Guide to Roadside Assistance

Roadside assistance is a service that will help you if you or your car needs emergency assistance due to a vehicle breakdown. Different plans cover different issues, but here’s what you can expect in general.

What It Covers

Roadside assistance usually covers these costs:

• Towing
• Jump starts
• Flat tire changes
• Lock outs
• Fuel delivery
• Battery changes
• Winching (e.g., if your vehicle is stuck in mud, snow, sand, or a ditch)

Some plans include extras, like emergency car rental, or lodging, meals, and transportation if you get stuck while away from home (also known as travel expenses coverage).

Without roadside assistance, you’ll have to pay out of pocket for expensive services such as towing and lockouts. These services could cost you hundreds of dollars, versus the roughly $100 you’d spend on a roadside assistance program yearly, if not less.

Take the cost of towing, for example, which varies based on distance.

• 5 miles or fewer: $35 to $125
• 40 miles: $125 to $275
• 100 miles: $600 maximum¹

It’s better to pay $100 a year for roadside assistance than to risk having to pay $600 if you need a tow a long way from home (not to mention the cost to stay in hotels, for which some roadside assistance programs reimburse you).

J.D. Power also looked at the costs of car locksmiths, which don’t come cheap either.

• Door unlocking: $70 to $150
• Car rekeying: $50 to $100
• Car door lock replacement: $300 to $600
• Rekeyed ignition: $100
• Multiple key copies: $30 to $50

Those expenses could be covered if you had roadside assistance.

Roadside assistance is also a good idea for teen drivers or anyone who lacks driving experience. It will give you peace of mind to know that when your loved ones are on the road, they can easily get the help they may need with just one phone call and little expense.

On average, roadside assistance costs between $5 and $9 a month. More expensive plans from companies like GEICO cost $14 a month, but keep in mind that these plans tend to cover more vehicles and people.

While you’re exploring roadside assistance options, pricing isn’t the only factor you should consider. Also take into account the following aspects of the program:

• How often you can use the service: Most roadside assistance programs place limits on how many times you can use the service per year.
• The calling process: If a roadside assistance program isn’t easily reachable by a toll-free phone number, it won’t do much good when you’re locked out of your car on a freezing night.
• How long it takes to arrive: Use websites such as Trustpilot to see how fast the provider usually arrives.
• Which vehicles it covers: If you’re part of a family, make sure your roadside assistance plan applies to everyone and their respective vehicles.
• Where the plan provides coverage: Some plans cover you only when you’re near home, while others provide coverage within a certain radius. If you plan to take a road trip, make sure roadside assistance will be available throughout your journey.
• Towing distance: Most companies impose a maximum distance for which they will reimburse you for towing; you’ll be responsible for funding anything beyond that distance.
• Cancellation policy: The program should be easy to cancel, and the company should provide a prorated refund based on your cancellation date.
• Complaints with the Better Business Bureau: Check the Better Business Bureau’s website for both the company rating and the customer rating. Avoid providers with customer ratings of three stars or lower.
• Discounts/specials: Make sure you’re signing up at an optimal time to save money. Also consider whether a roadside assistance membership offers perks and discounts on other services, like hotels or rental cars.

While roadside assistance plans are certainly helpful when you have a flat tire, they shouldn’t be your go-to for all situations. For example, if you caused an accident with extensive injuries or property damage, you should call 911 first, not your roadside assistance provider.

Roadside assistance isn’t available for all situations, so you may end up paying out of pocket for emergency services in times like these:

• Your car breaks down outside your service area.
• Your lockout is more expensive than your limit.
• You need fuel delivery (you have to pay for the cost of the fuel itself).
• You have a towing trip that’s longer than your maximum distance.

Roadside assistance also doesn’t cover regular maintenance, though some memberships, like AAA, offer discounts on mechanical labor.

Roadside assistance and car insurance are not the same. However, many auto insurance companies offer roadside assistance as an add-on to their insurance policies. Sometimes, these programs are included for free; other times, they cost an additional small monthly fee.

Are You Already Covered?

Check your car insurance policy or ask your auto insurance agent about your coverage. The following companies provide roadside assistance as add-ons to their car insurance policies:

• Allstate
• American Family
• Erie
• Farmers
• GEICO
• Nationwide
• Progressive
• The Hartford
• Travelers
• State Farm

Typically, it’s cheaper to buy roadside assistance with your car insurance provider than to buy a separate policy, so ask your agent about your options before you search the marketplace. However, you may find superior service with a dedicated roadside assistance company.

Another thing to note is that some credit card companies (like Visa, Mastercard, and Chase) provide roadside assistance coverage, including free towing; help with dead batteries, flat tires, and vehicle brakes; and trip interruption reimbursement. Before you sign up for another program, make sure you don’t already have this coverage through your credit card.

Want more roadside assistance options? Check out our list of the best roadside assistance programs you’ve never heard of. Or, keep reading our frequently asked questions below to learn even more about roadside assistance.