Roadside Assistance: A Shield for Stranded Situations

Questions:

• What does roadside assistance coverage cost? 

• What services are included in roadside assistance plans? 

• Where do I find roadside assistance coverages?

There you are, driving along, belting out your best rendition of Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again." Suddenly, your dashboard lights flicker, and your car shuts off. You manage to slow down and pull over safely, but now what? You're stuck roadside with a car that doesn't drive. 

That's when your roadside assistance coverage comes to the rescue. Roadside assistance plans pay for services related to car breakdowns, such as towing, changing flat tires, delivering fuel, and accessing a locked vehicle when the keys are inside. If you have this type of coverage, you'll know exactly what number to call to get help. Plus, the services you're likely to need will be free. Without a roadside assistance plan, you'd have to find the number for a local mechanic or tow truck service, and then pay their fees out of your pocket. 

What do roadside assistance plans cover?

The exact services vary by roadside assistance provider, but most plans provide these services free of charge: 

• Towing your nonfunctional car to the nearest repair shop 

• One hour of on-site labor from a mechanic or locksmith 

• Tire changes if you have a spare tire 

• Battery jumpstarts 

• Fuel delivery if your car is out of gas 

Some plans may additionally include lost key replacement and limited winching, which involves pulling your car to the road if it's lost traction in sand, mud, or ice. Specialized roadside assistance providers may also provide added perks, like trip interruption insurance and travel discounts.

What do roadside assistance plans cost?

Pricing for roadside assistance can range from free to about $100 per year. Yes, you read that right -- some roadside assistance plans are free. A few premium credit cards give cardholders limited, but free access to towing and breakdown services. These cards usually carry hefty annual fees, so you wouldn't get the card solely for the roadside assistance benefits. It would be far less expensive to buy roadside assistance coverage outright. 

You might also negotiate free roadside assistance from your car dealer when purchasing a new or used vehicle. Chevrolet and Ford, for example, both offer towing and breakdown packages to new owners. 

Who provides roadside assistance? 

If you decide you need roadside assistance coverage, you won't have any trouble finding it. These plans are widely available, and even from some surprising sources. Here are six types of roadside assistance providers.

1. Car dealers

When you purchase a car from a dealership, that dealer will probably offer you some form of roadside assistance coverage. If you're buying a new car, you might get free coverage for a limited time. Or, the dealer might bundle roadside assistance features into a warranty or maintenance plan. Pay close attention to the services included, especially in free plans. Sometimes, it makes sense to supplement a limited free plan with a paid plan from another provider.  

2. Extended warranty providers 

Your extended warranty may have roadside assistance coverage included as a value-add feature. As with coverage provided by an automaker or car dealer, the breadth of services may be limited compared to plans from other providers. 

3. Credit card issuers

Some credit card issuers offer roadside assistance as a cardholder perk. These plans come in two forms: pay-as-needed and services included. Pay-as-needed programs provide access to services with a 24/7 dispatch line. But you do pay for services you use according to a predetermined rate sheet. American Express roadside assistance, for example, charges $60 for tire changes, battery jumpstarts, and lockout services.¹ 

Some credit cards may give you limited credits to use for roadside assistance services (though fewer compared to last time we checked). If you have the some business Bank of America cards, for example, you can use Roadside Dispatch get a wide range of benefits for a price of $59.95 per service call.²

4. Cell phone provider

You can add roadside assistance to your Verizon cell phone plan for $3 per month, per line.³ Services include towing, jumpstarts, winching, lockout services, fuel delivery, and tire changes. While $36 per year sounds affordable, make sure you shop around. Some car insurance companies will add roadside assistance coverage to your auto policy for less than $20 annually.

5. Car insurance carriers

Adding roadside assistance coverage to your existing auto policy is often the most economical approach. Coverages are fairly standard across carriers, and the premium is usually $20 to $50 per year. There are two trade-offs to know about, however: 

1. You can only use roadside assistance services when you're driving a vehicle that's listed on your auto policy. On the other hand, coverage through a credit card or specialized provider usually applies no matter what car you're driving.

