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
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.
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