RAC Home Insurance Review and Quotes
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Discover the methodologyWould you like to protect your home against any damage or an unfortunate event such as a house fire or theft?
Are you wondering if RAC is the best home insurance company to protect your house?
You’ve come to the right place.
This ultimate and up-to-date review on RAC home insurance gathers all you need to know: consumers reviews, cover details, prices, claim process, contact numbers and much more. Let’s dive right into it.
Is RAC the best insurance company for you?
Getting the best home insurance deal is not just about the price. Indeed, focusing on just getting the cheapest deal might be a bad calculation when it comes to getting a good pay-out if your home is damaged as a result of an unfortunate event such as theft, fire or natural disaster.
At Safe, we’ve studied in detail RAC's home policy terms and conditions and given our own ratings based on different criteria for combined building and contents insurance policy.
4,2 Safe overall rating for RAC
| Safe rating | Our opinion | |
|---|---|---|
| Customer service & satisfaction and claims |
24/7 claims hotline is available | |
| Cover provided for your home |
Alternative accommodation is provided | |
| Value for money |
NCD available | |
| Financial strength | RAC's Home Insurance is administered by BISL limited (part of the BGL Group) | |
| Technology |
Detailed information is provided on the website |
Expert and customer satisfaction reviews for RAC home insurance
| Review organisation | RAC home insurance reviews |
|---|---|
Defaqto expert |  |
| Top cashback | 2/5 based on 58 customer reviews |
| Reviews.io | 2,79/5 based on 690 opinions |
Our general opinion on RAC home insurance
RAC was founded in 1897 and their home insurance service is administered by BISL Limited. One level of cover is provided and this cover has a 5 star rating from Defaqto.
RAC offers both Building and Content Cover and there is the option to combine both cover options. For the building cover, a sum of £75,000 is provided for alternative accommodations. The policy also covers up to £500 if your locks or keys have to be replaced. And there is also £5000 available for when you go to college or university and something gets stolen while it was temporarily kept in your dorm.
Standard contents insurance ranks a bit higher with up to £20000 for alternative accommodation and up to £5000 cover for items temporarily removed. Accidental damage as standard.
Other situations that are covered by RAC are fire, explosion, water damage, burglary, vandalism, liability, impact damage made by vehicles, storms, earthquakes and floods.
RAC has customers customer portal, social media help supports, which makes it easier for their policyholders to gain better access to their services. Their customer care reviews are on the average side but their services are recommended.
What does RAC home insurance cover?
What is more important than protecting your home – the roof under which you sleep with your loved ones?
Applying for home insurance at RAC will allow you to protect the structure of your home (buildings insurance), what is inside (contents insurance) or both (combined buildings and contents insurance).
Without home insurance, your home is exposed to any kind of risk, from a minor water leak to a fire, and you are liable for any repairs – whatever the cost this represents.
Home insurance at RAC covers you for any damage made as a result of an unfortunate event such as theft, fire and natural disaster causing leaks, flooding, etc.
RAC buildings and contents insurance
RAC provides three main types of household insurance:
- Buildings insurance
- Contents and personal possessions insurance
- Combined policy
Buildings insurance covers the structural aspects of your home. It will cover any damage made to your walls, floors, ceiling, windows, outbuildings, garages, etc. You can also extend your buildings insurance to permanent fixtures such as bathrooms, etc. Buildings insurance is for homeowners.
Good to know
If you buy your property and get a mortgage for this, you will be asked to provide valid buildings insurance. Buildings insurance is not mandatory, though. However, you must know that an average claim for repairing a burst pipe for example is £25 000.
Contents insurance will cover any damage made to your belongings inside your home or in your garden (TV and other appliances, furniture, etc). In other words, it will cover anything which is not structural.
Good to know
House contents insurance is highly recommended (especially in case you get burgled or if you are renting a furnished flat) but is not mandatory.
In the event of a fire, for instance, buildings insurance will give you compensation for your home structure, your walls, roofing or other structural elements damaged during the fire, and contents insurance will cover any damage made to your household appliances, furniture, jewellery and so on.
You will find below policy details for building and contents insurance:
| RAC building insurance | Limits |
|---|---|
| Maximum sum insured | £750 000 |
| Owner liability | Only stated in policy wording |
| Alternative emergency accomodation | £75 000 |
| Period of home's unoccupancy cover | 45 days |
| Repairs guarantee period | 1 year |
| Trace and access | £5 000 |
| Burst pipe | As standard |
| Blockage of sewer pipe | Optional extra |
| Gradual build-up of groundwater | Not covered |
| Subsidence | As standard |
| Underground services | As standard |
| Keys cover | £500 |
| Flood and storm damage (except for fences) | As standard |
Good to know
Limits mentioned above are part of the total sum you insured with your insurer when applying for home insurance (and not in addition to).
