UK Vehicle Assistance and Recovery Market Analysis
The UK Vehicle Assistance and Recovery Market is expected to reach over £2 billion in 2025, growing at 5% despite economic challenges.
Memberships are rebounding post-pandemic, with projections of almost 33 million by 2025. Dominated by AA (more than 50% revenue share) and RAC (nearly 35%), the Vehicle Breakdown & Recovery Industry is driven by increased demand for bundled services and the rise of electric vehicles, prompting investments in specialised recovery services. The market is forecast to grow significantly in the foreseeable future, supported by technological innovations, sustainability efforts, and evolving consumer preferences for flexible payments and additional services.
UK Vehicle Assistance and Recovery Market Trends
Consumer trends in the UK Vehicle Assistance and Recovery Market are increasingly shaped by a preference for convenience, cost-effectiveness, and personalised services. Reliability and price are top priorities for consumers, with 92% considering these factors crucial when choosing a provider. There is a strong demand for online purchasing, with 34% of policies bought through digital platforms, especially provider websites and price comparison tools. Additionally, consumers are seeking flexibility, such as the ability to pay in installments and discounts for vehicle services. The rise of electric vehicles is also influencing consumer preferences, with increased interest in specialised recovery services for these vehicles, further driving the demand for innovative and tailored service offerings in the Vehicle Breakdown & Recovery Industry.
Purchase the UK Vehicle Assistance and Recovery Market Report 2025 for key insights into the rising demand for reliable, affordable, and tech-driven recovery services. The report covers opportunities in digital platforms, mobile apps, and specialised services for electric vehicles, alongside the growing preference for bundled services and flexible payment options to meet evolving consumer needs in the Vehicle Assistance and Recovery Market.
About The Report
The UK Vehicle Assistance and Recovery Market Report 2025 offers comprehensive insights into the current trends and future growth opportunities within the Vehicle Assistance and Recovery Market. The report covers key areas such as consumer preferences for digital and mobile-based services, the increasing demand for specialised recovery services for electric vehicles, and the shift toward bundled services and flexible payment options. It also examines market dynamics, including the competitive landscape, growth forecasts, and consumer purchasing behaviour. Surveyed areas include service provider offerings, consumer satisfaction, payment flexibility, and digital innovation. This Vehicle Breakdown & Recovery Industry report will benefit insurance providers, service operators, market analysts, and companies looking to innovate or expand their presence in the UK vehicle recovery sector.
Key Topics Analysed in the Report
- Preferred channels for obtaining assistance and recovery insurance, with online and bundled insurance leading consumer preferences, highlighting the importance of digital convenience and integrated service packages.
- Crucial factors in consumer decision-making when choosing a new assistance and recovery provider, such as affordability, reliability, speed, expertise, personalised service, and brand familiarity.
- Emerging growth opportunities shaped by key consumer priorities, such as coverage for repair costs, discounts, specialised services, flexible payment options, and access to additional insurance offerings.
- Prospects presented by future plans for holding vehicle assistance and recovery insurance, with recommended high-potential member segments to target.
| Report Attributes | Details |
|---|---|
| Published Date | June 2025 |
| Data Range | 2019-2030 |
| Measurement Metrics | Revenue in £ |
| Country Focus | United Kingdom (UK) |
| Consumer Data | 1,445 internet users aged 17+, May 2025 |
| Number of Pages | 81 |
| Market Segmentation | Recovery Insurance, Mobile Apps for Vehicle Recovery, Electric Vehicle Recovery Services, Bundled Vehicle Assistance Packages, Flexible Payment Options, and Additional Insurance Products (e.g., Replacement Batteries, Keys) |
| Leading Companies | AA, RAC, Green Flag, AXA Assistance, Allianz, LV= Britannia, Start Rescue, GEM Motoring |
Meet the Expert Behind the Analysis
This report was written by Utku Tansel. Utku is a member of the European Retail Team and responsible for research and writing reports/content. He has almost two decades of success in driving global thought leadership, project/content management experience delivering strategic business intelligence and actionable insight to major multinational companies.
