Stay ahead of the curve and future-proof your business with Mintel’s UK Vehicle Assistance and Recovery Market Report 2023. Our full report is packed with consumer-led market intelligence, the latest vehicle recovery market research, trends and consumer behaviours affecting your business. Get a 360° view of the vehicle recovery market, including market size, share and forecasted growth to help you align your business strategy with the needs of your audience.
Below, we’ve handpicked the key insights analysed in the full report and summarised the core topics.
Topics Analysed in this Report
- The impact of the current cost of living crisis on demand for vehicle assistance and recovery services.
- Recent developments in premiums and memberships.
- Specific developments by average price, type of policy and channel used.
- Key drivers impacting the future development of the vehicle recovery market.
- Consumer preferences; by company and how policies are purchased.
Vehicle Recovery Market: Overview
The current cost of living crisis is exerting significant pressure on the vehicle recovery market. Despite moves by key players in the UK recovery services market to move away from price and add value to their services, the issue of competing on price remains and potentially may re-assert itself.
- Vehicle recovery market size: The market value is forecasted to slow to 3.3% in 2023 compared to 4.9% in 2022.
Vehicle Recovery Market: Trends and Opportunities
Diversification of portfolios
There is an opportunity for retailers in the vehicle recovery market to add value through diversification of their portfolio. Mintel’s vehicle recovery market research suggests a consumer appetite for areas such as repair cost cover, discounts for SMR (servicing, maintenance and repair) and discounts for fast fit.
- Vehicle recovery market research: RAC is increasing its involvement in SMR.
Importance of fully comprehensive
Fully comprehensive policy styles are by far the largest part of the vehicle recovery market. Mintel believes the popularity of these products reflects the importance of holding car insurance coverage for a variety of needs.
- Breakdown recovery market share: Comprehensive policies have an 83% market share.
Purchase our UK Vehicle Assistance and Recovery Market Report to receive a five-year forecast, consumer behaviour analysis, and recommendations for market opportunities. Readers of this report may also be interested in UK Car Finance Market Report 2023.
Leading Brands in the Vehicle Recovery Market
RAC, AA, Direct Line Group, Green Flag.
Additional Features Included with Your Purchase
- Interactive Databook: Each Databook is provided as an interactive website where you can deep dive into our consumer research data on your chosen topic so you can draw your own conclusions.
- Consumer Confidence Tracker: Our Trackers paint the picture of the economic confidence and major concerns of up to 40 different demographics, tracking changes in attitudes over time.
- Custom PowerPoints: Incorporate our consumer research data into your own work so you can win over your clients and stakeholders. Select insights from your report to create a custom presentation that is ready to download in minutes.
- Different Digital Formats: PDF for conveniently sharing with your team, PowerPoint for quickly including in your presentations.
- Mintel’s Clients Portal: Our portal provides instant access to actionable analysis, podcasts, and trend pieces relevant to your industry that are published almost daily, as well as our annual Global Consumer Trends. You can also browse our extensive catalogue of market research reports.
Expert Insights from a Retail Analyst
This report, written by Neil Mason, a leading research analyst, delivers in-depth commentary and analysis to highlight trends in the vehicle recovery market and add expert context to the numbers.
The pressures of the cost of living crisis are expected to slow revenue growth during 2023. While such a development is likely to raise the importance of price amongst some consumers, Mintel’s research suggests this is not the most important factor when purchasing. Non-price factors are equally significant and illustrate the importance of the service package offered by those serving the vehicle assistance and recovery market.”
