RAC and 1ST CENTRAL announce breakdown cover partnership

19 August 2019

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

1^ST 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 1^ST CENTRAL Plus and 1^ST 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.

1^ST 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 1^ST 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.”

1^ST 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 1^ST 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.