Prioritising reliability, price, speed, expertise, and personalised experiences help companies meet current consumer needs, boosting loyalty/competitiveness.
Utku Tansel
Senior Retail Analyst
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- Opportunities for the vehicle assistance and recovery market
- Reliability and price are key
- Offer flexible payment solutions
- Leverage digital platforms
- Stand out with unique differentiation strategies
- Market dynamics and outlook
- Market size & forecast
- Outlook for vehicle assistance and recovery services
- Revenues to remain steady
- Memberships surpass pre-pandemic levels
- Graph 1: market size for vehicle assistance and recovery services, m members, 2020-25
- What consumers want and why
- The AA contines to lead amongst consumers
- Graph 2: ownership of vehicle assistance and recovery products, by organisation, 2025
- Convenience meets value: online options and bundled insurance options are a hit
- Graph 3: key channels used for acquiring current assistance and recovery insurance for the main vehicle, 2025
- Importance of price and non-price factors
- Graph 4: importance of price and non price factors, 2025
- Discounts and flexibility drive demand
- Graph 5: role of additional services when choosing a assistance and recovery provider, 2024 and 205
- Unlock the potential: boost coverage with smart upgrades
- Graph 6: future plans for holding vehicle assistance and recovery insurance, 2023-25
- Innovation and marketing
- AA launches game-changing app to monitor cars’ health
- RAC trials eco-friendly fuel to cut CO2 emissions
- AA and NatWest Boxed join forces to revolutionise customer finance
- RAC and OMODA announce roadside assistance collaboration
- AA continues to build on the power of reassurance
- AA delivers laughs and support with new campaign
- Green Flag keeps you covered via satellite on iPhone
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MARKET DYNAMICS
- Market size
- Roadside recovery market on the rise
- Graph 7: vehicle assistance and recovery market, revenues including IPT, 2020-25
- Surging memberships: steady growth in demand
- Rising premiums
- Market forecast
- Revenues to remain steady
- Driving the future: sustainability, tech innovation, and adapting to new demographics
- Market drivers
- Inflation continues to squeeze household budgets
- Graph 8: CPI* inflation rate, 2021-25
- Consumer confidence outlook
- Graph 9: consumers’ financial confidence over the next year or so, 2025
- The shift to alternative fuel cars: driving past petrol and diesel
- Racing toward 2030: service providers are adapting to the AFV revolution
- Pothole breakdowns double, says RAC
- UK and US make a breakthrough trade deal
- Even so, the UK is still working under tougher circumstances than before
- Market share
- AA commands the largest share…
- …followed by RAC
- Graph 10: company shares of the vehicle assistance and recovery market, estimated revenues including IPT,%, 2025*
- RAC and AA are estimated to be head to head when it comes to members
- Memberships: a two-horse race
- Graph 11: estimated company shares of the vehicle assistance and recovery market, memberships, %, 2025*
- Distribution channels
- Convenience meets value: online options and bundled insurance options are a hit
- Online and bundled insurance options are top channels
- Graph 12: key channels used for acquiring current assistance and recovery insurance for the main vehicle, 2025
- Online: a key channel
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WHAT CONSUMERS WANT AND WHY
- Presence of vehicle assistance of recovery companies
- The AA contines to lead amongst consumers
- Graph 13: ownership of vehicle assistance and recovery products, by organisation, 2025
- Market leaders shift: how income and age shape AA and RAC preferences
- AA and RAC dominate the market, but smaller rivals are gaining ground
- Graph 14: ownership of vehicle assistance and recovery products, by organisation, 2023-2025
- How cover is acquired
- Convenience meets value: online options and bundled insurance options are a hit
- Graph 15: key channels used for acquiring current assistance and recovery insurance for the main vehicle, 2025
- Consumers count on convenience
- Online: a key channel
- Graph 16: key channels used for acquiring current assistance and recovery insurance for the main vehicle – bought online directly from the provider’s website, by age, 2025
- Innovating Convenience: transforming the UK vehicle recovery experience
- Graph 17: key channels used for acquiring current assistance and recovery insurance for the main vehicle – included as part of the vehicle insurance, by age, 2025
- How to act on Convenience
