Headquarters in Wellington Street, Perth in October 2016 | |
Formation | 1 July 1905 |
---|---|
Headquarters | Wellington Street, West Perth, Western Australia |
Membership | 1.3 million (2025) |
Allan Blagaich | |
Robert Slocombe | |
Revenue | $1.5 billion (2025) |
Website | www.rac.com.au |
Formerly called | Automobile Club of Western Australia |
The Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia (RAC) is a motoring club and mutual organisation, offering motoring services and advice, insurance, travel services, finance, driver training and exclusive benefits for their members. As an independent voice for road users in Western Australia, the RAC is concerned with all aspects of road and community safety.
The Automobile Club of Western Australia was founded on 1 July 1905 with a gathering outside Government House. [1] [2] It started signposting roads, a function it would continue to perform until 1975, and creating maps of the state for motorists and encouraged local authorities to improve road surfaces and push for lower city-driving speeds. [3] [4]
In 1922, it is given Royal Patronage, becoming the Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia. In 1926 a roadside assistance service was launched in Perth. In 1947, the RAC entered the insurance market. [3] [4]
In May 2025, the RAC announced it proposed to sell its insurance division to the Insurance Australia Group. [5] The transaction is subject to regulatory approval with the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission having raised concerns. [6]
The RAC is an important advocate for its members and the WA community on issues such as road and vehicle safety, fuel pricing, road funding, transport planning, energy and the environment.
The RAC headquarters is located at 832 Wellington Street, West Perth. A number of floor paving tiles recognise the contribution of notable Western Australians to the RAC and motoring in Western Australia.
From 1951 until 2007, Road Patrol was the RAC's in-house magazine. [7] It was succeeded by Horizons. [8] [9]
In September 2018, the RAC took over the naming rights for the Perth Arena. [10] [11]
Media related to Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia at Wikimedia Commons