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Helena Wahlman/Getty Images July 22, 2022 Mandy Sleight has been a licensed insurance agent since 2005. She has three years of experience writing for insurance websites such as Bankrate, MoneyGeek and The Simple Dollar. Mandy writes about auto, homeowners, renters, life insurance, disability and supplemental insurance products. Angelica Leicht is an insurance editor on the Bankrate team. She is truly passionate about helping readers make well-informed decisions for their wallets, whether the goal is to find the right comprehensive auto policy or the best life insurance policy for their needs. Bankrate logo

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At Bankrate, we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. To help readers understand how insurance affects their finances, we have licensed insurance professionals on staff who have spent a combined 47 years in the auto, home and life insurance industries. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation of how we make money. Our content is backed by LLC, a licensed entity (NPN: 19966249). For more information, please see our Insurance Disclosure. Bankrate logo

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Founded in 1976, Bankrate has a long track record of helping people make smart financial choices. We’ve maintained this reputation for over four decades by demystifying the financial decision-making process and giving people confidence in which actions to take next. Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first. All of our content is authored by and edited by , who ensure everything we publish is objective, accurate and trustworthy. Our insurance team is composed of agents, data analysts, and customers like you. They focus on the points consumers care about most — price, customer service, policy features and savings opportunities — so you can feel confident about which provider is right for you. We guide you throughout your search and help you understand your coverage options. We provide up-to-date, reliable market information to help you make confident decisions. We reduce industry jargon so you get the clearest form of information possible. All providers discussed on our site are vetted based on the value they provide. And we constantly review our criteria to ensure we’re putting accuracy first. Bankrate logo

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You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey. Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers. We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money. Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and, services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service. Bankrate logo

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Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in . Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way. As a driver, you know that there are minor hazards you can encounter while behind the wheel of your vehicle. For example, it’s not uncommon to have a flat tire that causes you to end up on the side of the road or to have your transmission act up at an inopportune time. While the solutions to these types of issues are often simple, the problem is that minor driving issues can be a big inconvenience, and come with big expenses. And in some cases, they can even be dangerous to deal with if you aren’t a professional. Luckily, you have the option to call for roadside assistance during these types of emergencies, but doing so can be costly. That’s why some drivers opt-in to roadside assistance plans. These plans are used to help cover the costs of certain types of roadside emergencies, and while they’re typically optional, they may be worth the extra costs for some drivers. For example, the national average cost of a tow is , or between $2.50 and $7.00 per mile, which means that a single tow could offset the cost of roadside assistance for a year or more. If you’re wondering what company has the best roadside assistance coverage and how much it may cost, this guide breaks it down for you.

What is roadside assistance

Roadside assistance is a service offered to assist drivers, physically and financially, when their vehicle breaks down. This service or membership is typically offered for a yearly fee. It provides two main benefits: First, policyholders receive emergency roadside service in the event their vehicle breaks down. Services might include fuel delivery, changing a flat tire or towing to a service center if the issue cannot be immediately resolved. Second, roadside assistance helps mitigate the cost of an unexpected breakdown. Similar to a car insurance policy, roadside assistance policyholders pay a fee, or premium, to the service provider. When a breakdown occurs, the driver will not have to pay out of pocket for the emergency services they receive, as long as they are within the policy limit. To put it in perspective, if your vehicle breaks down and will need to be towed to a repair shop. If your roadside assistance plan covers towing, you may be able to have your vehicle towed without cost.

What does roadside assistance cover

When you opt for roadside assistance, the following coverages may be included: Towing Transportation assistance for a stranded driver and passengers Battery jump start Gas delivery Lockout service Tire change Winching to pull a stuck vehicle out

What makes roadside assistance different from other coverage

Roadside assistance is different from other types of coverage that you might get from a car insurance policy or manufacturer’s warranty. Basic car insurance usually covers only the cost of repairing damage from accidents, and emergency response is not an included feature. Warranties will repair or replace malfunctioning parts on your new vehicle, but with the exception of a few rare cases, flat tires and empty gas tanks are not covered. Note that you can often purchase a roadside assistance plan from your insurance provider or your vehicle’s manufacturer as an add-on to the service you currently have. You will benefit from the convenience and potential cost savings when you bundle roadside assistance with multiple services from the same provider. Just make sure to shop around before you settle on a plan to and service.

