aa travel route planner uk

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Best online route planners 2022

Which web-based journey planner makes the most sense.

With the summer holidays fast approaching, the number of British drivers hitting the road to travel to family, friends and beach resorts is only set to increase – and this means an inevitable rise in traffic and congestion.

One way to avoid being stuck in nose-to-tail hold-ups is to use a route planner ahead of time, so you can see where traffic hotspots might be, plot any lunchtime stop-offs, and even plan for any electric-vehicle charging needs.

Over the years, in the era of built-in sat-navs and smartphones, these pre-journey web planners have become less important. However, many providers have pivoted their model to allow you to plan in advance and then transfer to an integrated companion app. This is in addition to calculating journey times based not only on live traffic, but also on what the traffic is likely to be based on your chosen departure time.

For those travelling to remote parts where signal might be at a premium, the ability to print off hard copies of turn-by-turn instructions still has its uses, too.

We put eight route planners – all of them free to use – to the test, to see which one you should load up before your next road trip.

How we tested them

We put the eight route finders to the test with a journey from the Auto Express headquarters in central London, out through north-western suburbs, to the home of UK motoring: the British Motor Museum in Warwickshire. 

This allowed us to test city, A-road and motorway route planning, with each planner graded for accuracy, live traffic alerts and route options. 

Also taken into consideration during the test was the ability to print out turn-by-turn directions, how easy the planner was to link to an app and any other useful extra features offered.

Previous test winner Google Maps comes out on top again because it really does do everything you need, and in an easy and intuitive way. Waze and Bing Maps join it on the podium, and are great alternatives if you prefer the user interface. 

Google Maps

• Website: maps.google.co.uk
• Rating: 5 stars

Google Maps has long been our favourite route finder, doing everything simply, quickly and easily. This is the fifth time that we’ve awarded it top spot in this test, and for good reason. 

Searching is easy, and the planner has a wealth of options for fine-tuning your trip including live traffic, predicted traffic and app sharing. A bonus is the ability to switch between satellite imagery and a traditional map, as well as using Street View.

Of course, it’s embedded with the full power of Google, so you can find landmarks and other useful locations on your route extremely easily. It’s hard to see how it won’t always be the best of the bunch.

View Google Maps

• Website: waze.com/livemap
• Rating: 4.5 stars

Once the new kid on the block, Waze is now well established as a super route planner. Last time we ran this test, we were pleased to see the web-based journey planner had been updated to fall in line with the quality of the app, making use of the community-based traffic data. Journeys are accurate and timings based on live data. 

The website is fully integrated with the award-winning app, with intuitive buttons to let you transfer your journey to a smartphone. We were also impressed by the ability to schedule a journey with a desired arrival time, and Waze will prompt you when it’s time to set off based on traffic at that moment.

• Website: bing.com/maps

Microsoft’s version of Google is not far off our winner. Place searching and nav are intuitive, and you can easily add rest stops. Traffic is colour coded, and there’s a clear way to print. One frustration is that there’s no obvious way to share your planning with an app – a shame in a connected world. 

Not seen elsewhere is live Highways England traffic-camera feeds, showing flow at that location – really useful in bad-traffic areas.

View Bing Maps

• Website: wego.here.com
• Rating: 4 stars

Here’s a top company that provides software for car makers’ own sat-navs, and its WeGo route finder is impressive. It looks more advanced than Bing or Google, but is actually a bit less intuitive. That said, all the core functionality is there, although whether it’s accounting for live traffic isn’t all that clear. It is easy to transfer a planned route to the HERE app or print directions.

View HERE WeGo

TomTom MyDrive

• Website: mydrive.tomtom.com

This online route finder started life as a companion site for those who owned a TomTom sat-nav, but now it’s transitioned to work just as well for those without. Functionality matches its rivals’, too. 

A unique feature is the Thrill option, to give a more scenic route based on how hilly or winding you want it to be. We also like the motorcycle-friendly route option. If you own a TomTom, you can share your progress directly to your device, too, or just with your smartphone to turn it into a sat-nav. 

