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RAC: Breakdown Cover reviews

Name: Breakdown Cover
Rating: 1.74 (159 reviews)

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1.42

Based on 159 reviews, last reviewed 8th Jun 2025

100% increase in 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

140% increase in 1 star reviews

in the past 90 days

13%

78%

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

Latest lowest rating:

1

Waited in two days to get my vehicle recovered to a... Waited in two days to get my vehicle recovered to a garage, over which I wasn’t given one update unless I called them. Called six times and was given ... Read more Reviewed on: 28th May 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 (159)

Review of the RAC, Breakdown Cover:

First class breakdown cover

I changed over to the RAC approximately 6 years ago having experienced poor customer service from my previous provider and I couldn't be happier with them. The promptness of their response to a call out is amazing and they deal with the issue quickly and efficiently. I have used them approximately 3 times and never had to wait over 30 minutes; even when I used their Homestart service (on that occasion they said someone would be there in 40-60 minutes but they were there in under 20). Their customer service is excellent and I would not hesitate to recommend them - oh, and they come in cheaper than my previous provider too. I have had some experience of my previous provider since leaving them when my friend's car wouldn't start following an evening out. She called them at 10.40 and we were left sitting on the pub car park until 1.20 before anyone turned up; it was disgraceful. A second friend with another breakdown provider was left waiting for so long when she broke down that she was forced to knock on someone's door and ask them if she could use their toilet. I have told both of them, "change to the RAC, you'll get none of that hassle with them". I definitely wouldn't change! Reviewed on: 7th August 2016

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

Worst customer service ever

I am writing to express my deep dissatisfaction with the key replacement service I received yesterday. I trusted RAC to help me with a straightforward issue, but unfortunately, RAC service has left me with a much bigger problem. Prior to the service, my old spare key was working perfectly fine. However, after the technician completed the key replacement, neither the new nor the old key works, and I am now unable to start my car. This is highly frustrating and inconvenient, as I was expecting your service to resolve my issue, not create further problems. To make matters worse, I received an email from you advising me that this situation has nothing to do with RAC and suggesting that I take my car to a mechanic myself. This is entirely unacceptable, as the issue clearly arose from the work done by they key replacement service, making it your responsibility to rectify the situation. Reviewed on: 1st October 2024

6 hours to recover a lorry in a dangerous situation.

6 hours to recover a lorry in a dangerous situation. would have been a lot longer if i hadn't made approximately 10 phone calls, then sent a tech out even though they had been told not to bother as the clutch had gone and would need recovery. 4 hours later tech turns up and says no good a recovery is needed. Reviewed on: 30th September 2024

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