Let’s have a look now at Esure contents insurance limits:
| Contents insurance | Limits |
|---|---|
| Maximum sum insured | Only stated in policy wording |
| Owner liability | Only stated in policy wording |
| Alternative emergency accomodation | £20 000 |
| Period of home's unoccupancy cover | 60 days |
| Damage made by pets | Not covered |
| Contents kept in garden | £1 000 |
| Contents kept in outbuildings (garage included) | Only stated in policy wording |
| Thefts from outbuildings | Only stated in policy wording |
| Single item limit for valuables | £1 500 |
| Items temporarily removed from home | £5 000 |
| Money in and outside the home | Inside: Only stated in policy wording Outside: Only stated in policy wording |
| Credit cards in and outside the home | Inside: Only stated in policy wording Outside: Only stated in policy wording |
| Business equipment kept at home | Only stated in policy wording |
| Student equipment | £5 000 |
| Keys cover | £500 |
RAC home insurance additional cover
On top of your RAC buildings and contents insurance, you can find additional cover such as:
| Home insurance additional cover | |
|---|---|
| Accidental damage cover | Optional extra |
| Home emergency |
|
| Boiler cover |
|
| Legal protection |
|
| Personal possessions | Not Stated |
| Mobile cover | Not Stated |
| Bicycle cover | Not Stated |
RAC home insurance excess
The deductible you'll have to pay in case of claims are as described below:
| For both building and contents insurance | |
|---|---|
| Excess for standard claims | Only stated in policy wording |
| Excess for escape water claims | Only stated in policy wording |
| Excess for subsidence claims | Only stated in policy wording |
| Excess for personal possessions | Only stated in policy wording |
| Excess for keys | Only stated in policy wording |
RAC home insurance fees and NCD
To manage your policy, renew, cancel or modify it, RAC fees are as follows:
| Fees applied to manage your RAChouse policy | |
|---|---|
| Interests on payment installments | Not Stated |
| To renew my policy | £0 |
| To adjust my policy | £0 |
| To duplicate documents | Not Stated |
| To cancel my policy during cooling-off period | Not Stated |
| To cancel my policy outside cooling-off period | Not Stated |
| For payment default | £0 |
| To switch from one insurer to RAC | Not covered |
How much does RAC home insurance cost?
You will below indicative quotes for building and contents insurance at RAC:
| Building insurance | Contents insurance | |
|---|---|---|
| Excess | Only stated in policy wording | Only stated in policy wording |
| Home cover | Building: £250 000 Contents: £20 000 Personal items: £4 000 | Building: £500 000 Contents: £50 000 Personal items: £8 000 |
| Premium | £170,61 | £334,77 |
It is very difficult to give a precise range of how much exactly will your home insurance cost at RAC as it will mainly depend on:
- The insurance you apply for (building, contents, combined insurance, extras)
- Your address
- Your claim record
- The insured value of your home and of your personal belongings, etc.
RAC will establish a risk rate, taking into account all these elements, and offer you a price based on it.
The average cost of combined buildings and contents insurance in 2018 was £163, with contents insurance usually counting for a third of the premium (around £60) and building insurance for the rest (around £110). However, premium will be higher if you buy stand-alone building or contents insurance.
Do you want to compare the cheapest home insurance quotes? It couldn’t be easier. Just do a quick home insurance comparison using our comparison tool below. It takes only 15 seconds and is completely neutral and 100% anonymous.
RAC home insurance discounts available
No discount available.
How do I a claim on RAC home insurance?
Claims can be made via the company's 24/7 line.
You will be asked to provide your insurance policy number as well as details on claim circumstances such as date and time, pictures or other person involved.
| How to claim on RAC home insurance? | |
|---|---|
| Claim by phone | 0330 159 1203 |
Good to know
If you claim is related to a criminal incident (theft, fire etc), you must call the police upfront.
How can I cancel RAC house insurance?
To cancel your RAC house insurance, here is what you need to know:
| Cancelling your home insurance at RAC | |
|---|---|
| Cancellation notice if RAC cancel your policy | 14 days |
| Cancellation fees | Fees during cooling-off period: Not Stated Fees outside cooling-off period: Not Stated |
| Cancel by phone | 0330 159 0985. |
How to contact RAC home insurance?
| Services | Phone numbers | Opening hours |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Care | 0330 159 1111 | Mon-Fri 8am-10pm |
| Quotes | 0330 159 0981 | Mon-Fri 8am-10pm |
| Claims | 0844 546 0541 | 24/7 |
| Claims for Home Assistance Policy | 0330 159 1203 | 24/7 |
RAC home insurance contact details
| RAC contact details | |
|---|---|
| RAC address | RAC House |
| Customer service email | Not available |
| Chatbot available | Not available |
How do I log in to RAC customer portal?
You can login to your account on the Homepage of the RAC website. Click on the "Login" option and enter your details.
How do I get RAC home insurance quotes?
To get a quote online at RAC, it couldn’t be simpler.
You can go on our home insurance comparison tool here and compare the main home insurance deals on the market. If RAC is the company that best suits your needs, then you just click on the ‘Get quote’ button and follow the whole process explained online.
To get RAC home insurance quotes, you will need to provide:
- Your personal information: ID, age, phone number and job
- Your address and postcode
- Your homeowner record (claims included)
- Your home description (type of property, the date it was built, how many square metres inside and outside)
- Your property related status: do you own it, rent it, have a mortgage on it, etc.
- Extras you’d like to get on your home insurance, contents sum insured and the excess you’d like to pay.
The types of questions you will be asked are typically:
- Are you a first-time buyer?
- Has the property ever suffered from subsidence, cracking, subsidence or undergone any underpinning (or showed any signs)?
- Has the property ever been damaged by flood?
- Has anyone living permanently at the property made any home claim(s) for loss or damage in the past X years (usually 3) or had any claim(s) made against them? etc.
5 tips to reduce your RAC house insurance quote
- Always shop around on home insurance comparison sites. If you do not auto renew and instead apply for new home insurance, you will easily be able to lower your house insurance cost and benefit from new customer discounts.
- Increase the excess amount you are willing to pay in case you make a claim.
- Choose the level of cover that is right for you. Insure with the right sum for both your buildings and contents insurance. If you do not have high value items, consider an ‘indemnity’ contents insurance rather than a ‘new for old’ one.
- Opt for a policy offering No Claim Bonus to lower your premium if you've gone for a few years without making any claim.
- Consider index-linked cover for building insurance to follow prices of building materials.
