Updated September 29, 2026 · AssureCue Editorial Team
Emergency Assist vs RAC
Emergency Assist vs RAC: the differences
| Compare |  Emergency Assist |  RAC |
|---|---|---|
| Premium from | £19.32Lower | £166 |
| Insurance types | Breakdown, Van, Motorcycle | Auto, Home, Van, Motorcycle, Travel, BreakdownCovers more |
| Provider type | Broker | Insurer |
| Claims channels | Phone, Email | Phone, Chat |
| Excess from | £0 | Not confirmed |
| Age range | Not confirmed | 17-99 |
Same on both: Monthly payments (Yes).
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Key differences
- RAC scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 8.7.
- Founded is lower at RAC: 1897 vs 2017.
- Premium from is lower at Emergency Assist: £19.32 vs £166.
- Insurance types: only RAC offers Auto, Home, Travel.
- Claims channels: only Emergency Assist offers Email.
- Claims channels: only RAC offers Chat.
- Support channels: only RAC offers Chat, Community.
Our verdict on each
Emergency Assist
Emergency Assist suits drivers, riders and van owners seeking breakdown protection with the option to pay in instalments. Premiums start at £19.32 for cover that stays focused on roadside needs, with claims and support arranged for straightforward help when disruption hits.
RAC
RAC Insurance is a GB insurer with a long history and a wide book of personal lines, suited to people who want car, home, van, motorbike, travel and breakdown cover from one monthly provider. It sits well down the premium ranking, with car premiums from £166.
Score breakdown
| Area | Emergency Assist | RAC |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1HigherCost reflects excess of £0 at point of claim. | 8.6Car premiums from £166 sit well above the site median of €8.37, with monthly payments as the only pricing model in monthly. |
| Offer | 8.6Offer centres on breakdown, van and motorcycle for roadside needs. | 9.3Higher |
| Trust | 8.5Trust rests on 579333 authorisation. | 9.7Higher |
How they place
| Ranking | Emergency Assist | RAC |
|---|---|---|
| Car insurance | 33 of 394 | 116 of 394 |
| Motorbike insurance | 17 of 120 | 52 of 120 |
| Van insurance | 4 of 38 | 14 of 38 |
| Breakdown cover | 5 of 52 | 22 of 52 |
Feature by feature
| Insurance types | Emergency Assist | RAC |
|---|---|---|
| Auto | No | Yes |
| Home | No | Yes |
| Travel | No | Yes |
| Motorcycle | Yes | Yes |
| Van | Yes | Yes |
| Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which one suits you
Pick Emergency Assist if cost and premium from matter most.
Pick RAC if offer and insurance types matter most.
Also worth a look
Save on Life has premium from at £5, against £19.32 for Emergency Assist and £166 for RAC.
Save on Life reviewEvery fact side by side
| Fact | Emergency Assist | RAC |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Monthly | Monthly |
| Legal entity | Emergency Assist Ltd | RAC Financial Services Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2017 | 1897Lower |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre | Phone, Chat, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Emergency Assist | RAC | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium from | £19.32above the median | £166highest quarter | £7.95 |
| Excess from | £0below the median | Not confirmed | £25 |
Median across 51 listed insurance providers.
Pros and cons
Emergency Assist
Pros
- Premiums start at £19.32 on a monthly basis
- Monthly payments available with support via phone and help centre
- Claims contact through phone and email for direct help
Cons
- Support runs on phone and help centre only
- Claims run through phone and email only
RAC
Pros
- One insurer for the full personal book: car, home, van, motorbike, travel and breakdown in auto, home and van
- Monthly payments confirmed across the book, with monthly the only model listed in monthly
- Support runs on phone, chat and help centre, and claims can be started by phone or chat in phone and chat
Cons
- Car premiums start at £166, above the site median of €8.37
- Van and breakdown cover sit in a small part of the market, 7.7% and 9.9% of brands
- Help centre and community are listed for support, so written and peer help sits behind the phone and chat options in phone, chat and help centre
Who each suits
Emergency Assist
Who it suits
- Drivers seeking phone based breakdown help
- Van and motorcycle owners wanting monthly terms
- Shoppers comfortable buying through a broker
Who should look elsewhere
- Shoppers wanting Hiscox for a different premium starting at $29.16
- Shoppers wanting andsafe for a different premium starting at €3.63
RAC
Who it suits
- GB drivers and households who hold a car, van, motorbike or home policy
- People who pay premiums monthly rather than in a single sum
- Anyone who wants a claims line by phone or chat, per phone and chat
Who should look elsewhere
- People chasing the lowest entry price, since £166 is far above €8.37
- Shoppers who want pet, life or health cover added to the same policy, none of which appear in auto, home and van
- Drivers outside GB, since the policies are written by a GB insurer, RAC Financial Services Limited
Current offers
RAC
Current offer
Bonus
Free upgrade to Online Plus cover for RAC members buying direct: Free upgrade to 5-star Defaqto rated Online Plus cover
RAC members who buy directly from rac.co.uk; no set discount applies on car insurance for breakdown members
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Discount for RAC Members on van insurance
Automatic discount applied to RAC members; optional extras selected during the online journey
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Emergency Assist | RAC |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
Emergency Assist
How much does Emergency Assist breakdown cover cost?+
Premiums start at £19.32 for Saver breakdown cover. The plan is sold on a monthly basis, with Monthly payments available to spread the cost. Exact pricing depends on vehicle and cover selected, so check the quote before purchase.
Is there an excess to pay on a claim?+
The Saver plan carries excess of £0, so there is nothing extra to pay toward an approved claim. That structure keeps callouts simple at the roadside. Always confirm the excess wording in the policy documents before relying on cover.
RAC
How much does RAC insurance cost?+
Car premiums are listed from £166, and that sits well above the site median of €8.37 across 252 brands. The entry price puts RAC near the back of the field on premium from, at 237. Quotes depend on your own details.
Can I pay RAC premiums monthly?+
Yes. Monthly payments are confirmed, and monthly lists monthly as the only pricing model. That spreads the cost of a policy across the year rather than asking for one payment, which suits anyone who prefers steady outgoing costs.