Breaking down anywhere is stressful — but breaking down in London is a particular problem. Stopping on a busy A-road, on a red route, in a bus lane or on the approach to a major junction in central London creates immediate hazards and will attract a response from the Metropolitan Police or TfL enforcement very quickly.
Red route restrictions: You cannot stop on a red route under any circumstances. If you break down on a red route, you need assistance fast — you'll face enforcement action if you remain stationary.
Bus lanes: Breaking down in a bus lane creates immediate problems for the bus network and you'll need rapid recovery.
Congestion multiplier: A single broken-down vehicle in the wrong place in London can create miles of queues in minutes.
Tunnels: Breaking down in Blackwall, Silvertown or Rotherhithe Tunnels triggers tunnel closure procedures — TfL will respond, but you need your own recovery arranged quickly.
Parking restrictions: Even a fixed breakdown can't simply be left where it is — you'll need recovery to a legal parking place.
⚠ Breaking down in a London tunnel
If your vehicle breaks down inside Blackwall, Silvertown or Rotherhithe Tunnel, the tunnel will be closed to other traffic and TfL's incident response will attend. Your breakdown provider still needs to arrange recovery — make sure your policy covers the London area and tunnel recovery scenarios.
Types of Breakdown Cover Explained
Cover Level
Roadside
Recovery
Home Start
Onward Travel
European
Roadside
✓
✗
✗
✗
✗
Roadside + Recovery
✓
✓
✗
✗
✗
Full UK Cover
✓
✓
✓
✓
✗
Full European
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
For London drivers, at minimum get Roadside + Recovery. Home start is also highly recommended — cold London mornings mean battery and starter motor failures at home are common. Full UK cover is ideal for anyone who occasionally leaves the city.
Quick Provider Comparison
💡 Use a comparison site first
Always start with a comparison site like Compare the Market or MoneySuperMarket to see the full market. Then check directly with AA and RAC who sometimes have better direct deals than what's on comparison sites.
Detailed Provider Reviews
🟡 AA Breakdown Cover
from ~£49/yr
The AA is the UK's largest breakdown provider with over 15 million members. In London specifically, the AA has one of the densest patrol networks — response times in central and inner London are typically among the fastest of any provider. Their app is excellent for tracking your patrol's arrival. They also offer the AA's own battery replacement service which is useful in London's cold winters.
The RAC is the AA's main competitor and a strong choice for London drivers. The RAC's "Rescue Specialist" model means that patrols carry more specialised equipment than some competitors, meaning a higher proportion of vehicles are fixed at the roadside rather than needing recovery. Their 24/7 UK contact centre and app tracking are both solid.
Green Flag offers some of the most competitive pricing in the market, particularly for drivers who don't need the brand recognition of the AA or RAC. They use a network of local garages and recovery firms rather than their own patrol fleet — this works well in London where the garage network is dense, but response times can be slightly more variable than the AA/RAC.
Many car insurers offer breakdown cover as an add-on or bundled product — often powered by the AA, RAC or Green Flag networks in the background. Admiral, LV=, Direct Line and Aviva all offer competitive add-on breakdown cover. If you're already with these insurers, adding breakdown cover as a bundle is often the best value route.
Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. JamCams.co.uk may earn a small commission if you purchase breakdown cover through these links, at no additional cost to you. We only recommend providers we consider genuinely good options for London drivers.
Money-Saving Tips for Breakdown Cover
Never auto-renew: Like car insurance, breakdown providers rely on inertia. Switch or threaten to switch every year to get the best price.
Personal vs vehicle cover: Personal cover protects you in any vehicle (useful if you hire cars, borrow cars, or travel as a passenger). Vehicle cover is usually cheaper but only covers one specific car.
Check your bank account: Many premium and packaged bank accounts (Nationwide FlexPlus, Halifax Ultimate Reward, Lloyds Platinum) include UK breakdown cover as a perk. Check what you already have before paying separately.
Check your car warranty: New and nearly-new cars often include roadside assistance as part of the manufacturer warranty — check your documentation before paying for separate cover.
Buy in advance: Most providers require you to take out cover 24 hours before it's valid. Don't wait until you break down to look for insurance.
Joint/family policies: Covering two or more drivers on a single policy is usually much cheaper than two individual policies.