Neil Mason
Retail Category Director
Collapse All
-
Overview
- Key issues covered in this Report
- Products covered in this Report
-
Executive Summary
- The five year outlook for vehicle assistance and recovery services
- Figure 1: Vehicle assistance and recovery services outlook, 2023-28
- The market
- Revenue growth set to strengthen as cost of living pressures ease
- Figure 2: Market forecast for the vehicle assistance and recovery market, 2018-28
- Stagnating membership numbers illustrate challenges for the market
- Figure 3: Vehicle recovery services market, membership, 2018-23
- Average premiums show a steady rise hinting that more will be sought from service providers
- Figure 4: Average premium paid, 2018-23
- Importance attached to fully comprehensive policies illustrates potential for service expansion
- Figure 5: Segmentation of the vehicle recovery market (value), by policy type, 2022
- Buying direct illustrates importance of how a company presents itself to the market
- Figure 6: Segmentation of the vehicle recovery market (value), by direct/indirect channels, 2022
- Growing profile for older cars reinforces need to address issues specific to this group
- Figure 7: Age structure of the UK car parc in years, 2018-22
- Companies and brands
- AA and RAC are tightening their hold over the market
- Figure 8: Company shares of the vehicle assistance and recovery market, by premium and membership, 2023 (est)
- Product and market development typify strategies being pursued by the big two
- Sizeable investment in advertising support illustrates confidence of service providers
- Figure 9: Total above-the-line, online display and direct mail advertising expenditure on breakdown recovery, 2019-23
- Faced with a battle between price and quality, smaller brands need to position themselves differently
- Figure 10: Attitudes, by brand, 2023
- The consumer
- Top three brands are the main choice for consumers
- Figure 11: Ownership of breakdown cover, by recovery organisation, 2023
- Traditional methods of sale continue to hold niche appeal
- Figure 12: Key means by which current breakdown cover for your main vehicle was acquired, 2023
- Searching for a provider is about more than just price
- Figure 13: Importance of price and non-price factors, 2023
- Cost-of-living crisis raises interest in added value services
- Figure 14: Role of additional services when choosing a breakdown recovery provider, 2023
- Families offer good opportunities for policy upgrades
- Figure 15: Future plans for holding breakdown cover, 2023
- The five year outlook for vehicle assistance and recovery services
-
Issues and Insights
- Cost-of-living crisis threatens to usher in a return to price competition
- Strong B2B performance from AA and RAC threatens to marginalise DLG
- Growth in online purchasing illustrates necessity for digital immersion by service providers
-
Market Size and Performance
- Revenue growth slows as the cost of living crisis impacts
- Figure 16: UK vehicle assistance and recovery market, membership revenues including IPT, 2018-23
- Memberships expected to flatline in 2023 after recent good growth
- Figure 17: UK vehicle assistance and recovery services market, membership, 2018-23
- Revenue growth slows as the cost of living crisis impacts
-
Market Forecast
- The trend towards service diversification within the market is set to continue
- Figure 18: Vehicle assistance and recovery services outlook, 2023-28
- Inflation and moves by providers to add value will both stimulate revenue growth
- Figure 19: Market forecast for vehicle assistance and recovery market, 2018-28
- Learnings from the last economic slowdown
- Figure 20: The vehicle recovery market, by value, 2007-12
- Forecast methodology
- The trend towards service diversification within the market is set to continue
-
Market Segmentation
- Cost-of-living crisis benefits ad hoc segment of the market…
- Figure 21: Segmentation of the vehicle assistance and recovery market, by value at current prices, 2018-23
- …as well as overall average premiums
- Figure 22: Vehicle assistance and recovery market, average premium paid including IPT, 2018-23
- Comprehensive policies maintain market dominance
- Figure 23: Segmentation of the vehicle assistance and recovery market (value), by policy type, 2022
- Policies purchased indirectly account for over a third of revenues
- Figure 24: Segmentation of the vehicle assistance and recovery market (value), by direct/indirect channels, 2022
- Cost-of-living crisis benefits ad hoc segment of the market…
-
Channels to Market
- While over a third of policies are now being acquired online…
- …traditional sales channels remain popular with some
- Figure 25: Key channels used for purchasing vehicle assistance and recovery insurance, 2019, 2021 and 2023
-
Market Drivers
