The RAC has been rated Britain's most satisfying roadside rescue and recovery organisation in the latest annual survey from JD Power and Associates, regaining the title from the AA.

This year's verdict was given by more than 4,000 motorists who called for emergency assistance in a sample comprising 29,000 owners of S and T registered vehicles, randomly selected from the DVLA register.

As well as heading the survey's overall satisfaction index with a score of 118 points – 11 up on 2000 and the only rescue service to have improved its performance in each of the four years of the study – the RAC scored 116 points for call operator service (average 109), 120 for driver service (average 111%) and 113 for how quickly help arrived (average 109).

For all providers, the satisfaction ratings were significantly higher when a motorist was attended by a breakdown vehicle driver belonging to the roadside assistance organisation rather than a driver employed by a sub-contractor.