Stopped paying out (RAC then Green Flag) about 20 years ago. Never used them in 15 years except when a got a flat tyre and thought might as well get something back for my money so got them to change it. Havent needed the since either
I currently use the RAC simply because I get a good deal through my car insurance. However I've used Autonational Rescue for many years in the past and I'm happy to recommend them:
https://www.autonational.co.uk/
If you think the two largest servsices are expensive .. type .. Topcashback .. into your search engine. When you get the homepage .. type in AA and you will find they are offering up to £126 cashback at the moment,
Then search again putting in RAC .. they are offering up to £120.
Or do as I will be doing tommorow .. phone the AA and tell them that they are asking far too much. Tell them what you are willing to pay and wait and see what they come up with and dont forget to tell them that you can go with the opposition and get cash back into the bargain. Guaranteed that they will drop their price !
I tend to think the market leaders are the market leaders for a good reason - reliability and value.
Whether or not one of the big two represents value for you depends on individual factors - the chances of you needing them at least once in a year, peace of mind for a potentially vulnerable family member, that sort of thing has to influence your choice.
They AA want £82 from me for Breakdown and recovery. You get a splatter of other benefits as well.
Every year we have this conversation whereby I tell them I am off to be a new customer of the RAC and they then give me a better price. For many years I did well over 70,000 miles a year and I never knew when I could need them, but nowadays I do very few miles.
My guess would be I have requested assistance 5-6 times in my 25 years as a member, having covered more than a million miles. They have never let me down .. by the same token the RAC have never let me down either. All my works vans were covered bt the RAC.
Go on a price comparison website (Gocompare; compare the market, etc) and do a search.
You can refine your search, but just be aware that some companies charge an excess of approx £30 per cal out and some have a maximum number of call outs - some as low as 1 per year, so eliminate these from your list.
If I remember correctly, I have the level of cover just below European Cover, have 6 call outs per year and no excess - all for approx £30 per year.
I've been using Emergency Assist for some years now. I pay £31.87 for premium cover.
I broke down a few years ago on my way to Devon. They arrived within half an hour, couldn't repair it and took us to our hotel over 100 milies away and the car to the nearest garage (our choice). It would have been impossible for anyone to repair the car at the roadside so I was extremely impressed with the service.
We are with the AA and I believe it's good value. We have a family membership which covers me, husband and youngest son and the coverage is for any car even if as a passenger in someone's vehicle who is not a member. It costs us around £150 per annum and normally it at least pays for itself. last year OH's truck broke down and had to be towed 50 miles to the nearest dealership -this would have cost around £200 according to the guy the AA sent out. A few months ago I was driving along a very busy road and my temperature gauge went through the roof, the AA were out within 30 minutes, spent 20 minutes doing all sorts of tests and towed me back home, this would have cost me at least £75 for a call out.
We were offered AA membership as part of our car insurance quote but it worked out more expensive.