RAC vs The AA:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, The AA had more branded searches than RAC among breakdown cover providers in the United Kingdom. The AA had about 99,000 branded searches, while RAC had 49,500. The AA made up 44% of all breakdown cover provider searches we track, and RAC accounted for 22%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about breakdown cover providers, RAC and The AA each appeared in four of the five answers. The AA was mentioned before RAC in every answer that named either.
Who do people search for more?
The AA, about 2 searches for every 1 for RAC
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 4 of 5 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
The AA, named ahead of RAC in 4 of 4 answers
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Top breakdown cover providers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, RAC and The AA were each mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. The AA was listed before RAC in every answer that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- The AA1st
AutoAid2nd
Green Flag3rd
Start Rescue4th
RAC5th
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Green Flag5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- The AA4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- RAC4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Start Rescue3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- AutoAid3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about breakdown cover providers
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which breakdown cover provider should I use in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best breakdown cover providers in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best value breakdown cover in the UK for an older car?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“breakdown cover”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best breakdown cover”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United Kingdom on October 22, 2026.
Is RAC or The AA more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for RAC and The AA by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all five breakdown cover providers we track, month by month, from searches in United Kingdom.
Share of searches by month for The AA, RAC. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | The AA | Green Flag | RAC | Start Rescue | AutoAid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 49.2% | 24.6% | 20.1% | 3.3% | 2.8% |
| Nov 2025 | 49.4% | 24.7% | 20.2% | 2.7% | 3% |
| Dec 2025 | 49.6% | 22.3% | 22.3% | 3% | 2.8% |
| Jan 2026 | 46.9% | 25.8% | 21.1% | 2.8% | 3.3% |
| Feb 2026 | 44.5% | 24.5% | 24.5% | 3.3% | 3.4% |
| Mar 2026 | 46.4% | 25.5% | 20.9% | 3.4% | 3.8% |
| Apr 2026 | 48.8% | 26.8% | 18% | 2.9% | 3.5% |
| May 2026 | 46.6% | 25.6% | 21% | 3.4% | 3.4% |
| Jun 2026 | 44.2% | 29.7% | 19.9% | 3.3% | 2.9% |
| Jul 2026 | 46.6% | 28.5% | 19% | 3.1% | 2.8% |
| Aug 2026 | 44.1% | 29.6% | 19.8% | 3.2% | 3.2% |
| Sep 2026 | 44% | 26.9% | 22% | 3.6% | 3.6% |
How has the RAC and The AA comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The AA was ahead of RAC in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, RAC’s share of searches among breakdown cover providers in the United Kingdom moved from 20.1% to 22%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 49.5K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, The AA’s share of searches among breakdown cover providers in the United Kingdom moved from 49.2% to 44%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 121K to 99K.
How did search popularity change for United Kingdom breakdown cover providers in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, RAC gained share of searches among breakdown cover providers in the United Kingdom, from 19.8% to 22%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for The AA in the United Kingdom fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 121K to 99K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using RAC’s and The AA’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
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