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RAC: Breakdown Cover reviews

Name: Breakdown Cover
Rating: 1.74 (155 reviews)

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1.36

Based on 155 reviews, last reviewed 2nd May 2025

No new 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

117% 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

AWFUL CUSTOMER SERVICE!! Avoid AVOID! Awful Customer Service I installed new front brake disks and brake pads. The disks were warped and they were causing the car to vibrate when braking a... Read more Reviewed on: 2nd 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 (155)

Review of the RAC, Breakdown Cover:

I would give them a ZERO if I can.

I would give them a ZERO if I can. 2024 New Years Eve I was returning back from Scotland to Leicester and the weather was pretty bad, heavy winds and rain 100%. My car started showing warning signs on the dash and the car started slowing down, drove the car until I got to the nearest services at Kendal Southbound which was at around 4.30pm. Took the RAC cover out and called them out for an emergency breakdown. Charged me £199 for the callout. Assuming either they fix the car or take us home. Anyway had no choice as I had young kids with me so I paid it as had to get back home. The RAC Patrol came around 6.45pm and had a look at the car and (THOUGHT) that the turbo has gone. Nothing much was done and no other options available other than towing the car to the nearest garage within the 10 mile radius or quoted me £1500 TO GET THE CAR & PASSENGERS TOWED . Now can someone tell me which garage would be opened at this time on New Yrs Eve to check the car and who in the right fraame of mind would pay £1500 to get the car towed? With not much on the table the guy left. Managed to arrange a breakdown for £500 to get us and the car towed to my home address, which we got home at 5am on New Years Day. All in all £800 went in the bin and no service provided. WHAT A GREAT START TO 2025!!! A COMPLETE WASTE AND A SCAM BUSINESS. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY WITH THEM. ABSOLUTELY USELESS. THEY ARE JUST MAKING MONEY, NO EXPERIENCE OF BREAKDOWN AND NO EMPATHY AT ALL. MY 6 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER FELL ILL BECAUSE OF THEIR POOR SERVICE. Reviewed on: 4th January 2025

Always reliable.

Always reliable and arrive quickly if you need help. Price is fair too. Reviewed on: 9th August 2023

I would not recommend RAC at ALL

I would not recommend RAC at ALL! I have been waiting 10ths through the night with a disability. I’ve called 10 x all the staff saying the call out is being pushed back to 2-5hrs further. Promises of managers calling but have not. I have no water or food so a cab came and the cab man said it’s common for this duration of time. RAC have been unless, to be a woman on my own on the A3 for 10ths is horrific. I’m trying another breakdown company. DO NOT RECOMMEND. Reviewed on: 30th July 2023

Left to burn on a Spanish roadside

Spanish roadside for 9 Hours and still counting I am currently sitting on the side of the road in Spain broken down and have been here for nine hours already. RAC refuses to help me as they say it's the responsibility of their European partners to cover Europe and so far i have made 13 calls to opteven ( said European partner) and still haven't been recovered. I would not recommend anyone getting European cover from RAC as I have found the whole experience extremely tiring as a recovering renal cancer patient and frustrating. I took out the premier cover with Saga RAC breakdown for the express reason of taking the stress away from a breakdown and have been completely let down. I was told however that it's beautiful scenery in Spain by the French call handler but it's hard to enjoy baking in the sun covered in a layer of dust from a nearby building site. If you want minimum hassle then shop elsewhere. Date of experience: July 28, 2023 Reviewed on: 28th July 2023

Didn't fix my car

Called for help bu the mechanic didn't fix my car. Reviewed on: 18th July 2023

Thank you Paul Heath 3134!

I am writing as I wish to commend the hugely kind and efficient recovery help of Mr Paul Heath 3134 at RAC, following an upsetting incident in which a bus collided with my car and drove away in view of passers by and captured on CCTV. I had spent over three hours awaiting another company’s assistance the previous night only to find they had called the wrong vehicle for the job, and had an unhelpful and unsympathetic call with my insurance company the following morning that left me feeling all the more shaken. Paul was something of a hero following this - he arrived on time and saw that I was visibly shaking, gave me the time I needed to accurately report the situation, assessed and documented the damage comprehensively before taking great lengths to relay this detail to my insurance company, and importantly described to them the severity of the collision. Paul even went above and beyond to check with two passing bus drivers where their depot was for the insurance company to investigate, helped pick up pieces of the bus paint/casing from the ground to collect as evidence, and reminded me to notify the Police. He took such care and sensitivity to deliver the probable bad news and I can't express how much of a positive difference his patience and clear communication made at a time of sadness and worry. I owned my car and looked after it with so much love and brilliant memories over 14 years, so I appreciated Paul's outstanding communication even more, his respect for my poor car ensuring I had all of its contents, and practical care following a hit and run incident like this. Thank you for your amazing help again, it definitely deserves recognition within the RAC! Reviewed on: 24th June 2023

NEVER AGAIN!!

