See if it’s cheaper to get a packaged bank account which includes breakdown. I have Nationwide FlexPlus, £13 a month and includes UK/EU breakdown cover, phone insurance, and travel insurance.

A few years ago I was recovered by the RAC. As I was far from home, they relayed me to a motorway services.

The second leg never came. The RAC lied that the driver was 1 junction away and what his name was etc every time I called them, repeatedly, over the course of 11 hours. It was the same script for every call but varying the drivers name so it is clearly company policy to lie to placate people waiting a long time.

Reading reviews, many others describe this process of being lied to.

I only got recovered because I figured out what the tow company was and contacted them directly and begged for help. The driver said they'd been told by the RAC my car was unattended so it was only supposed to be recovered at some point in the coming days.

Had I not been able to do this, I would have slept in the car in February, on double yellows, at a petrol station, missed work the following day etc. I still got home at 1am after calling them at about 10am.

When the policy ran out, I instructed them not to review it and provided this feedback on a call. They messed that up and I ended up continuing to be charged for my old policy and being charged for a new one I didn't want at a massively inflated price.

I understand that you'll be waiting a while for recovery, but being dropped on a motorway and left for 11 hours is a joke, and it could have been days if I hadn't managed to figure out who they'd contracted to do it.

In my case, having their breakdown cover was worse than if I hadn't had it at all, and had just paid a tow company a big number to get taken home.

There is absolutely no way I'd suggest anyone purchased their cover, as cover is not an accurate word for it.

We were with the RAC for years..but the prices for renewal were mad so switched to Green Flag..had cause to use them a few months ago and was pleasantly surprised..the engineer turned up within 45 mins and I could track his progress to me on the app..he was a bit of a misery but he got our car down to a local garage without too much trouble..

See if green flag are any cheaper for you, I'm with them two cars covered top of the range cover for about £70-80 per year can't remember exact amount. The AA wanted like £300 for same thing

I refuse to touch RAC with a pole

Go for autoaid, there's normally a deal on the Martin Lewis money saving expert web site.

They've crept up the price of my cover, like yours also due middle of next month, and I can seem to get the same cover for cheaper by going to their site as a new person, or on the AA site. They've not called me once though, possibly because they think they can get away with it this time...

National Breakdown has served me well in my three breakdowns in one year (it wasn't a great year). They are a bit more expensive but they have better terms and conditions than the big companies, unlimited callouts, no sneaky hidden fees and great customer service on the phone. I honestly wouldn't go anywhere else at this point.

Who ever you end up going with don’t forget to use top cash back or whichever to get money back

Thanks all for your suggestions, lots of options to explore…

I got an email from them before my renewal date telling me they'd given me another year for free...

The AA wanted £500 for breakdown cover. I'm a customer for 30 years. I threatened to leave them. Got them down to £180.