- Importance of price and non-price factors
- Reliability, price, speed, and competence are top considerations
- Graph 18: importance of price and non price factors, 2025
- Price matters
- Reliability and competence are among key non-price factors
- Speed is paramount in vehicle recovery
- Make it personal
- Brand recognition drives customer choice in vehicle recovery services
- FloodGuard: revolutionising vehicle insurance for a climate-challenged future
- Driving the future: how vehicle recovery services can lead with innovation and sustainability
- Brand familiarity has stronger appeal with drivers in London
- Role of additional services when choosing a service provider
- Discounts and flexibility drive demand
- Graph 19: role of additional services when choosing an assistance and recovery provider, 2024 – 2025
- Winning over drivers: don’t under estimate the power of discounts
- Graph 20: role of discounts when choosing an assistance and recovery provider, by age group, 2025
- Adding value: additional insurance options becoming important
- Graph 21: the role of additional insurance products (eg cover for replacement batteries, keys) when choosing an assistance and recovery provider, 2023-25
- Specialist assistance and recovery services: an important consideration
- Graph 22: the role of specialist assistance and recovery services* when choosing an assistance and recovery provider, top responses from select groups, 2025
- How premium services can drive consumer loyalty in vehicle recovery
- Paying in instalments is a game-changer for many
- Graph 23: the role of ability to pay for the cover in instalments when choosing an assistance and recovery provider, select groups, 2025
- Customisation is key: meeting diverse consumer needs with tailored solutions
- Future plans for assistance and recovery cover
- Unlock the potential: boost coverage with smart upgrades
- Elevate coverage during renewal
- Graph 24: future plans for holding vehicle assistance and recovery insurance, 2023 – 2025
- Sticking with what  works
- Winning customers with added value and flexibility
- Target the undecided
- Graph 25: future plans for holding vehicle assistance and recovery insurance – I don’t know, by gender and age, 2025
- Driving simplicity: how vehicle recovery brands can streamline consumer choices
- Boost coverage with smart upgrades…
- Graph 26: future plans for holding vehicle assistance and recovery insurance – upgrade the level of cover with the current provider, select groups, 2025
- …by tapping into high-value member segments
- For those looking to upgrade the ability to pay in instalments is key
- Graph 27: “when my current vehicle assistance and recovery cover is due for renewal, I plan to upgrade the level of cover with my current provider (ie enhance the service package)” vs select considerations, 2025
- Stay ahead with innovation and transparency
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INNOVATION AND MARKETING TRENDS
- Launch activity and innovation
- AA and NatWest Boxed join forces to revolutionise customer finance
- AA powers ahead: new electric fleet takes net zero goals for a spin
- RAC trials eco-friendly fuel to cut CO2 emissions
- AA launches game-changing app to monitor cars’ health
- AA leverages the power of tech with further investments in digital
- RAC and OMODA announce roadside assistance collaboration
- RAC enhances groundbreaking mechanic apprenticeships nationwide with new northern hub
- The AA continues to develop service, maintenance, and repair offerings with the expansion of mobile mechanics
- Advertising and marketing activity
- Adspend on the rise
- Graph 28: total advertising expenditure on vehicle assistance and recovery services, 2021-25
- AA: the leading giant in advertising investment
- AA markedly outspends Green Flag in first quarter
- Graph 29: total advertising expenditure on vehicle assistance and recovery services, by advertiser, 2025*
- AA continues to build on the power of reassurance
- It’s OK I’m with The AA: support you can count on
- AA delivers laughs and support with new campaign
- Green Flag keeps you covered via satellite on iPhone
- TV dominates adspend, but digital and social channels are gaining share
- Graph 30: total advertising expenditure on vehicle assistance and recovery services, by media, 2022 & 2024
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APPENDIX
- Market forecast data and methodology
- Market forecast and prediction intervals (value)
- Forecast methodology
- Report scope and definitions
- Market definition
- Abbreviations and terms
- Consumer research methodology
- Nielsen Ad Intel coverage
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