fuel and tyres. Options are available for vehicle cover, personal cover and family cover.

RAC breakdown cover reviews help you find out what it’s really like to be a customer. If you’ve used RAC before, you can also leave a review and share your experience.

RAC Breakdown cover reviews (182)

Review of the RAC, Breakdown cover:

Absolutely positively horrific

AVOID THIS USELESS COMPANY AVOID THIS USELESS COMPANY So I broke down on my way home from Scotland on Thursday 16/03/23 at 07:40, 08.03 - first contact with RAC, the usual speal, we will get you recovered ASAP likely to be up to 3 hours. Not haply but oh well so be it 08.34 - second contact, RAC contacted me to tell me that beciase it's going to take so long for recovery we are sending you a hire car as soon as enterprise opens. I thought wow great service thanks. ALL DOWN HILL FROM HERE IM AFRAID. 11.12 - contacted RAC for an update as still no hire car and we were coming close to the original 3 hour window I was given only to be told that my case is with a specialist department and they do not accept calls, she couldn't tell me anything else, but she assured me someone would be in touch with me very shortly. 11.54 - I contacted all the local enterprise car hire centres local to where I was to see if amything had been booked for myself or the RAC and they had not heard anything. 12.00 - contacted RAC again to ask them what is going on with the hire car or recover as we are now passed the 3 hour time frame I was originally given and to mention that none of the enterprise in the area had a booking for me, I was told they sometimes use other hire company's, so I continued to wait. 12.46 - I recieve a text message saying my taxi has been booked, call this number for taxi related updates to which I called and got through to a complete different company that told me that the taxi will be taking be to dumfries (back to scotland) I said why, she said she didn't know, the pick up location was also wrong. 13.47 - I got a phone call of a taxi driver saying he has arrived for me, I contacted RAC again got passed through to 4 different departments and finally found out the taxi is taking me to enterprise in dumfries, 40+ miles away, not the one in Carlisle which is 7 miles away. They told me to leave the van and leave the keys in the petrol station with a cashier they will collect the van later. So on 18/03 we contacted RAC to find out where our van is, they told us they don't know and can't tell us amything as its with a specialist department and they don't have a phone number but here's an email adress. We are now on 22/03 and we have been contacted by the police to say that one of our vans has been dumped at Carlisle todhills rest area, yes almost 1 week on and it's still in the same place!!! REDICULOUS!!! SAVE YOUR MONEY THEY ARE THE CHEAPEST FOR A REASON!!! Reviewed on: 22nd March 2023

10 hour wait to be towed. A disgrace.

I have never had worse customer service. My car broke down at 7.30pm. After leaving me, a solo female traveller, alone for 5 hours, without access to a bathroom or sanitation, they then said they don’t have enough tow trucks and the earliest my car could be collected would be 5am. I had to leave my car key with the local petrol station, and make my own onward journey. My car only arrived at its designated destination two days later. When I found the RAC and asked where my car was during this time, they were unable to tell me. They said it was with a trusted provider and was either in Milton Keynes or Northampton. To this day, they still are unable to tell me where they stored my car. Their customer service team ignored my messages, and then said they would uphold the complaint but offer no compensation. I found the whole process insulting and if I could give them zero stars, I would. I would be embarrassed to work for this company. Reviewed on: 28th September 2025

Reliable and cheaper

I have not had to use RAC this year but I have in the past and they came in a reasonable time. They are cheaper than the AA . I only have the basic breakdown . Reviewed on: 12th September 2025

AVOID THE RAC AT ALL COSTS

2 of my workers were 1hr45mins when brokedown. from home. rang 3pm told recovery truck by 7pm . 7.30pm told no truck available . 8pm can send uber to take home and van taken to storage , or various stops and truck changeovers (4-5) to get home upto 7-8 hrs . Lads took uber , van taken 16miles away to store . Can't get it back for 3-5 days . I decide to sort collection myself at my expense . OMG try contacting them rediculous . When you do they say they will ring back . You'll be lucky . 5 hrs trying everything to get it back . always held up by RAC . Apparently if i take the vehicle i then have to pay the storage fee as i officially cancelled the job. I can get a truck to pick up my van and have a garage locally to me to fix it . Van could be back on the road by Thursday night . Broke down Tuesday afternoon . With RAC its gonna be 7 days or more . AVOID RAC AT ALL COSTS Nearly all the garages i spoke to in the story say they are awful . Most say go GREEN FLAG . Which i will . Reviewed on: 11th September 2025

SCAM Company BEWARE

Paid 1499 for a full history report. This scam company only provided a little bit of that report. Couldn’t provide a full MOT history check. Missed out on other checks as well. I complained and asked for a refund which they said didn’t you read the terms and conditions. Constantly having technical issues. Customer service agents talking slang. Reviewed on: 10th September 2025

