Updated September 29, 2026 · AssureCue Editorial Team
AA Breakdown vs HanseMerkur
Where AA Breakdown and HanseMerkur differ
| Compare |  AA Breakdown |  HanseMerkur |
|---|---|---|
| Premium from | £5.49 | €3.36 |
| Insurance types | Breakdown, Auto, Home, Travel, Van, Motorcycle | Auto, Dental, Health, Pet, Travel |
| Excess from | £0 | €150 |
| Claims channels | Phone, App, OnlineCovers more | Online |
| Cover limit | GBP 535 per claim for Parts and Garage Cover | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Provider type (Insurer), Monthly payments (Yes).
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Key differences
- AA Breakdown scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.3.
- Founded is lower at HanseMerkur: 1875 vs 1905.
- Insurance types: only AA Breakdown offers Breakdown, Home, Van.
- Insurance types: only HanseMerkur offers Dental, Health, Pet.
- Claims channels: only AA Breakdown offers Phone, App.
- Support channels: only AA Breakdown offers Chat.
Our verdict on each
AA Breakdown
AA Breakdown suits drivers and households in Great Britain who want roadside help sold by the insurer that carries the risk. Personal cover starts at £5.49 on a monthly policy, with a claim line that does not begin with a charge.
HanseMerkur
HanseMerkur suits households seeking cover for auto, dental, health, pet and travel under direct insurer management with monthly payments available, while listed premiums sit at €3.36 with excess at €150. Support spans email, help centre and phone and claims run through online for straightforward administration.
Score breakdown
| Area | AA Breakdown | HanseMerkur |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3HigherPremium from £5.49 sits below the €23.33 median for breakdown cover on the site. | 9.0Listed premium sits at €3.36 with monthly payments available. |
| Offer | 9.5Higher | 8.8Cover spans auto, dental and health with claims through online. |
| Trust | 9.7 | 9.8HigherDirect placement as insurer with support through email, help centre and phone. |
Feature by feature
| Insurance types | AA Breakdown | HanseMerkur |
|---|---|---|
| Auto | Yes | Yes |
| Home | Yes | No |
| Health | No | Yes |
| Travel | Yes | Yes |
| Pet | No | Yes |
| Motorcycle | Yes | No |
| Van | Yes | No |
| Breakdown | Yes | No |
| Dental | No | Yes |
What we checked
AA Breakdown
- theaa.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
HanseMerkur
- hansemerkur.de: 11 facts, checked September 28, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | AA Breakdown | HanseMerkur |
|---|---|---|
| Car insurance | 56 of 375 | 1 of 375 |
| Travel insurance | 74 of 295 | 3 of 295 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AA Breakdown | HanseMerkur |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Monthly | Monthly |
| Legal entity | Automobile Association Insurance Services Limited | HanseMerkur Krankenversicherung auf Gegenseitigkeit |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Germany |
| Founded | 1905 | 1875Lower |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Email, Help centreCovers more | Email, Help centre, Phone |
Pros and cons
AA Breakdown
Pros
- The excess starts at £0, so a covered claim does not open with a charge to meet.
- Cover is written by an insurer, insurer, with the Financial Conduct Authority named as the regulator in Great Britain.
- Monthly payments are available, so the cost can be spread rather than paid as a single sum.
Cons
- For Parts and Garage Cover the limit stops at GBP 535 per claim for Parts and Garage Cover, so a large repair can exceed what the policy pays.
- Personal cover starts at £5.49, and that figure is an entry point rather than a quote, so the premium a particular driver pays can sit above it.
- breakdown, auto and home does not reach life, health or pet lines, so anyone wanting those alongside the car needs a second provider; Good Sam Insurance Agency covers them through auto, home and renters.
HanseMerkur
Pros
- Operates as insurer, so cover, servicing and claims sit under direct management.
- Lists cover across auto, dental and health, including auto, health, travel, pet and dental in a single portfolio.
- Monthly payments are available, with billing model shown as monthly for budgeting flexibility.
Cons
- Excess sits at €150, which adds upfront cost on eligible claims.
- Claims run through online only, which limits how claims can be started.
- Support runs through email, help centre and phone only, without live chat for urgent queries.
Who each suits
AA Breakdown
Who it suits
- Drivers in Great Britain who want roadside help on a monthly premium with an excess that starts at £0.
- Households that already hold AA motor, home, travel, van or motorcycle cover and want breakdown added under the same insurer.
- Readers who prefer a named insurer with the Financial Conduct Authority on the record rather than a broker choosing the underwriter.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone after life, health or pet cover in the same place, which Good Sam Insurance Agency covers through auto, home and renters.
- Readers who judge on the entry premium alone, where bunq lists €0 and EuroAsia Insurance lists UZS 60,000, neither priced for this Great Britain market.
HanseMerkur
Who it suits
- Households seeking several personal lines together, with cover across auto, dental and health.
- Readers who value direct insurer management, as HanseMerkur operates as insurer.
- Budget planners wanting instalments, since monthly payments are available under monthly.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers wanting live chat support may prefer checking andsafe, since HanseMerkur support runs through email, help centre and phone only.
- Readers seeking cover outside auto, dental, health, pet and travel may look at Hiscox, as HanseMerkur lists auto, dental and health.
Current offers
AA Breakdown
Current offer
First period offer
Up to 40% off breakdown cover packages: 40% off the first year for new customers
New AA breakdown customers who are UK residents, first year only, buying Roadside Assistance plus one (40%), two (35%) or three (30%) of National Recovery, At Home and Onward Travel; sale 25 September 2026 to 11.59pm on 30 September 2026; not available with Roadside Assistance alone, Parts & Garage Cover, Key Cover, Commercial Use or Tyre Cover
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | AA Breakdown | HanseMerkur |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | No | Yes |
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
Questions about each
AA Breakdown
What does AA Breakdown cost to get started?+
Personal breakdown cover starts at £5.49, and monthly payments are available, so the premium can be paid in regular instalments rather than as a single sum. The excess starts at £0, which means a covered claim does not open with a charge for you to meet.
Is AA Breakdown an insurer or a broker?+
AA Breakdown is listed as an insurer, insurer, rather than a broker or a comparison site. That means the firm carries the breakdown risk on its own policy, so the company holding the premium is the company paying the claim, with no intermediary choosing the underwriter.
HanseMerkur
What is the starting premium at HanseMerkur?+
Listed premium for HanseMerkur sits at €3.36. Actual pricing varies by cover type, excess selected, personal details and underwriting terms, so readers should obtain a tailored quote for auto, health, travel, pet or dental cover before comparing.
What excess applies to HanseMerkur cover?+
Excess at HanseMerkur sits at €150. The excess shapes claim costs because policyholders meet that share before insurer payment applies. Readers should check which claims carry excess, whether options differ by product and how excess affects renewal pricing.
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Related by the facts
- Explorer Travel Insurance, also regulated by Financial Conduct Authority
- Insurance providers with Auto
- Insurance providers available in United Kingdom
- HanseMerkur Reiseversicherung AT, also regulated by Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin)
- Insurance providers with Travel
- Insurance providers available in Germany