View TomTom MyDrive

Via Michelin

• Website: viamichelin.co.uk/web/routes
• Rating: 3.5 stars

A bright spot here is a function to calculate the cost of a journey and then generate an expense receipt. The planning functionality is solid, with accurate routes and the option to take current traffic into account. 

Yet while the options to tailor your journey are quite extensive, it’s a shame most are hidden behind complex and cluttered filters. You can print directions easily, but again there’s no option to share with an app.

View Via Michelin

AA Route Planner

• Website: theaa.com/route-planner
• Rating: 3 stars

The AA is better known for breakdown cover than route planning. Its online offering falls behind some of the tech-based firms’, with a slightly outdated site and functionality. But the basics are all there and you can use the AA’s library of live traffic alerts to tailor your journey to avoid jams. 

However, it’s quite clunky to use and the adverts make it messy – especially when compared to the simplicity of our top-ranked sites. While you can print directions, there’s no way to share with a paired app.

View AA Route Planner

RAC Route Planner

• Website: rac.co.uk/route-planner

As with the AA, the core function of getting from A to B is there, with accurate routes, yet the user interface is not as smooth as our winner’s. Location look-up could be a lot better and there’s no way to use predicted traffic for future departures. Again, printing directions is easy, but there’s no app. Importantly, the RAC offers the option to calculate how much the trip will cost in fuel.

View RAC Route Planner

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Breakdown & membership app

Automobile association developments limited, designed for iphone.

• #32 in Travel
• 4.8 • 100.7K Ratings

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Description.

Download our app and we’ll keep you going, wherever the road takes you. Report a breakdown with the tap of a button and track help right to your side. Stay on top of your vehicle’s health with MOT and service reminders and easy access booking with our approved garages. Relax knowing you’ve always got your cover details and membership number handy. Feeling peckish? Members get up to 20% off at over 1,000 UK pubs and restaurants. Everything in one handy place See your cover details at a glance, with important information right where you need it. Forgot your Membership card? With the digital copy on the app, you’ll always have it to hand. Broken down? No problem Hit the road without any worries – our amazing Patrols are just a tap away. Whatever your vehicle’s fuel type, you can report a breakdown in seconds and track help right to your side. No need to give us directions – we’ll come straight to your phone’s location. We’ll keep you on the road Easily stay up to date with your vehicle’s health and never miss a service or MOT – we’ll send you reminders when an important date is coming up. And when you book with an AA approved garage, you’ll get free vehicle pick-up and a 1 year guarantee. Save on days out with Smart Benefits Discover brilliant offers on the go – fill up on feel-good food and drink with up to 20% off at over 1,000 UK pubs and restaurants, as well as discounts on days out, travel, vehicle care and more. More than just A to B Plan your journey with our trusty route planner. We’ll use your location to show you the nearest charging points and parking, and give you live updates on traffic.

Version 10.7

We’ve been busy fixing bugs and making improvements to keep the app running smoothly.

Ratings and Reviews

100.7K Ratings

So easy to use

I used the app for a breakdown for the first time yesterday and was amazed at how simple and quick it was. The app pinpointed my location exactly, so I didn’t need to worry about getting the address wrong. As soon as I submitted the report, the app acknowledged it. I got a phone call from the AA about ten minutes later confirming when someone would be on their way to me. The map on the app even showed me where the patrol vehicle was in relation to mine, so I knew when to expect it. My only criticism would be that when the roadside patrolman arranged for relay for my vehicle, it didn’t show up in the app. I would have liked to have been able to track progress so I would have known how long I could have left my vehicle unattended. Despite that, I would highly recommend this app.

2nd complaint 2 years later - see last paragraph

In order to register yourself on the app you need to provide your membership number - which is fine if you have one; however, Halifax bank customers don’t get one (and I suspect there are numerous other corporate memberships too which operate the same way) and so you cannot therefore activate the app. Surely the AA should have thought this through beforehand, but regardless, why has nobody there remedied this since it was launched? Can it be that difficult to provide individual membership numbers for customers like me? Come on AA - sort it out!!! Have now joined as a full member 2 months ago and just tried to complete my details in order to register with the app. It won't recognise my membership number or postcode ( no reason for this at all!) and says to contact the AA for help. After trawling through AA websites and finding the best number ( nothing obvious) I was finally given another number to ring for so-called App Support. They didn't " specialise" in App support and could not provide any help at all but simply told me to email the problem in. What a joke! In view of the previous issue being duly ignored I don't expect this one will get any helpful response either in which case I shall be cancelling my membership if I do not get s response to this within 48 hours. Absolutely disgusted with the poor level of service and support - basically crap!

