RAC offers up to 200km in the city, 300km in rural areas (many brands have a cap of 100km or less)
Enjoy member perks, including discounts on insurance, fuel and movie tickets
With four policies to choose from, find cover that suits you and your vehicle
Cons
Even RAC's most basic policy is more expensive than many other brands we compared
RAC's premium policies are more than three times the cost of other basic brands
A hire car is only offered on RAC's top two tiers.
RAC roadside assistance options
RAC roadside assistance has a variety of options. Notably, you don't need to hold car insurance with RAC to get roadside assistance.
Options
Cost per year
Joining fee
Callout limits
Need to hold a policy with them?
Lockout / Lost key
Out of fuel
Breakdown towing
RAC Standard
$128
No joining fee
Unlimited
No
$0
No
20km in the city, 80km in rural areas
RAC Classic
$220
No joining fee
20km in the city, 80km in rural areas
No
$165
No
100km in the city, 200km in rural areas
RAC Ultimate
$330
No joining fee
Unlimited
No
$165
No
100km in the city, 200km in rural areas
RAC Ultimate Plus
$410
No joining fee
Unlimited
No
$200
Up to $50 a year
200km in the city, 300km in rural areas
This information is accurate as of April 2025
How does RAC roadside assistance compare with other popular roadside assistance providers?
RAC caters to a wide range of drivers, with four different policy levels to choose from. The higher tiers have particularly strong benefits, including an impressive 300km towing limit, cover while driving any vehicle, and a hire car following an irreparable breakdown.
However, the lower-tier policies offer a similar level of cover to many other roadside assistance brands, despite being more expensive than the standard.
RAC has a 48-hour waiting period. If you break down within this waiting period, you can still call RAC for help, but you'll have to join and pay the relevant fees.
No. If you call RAC for help, you'll have to sign up over the phone and pay the relevant fees.
Nicola Middlemiss is a journalist with nearly a decade of experience in personal finance and insurance. She has contributed to Domain, Yahoo Finance, Money Magazine and Insurance Business Australia, offering in-depth insights into commercial insurance in the Australian market. Nicola holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Leeds and a Tier 1 General Insurance (General Advice) certification, which complies with ASIC standards.
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If a car breaks down say near the wa border and cannot be driven further and a tow truck is required for both the car and a caravan being towed by the said vehicle are the both vehicle and van covered for towing to the nearest town or is there a separate charge for the caravan
Finder
JamesMay 26, 2023Finder
Hi Kerry,
Great question. Many roadside assistance policies include cover for trailers or caravans; however, not all do. At the time of writing, RAC offers 4 options for roadside assistance. While 3 policies offer coverage for trailers/caravans, its entry-level Standard policy doesn’t.
Also, keep in mind that policies typically specify a kilometre limit for how far you can be towed under your insurance after a breakdown. This is often around 50km in metro areas, and 100km in remote areas.
For these reasons, it’s really important you read your policy wording with care. Be sure to reach out to the insurance provider directly if you’re unsure on what you’d be covered for.
Australian Unity car insurance, underwritten by Allianz, offers two levels of cover, the freedom to choose your own repairer and an easy 24-hour claims service.
With a higher-than-average price but no particularly impressive benefits, Allianz was outperformed by many other car insurers in the 2024 Finder Insurance Awards.
Explore our analysis and see how you can find the best car insurance for your needs.
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If a car breaks down say near the wa border and cannot be driven further and a tow truck is required for both the car and a caravan being towed by the said vehicle are the both vehicle and van covered for towing to the nearest town or is there a separate charge for the caravan
Hi Kerry,
Great question. Many roadside assistance policies include cover for trailers or caravans; however, not all do. At the time of writing, RAC offers 4 options for roadside assistance. While 3 policies offer coverage for trailers/caravans, its entry-level Standard policy doesn’t.
Also, keep in mind that policies typically specify a kilometre limit for how far you can be towed under your insurance after a breakdown. This is often around 50km in metro areas, and 100km in remote areas.
For these reasons, it’s really important you read your policy wording with care. Be sure to reach out to the insurance provider directly if you’re unsure on what you’d be covered for.
Best,
James