Rescued at Watford Gap

I broke down yesterday at Watford Gap Services northbound (reg YT10***), and although I didn’t catch the name of the patrolman who rescued me, I feel it’s important to highlight what an absolute CREDIT he is to RAC. As a young woman, 60 miles from home at midnight, I was extremely nervous. The moment he arrived, I felt completely safe and reassured. He quickly identified the problem, explained all my options clearly, and genuinely went out of his way to provide the best service possible. Even though he was nearly at the end of his shift, rather than leave me waiting potentially hours for another recovery, he stayed on and towed me all the way back to Nottingham. His kindness didn’t stop there, when we arrived and I was cold and exhausted, he insisted I go inside while he parked the car on my driveway and posted the keys through the letterbox. He turned what began as a stressful and daunting experience into something positive. Such a lovely young man who clearly takes pride in his job. I am sending an abundance of gratitude his way. RAC are very lucky to have him on their team. Reviewed on: 9th September 2025

Good number of patrols and good mechanics.

Good number of patrols and good mechanics. All for a great price Reviewed on: 5th September 2025

Disappointing Experience with RAC Breakdown Cover

I’ve been very disappointed with RAC Breakdown Cover and want to share my honest experience so others can make an informed decision. First breakdown: I called RAC for roadside assistance. The patrol arrived, ran a quick check, and only reset the engine management light. He pointed out a few possible faults and then left without fixing the car. I later discovered the real problem myself – a loose fuel filter hose leaking diesel. I tightened the screw, and the car was fine. This made me question what I’m paying for. Second breakdown: About a month later, I contacted RAC for a different car. They refused to help, saying the car wasn’t taxed. I emailed DVLA proof, but still received no assistance. When I complained, the staff were rude and even hung up on me. I was told a manager would call me back, but that never happened. Finally, I decided to cancel. RAC wanted to charge £47 to cancel, despite the poor service. Eventually, after speaking with a manager, they agreed to cancel but will still charge me for another month. Overall, poor roadside assistance, unhelpful customer service, and unfair cancellation charges. I won’t be renewing. Reviewed on: 28th August 2025

Was left stranded in a remote area by the RAC for ov...

Was left stranded in a remote area by the RAC for over 7 hours in the dark with my two children who are both autistic. Paid for a recovery van that could pick the three of us up, but in their infinite wisdom, sent a truck 6 hours later, that could only transport one person. A complete farce, was left with almost no food or water, no duty of care whatsoever. Disgusting treatment, will never use again. Reviewed on: 23rd August 2025

10 days to diagnose an alternator fault!!!!

On 8 August, my campervan broke down on a French motorway. Frustrating? Sure. But what followed was worse. Within 20 minutes I’d called RAC. Within 2 hours we were at a depot. Within minutes I’d worked out the problem myself (alternator not charging the battery). And then… nothing. No diagnostics. No hire car. No onward plan. Just days of chasing calls, broken promises, and being told to “wait until Monday.” We ended up booking our own hotel late at night, paying for taxis, then abandoning the van altogether to fly back — leaving all our belongings locked inside. Ten days later, the van still hadn’t even been moved to a garage. The lesson? When you buy breakdown cover, you’re not buying a tow truck. You’re buying peace of mind. You’re buying someone to take ownership when you can’t. And that’s exactly what we didn’t get. What made me angriest wasn’t the van breaking down. It was the breakdown in service. Don’t tell customers what you can’t do — tell them what you will do. Don’t make them chase you for updates — give them clarity. Don’t hide behind “partners” — take responsibility. A van can be fixed. Trust, once lost, is much harder to repair. Reviewed on: 20th August 2025

** 1/10 Absolute Disgrace Years of Loyalty, Zer...

** 1/10 Absolute Disgrace – Years of Loyalty, Zero Support in My Hour of Need** After being a loyal RAC customer for years, I finally needed their **Premier Rescue cover** when my car broke down on the M5 with my wife and 1-year-old baby—only to be met with incompetence, heartless bureaucracy, and outright lies. The mechanic **guessed** (without diagnosis) that I’d "overfilled the oil," towed my car to a garage that couldn’t inspect it for days, and left me stranded. Despite paying for **full onward travel cover (3 days)**, RAC **deliberately made it impossible**—forcing me to beg for **one-day extensions** before a shockingly rude agent ("Karen") abruptly cut me off, falsely claiming I "caused the damage myself" (my garage STILL hasn’t confirmed the issue!). This left me **car-less for critical trips**—missing work, cancelling my elderly parents’ airport ride, and abandoning weekend plans. Even Enterprise admitted they’ve **"heard this story before"** with RAC screwing over customers. The final insult? RAC **lied to Enterprise**, saying I "admitted fault" to dodge their obligations, then left me bouncing between departments like a ping-pong ball. For a company that boasts "rescue," they **abandoned my family in crisis**, ignored their own policy, and showed **zero humanity**. Never again—**avoid RAC like the plague**. Reviewed on: 15th August 2025

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