Developer Response ,

We're sorry to hear this and would like to look into this further. Please can we ask you to email [email protected] and include your 635601 Membership no, device you are using, the app version and your post code. Thank you for taking the time to get in touch.

Logout settings issue

Fully updated iPhone 12 The “not easy to find” Logout button only appears after navigating “account” “LOGIN” why? Once found “stay logged in” and “face id” buttons need sliding to be turned off, then return to previous page where a Log Out button has magically appeared. Press it and it does log you out but look away or face id logs you straight back in again without prompt. Ridiculously long winded way to logout of any app but there is more, log in again and the Log Out button under account has gone because the two buttons mentioned earlier have defaulted to “ON” Clearly the AA want you to stay logged in for some seemingly suspicious reason. Unless I have missed something, in which case help will be gratefully accepted, it is shame this otherwise useful app resorts to these tactics, it should login to MY chosen defaults. Following developer response: I understand how the app SHOULD work but after setting “stay logged in” and “face id” both to OFF and then logging out, when logging back in face id still runs and confirms its me but a password is also still requested and the two choices I made before logging out are reset to ON, I want my preferences to be saved please, not reset to AA app defaults.

Hi, we're sorry if you've been left disappointed using the app. When you select "account" and scroll to the bottom, there will be a log-out button. Once logged out, the field where you enter your email address will show. You can change the way you log in to the app. Press "account" and under "settings" there is a "login options" button. Here you can turn face id on or off, and there is the option for you to stay logged in, which you can also turn on or off.

App Privacy

The developer, Automobile Association Developments Limited , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

• Diagnostics

Privacy practices may vary based on, for example, the features you use or your age. Learn More

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• App Support
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AA Route Planner vs Google Maps: Which is best for UK driving?

Do you know where you’re going to, asked a concerned Diana Ross. With a web-based route planning tool, you can say ‘Yes thanks, Di!’. But when it comes down to deciding between the AA Route Planner and Google Maps, which is supreme?

• Getting driving directions is much easier now, courtesy of route planning tools
• Two of the most popular ways to plan your route are Google Maps and AA Route Planner
• Both tools give recommended route information, which helps keep journey time and fuel costs low
• For those in a hurry, AA Route Planner delivers the clearest and cleanest information

AA Route Planner vs Google Maps: Which is best for UK driving: FAQs

What is the first step in planning a route.

The very first step is making sure you need to go at all. So much can be achieved remotely now that often, what was only doable in person can be easily accomplished via the net. If you need to make the trip, then your first step is to fire up your AA Route Planner to get a clear idea of where you’re going .

What are the time saving benefits of using AA Route Planner?

The AA route finder gives you a super-clear road map and a straightforward dashboard, which aids functionality. When you use it to plan your road trip, it’s very difficult to go wrong, giving exceptionally clear A to B steps for those who need to know the shortest route in a hurry.

What does the website do?

The website - theaa.com - gives not just the means by which you can engage in route planning, it also tells you broader real-time information on traffic alerts, road closures, and the road network in general. This is included for those who want to learn about AA’s main business - breakdown cover.

Ah, driving. The thrill of the open road, the promise of adventure , venturing forth into the great unknown with only Steppenwolf on the stereo for company. But what happens when you end up taking on a bit more great unknown than you intended to? Born to be wild you may be, but there are limits. 

If you’re lost, it can be a big deal: it can mean delays, missed deadlines, or even a stern look from your spouse and possibly no tea. Let’s take a look at two commonly used ways to avoid all that: AA Route Planner and Google Maps. We gave them both a long journey to really get their teeth into - Truro to Thurso, i.e. one end of the country to the other. OK, turn that key.

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Outline of each

Aa route planner.

This is a web-based directions tool in which the user enters starting location and destination (you can use postcode if you like), and you get the best route, along with how long the whole journey will take to complete. It considers factors such as weather conditions and speed limits to give up-to-date assistance to the otherwise meandering motorist. 

