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Can You Call the AA or RAC If You’re Not a Member?

By Axi Recovery October 29, 2026IconBreakdown Cover

Yes, you can call the AA or the RAC after you break down, even without breakdown cover. Both offer “instant cover”: you join or pay a one-off fee over the phone, and they send help for the breakdown you already have. You must phone. Cover bought online after you have broken down won’t be used for that breakdown.

Here is what each company says on its own website, checked in October 2026.

The AA

  • Call 03330 046 046, 24/7, and ask for instant cover.
  • The AA says: “You join us as a member and will need to pay a surcharge to use the service.”
  • The AA page does not publish the surcharge amount.
  • Cover bought online can’t be used for a breakdown that has already happened.
  • There is a surcharge for repairs to existing faults.

Source: AA instant cover.

The RAC

  • Call 0330 159 8743 for instant breakdown cover.
  • You pay a one-off fee for emergency recovery. The RAC says the fee includes a tow of up to 10 miles, and you pay extra for further distance. Fuel is also extra.
  • “If you buy cover online after breaking down, we won’t be able to attend.”
  • On its main breakdown page, the RAC gives an example: breaking down without cover “costs an average of £455” for a 51 to 64 mile tow, made up of a non-member charge of £199 for the first 10 miles plus £256 for the extra mileage.

Sources: RAC: broken down without cover and RAC breakdown cover.

Check before you call: you may already be covered

  • Car insurance. Breakdown cover is usually an optional add-on. Which? found that only 10 out of 76 car insurance policies it analysed in 2025 included it as standard (Which?).
  • Bank account. Some packaged bank accounts include breakdown cover (MoneySavingExpert).
  • New or leased car. Many manufacturers and lease companies include roadside assistance. Check your handbook or lease documents.

Wondering whether annual cover is worth paying for? Compare the options in breakdown cover vs pay-as-you-go recovery.

The other option: a local recovery company

You can also call an independent recovery company directly. There is no membership to join. You pay for the job you need: a jump start, a tow to a garage, or transport to your home.

When you call any provider, ask:

  1. What is the total price, including mileage?
  2. How long until you arrive?
  3. Can you take the car to the garage or address I choose?
  4. Can you take my passengers too?

AXI Recovery covers Essex, East London and Dartford 24/7 for cars, vans and motorcycles, and agrees the price with you on the call before setting off. See car recovery, jump starts or the areas we cover.

Broken down without cover? Call +44 7342 850180 for a price.

Related guides

Sources

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