AA breakdown cover review
Discover what you can expect with AA breakdown cover, and the cover options available to you.
The AA, or Automobile Association, was founded in 1905. It’s most famous for providing car breakdown cover to motorists across the UK and helps around 3.5 million people a year. We’ve looked at what level of service you can expect to receive with AA breakdown cover.
What types of policies are on offer?
The AA provides roadside assistance if your car breaks down as standard. It has its own unique recovery fleet and it’ll provide you a hire car or hotel if needed.
You can choose to add optional extras, such as personal cover (in anyone’s car), home rescue and onward travel.
Claims process
If you need assistance from the AA, you can call 0800 88 77 66 or use the AA app.
Customer reviews
The AA fared well in our 2024 customer satisfaction survey of breakdown service customers – it came third, with 89% of its customers saying they’d recommend the service to a friend. Most customers praised the “reliable” service and “felt in safe hands”, although not all felt the service had arrived quickly when they’d needed it.
One said: “They helped me quickly knowing I had children in the car.”
Another commented: “Always there – albeit rather slowly – when needed. The people who come out to save you are always amazing!”
The AA has received over 75,000 reviews on Trustpilot and has a score of 4.4 out of 5, which is classed as “excellent” (last updated: February 2024).
Pros and cons
Pros
- According to recent data, the AA can repair 8 out of 10 cars at the roadside within 30 minutes
- Highly recommended by its members
- 24-hour telephone assistance
Cons
- Personal cover and onward travel only available as a paid add-on
Our verdict
The AA is probably the most well-known car breakdown service in the UK, but there are a few providers that offer a more comprehensive service as standard.
Get started by visiting The AA’s website and sign up for a policy. If you have read this review and decided that The AA breakdown cover is not for you, you can also compare other breakdown cover policies on the market.
Frequently asked questions
Breakdown cover ratings
★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor
Finder scores, in blue, are based on our expert analysis. We also show reviews from users, where we've received more than 10, with a score in yellow. We gather more reviews from customers every year in Finder's customer satisfaction survey.
To find out more, read our full methodology.
All user-submitted reviews must meet our review guidelines. These set out our standards and expectations, including that the review is from by a genuine user of the relevant product or service and that it is honest, authentic and respectful. We explicitly prohibit fake or otherwise misleading reviews and we check all submissions, but we make no guarantee as to the authenticity of any published review or reviewer. Some reviews may be submitted (regardless of sentiment) in exchange for entry into any competition(s) for which we are the promoter.
0 of 0 reviews
More resources on Finder
More guides on Finder
-
Browse breakdown cover companies UK – A to Z listing
A list of popular breakdown cover providers, from A to Z.
-
Short-term breakdown cover for your next trip
Find out how you can take out temporary breakdown cover for the UK and Europe, what’s included and how to find the right policy for you.
-
Instant breakdown cover
Find out if you can take out immediate breakdown cover after you’ve broken down, what it includes and what other options you have.
-
Personal breakdown cover
Find out what personal breakdown cover is, how it differs from vehicle breakdown cover and what’s included in the policy.
-
Vehicle breakdown cover
Find out what vehicle breakdown cover means, what’s included and whether it allows you to drive another person’s car.
-
Home start breakdown cover
Few things are as frustrating as not being able to start your car when you have places to be. Find out what’s included in home start breakdown cover.
-
Roadside assistance
Learn all about roadside assistance cover, like what’s included, do you need it and what to do if your car breaks down on the roadside.
-
Family breakdown cover
Protect your family when they’re out on the road. Compare family breakdown cover deals here.
-
Multi-car breakdown cover
Got a few cars on the driveway? Find out if a multi-car breakdown policy could save you money. Compare your options here.
-
European breakdown cover
Road trip in Europe? We explain what breakdown cover you can get and whether it’s worth it.