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vehicle breakdown services

Top UK Car Breakdown Recovery Companies

Home » Top UK Car Breakdown Recovery Companies

Quickly find breakdown recovery services near you. Our UK directory connects you with trusted national providers of emergency roadside support.

1. RAC Limited

Address: RAC House, Brockhurst Crescent, Walsall, West Midlands, WS5 4AW
Telephone: 0333 2000 999 (members) or 0330 159 8743 (non-members) 
Website: www.rac.co.uk

A stalwart of roadside rescue, RAC’s bright orange patrol vans are a familiar fixtures on UK roads. Founded in 1897, the firm now handles some 2.8 million breakdowns annually across its 2,000‑strong patrol fleet. Whether you run out of charge in an EV (they offer EV Boost vans) or get stranded in a rural ditch, RAC’s nationwide and European cover options mean you’re rarely left stranded beyond 10 miles unless you’ve opted for National Recovery. Their slick app lets you call for help and stay informed en route—car‑magazine‑worthy tech fused with solid service.


2. The AA (Automobile Association)

Address: Fanum House, Basing View, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 4EA
Telephone: 0343 316 4444 General.  03330 046 046 
Website: www.theaa.com

Clad in iconic yellow vests and boasting over 2,900 patrols, the AA has dominated the breakdown scene since 1905. With ratings regularly topping surveys like Driver Power (89% satisfaction in recent years) carwow.co.uk, their range of cover levels —from roadside only to full UK & European recovery, home start and onward travel—feel like premium automotive lifestyle packages. Perfect for road‑trip lovers who want the reassurance of brand reliability.


3. Green Flag Limited

Address: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds, LS1 4AZ,
Telephone: 0345 246 1558 or +44 141 349 0516 (Europe)
Website: www.greenflag.com

Originally launched in 1971 as the National Breakdown Recovery Club, Green Flag relies on a network of local garage partners rather than its own vans, for rapid, regionally localised response times (average ~42 minutes). Now part of Direct Line Group, it’s a solid mid‑range option praised for value, especially for drivers of older vehicles (up to 25 years old allowed on personal Rescue policies).


4. GEM Motoring Assist

Address: GEM Motoring Assist, Station Road, Forest Row, East Sussex, RH18 5EN Telephone: 01206 785 805 Breakdown.  01342 825676 Breakdown cover quote. 
Website: www.motoringassist.com

GEM began life in 1932 as a motorists’ club and today offers a “Recovery RECLAIM” policy—where you pay for roadside help then claim costs back—delivering lower premiums in exchange for flexible reimbursement. Coverage includes home start, nationwide recovery and mis‑fuel cover (10ℓ fuel and drain). Magazine‑style appeal? GEM’s modest, no‑nonsense approach and vintage‑club heritage feel refreshingly earnest.


5. Britannia Rescue

Address: 57 Ladymead, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 1DB.
Telephone: 0330 678 7154 or (0)1484 435 806 (emergency line) or 0330 678 7111 for member support
Website: https://www.britanniarescue.com/breakdown-cover.html

Underwritten by Allianz, Britannia Rescue offers five tiers of cover (from basic roadside to full UK & European Assist) at competitive prices (roadside from ~£33/yr). Known for handling complex claims—like illness/injury cover, mis-fuelling and message services—as standard, plus high Which? and Defaqto ratings. Their high‑end cover earns “Best Breakdown Service Provider 2025” from What Car?

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6. Start Rescue (Call Assist Group)

Address: 150 High Street, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1XE
Telephone: UK breakdown line: 01206 785 999 or 0333 320 0975; Non‑emergency: 01206 785 999 Europe breakdown
Website: www.startrescue.co.uk

Start Rescue, part of Call Assist, wraps up excellent value in a sleek five‑star rating. Their most basic One‑Star policy (from ~£21–35/yr) covers roadside and 10-mile recovery, with Five‑Star including national, home and European assist plus mis‑fuel, accident and illness cover. Trustpilot scores of ~4.7/5 speak volumes. It’s the “budget‑savvy explorer’s” pick.


7. MotorEasy Breakdown Cover

Address: MotorEasy, 60 Portman Road, Reading, RG30 1EA
Telephone: 0300 123 9123
Website: www.motoreasy.com

Originally a warranty provider, MotorEasy now also sells breakdown cover with up to six call‑outs/year, no excess and European cover via a nationwide network of 10,000 garages. Their sleek online management, rapid roadside fix rates (~80 % fixed roadside) and complementary services (like MOT and servicing booking tools) give it a polished tech‑magazine vibe.

8. Admiral Breakdown Cover

Address: Admiral House, David Street, Cardiff CF10 2EH
Telephone: 0330 102 0804  UK or 0044 (0)2920 943 0804 European cover
Website: www.admiral.com/breakdown-cover

Part of Admiral Insurance, this cover is exclusively available if you’re an Admiral policyholder — think of it as a bonus perk, seamlessly bundled. Breakdown cover is provided in partnership with the AA. Offers unlimited roadside assistance, optional national and European recovery, plus add‑ons such as lost‑key help or mis‑fuelling support. While the cover isn’t sold standalone, it’s a polished option for Admiral drivers wanting convenience and reliability backed by a major insurer. 


9. AXA Assistance / Europ Assistance

Address: 10 Lower Thames Street, London EC3R 6EN
Telephone: 0345 504 6391 UK rescue, +44(0) 1737 815 372
Website: https://www.axa.co.uk/car-insurance/breakdown-cover/

Formerly known as Europe Assistance UK, AXA Assistance is an international player offering roadside and European cover. It frequently provides brand‑label breakdown support for vehicle manufacturers and insurers. Expect fast international claims handling and decent options for multi‑vehicle households. 


