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RAC: Breakdown Cover reviews

Name: Breakdown Cover
Rating: 1.75 (151 reviews)

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1.38

Based on 151 reviews, last reviewed 25th Apr 2025

No new 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

29% increase in 1 star reviews

in the past 90 days

13%

78%

Latest highest rating:

4

Brilliant There is a discount on brake down cover at min...brilliant for money. Reviewed on: 24th August 2024

Latest lowest rating:

1

Broke car alarm provided diagnostics from garage pro... Broke car alarm provided diagnostics from garage proving they damaged it now won’t pay The RAC changed my battery incorrectly which caused my alarm to... Read more Reviewed on: 25th April 2025

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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.

RAC Breakdown Cover reviews (151)

Review of the RAC, Breakdown Cover:

UTTERLY SHOCKING AND INCOMPETENT

UTTERLY SHOCKING AND INCOMPETENT. My daughter broke down on the M56 this morning and reported the incident to the RAC at 0900, she was then left on her own until 1330 awaiting recovery although the RAC kept stating they would have a recovery asset to her with in 45 mins as she was classed as being in a vulnerable situation being parked on the hard shoulder with no lay by nearby. After 4.5hrs of being in a vulnerable situation a recovery truck arrived and was supposed to take her home but dumped her at Birch Services stating the next recovery asset would be there shortly. Numerous calls were made to the RAC for updates and the RAC complaints dept were also briefed on the diabolic treatment and assistance she had received so far; during each call we were continually told our issue was urgent and a manager would call us back, which clearly never transpired. At the time of writing she has now been stranded on her own for approx 12hrs, the latest update is that she will be collected from Birch Services at 2200, although at the time of being dropped off at approx 1430 she was told a recovery asset would be waiting, then surprisingly delayed yet again. The latest update from the RAC (having spent another 45 mins in a call queue for them to answer) is she will be collected from Birch Services at 2200 and taken directly to our requested drop off point (local Ford dealer near our address), however having spoken to the recovery contractor which the RAC refused to give me contact details of, (apparently they don't have their numbers but then proceeded to call them?) (but the internet never lets you down) they have stated they will only take her another 30 miles to Hartshead Moor Services then another recover asset will need to be tasked, albeit the RAC call handler assured me the recovery would take her to the final destination. Throughout the day both my daughter and I have been continually lied to and fobbed off by the RAC call handlers. At present having spoken to the 8th call handler named KARAM it will come as no surprise that no assurance on the final recovery of my daughter and her vehicle has been guaranteed and I thought for completeness I should probably ask for the the 8th time for a manager to call me back which will clearly not happen because in KARAM's word a lot of them are on the sick, I wasn't aware incompetence was an illness, lets hope its not catching? In short if you want breakdown recovery i suggest you follow the advice of the first recovery driver that collected her from the motorway "Don't use the RAC they're CRAP, use Green Flag they're much better" That said if you have a fetish for being stranded on the side of a motorway or spending hours in a HGV truckers park (being abused) and enjoy pathetic excuses and lies the RAC is most definitely for you! Reviewed on: 12th June 2023

Terrible it was been with rac for 30 years they sent...

Terrible it was been with rac for 30 years they sent some9ne out with bad attitude refused to help Reviewed on: 8th December 2024

Call Centre staff great. Mechanic not.

The Call Centre staff were lovely. It ends there though. I am disabled, the Breakdown mechanic woukd not listen when I tried to give him directions, it was dark and not on a main road. After getting everything wrong he told me he felt like cancelling the job and going away. He repeatedly spoke over me. Frankly he was sexist. My car yet he treated me like dirt to the point that I had to ask my Husband to talk to him, it was as if I was speaking a foreign language. Because of my medical needs I went home in a taxi. Reviewed on: 6th December 2024