- Inflation will continue to eat into consumer spending power over the course of 2023
- Figure 26: Unleaded and Diesel fuel prices (including duty and VAT), 2020-23
- Further interest rate increases will hit mortgage-holders
- High inflation and rising interest rates will compound the impact of the slowing recovery
- Consumer spending power will be curbed
- Low unemployment is helping underpin
- Consumers’ financial wellbeing has fallen from the highs of 2021…
- Figure 27: Household financial wellbeing index, 2016-23
- …and most people are feeling the effects of price rises
- Expansion of the UK car parc has slowed recently…
- Figure 28: Number of licensed cars (Great Britain), million units, 2000-22
- …with number of cars on the road expected to fall in the next decade
- Figure 29: Car parc (UK) forecast, central scenario, 2020-35
- Stronger new and used car sales during 2023 signal market recovery
- Figure 30: New and used car market volumes (United Kingdom), million units, 2018-23
- Growing profile for older cars provides a major boost for market
- Figure 31: Age structure of the UK car parc in years, 2018-22
- Demand for hybrid vehicles is shifting market into new directions
- Figure 32: Number of licensed cars (United Kingdom), million units, 2018-23
- Inflation will continue to eat into consumer spending power over the course of 2023
-
Market Share
- AA boosted by consumer and business growth
- Figure 33: Company shares of the vehicle assistance and recovery market, by membership, 2017-23
- Call Assist increasingly leads amongst smaller players
- Figure 34: Share of those outside of the big three (RAC, AA, Direct Line Group), by membership, 2017-23
- Moves to add value benefit both AA and RAC
- Figure 35: Company shares of the vehicle assistance and recovery market, by value, 2017-23
- AA boosted by consumer and business growth
-
Competitive Strategies
- Service differentiation is the main strategic approach to the market
- Core and periphery approach by the AA to market and service development
- RAC investing in SMR and digital support
- How you pay offers further differentiation
- Use of recommendations to raise quality
- Figure 36: Use of independent recommendations (leading seven providers by membership), 2023
- Continuing use of price at PoS
- Links with partners are essential for members
- Demands from automotive manufacturers benefit AA and RAC…
- …with financial partners having similar broad needs
- Stripped down demands in the retail sector benefit those offering more basic services
-
Launch Activity and Innovation
- RAC launch service to assist motorists with maintenance…
- Figure 37: RAC Service and MOT Plan, 2023
- …as well as broadening support with a mobile mechanic service
- Figure 38: RAC Mobile Mechanics, 2023
- Green Flag trials own fleet of support vehicles
- Figure 39: Green Flag trials own fleet, 2023
- Green Flag partners with Chargepoint to champion EV adoption
- Figure 40: Green Flag partnership with Rightcharge, 2023
- RAC launch service to assist motorists with maintenance…
-
Advertising and Marketing Activity
- Buoyant expenditure as sector recovers post pandemic
- Figure 41: Total above-the-line, online display and direct mail advertising expenditure on breakdown recovery, 2019-23
- AA dominates as the main spender in the market
- Figure 42: Recorded above-the-line, online display and direct mail total advertising expenditure on breakdown recovery, by advertiser, 2019-23
- Over half of investment is directed towards television
- Figure 43: Recorded above-the-line, online display and direct mail total advertising expenditure on breakdown recovery, by media type, 2019 and 2022
- Nielsen Ad Intel coverage
- Buoyant expenditure as sector recovers post pandemic
-
Brand Research
- AA leads from others on trust and differentiation
-
- Figure 44: Attitudes towards and usage of selected brands, 2023
- Awareness and past use make the AA the brand most would recommend
- Figure 45: Key metrics for selected brands, 2023
- Brand attitudes: Price, quality and individuality distinguish five leading brands
- Figure 46: Attitudes, by brand, 2023
- Brand personality: Big three viewed as having similar macro personalities
- Figure 47: Brand personality – Macro image, 2023
- Brand personality: Smaller brands can build presence by developing their micro personalities
- Figure 48: Brand personality – Micro image, 2023
-
Presence of Breakdown Recovery Organisations
- AA dominates the market
- Figure 49: Ownership of breakdown cover, by recovery organisation, 2023
- Older women fail to see the appeal of the AA
- Smaller brands rival the AA when it comes to young adults
- Green Flag lacks city appeal
- RAC registers broad appeal amongst different income groups
- Larger service providers under perform in attracting hybrid car owners
- Green Flag suffers fall in share as others register small gains
