Where to Get Roadside Assistance (and Why You Need It)

No vehicle is completely immune to the risk of a flat tire or dead battery, which can be inconvenient at best and dangerous at worst. Roadside Assistance can help you find and dispatch a tow truck or company vehicle, which comes in handy at odd hours or in unfamiliar locations. A service call, such as a tire change or engine jump start, may also cost less if it is made through a roadside assistance plan than a call booked directly.

Here’s where to look for roadside assistance coverage.

Roadside assistance and motorcycle clubs

Member clubs such as AAA offer separate roadside assistance plans at various price points and coverage levels . Premium plans typically include longer towing distances and additional perks over base options. You can expect to pay between $60 and $130 per year for a plan from a provider such as AAA, AARP, Good Sam or Better World Club.

Auto insurers

Roadside assistance can be an easy addition to your auto insurance policy . Most insurers provide coverage for basic benefits such as towing and battery starting, and some have additional benefits such as included labor, winch and rental car insurance. Costs range from $12 to $60 per year on top of the premium. Allstate also offers a separate plan and pay-as-you-go coverage, even if you’re not an auto insurance customer.

Credit card issuers

Some credit cards offer roadside assistance as a benefit to cardholders without having to sign up for a separate membership such as AAA. Credit card roadside assistance benefits are typically pay-as-you-go, and coverage varies by card. For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve covers up to $50 per event for up to four events per year, while Chase Freedom Unlimited cardholders pay a pre-negotiated fee for each service event.

Mobile operators

Like auto insurers, some telecommunications companies offer customers roadside assistance as an add-on to their cell phone plan. For example, Verizon charges $4.99 per line per month and allows four service requests per year. However, while short-distance towing is included for free, other services such as tire changes or engine jump-starts cost nearly $100 per incident. T-Mobile offers eligible customers an annual AAA membership .

Apple also recently announced that its Emergency SOS feature now allows users to receive AAA roadside assistance via satellite. While this feature is free for two years after activation, the services provided are pay-as-you-go unless you have an AAA membership.

Car manufacturers

Some car manufacturers offer roadside assistance as part of their warranty on new and certified pre-owned vehicles, so ask about this benefit if you’re buying from a dealer. Extended warranties from companies like Carchex and CarShield also include roadside assistance.

Questions to Ask When Choosing a Roadside Assistance Plan

The first thing you should pay attention to when purchasing roadside assistance is what services are included. Plans typically cover towing, lockout, engine starting, tire changes and fuel delivery, although specifics vary by plan and some limit towing distance and the number of service calls allowed per year. Premium benefits include winch use, trip interruption (such as food and lodging reimbursement), battery replacement, and rekeying.

You should also determine whether your plan will cover additional drivers and family members, as well as car rentals.

Price is another factor when purchasing roadside assistance insurance. If you have a credit card that offers pay-as-you-go services, you get peace of mind for free and can just hope you won’t need to use this benefit. Note that while auto insurance or an optional mobile insurance plan may be cheaper initially, using the coverage may cost you more in the long run compared to a comprehensive membership plan.