RAC and 1ST CENTRAL announce breakdown cover partnership

RAC and 1ST CENTRAL have today announced a new partnership that will make RAC breakdown cover available to the car insurer’s 500,000 customers from 12th September 2019.

1ST CENTRAL, a leading car insurance supplier, has partnered with RAC, Britain's most experienced breakdown provider. Breakdown cover supplied by the RAC will be included within both 1ST CENTRAL Plus and 1ST CENTRAL Premier products.

The RAC has a strong track record in providing its highly recommended breakdown cover as a car insurance add-on, as a result of working with a range of well-known insurers and banks.

1ST CENTRAL’s car insurance has been awarded a 5 Star Rating by independent financial information business, Defaqto, and achieved the prestigious national Servicemark award from the Institute of Customer Service.

RAC Business Roadside Managing Director, Phil Ryan, said: “We’re very pleased to have forged a new relationship with 1ST CENTRAL. We believe there is a great opportunity to encourage more of their customers to take out breakdown cover, given the high level of trust in the RAC brand.”

1ST CENTRAL Chief Commercial Officer, Andy James, said: “With customer service being one of the biggest differentiators for today’s insurance businesses, providing an easy experience is 1ST CENTRAL’s priority. We know our customers consider their breakdown needs to be an important part of their insurance offering. So, we’re delighted to be partnering with a trusted brand like RAC to provide breakdown cover, and believe they will offer great value and service to our customers.”

The RAC has recently developed an All-Wheels-Up recovery system, which turns a patrol van into a recovery vehicle, by lifting all four wheels of a stricken vehicle off the ground, saving customers time by not having to wait for a separate recovery vehicle. The recovery system, which is an extension of the rapid deployable tow system fitted in every RAC patrol van, can be used to transport a variety of vehicles that can’t currently be recovered by patrol vans, including electrics, hybrids, automatics and vehicles with multiple punctures or broken transmissions.

The RAC’s most recent innovation is its EV Boost technology, which enables electric vehicles to be given the equivalent of a fuel can top-up via a lightweight charger powered by the patrol van. It has also launched the RAC heavy duty 4x4 patrol van, which is a specially adapted Isuzu D-Max, fitted with the All-Wheels-Up recovery system and EV Boost, but capable of recovering heavier vehicles due to its greater towing capacity.

Press office team

Press office team

For journalist enquiries only

Share

Latest News

Website preview
M25 to shut during England game: RAC advice for drivers
RAC Breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said: “This weekend’s M25 closures could present a ‘red card’ for drivers heading home from Wembley Stadium on Friday night. With junctions 10 to 11 shutting at 9pm, just before the sold-out England game finishes, heavy congestion is almost inevitable for those traveling back to Sussex and Surrey. We encourage football fans to seek alternative routes where possible or use public transport to minimise queuing in traffic.
media.rac.co.uk
Website preview
Unexpected car repairs cost drivers more than £600 a year
RAC Mobile Mechanics increasingly doing ‘garage-type’ repairs on the drive
media.rac.co.uk
Website preview
AIA 2025 ALARM report on local road conditions - RAC reaction
Following the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) publishing its 2025 Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey, RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “Once again, these figures paint a bleak picture of the state of the nation’s roads and confirm what a majority of drivers have known for a long time – that in far too many parts of the country, road surfaces are simply not fit-for-purpose.
media.rac.co.uk

Get updates in your mailbox

By clicking "Subscribe" I confirm I have read and agree to the Privacy Policy.

About RAC Media Centre

The RAC, an iconic UK brand, provides complete peace of mind to nearly 14 million UK private and business drivers, whatever their motoring needs. As well as its premium nationwide breakdown assistance service – with an expert branded patrol workforce attending more than two million breakdowns every year – and European breakdown assistance products, it offers a wide range of market-leading products across insurance, legal services, vehicle inspections and service, maintenance and repair. Included in this is the first-of-its-kind nationwide Mobile Mechanics service which brings the garage to homes and workplaces. 

At the forefront of new solutions for business fleets and consumers, the RAC’s breakdown service is electric-ready with mobile EV charging technology and be called on using myRAC – its all-in-one route planner, fuel finder and breakdown reporting app