- Figure 50: Ownership of breakdown cover, by recovery organisation, 2019-23
- AA dominates the market
-
How Cover is Acquired
- Online and bundled with vehicle insurance dominate
- Figure 51: Key means by which current breakdown cover for your main vehicle was acquired, 2023
- Links with car insurance providers shouldn’t be underestimated
- Freebies don’t just appeal to the less wealthy
- Traditional sales methods still retain interest
- Getting cover for free popular with hybrid car owners
- Lack of partner presence evident for Green Flag
- Buyers of new cars are more likely to acquire cover for free or have it included with vehicle insurance
- Bundling with vehicle insurance is proving increasingly popular
- Figure 52: Key means by which current breakdown cover for your main vehicle was acquired, 2021-23
- Online and bundled with vehicle insurance dominate
-
Importance of Price and Non-Price factors
- Reliability, speed of response and competence lead over price
- Figure 53: Importance of price and non-price factors, 2023
- Ethnic minorities want more from suppliers
- Rural worries about reliability
- Physical evidence is important for hybrid car owners
- Green Flag poorly positioned to take on AA
- Physical evidence is important for new car buyers
- Online purchasers show lack of interest in physical evidence
- Reliability, speed of response and competence lead over price
-
Importance of Additional Services when Choosing a Provider of Services
- Cover for replacement parts is the clear winner when it comes to additional services
- Figure 54: Role of additional services when choosing a breakdown recovery provider, 2023
- Additional services and discounts appeal to young women
- Older men want to keep things simple
- Specialist assistance and diagnostic technology of interest to new car owners
- Charging support of interest to hybrid owners
- Development of technology to take on the AA
- More can be done to raise interest with telephone buyers
- Cover for replacement parts is the clear winner when it comes to additional services
-
Future Plans for Holding Breakdown Cover
- A quarter of those with policies are unsure what will happen at renewal
- Figure 55: Future plans for holding breakdown cover, 2023
- Young adults are more likely to change their current level of cover
- Welcoming those who want to pay less
- Appealing to families offers good opportunities
- Changing demands evident amongst hybrid owners
- Smaller service providers are likely to see more volatile customer decision making
- More can be done by insurance partners to encourage upgrading
- A quarter of those with policies are unsure what will happen at renewal
-
Appendix – Data Sources, Abbreviations and Supporting Information
- Abbreviations
- Consumer research methodology
-
Appendix – Forecast Methodology
- Market forecast and prediction intervals
- Figure 56: Market forecast and prediction intervals for the vehicle recovery market, 2023-28
- Market drivers and assumptions
- Forecast methodology
- Market forecast and prediction intervals
Market Intelligence Made Easier With Mintel
The first Mintel Market Intelligence report was published over 50 years ago. Since then, we have provided our unique insights and understanding of consumers, innovation and global markets to thousands of customers worldwide. Here’s why our customers rely on Mintel:
- Gain a comprehensive, 360-degree view of the market: Mintel reports blend consumer research, market forecasts, product innovation tracking, and competitive analysis, allowing businesses to see every angle of their industry and identify new opportunities quickly.
- Make decisions with confidence, grounded in robust data: Each report draws on up-to-date, reliable information from trusted sources and industry experts, ensuring your strategies are based on solid evidence rather than speculation.
- Benefit from expert analysis and practical recommendations: Mintel’s reports are written by experienced analysts who interpret complex data and provide clear, actionable insights you can trust to guide your next moves.
- Stay ahead with actionable intelligence on market trends and consumer behaviour: By combining fresh research with long-term market monitoring, our reports help businesses anticipate changes and adapt strategically. So you’re prepared to make informed decisions and drive growth.
What goes into a Mintel Market Intelligence Report?
Curious about how a Market Intelligence report comes together? We like to think of it as building a detailed puzzle. We start with individual pieces: data from consumers, market statistics, industry trends, and online conversations. Then our expert analysts add world-class human insight and industry knowledge. The pieces are assembled to reveal a clear, comprehensive picture of a market.