Google Maps

If you’ve used the internet before and you haven’t used Google, then the chances are your last surfing session was pre-millennium. On the face of it, Google Maps is similar to the AA Route Planner. Once again, you enter starting and finishing points, and the Google guys (well, bots) come up with a route for you, plus how long you’ll be driving for. 

Ease of use

On entering the journey into AA Route Planner, we were greeted with a nice clear display, with a map route on the right and the info on the left. We were told it would take 13 hours and 23 minutes. 

When you fire up Google Maps, you get a map with a search box. You need to click on the Directions arrow to get the From and To boxes (this isn’t clearly flagged).

Another slight complication: Google Maps told us that the journey from Truro to Thurso would take 11 days to complete. This compared rather unfavourably with the AA’s estimate. Then it turned out that we hadn’t selected the car icon at the top, so it gave us the journey time by foot (it will keep the selection you made the last time you used it). 

On picking the car icon, we were told it would take us 13 hours and 35 minutes. 

Both tools offered us the choice of two different routes, with broadly similar journey times being quoted. They both offered an option to add another location en route. 

AA Route Planner gave us the choice of avoiding motorways, tolls, and current traffic jams. Google gave us the same, as well as showing us on the map where roadworks and traffic incidents were currently affecting matters. 

Google also gives a range of extra options you can select at the top, such as the locations of hotels, petrol stations, EV charging points, and campsites. The AA site gives you options to click for traffic news and AA hotels. 

Finally, Google has a button you can click to send journey details to your mobile. AA Route Planner has a print button instead. 

App quality

We thought it crucial to check out the apps, seeing how a lot of motorists will be interacting with these tools via a mobile phone. 

AA Route Planner is part of the general AA app. On entering the journey data, you get a map with step-by-step directions below. 

Google Maps gives pretty much the same experience as the website. It gives the most fuel-efficient route and provides Streetmap links to ensure you’re on the right road when road signs aren’t visible. 

Which one to choose?

For us, it all boiled down to one thing. If you want to know what museums and whatnot you’re likely to pass on your merry way, then Google Maps is for you. For those with time to take in some extra stops en route, Google Maps gives you all you need to plan a fun-filled trip .

However, if you’re in a hurry and want the quickest basic information on getting where you’re going, the AA Route Planner is your best bet. It’s no-frills, but that’s what you need sometimes, especially when you’re up against a deadline. And there’s no chance of inadvertently getting public transport or cycle route info. 

Mind how you go!

Image Credit: Ingo Joseph at Pexels

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UK Road Trip Planner

Planning a UK road trip is a popular way to explore the countryside of the UK. While we personally love train travel around the UK we know that there are a multitude of advantages when it comes to exploring by car (and we have often combined train itineraries with car trips at various places to be able to visit sites not easily accessible by rail.

As we are often asked about UK road trip itineraries in our Facebook group we have put links to all relevant articles and podcasts below to create the ultimate UK road trip planner.

🚗 You will need a car! Read our complete guide to renting a car in the UK

UK road trip planner

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There's a problem, but we're fixing it We're having problems with our phones at the moment, so unfortunately you won't be able to get through to us. Don't worry, if you need to make a claim you can still call us but for any other queries check out our FAQs or use our web chat service - it will pop up on your page. Don't forget, you can still get a quote online.

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Route planner

Hitting a UK road / French route / German stra ß e?

Wherever the stra ß e takes you, we’ve got you covered .

You’ve got your route covered .

Now, what about your vehicle?

Route? Check .

Passport? Check .

Breakdown cover? Check it out .

If you’ve got a journey ahead, whether it’s small or large, the Green Flag Route Planner can help you get there with minimal fuss.

The route planner isn’t limited to the UK. You can get accurate directions across Europe. Remember that European breakdown is worth considering if you’re heading to the continent, because repairs and getting back can be costly and ruin your trip.

Once you enter your start point and destination the route finder will map out the best routes for your journey, giving you an estimation of time and an accurate mileage count. It’s easy to add waypoints, so if you know you need to take a detour en route then you don’t need to workout separate journeys.