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Why is roadside assistance important

Imagine this: you are driving in an unfamiliar location at night when suddenly, you hear the distinct pop and hiss of your tire going flat. Without roadside assistance, you would be stuck on the side of the road trying to change the tire yourself in the dark. But if you do have roadside assistance, help is just a phone call away. A professional will be immediately dispatched to your location to rescue both you and your car. The three most common types of calls to roadside assistance are for dead batteries, flat tires and lockouts. Many providers will also offer other useful emergency services, such as fuel delivery if you run out of gas. If your car is not driveable, a roadside assistance program will cover all or part of your towing bill to the nearest service facility. Without roadside assistance, this cost alone could easily reach hundreds of dollars out of pocket. Everyone should consider roadside assistance, but it is an even more important service to have for the following people: Elderly people and new licensees Parents with infants or small children Anyone with a physical disability Drivers of older vehicles (12 or more years old) People who live in remote areas Commuters who drive more than 20 miles each day Travelers who frequently take long-distance road trips

Where do I get roadside assistance

Roadside assistance is an optional form of coverage. There are several ways to get roadside assistance. Consider the following places for coverage: Auto insurance companies: One of the simplest ways to get roadside assistance is through your car insurance company. It can be added to your . Some carriers may even include roadside assistance as part of a full car insurance package. Member organizations: Organizations such as AAA and Good Sam specialize in roadside assistance. AAA alone has . Membership may include other perks such as travel and DMV services. Car manufacturers: If you plan on buying a new or certified pre owned vehicle, you may receive complimentary roadside assistance for your warranty period. Honda’s roadside assistance lasts . Kia’s is . Credit card companies: There are premium credit cards that include 24/7 roadside assistance for cardholders. offers roadside coverage for a flat fee of $69.95 per service. Mastercard’s RoadAssist service provides services for a pre-negotiated fee.

How to decide which roadside assistance program is the best for you

With so many roadside assistance programs available, you might be torn on which one is right for you. , but it should not be the only one you take into consideration. Roadside assistance programs offer varying levels of coverage and additional features that are worth considering. While more expensive, standalone roadside assistance coverage from providers such as AAA and AARP come with a long list of perks that might be worth the cost. For example, AAA offers identity theft monitoring, travel discounts, vehicle inspections and registration assistance to its members. AARP also offers travel discounts, plus they will include emergency bonds in case you are arrested or hospitalized while driving as well as a trip interruption guarantee. Roadside assistance is available from many car insurance providers, and convenience is key. Emergency roadside coverage is easy to add on to your existing insurance policy or purchase when shopping for a new policy. Costs are nominal and benefits are usually good. Take this into consideration when shopping for a car insurance policy and make sure to specifically ask about roadside assistance limits. The cheapest roadside assistance programs are typically the ones that are included with your credit card. It is good to find out if any of the cards you already have qualify you for complimentary roadside assistance in case you need it. Just do not rely on this as your only source of emergency roadside coverage. Limits on these plans are notoriously low, and you could still end up paying out of pocket for the majority of your service bill.

Accidents and exceptions

Roadside assistance coverage is wonderful to have in case of non-life-threatening emergencies that leave you stranded on the side of the road. But keep in mind that this is not a substitution for car insurance and does not cover more serious emergencies. If you are in an accident, dial 911 immediately. You should also understand where roadside assistance benefits end. If your car breaks down and needs to be towed, for example, your emergency roadside benefits will typically cover the cost of the tow truck, but anything after that will be your responsibility. Roadside coverage will not pay for major repairs that are needed to get your car up and running again. It is a good idea to set money aside into an emergency car repair fund each month, regardless of whether or not you have roadside assistance.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best roadside assistance

There are several roadside assistance companies in the market to choose from. The best one for you will be determined by your specific needs and which plan and company can best accommodate those needs.

Where can I get roadside assistance

Roadside assistance can be purchased through providers like AAA or AARP, but it can also be purchased through some as an add-on to a standard auto insurance policy.

When can I use roadside assistance

Most roadside assistance plans will typically give you access to coverage 24/7, regardless of the holiday or time of year. That means that you can typically use roadside assistance any day of the week at any time. That said, wait times can vary, and if you are in an area with fewer repair shops or towing services, you may have to wait longer for service. It’s also worth noting that roadside assistance is generally not automatically included with your car insurance policy and may require a separate purchase.

Can I use my roadside assistance for other vehicles that are not mine

In most cases, yes, you can use your roadside assistance for vehicles that aren’t yours. That’s because many of the common roadside assistance plans will cover the individual, not the vehicle. In other words, if you have a roadside assistance plan, you will likely be able to use that service when you’re behind the wheel, whether or not you’re driving your own vehicle. That said, it is typically worth checking with the provider to go with to make sure you will have access to roadside assistance when you need it most. SHARE: Mandy Sleight has been a licensed insurance agent since 2005. She has three years of experience writing for insurance websites such as Bankrate, MoneyGeek and The Simple Dollar. Mandy writes about auto, homeowners, renters, life insurance, disability and supplemental insurance products. Angelica Leicht is an insurance editor on the Bankrate team. She is truly passionate about helping readers make well-informed decisions for their wallets, whether the goal is to find the right comprehensive auto policy or the best life insurance policy for their needs.

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