The Four Pillars of Our Research
We use a combination of four main research methods when creating our reports, each adding a valuable perspective:
- Consumer Research: Direct surveys with real people, giving us clear, current insights into what people think and do.
- Desk Research: In-depth review of trusted data sources. We use this rich database, plus powerful internal tools that track new products and market sizes, to detect trends and guide forecasts.
- Trade Research: Insights from conversations with industry experts. Their real-world experience helps us understand what’s happening behind the scenes.
- Brand and Social Media Research: Analysis of online opinions and trends. This lets us spot trends, measure brand sentiment, and capture feedback in real time, adding further depth to our research.
Bringing It All Together
Each of these four pillars provides a different piece of the puzzle. Consumer research tells us what customers think, desk research provides the factual framework, trade research offers an insider’s view, and social media analysis reveals public sentiment.
Our expert analysts are skilled in weaving these diverse data streams together. They apply a range of quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques to uncover the deeper story, connecting the dots to deliver clear, actionable insights. This comprehensive, multi-layered process is how we transform raw data into a market intelligence report you can trust to inform your most important business decisions.
For a closer look at a Mintel Market Intelligence Report, take a look at the sample PDF report below:
Please Note: All of the figures, graphs, and tables in this sample report have been redacted.
$ 2,995 (Excl.Tax)
-
Download today with instant access
Pay via credit card or purchase order
-
Multiple formats provided
We send a PDF, Powerpoint and Excel Databook straight to your inbox. An interactive version of the report is also available on our online platform
-
Interactive databook included
Focus on the data that matters most to you with a customisable databook avaliable on our platform
Next Starts Here
Whatever your business needs, we have the solution. From market intelligence reports to customised growth strategies.
Learn moreTrusted by global industry leaders
Mintel is really good for getting a handle on a particular category quickly. If we are working on a new business pitch in an area we don’t have much experience in, it’s a brilliant way to get up to speed with what’s going on, what’s changing and what the key trends are in any category.
It’s very rare now that anyone will plough through a 200-page report – that’s why the summaries are really useful. We know they are backed up by a lot of detail, so if you need to go into something in more depth you know the information will be all there for you.
Pauline Robson, Managing Partner, Mediacom
Working in a customer-obsessed organization means that data and insights have to be at our fingertips. Mintel’s reports help us support anecdotes with real quantifiable insights. The summary sections (which I really like) helps save time by giving a birds eye view of the content before spending time combing through the pages.
Our business review discussions are strengthened by the relevancy of the reports to help us better understand our customers. In addition, the customer service received from the team (especially in crunch periods) makes the process of understanding customer behavior even better.
Ngozi Ngonadi-Nkwoji, Senior Marketing Manager, Amazon
We use Mintel Reports, mostly for financial services and ecommerce markets, plus a few retail and technology ones.
As a leading payments provider, we value additional insights into consumer behaviour, opinions and trends that are shaping the many different markets we operate in. Mintel is a very good and very quick way for us to obtain those insights.
We use Mintel to get a view on where a particular market is going, which can support us in product development and help us identify opportunities or indeed risks, it is a very useful barometer of a market’s potential.
Andrew Neeson, Market Intelligence Manager, VocaLink
At Jackman, we believe that powerful strategies are based on human insight. Mintel’s leading-edge reports and insights into consumer attitudes and behaviors are an important input as we develop and execute strategy.
Alana Gavin, VP Research and Insights, Jackman
There is no question that Mintel is the go-to resource for the best quality market research, but I did not think it was an affordable option for Abacus Marketing to consider. As a small marketing agency, we only work with a few new clients each year.
However, we have a very high-end consultative approach to our work, so we really do need a partner like Mintel to provide the big agency experience we are always aiming to deliver. Our clients come from an incredibly diverse range of industry sectors, so we obviously need access to market research reports from a very wide spectrum of marketplaces – and that is precisely what we got.
Stephen Taylor-Brown, Managing Director, Abacus
Next Starts Here
Whatever your business needs, we have the solution. From market intelligence reports to customised growth strategies.
Learn more