NEVER AGAIN! Having called RAC at 18.40 and receiving a text to say someone would be with me at the latest 19.45 no one appeared. Then told 2-3 hours as they were exceptionally busy turned into being 12.40am & finally towed at 1am to my nearest garage. The company RAC subcontracted to was 10 mins down the road from me....galling!! I was left in the middle of nowhere, completely rural in a dark dangerous lane, too dangerous to walk in the dark, with no water or toilet. When my husband managed to get home some 4 hrs later, as that was who I was collecting when I broke down, he was able to drive his van from home and sit with me. Unacceptable level of service and it is very apparent talking to others about my experience I am not alone and they obviously are overpromising and under delivering! upon sending a complaint email, they gave a standard lip service apology and closed the case. My request was a refund on our policy as they did not uphold their constant promise splashed across the media and when they sell you the policy that they would reach you within 2 hours. Plus I never want to be left in such a vulnerable position again! Having heard a number of peoples experience in my locality this is not a one off! Some have been left in terrible situations with young children and others were not reached until 23 hours later having spent the night in their vehicles. Incredible lack of customer care. Even at busy times RAC you should be able to cover your obligations. No stars for customer service who kept fobbing me off, no stars for how you dealt with my complaint. That one star is for the sub-contractor that finally turned up who really is nothing to do with your company!! Seriously concerned for anyone who breaks down and are with RAC in the South Devon area. Hear Green flag have a better reputation. Reviewed on: 21st June 2023

Shockingly bad service - left stranded 2am, sub zero temperature, two small kids and 5 hours wait for a jump start! And they think that is fine!

Shockingly bad service. RAC seriously gone down hill and should be avoided if you expect quality customer service. I was stranded in centre of Birmingham (few miles from RAC HQ) with a flat battery. 2am, freezing conditions with two small children and needed a jump start. I used the app and it told me someone would be with me in 5 hours. Obviously I assumed this was an error and called to speak to a human who also informed me they marked my case as “urgent” but was told 5 hours to get to me. I pleaded with the CS as kids were really cold and upset and was told they had “lack of contractors available” and “nothing can be done”. In the end my parents travelled from Leicester to rescue me with some jump leads. (Only took them 40 mins to get to me :-)). The next day I used the RAC complaint procedure and had automated message back saying RAC would review the complaint and get back to me within 20 working days. 30 working days later nothing! So I chased, nothing. 35 working days I chased again, nothing, and again, nothing. Then over 2 months after submitting the complaint I got a response basically saying the service they provided is normal and they saw nothing wrong claiming they were busy at the time (2am with hardly a car in the road). They don’t guarantee the response time and five hours for an “urgent” case is absolutely fine. In the end they shut me down saying nothing more can be done and closed the case. It’s just terrible, disappointing experience start to finish. Don’t rely on this service, you pay a premium and expect RAC to be there to help when you need it most. But you don’t get what you pay for! (And complaining about the poor service takes months and gets you nowhere). Spend your money elsewhere is my advice. Reviewed on: 20th June 2023

No customer care and really poor experience

The RAC left me on side of smart motorway from 7,49 to nearly 1 am a single lady with a dog in the car phone and battery dying when they could have towed me to a service station after a 2 hour wait. It was dark no means to use facilities not safe and no customer care Ladies this is not a company to use I am not the only one to suffer poor service leaving me feeling unsafe cold scared and abandoned I did 7333 steps trying to keep up beat and warm waiting for a tow when the first RAC man could have taken me to a service station Reviewed on: 19th June 2023

Most Terrible Service Ever!

Most Terrible service ever! I reported a car breakdown on the 16th of June at 8:36am. The first attempt of contact they made was at 13:00pm after that I clearly stated that I had a civil marriage ceremony to attend to. When I returned back to my car after the appointment I was told that the earliest someone can come to me was at 00:31, and it wasn’t guaranteed that he would be there are 00:31 as it could be 04:00. I was then advised that he could book me a slot for the following day (Saturday) between 09:00-11:00. I rang them up at 10:30 as I had still not received a text message and I was told that the person who booked the appointment booked it for Sunday!! Terrible! The lady got it changed and never confirmed that with me. I called back again 30 minutes later and I was told that the patrol will be with me at 11:59am. I rang up at 1pm as no one showed up and I was told I was next in line… I waited until 4pm and was told that he should be with me at 4:42pm. I rang again as there was no show of a patrol after all the waiting and I got informed that no one will be with me until 9pm in the evening! I have been waiting over 13 hours in the space of two days and I am still waiting as I am typing up this review. There is no way I would ever use RAC again. Reviewed on: 17th June 2023

Would give zero stars if possible

Would give zero stars if possible. Have been waiting 13 hours overnight and counting for breakdown assistance. Communication has been the worst I have ever experienced from any company. I have been fed a constant stream of lies regarding the estimated recovery time, which is eternally “30 minutes away”, and never arrives. Their staff have been exceptionally unhelpful over the phone, and could offer no assistance whatsoever. If you have RAC membership, cancel it and save your money. If you’re not a member, don’t touch it with a barge pole. Reviewed on: 15th June 2023

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