In other countries across the globe, roadside assistance tends to be the main term used to explain emergency roadside services. Here in the UK it could be described as the entry level to breakdown cover, or the most basic service available and also the cheapest. In past years, the cost to the consumer of roadside assistance would go up and down depending on what offers were on and if quantity of policies wee needed over bottom line.

Now though, the prices of roadside assistance seems to have remained reasonably consistent over the last 12 months with all the 3 main providers offering similar pricing.

Lets start with the AA, who’s current introductory online roadside assistance price starts from £28. The AA used to be the more expensive provider of breakdown cover, claiming they had more dedicated patrolmen and were the largest supplier. But now their pricing is pretty much in line with the RAC.

Then there is the RAC who’s online roadside assistance policies also start from £28 and was seen as the second largest provider of breakdown cover , but recent TV adverts state they fix more cars by the roadside than anyone else, so the consumer is now a bit unsure of who is the biggest now.

Green Flag offer roadside assistance from £20, which is probably the cheapest of all polices anywhere, but this is strongly based on the car you drive and the miles you drive a year. The application form is more detailed than the other 2 application forms, so not everyone gets the £20 price.

There is clearly a fighting war over roadside assistance pricing, where they know this level of the market is more price sensitive than say recovery, home start or the more substantial breakdown polices out there. There seems to be a “low pricing everyday” culture rather than the season special offers that used be applied. We also can’t forget that some insurance companies like Churchill offer free Green Flag Roadside Assistance with their car insurance polices, so putting pressure on providers to keep this level of cover as cheap as possible.

Next year’s premiums are also in the game here as a large proportion of policy holders will just renew automatically with no guarantee that the online prices you see as now as new customer will be presented within your renewal letter. So these prices could be a lost leader, for the first 12 months anyway.

Prices may have changed since time of writing, please check websites direct.