10. Aviva Breakdown Cover

Address: St Helen’s, 1 Undershaft, London EC3P 3DQ
Telephone: 0800 0155 755 UK
Website: https://www.aviva.co.uk/insurance/motor/breakdown-cover/

Aviva’s cover is offered alongside insurance or banking products (e.g. First Direct’s packaged account). Covers include roadside assistance and optional home start or European recovery. Ideal if you already bank or insure with Aviva, combining several services under one roof.


11. Saga Breakdown Cover

Address: Saga House, Folkestone Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3NZ
Telephone: 0800 068 1966 or 01303 776 490 UK. +44 (0)1303 757 308 Europe.
Website: www.saga.co.uk/motoring/breakdown-cover

Saga caters to over‑50s and their breakdown policies bundle roadside repairs, recovery and onward travel. With a familiar reclining armchair style, Saga’s breakdown service aligns with personal travel plans rather than a one‑size‑fits‑all approach. Practical and geared to an older readership.


12. Emergency Assist

Address: Exchange Square, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE13 1RA
Telephone: 01945 586228
Website: https://emergencyassistltd.co.uk/breakdown-cover/vehicle-types/car-breakdown-cover

Known for being excellent value, with roadside plans starting from around £10/year. Basic cover — but low priced. Good for drivers who expect they might rarely use it and appreciate low cost over plush extras. 


13. RescueMyCar

Address: NCI Vehicle Rescue PLC, 4th Floor, Clarendon House, Victoria Avenue, Harrogate, HG1 1JD
Telephone: 01423 535 795
Website: https://www.rescuemycar.com/breakdown-cover/

A newer entrant offering cover from standalone breakdown service up to combined insurance plus breakdown. Feedback online is mixed: some praise quick response, others cite delays. A wild-card provider for drivers on a budget. RescueMyCar.com delivers straightforward UK and European breakdown cover using a network of over 4,000 local recovery operators. Customers praise its easy online sign-up and efficient service.


14. Cover My Breakdown

Address: Kempton House, Kempton Way, Dysart Road, Grantham, NG31 0EA
Telephone: 0208 626 9454
Website: https://covermy.co.uk/breakdown-insurance/contact-us-breakdown/

Cover My Breakdown offers flexible UK and European breakdown insurance, including roadside assistance, national recovery, home start, and onward travel. Designed for drivers who want straightforward protection and online convenience, its cover suits both daily commutes and continental adventures. Service experiences can vary, so policy terms should be reviewed carefully.


15. Dynamo Cover

Address: Cardiff House, Cardiff Road, Barry, CF63 2AW
Telephone: 0330 22 32 897
Website: https://dynamocover.com/breakdown-insurance/

Dynamo Cover offers simple, online-first breakdown cover across cars, vans, motorbikes, caravans and trailers, with options such as roadside assistance, national recovery and home‑start support. While some customers report fast response times and easy setup, many online forums and Trustpilot reviews flag concerns about automatic renewals, hidden admin charges, and poor customer service—particularly difficulty cancelling or changing policies.


16. Ping Insure

Address: New Broad Street House, 35 New Broad Street, London, EC2M 1NH
Telephone: 01206 812 769 UK or +44 (0)1206 812 769
Website: https://pinginsure.co.uk/breakdown-cover/

Ping Insure delivers straightforward, online-only breakdown cover with 24/7 emergency helplines, roadside assistance, national recovery, and home start as standard. Customers appreciate its speedy sign‑up process, user-friendly interface, and competitive value. However, some reviewers warn that customer service can be limited — particularly due to the lack of a direct phone line.


17. Sterling Insurance

Address: Sterling House, Hallingbury Rd, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts, CM23 5LY
Telephone: 0344 381 9990
Website: https://www.sterling-insurance.co.uk/breakdown-cover/

Sterling Rescue provides UK and European breakdown cover including roadside assistance, home start, national recovery, and optional extras like misfuelling and key care. Cover supports up to five passengers and suits both daily drivers and long-distance travellers. While value is a strong point, service reviews vary depending on customer experience.


18. Nova Direct

Address: 3 Redwing Court Business Centre, Ashton Road, Romford, Essex, RM3 8QQ
Telephone: 0203 745 8216
Website: www.nova-direct.com

Nova Direct offers prize‑winning, low‑cost breakdown cover from around £16.50/year, with roadside, national recovery and onward‑travel options. While their digital sign‑up and pricing appeal, multiple sources cite very poor customer service, delayed response times and claim refusals, particularly for European trips – repeatedly flagged as problematic. 


19. Autonational Rescue

Address: Operated by AXA Assistance UK† London HQ
Telephone: 0800 1700 404 or 01708 963 191
Website: https://www.autonational.co.uk/

Autonational Rescue offers vehicle-based UK breakdown cover from around £21.29/year, with tiers including Roadside, Roadside & Recovery, Total UK and optional European add-on. Cover includes accident, theft and vandalism recovery, emergency message relay and key loss support. Users highlight ease of sign‑up, competitive pricing and consistently prompt service 


20. Go Cover (GoCompare)

Address: Suite 2a Hodge House, 114-116 St Mary Street, Cardiff, Wales, CF10 1DY.
Telephone: 0333 0702 500
Website: https://www.gocompare.com/breakdown-cover/

GoCompare breakdown cover lets users compare a wide array of UK and European insurance-backed roadside assistance deals in one go. With options ranging from home start to onward travel and recovery, the platform’s clear comparison tools and helpful guides help drivers match their needs—though service experiences ultimately depend on individual providers

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