What Is Roadside Assistance and How Does It Work?

Whether your car stalls in the middle of a busy highway, you lock your keys inside it, or you get a flat tire, roadside assistance coverage can help you get back on the road safely. This coverage connects you with a professional for service, usually at a discounted price.

Many insurers allow you to purchase roadside assistance as an add-on to your existing policy, but you can purchase it in various other ways.^[1]

Here’s what you should know about roadside assistance, including how it works, what it covers, and where to purchase it.

What is roadside assistance?

Roadside assistance is a service that dispatches a professional to help you with vehicle issues like flat tires, dead batteries, and lost keys, regardless of whether they happen on the side of the road, at your place of employment, or at your home.

For this coverage, you generally have to pay a yearly or per-service fee to a roadside assistance service provider in exchange for a discounted rate on services like towing or lockout assistance. Roadside assistance is crucial because it can help you return to the road safely and save you money.

What does roadside assistance cover?

Roadside assistance benefits vary by company, but it generally includes access to these services at a discounted or flat per-service rate:

• Towing

• Lockout service

• Tire change

• Jump-starts

• Transportation assistance

• Gas delivery

• Winching

Check Out: Should You Tip the Tow Truck Driver?

Do you need roadside assistance coverage?

Without roadside assistance coverage, you may want to try to fix your car troubles, like a flat tire or needed jump-start, on your own to save money. But this option only works for people with the knowledge required to complete various vehicle repairs. Plus, if you call a professional for assistance, you may end up paying more without roadside assistance coverage.

Whether you need roadside assistance depends on your unique situation. If you drive infrequently, for example, purchasing a roadside assistance plan might not be worth it. Frequent drivers who regularly travel long distances will likely benefit from securing roadside assistance coverage.

See Also: What Is Mechanical Breakdown Coverage and Do You Need It?

Where to get roadside assistance

You can purchase roadside assistance coverage from several places. Here’s where to look for coverage.

Insurance companies

Many insurance providers allow you to add roadside assistance coverage as an add-on or rider to your existing policy. Cost and coverage options vary by insurer.

Here are some of the best insurance companies offering roadside assistance:

• GEICO: The company offers emergency roadside assistance that comes with access to towing, jump-starts, lockout services up to $100, and other benefits.

• Nationwide: The roadside assistance coverage from Nationwide provides access to services such as tire changes, jump-starts, and lockout services up to $100.

• State Farm: Roadside assistance coverage from State Farm includes access to many services, including towing, gas delivery, and lockout.

Car manufacturers

Some car manufacturers offer complimentary roadside assistance when you finance or lease a new vehicle.

Some of the best car manufacturers offering roadside assistance include:

• Chrysler: When you lease or finance a new Chrysler vehicle, you get complimentary roadside coverage for up to five years or 60,000 miles for gas engines (100,000 for diesel engines). This coverage includes access to towing, jump-starts, and tire changes.

• Dodge: New financed or leased Dodge vehicles also come with five years of complimentary roadside coverage.

• Hyundai: New Hyundai vehicles come with five years of access to roadside assistance coverage. Services include jump-starts, gas delivery, lockout aid, towing, and trip interruption.

Credit card companies

Many credit card companies offer roadside assistance as a benefit. But before you apply for a card that provides roadside assistance, consider potential drawbacks. For example, some credit cards come with steep annual fees and high interest rates.

Here’s a look at some of the best credit card companies offering roadside assistance:

• Bank of America: The Premium Rewards® credit card comes with access to Bank of America’s Roadside Dispatch program — a pay-per-use program that charges you $59 per service call and includes services such as towing, fuel delivery, and jump-starts.

• Capital One: A few Capital One cards — Venture®, Savor®, and Quicksilver® — give cardholders access to roadside assistance benefits, such as gas delivery, towing, and tire changes, in exchange for a flat fee.

• Chase: The Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Freedom Unlimited® credit cards allow you to access various services for a flat rate, including tire changes, winching, jump-starts, and fuel delivery.

Auto clubs

An auto club is an organization you can join that offers roadside assistance coverage and sometimes other benefits, such as discounts for restaurants, movie theaters, and travel.^[2] Auto club membership costs vary but often range from $50 to $360 annually, depending on your plan.

Here are some of the top auto clubs offering roadside assistance:

• American Automobile Association: The AAA membership includes four service calls per year for various services, including towing, battery jump, and gas delivery.^[3] Each additional service call after the allotted four costs $90.

• Better World Club: Roadside services include trip interruption, lockout, and towing. Better World Club includes four service calls per year.

• Good Sam: Membership comes with discounted access to services, including battery jumps, tire changes, and fuel delivery.

See More: Best and Worst Roadside Assistance and Service Plans

Roadside assistance FAQs