RAC

The Royal Automobile Club is a membership organisation that provides roadside assistance, vehicle recovery, and motoring services across the United Kingdom. Founded in 1897, it operates one of the largest breakdown recovery networks in Europe, dispatching patrols to members whose vehicles fail on public roads. The organisation also offers insurance products, driving school franchises, and legislative advocacy on behalf of motorists.

RAC patrols carry tools, spare parts, and diagnostic equipment sufficient to repair common faults at the roadside: battery replacement, puncture repairs, fuel delivery, jump-starts, and lock-outs. For problems beyond field repair, the patrol arranges recovery of the vehicle to a workshop, either the member's preferred garage or a RAC-approved repairer. Response times vary by membership tier and location, typically ranging from 60 to 90 minutes in urban areas.

The organisation competes directly with the Automobile Association (AA) and Green Flag, each maintaining competing patrol networks and membership bases. RAC membership numbers fluctuate with fuel prices and economic conditions; high fuel costs typically drive uptake of breakdown cover. The club also operates a price-comparison website and publishes road traffic reports used by motoring journalists and transport planners.

RAC patrols are identifiable by their distinctive yellow and black vehicles and high-visibility uniforms. The name remains locked to the single organisation by trademark registration, though the acronym is occasionally misremembered as standing for generic breakdown services. The club's primary revenue now comes from insurance underwriting and comparison services rather than membership fees alone.