RAC Roadside Assistance and Breakdown Cover Review.

The RAC was founded back in 1897. In 2011 Aviva the owners of the RAC sold its RAC roadside rescue business to Carlyle Group, the private equity group, for £1bn.

The RAC has more patrols per member than any other rescue organisation. (Source Mintel UK Recovery Services December 2010. Based on service providers using their own dedicated patrol force.)

RAC patrol vehicles are constantly updated with leading edge technology to help assist members at the roadside with a demonstrable track record of innovation including Rapid deployment trailer - first to market , RAC Scan - first to market, Roadside browser - first to market, eCSI - market leading, Patrol Vehicle Systems - market leading source RAC Measurement and Insight – Jan 2011.

82% of breakdowns fixed at the roadside, on average within 37 minutes - source (RAC Measurement and Insight July 2010 - June 2011, individual membership data only. Excludes accidents and extreme failures)
RAC assists to almost 2.6 million breakdowns a year - source RAC Measurement and Insight – Jan 2011. Last year (2010) Nationwide (Inc ROI and Dedicated Patrols). RAC had 2,518,215 Service Breakdowns or 2.52 m.

The offer

Personal Based Membership
             Single membership covers you only, as a driver or a passenger in any vehicle.
             Joint membership covers you and one other named member of your household as a driver or passenger in any vehicle (applies to non commercial vehicles only, excluding certain vehicle type).
             Family membership covers you and up to four other named members of your household as a driver or passenger in any vehicle.

All products are available to single members, joint members and family groups.

Vehicle Based Membership

             You may register 1, 2 or 3 vehicles with RAC to be covered for any driver.
             You will need to provide RAC with the registration numbers of any vehicles you want covered under your membership.

Vehicle Based Membership is available for the following services only:
             Roadside
             Roadside and Recovery (Onward Travel Optional)
             Roadside and At Home
             Roadside, Recovery and At Home
             Roadside, Recovery, At Home and Onward Travel

In respect of Roadside only cover, the vehicle must be no more than 10 years old at the start of the policy.
You cannot upgrade to European Breakdown Cover on this membership.