Best Breakdown Cover UK 2023
Looking for the best breakdown cover in the UK? We've listed the best rated breakdown providers on the market.
There are plenty of nightmare stories from people who have had a car breakdown and while we all hope a breakdown won't happen to us, it is best to be prepared. So choosing the best breakdown cover is essential if you don't want to be left stranded by the side of the road.
Which is where we come in. If you're looking for the best UK breakdown cover for 2023 you've come to the right place. These are the best breakdown providers according to the results of the latest Honest John Satisfaction Index.
We collected more than 6000 of your experiences from breakdowns, whether they were a breakdown provider you chose yourself or cover through a third party such as an insurer or bank. For example Nationwide offers breakdown cover with its FlexPlus account via the AA.
If you're looking for breakdown cover, you'll also want to check out our guide to cheap breakdown cover, which covers everything you need to look for when comparing breakdown cover.
Prices for breakdown cover can vary depending on the age and type of car. The prices below are based on a 2018 Ford Fiesta, where applicable. If you're after the best breakdown cover, look no further...
1. LV= Britannia Rescue
Breakdown Cover Satisfaction Score 9.07
Looking for the best car breakdown cover out there? According to our users, it's Britannia Rescue. Part of the LV insurance group, LV=Britannia Rescue came out top for customer satisfaction and claims an impressive average response time of 53.45 minutes to callouts. Personal cover costs an extra £26.
How much does LV= Britannia Rescue breakdown cover cost?
| Recovery Type | Cost |
| Roadside Assist | £30 |
| Roadside & Home Assist | £63 |
| UK Recovery | £70 |
| UK Recovery & Home Assist | £99 |
| UK & European Assist | £142 |
2. GEM Motoring Assist 
Breakdown Cover Satisfaction Score 8.95
GEM policies only offer personal breakdown cover so there is assistance available in any of your vehicles or if you are driving a hired or borrowed vehicle. GEM's cover is fully comprehensive and includes home assistance, roadside assistance, unlimited callouts, nationwide recovery and onward travel (but not European Cover). Costs vary for the number of people that are included on the policy
How much does GEM breakdown cover cost?
| Number of People | Price |
| Single | £96.66* |
| Two people | £129.21* |
| Three People | £184.69* |
| Four People | £184.69* |
3. AXA 
Breakdown Cover Satisfaction Score 8.94
How much does AXA breakdown cover cost?
| Recovery Type | Cost |
| Local | £25.66 |
| Nationwide | £29.76 |
| Nationwide and Homestart | £37.90 |
| European (annual) | £75.50 |
4. Start Rescue
Breakdown Cover Satisfaction Score 8.87
Last years top ranked breakdown provider, Start Rescue has slipped a few places. It offers five levels of cover with prices starting from £19.75 for local roadside cover (depending on the age of your car), making it a popular choice for anyone looking to keep costs as low as possible. Personal cover starts at £53.12 a year.
How much does Start Rescue breakdown cover cost?
| Recovery Type | Price |
| Roadside assistance, local recovery up to 10 miles | £19.75* |
| Nationwide recovery | £25.00* |
| Nationwide recovery, home assist | £30.80* |
| European roadside assistance in 42 countries | £59.80* |
| Euopean roadside plus home assist and vandalism cover | £72.80* |
5. Rescuemycar.com 
Breakdown Cover Satisfaction Score 8.79
It's not a household name but rescuemycar.com aims to offer members an alternative to the well-known brands in the breakdown and recovery industry. It claims to be one of UK’s largest networks of breakdown specialists, with more than 4000 independent breakdown recovery experts operating nationwide. Unusually, adding on national recovery actually brings the price down. Personal cover starts at £40.94.
How much does rescuemycar.com breakdown cover cost?
| Recovery Type | Cost |
| UK Roadside assistance + local recovery | £26 |
| UK Roadside assistance + national recovery | £20.78 |
| UK Roadside assistance + national recovery + at home cover | £21.18 |
| Europe Roadside assistance^ + national recovery + at home cover | £43.47 |
^ based on 14 days cover
Looking for cheap breakdown cover?
There are many different types of breakdown cover and the level is in the detail. That’s why we’re here to guide you through what’s on offer to get you the best policy at the keenest price.
Which companies are offering breakdown cover for under £30?
6. Auto Aid
Breakdown Cover Satisfaction Score 8.78
Auto Aid is part of a group of companies including Auto National Rescue and Euro Rescue all owned by Right Choice Insurance Brokers, so we've combined their scores. These prices are based on covering a car through Auto National Rescue rather than an individual but personal cover starts from £63.64 a year and includes your spouse too.
How much does Auto Aid breakdown cover cost?
| Recovery Type | Price |
| Roadside Only | £21.29 |
| Roadside & Recovery | £28.88 |
| Total UK | £39.91 |
7= AA 
Breakdown Cover Satisfaction Score 8.71
7= Green Flag 
Breakdown Cover Satisfaction Score 8.71
How much does Green Flag breakdown cover cost?
| Recovery Type | Cost |
| Roadside assist | £24.64 |
| Roadside assist + home cover | £45.92 |
| Roadside assist + home cover + national recovery | £50.40 |
| UK Recovery & Home Assist | £99 |
| UK and European cover | £90.72 |
9. RAC 
Breakdown Cover Satisfaction Score 8.41
One of the 'big two' the RAC rivals the AA as the biggest breakdown provider in the UK. It offers a choice of personal breakdown cover or vehicle breakdown cover, and builds a price depending on the options you add in - with things like battery cover, tyre replacement and key replace available. Unlike others, the number of callouts is limited to five unless you pay for the most expensive Complete cover. Personal cover starts at £96.25.
How much does RAC breakdown cover cost?
| Recovery Type | Price |
| Basic - roadside assistance + local recovery | £74.24* |
| Extra - roadside assistance + national recovery | £126.50* |
| Complete - roadside assistance + national recovery + home rescue | £176* |
| Complete + European cover | £284* |
10. Emergency Assist
Breakdown Cover Satisfaction Score 8.31
Emergency Assist is one of the newer breakdown providers, founded in 2017. It operates its own in house emergency call centre and has a network of over 3000 agents. It does offer cover with a £30 excess (per callout) but personal cover is not available.
How much does Emergency Assist breakdown cover cost?
| Recovery Type | Price |
| Saver - Roadside assistance + local recovery | £30* |
|
Premium - Roadside assistance + national recovery + onward travel |
£37.50* |
| Complete - Roadside assistance + national recovery + onward travel + European cover | £75* |
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