Shocking, Disgusting Service and Unacceptable Treatment

I have had an absolutely appalling experience with RAC and feel compelled to share my ordeal to warn others. On the 1st December 2024, I reported a breakdown at 20:19, expecting the professional and reliable service I had paid for. What followed was over 8 hours plus of waiting in freezing conditions with inconsistent updates, which I had to keep calling in repeatedly myself , lack of empathy, and ultimately being stranded. The estimated arrival times kept shifting—from 21:40-22:40,12:20am-3:20am to an outrageous 7:30am-10:30am. This caused me to miss my hotel booking, as RAC patrol could only take me to only one place either the hotel or back home. Despite explaining to RAC that I needed medication at 22:20 due to a pre-existing condition (which I hadn’t expected to need during a breakdown), their responses were dismissive and unhelpful. When I finally got through to Emily, she suggested I cancel the callout and rebook, which would’ve meant waiting even longer. No solutions were offered for what to do during the long wait, and at one point, I was even told not to call back. By the time help finally arrived at 2:24am, I had endured over 7 hours plus of frustration, freezing cold, and rising stress, which impacted my health as a diabetic with high blood pressure. I could barely feel my feet as it was freezing cold. They sent out an independent breakdown company who found me shivering with cold and reported back to his head office that this call out should’ve been a priority with the state he found me in and especially with my medical condition. To which his office replied back which I heard myself was that it’s not been sent to us as a priority yet stressing numerously to RAC about my medical condition they didn’t really care or pass it on to the company who came to me on there behalf. The saga didn’t end there. Over the following days, communication was a disaster. I was repeatedly told incorrect information, including that my vehicle had been delivered to the garage when it hadn’t. Today being the 4th or December 2024, I was promised a rental vehicle from Enterprise, which I needed urgently due to RAC’s failure to tow my van on the night of the breakdown. I was picked up by the car rental company and as I arrived at Enterprise, they informed me that the rental was for a manual vehicle, despite being given a choice for a manual or an automatic by the RAC representative themselves I opted for an automatic. I contacted RAC to resolve this as being asked by enterprise rentals thinking it was an oversight by them and spoke with a representative named Heather, whose behavior was appalling and humiliating. She accused me—without any evidence—of using my van for business purposes and abruptly canceled the rental vehicle and even refused me my own vehicle back which has been stored by them/their independent contractor due to them not being able to bring it back to bradford as my RAC covers me to be taken anywhere of the time of breakdown if they can’t fix it plus car hire to get me to my destitution for 3 days. Heather also claimed she had accessed my business details and made unwarranted assumptions based on my company being registered to my home address. I explained, repeatedly, that my van is solely for personal use and that my insurance, logbook, and council records permit records all reflect this. Her behavior was utterly unprofessional; she hung up on me, leaving me stranded and embarrassed in front of a room full of people at the Enterprise office including their staff. I had to arrange and pay for an Uber to get home, as neither RAC nor Enterprise offered me any assistance back. This entire experience has been humiliating, distressing, and unacceptable. I am pursuing formal complaints with the Financial Ombudsman and exploring legal options for breach of contract and emotional distress caused by this appalling service. If you’re considering RAC, I urge you to think twice. This experience has left me deeply disappointed and without trust in their services. Reviewed on: 4th December 2024

One star is too much.

One star is too much. Left us for 9+ hours on a cold December night in the middle of no where with no food etc. Ended up getting a private tow who came in 30 mins and was £150. Recovery insurance is the biggest scam. Reviewed on: 1st December 2024

very bad behaviour.

very bad behaviour. poor customer services. people are very rood. Reviewed on: 7th November 2024

If there was a 0 star option I'd pick this.

If there was a 0 star option I'd pick this. I cancelled my home insurance, because I moved house, and they told me the remaining balance would be taken from the details they had on file. I moved house and 3 weeks later I get an email and SMS off CRS debt collectors asking for the money. Why on earth did RAC not contact me directly if they've not managed to take the balance? There was money in the account waiting, and no phone call to say they hadn't managed it, just straight to the debt collectors. I've been an RAC fan for years, but this has turned my opinion into a sour one. I'll be cancelling all my RAC policies now Reviewed on: 30th October 2024

Avoid this company .

Avoid this company ... they left me 34 hours on the street with children in Italy and then refuse to pay for recovery, repair and ferry. I paid for everything myself with the promise that they would pay for everything. They pretend that they don't see the invoice, that they don't see the ferry tickets and answer the email once every two weeks Reviewed on: 27th October 2024

20 years of custom and they hang up the phone the on...

20 years of custom and they hang up the phone the one time we needed them. Reviewed on: 7th October 2024

Garbage and not safe for women

Called 4.40pm, alone in car park, electrical faults, told RAC would be there at 8pm. Had to move car as car park was closing and area was dark. Was told it was not safe to move car but then told by other operator it was my decision. Drove car with rattling engine to main road with hazards. Told it would be around 10pm. No escalation about female on own, in dark. Drove 5 mph home. Told RAC would be here by 1.50am. Escalation team rang said now I was home safe, no guarantee of time as other people may be vulnerable. What a ridiculous service. Spike to 9 people all saying something different. Wish I had never left the AA. Now told it will be tomorrow BUT no guarantee anyone would turn up. Reviewed on: 4th October 2024

Tried to set up payments on cancelling

Member for 4 years. When I finally needed help they estimated a 5 hour wait. Not happy, cancelled the renewal and they tried to set up a £5 payment to cancel. Reviewed on: 4th October 2024

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