The route planner will give you a list of directions to your destination, and each individual direction has its own mileage, helping you to keep on track and stay clear of wrong turnings.

Before you head out make sure you’re covered with breakdown cover so you can get back on the road if anything should happen on the way.

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The top 33 uk apps which will help you plan your road trip.

The art of planning ahead has become a lot easier. Whether you are going a summer long UK road trip or simply driving through counties with your crew to visit relatives for a weekend, there are so many places where you can find hacks, tips and advice to make your journey quicker, stress free and more enjoyable. Mobile phones have a lot to do with it but saying that, we are big fans of going back to no screen old fashioned fun too on a road trip, with traditional family car games . 

when it comes to making your journey as smooth as possible, avoiding traffic, finding where to charge an EV car or neat hacks to find a parking space for less in a city you don't know well, lot of apps that can plan your car journey.  We've put togther a list of thirty three of the best ones. We have downloaded them and tested them too, just so you know. 

In this article: 

• Apps to help you plan your UK road trip
• Apps that keep your insurance paperwork handy in one place
• Handy car insurance apps
• Road Assistance apps
• Sharing car journeys App

Planning your visit ahead

• An app to help you find fuel

Getting there on time

Car park apps.

• Paying for parking
• Renting a private drive
• Navigating the city

Apps to help before you leave home

Road trip planner apps for the uk .

You might want to go on a total adventure and not plan every detail of your road trip. Even if you do, checking which direction you need to take might be helpful to avoid traffic, road maintenance, diversions and accidents. We've looked at various app features for you:

The AA travel 

It offers easy to use route planner options, discounts on the go for AA members and a list of AA certified garages - in case your car needs a little help to get to your destination. At the time of publishing this article, the AA also offers a £20 M&S or Amazon voucher if you refer a friend (one voucher for you, one for your friend). 

You can search traffic incidents and motorway congestion live in England through this app (note that it's not available for Scotland or Wales at time of publishing). It also connects with your Apple watch to feed the top ten incidents near you whilst you're driving. 

WAZE Navigation 

Waze is like your little road wizard and comes with a great user rating of 4.3/5. It alerts you of roadworks, police, accidents and reroutes you to avoid traffic and save time.

ViaMichelin

This app shares real time traffic and service stops available on your journey. It comes with a top rating of 4.7/5. Pick the route option that suits you best based on time, distance and cost (including tolls). It also displays permanent speed limits and alerts you if you exceed them.

RELATED: If you are planning a road trip to Europe, you might also want to make sure you run through these 5 car checks first . 

Getting your car insurance related documents in one easy-to-access place 

It's not until you need to make a claim that you may realise you don't have your car insurance policy details at hand. You can avoid unnecessary stress easily with insurance assistant style apps like Hey Brolly . Brolly keeps all your insurance policies safely in one place. If you have a gmail account you can get them automatically added to your portfolio rather than adding the details manually. Going further than being just a virtual wallet for your insurance documents, Brolly also offers an insurance concierge style service, recommending insurance solutions tailored for your journey. The app's extra purpose is to identify gaps you might have (and want to fill) in your insurance portfolio, based on your lifestyle and personal data.

Have you submitted an insurance claim recently? How straightforward was it? Help others know how well your insurer dealt with it by adding your review here.

Downloading your car insurance app

It probably won’t happen. But it’s worth checking how you can submit a new claim on your car insurance, away from home, before you leave on a longer road trip. More and more car insurance companies offer a way to claim online through their own apps. If not, make sure you at least have the number to call to report an incident, and your policy reference details. If you are curious to see how your car insurance provider compares to others in terms of claim satisfaction ratings, you can check them out through ClaimScore . What's ClaimScore? It's a community hub when you can read and leave your own feedback on how your insurance claims were dealt with, whether it is about your car, your home, travel, pet, gadgets and more. ClaimScore collects, crunches and displays all the insurance company reviews you and other customers add, so you can have an idea of how proactive, helpful and innovative they are when dealing with your claim. Before it happens to you.

Why should you download your road assistance App

You might have breakdown cover from the RAC, the AA, GreenFlag or another breakdown road assistance supplier. Download their app as it might help you request assistance quicker, enable them to locate you and also, if you don't need to use it, it can still come in handy because some of them give you discounts on products and services at service stations on your journey.