2. Your insurer may use your roadside assistance call history as justification to raise your rates. This isn't an issue if you only use roadside assistance for the occasional emergency. But if you're frequently requesting a tow or a tire change, you could see your insurance premiums rise. This isn't an issue if you have roadside assistance through a different provider, because your insurer wouldn't have access to your call history. 

For details on pricing and coverages by carrier, see our carrier-specific roadside assistance guides: 

• Progressive Roadside Assistance 

• USAA Roadside Assistance 

6. Specialized providers

The best-known roadside assistance specialist is American Automobile Association, also known as AAA. AAA provides a full-service solution that includes travel discounts, identity theft protection, and Carfax reports in addition to the usual towing, jumpstarts, and tire changes. Those perks come at a cost, however -- a AAA Plus membership will set you back about $91 per year. 

An up-and-coming competitor to AAA is Urgent.ly. An annual Urgent.ly membership is $70. For that price, you get standard towing and breakdown services, plus a $20 Uber with a tow, trip interruption insurance, and traffic ticket defense.  

Good Samaritan Club also has roadside plans, for both cars and RVs. One advantage of a Good Sam plan is that it covers the whole family, rather than just listed drivers. Plans normally start at $100 per year, but seasonal discounts may be available. 

Shopping for roadside assistance: Key questions to ask

Ready to start shopping for roadside assistance coverage? Here are the questions to ask to find the right plan for you. 

1. Am I already covered? 

Before you ask your carrier to add roadside assistance to your auto policy, make sure you don't already have access to these services. Places to look for coverage include: 

• Car purchase documents if you bought your car at a dealership

• Extended warranty documentation

• Credit card service agreements

• Cell phone service agreements 

2. How much driving do I do?

If you rarely venture far from home, you may not need roadside assistance at all. The big advantage of having roadside assistance coverage is knowing who to call when you're stranded. You could keep the number of a local tow truck service in your wallet and pay directly for any services you use. Note that the average cost of a tow is about $100.⁴ That means a $50 annual premium essentially pays for a service call every two years. You might not need assistance that often, or at all, if you don't drive much.

On the other hand, if you love road trips and spend a lot of time in your car, you're more likely to need towing and breakdown services. You'll appreciate having a 24/7 emergency line to call if you get stranded in another town or state. 

3. What are the service limitations? 

All roadside assistance plans have limitations on free services. Typically, you'll see caps on: 

• The number of service calls allowed each year

• The number of miles you can have your car towed 

• The amount of fuel you can have delivered 

• The hours of on-site mechanic or locksmith services provided 

Compare these limitations across providers, and don't pay for more than you need. Unless you're accident-prone, you don't need to pay extra for more than three or four service calls annually, for example. 

4. How do I get roadside assistance services if my car breaks down? 

You'll need quick and easy access to your roadside services. Most providers give you a toll-free phone number that's manned by a dispatcher around the clock. Other providers, like USAA, Geico, and AAA, for example, will also allow you to request services from an application. 

5. Who provides your roadside services? 

Insurance carriers outsource their roadside assistance services to third parties. It's useful to know the name of the third-party, so you can check that company's reputation. Agero, for example, is a nationwide provider that has spotty reviews from drivers. 

6. What if I want to cancel? 

Canceling roadside assistance coverage is similar to canceling any type of auto insurance. You normally would get a pro-rated refund, less any cancellation fees. Ask your prospective providers about their cancellation policy and if any fees will be applied. 

Peace of mind 

Ultimately, having roadside assistance coverage gives you peace of mind on the road. When those dashboard indicators start to flicker, you may worry about being late to your destination -- but at least you'll have a number to call for help. There's value to having that peace of mind, for sure -- just be cautious about overweighting that value. Analyze how much driving you do and choose a provider that offers only the services you need. That way, you're not wasting pennies that could be better spent elsewhere.