Sharing car journey 

Even if you don’t own a car, apps can be super helpful to help you plan your next car journey. You can find people travelling where you want to go and share a lift (at the fraction of the cost of keeping a car on the road).  Apps like Bla Bla Car let you do just that - carpooling made easy. You can filter destinations, time of departure, costs you’re willing to pay and view photos of drivers and check the car they drive.

If your next UK road trip takes you to a new city or area of the country, make the most of your time there. Here are some of our favourite apps to help you plan your stay:

CityMaps2Go 

Trusted by 20 millions travellers worldwide, this app works offline, giving you detailed area maps, and search by category of points of interest. You can also share your map with your friends and plan your visit together before meeting there. Swapping from your tablet to your mobile when you leave home for your trip? No worries, the apps syncs all your data between your devices. 

Trips by Lonely Planet 

A great app for creating new adventures. Follow other travellers, discover new places by style of trip you'd like to have - whether you're a foodie, love gigs or passionate about art and culture. Create your own travelling stories, complete with pictures for others to share what you discovered on your own visits too. 

HERE WeGo 

Promising to make city navigation effortless, HERE WeGo tells you everything you need to know before you leave home about getting out and about at your destination:  Public transport in 1300+ cities - bus, trams, trains, underground, bike or even ferry.

Discover the best things to do in your city. Explore great places to eat and drink and things to do during your weekend or break away. You can create shortlists of places you'd like to visit and book a table at any of the restaurants listed through the App.

Using driving apps to help you on the road

Many great apps can help make your car journey less stressful. Just make sure that you are all set up to use them in a safe, hands-free environment before you leave home. Whether you connect your car to the app or use a dashboard mounted hands free in-car kit. Either way, your mobile phone should really best be out of reach and sight. The glove box or the boot of your car are good places to store it safely.

An essential part of planning your road trip - Knowing where to fuel up

Save on fuel price  .

Use Waze or Around me guide for finding the cheapest fuel around. 

Find an EV station

For electric cars, you can download  Zap-Map  to locate the closest electric plugging points, check their availability and also add your own. Zap-Map also features a handy forum area where you can ask other owners of EV vehicles questions and feedback. 

Paying for fuel from the pump

More and more petrol stations offer the option to pay at the pump with your credit or debit card. BPMe can save you time and hassle, especially if there are a lot of people travelling at the same time as you are. Drive up to the station, enter the pump number in your app, confirm how you want to pay and how much. Voila. BP are only accepting Visa and MasterCard at the time of publishing but are working on adding more payment methods.

You have the choice of many apps when it comes to Sat Nav support- including Google Maps , Scout Navigation , Sygic  and  Tom Tom . Be warned of accidents, road work and congestion. Reroute and keep track of your arrival time.

At your destination

Once you've driven to where you want to go, it's all about finding the best spot to park your car. Then it's time to navigate your way to your final destination, whether on foot, cab or public transport (if you can't drive all the way there). Here are some options to help you find the best place to park.

Available in 12 cities in the UK, AppyParking lets you look up the nearest parking, and also discover potential free parking areas. It lists disabled spaces, motorcycle bays and EV stations. Sign up using your email or Facebook details. You can choose what type of pins you want to see on your area map (petrol stations, car parks, free parking spaces, parking bays....). 

Paying for your car park 

Saving you the need to have cash and even the exact change in your pocket, apps like Ringo and PaybyPhone are brilliant for paying for your car park space using your credit or debit card. They make it very convenient, saving your car's registration, latest location used and extending your car park time remotely. 

Private driveway renting apps

Instead of paying to park at a large car park, you might save time and cash renting someone's driveway. Useful apps include ParkLet, YourParkingSpace, and JustPark . Money Saving Experts have got a great summary of how they compare . 

Navigate the city in real time

Google street view , citymapper , Moovit  and Uber . For London,  London Tube map, Santander Cycles self-service bike sharing scheme app and Tfl apps.

OVER TO YOU:

What are your favourite apps to save time with your car journeys? Which ones do you love that we might have forgotten? Leave us a comment and share your smartest tips.

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