Roadside assistance insurance is a type of coverage that’s intended to help you out in situations in which your car, for whatever reason, is no longer driveable.
Maybe you blew a tire. Or ran out of gas. Maybe your battery died. Maybe you lost your keys. Whatever the reason you can’t drive your vehicle and need help, roadside assistance insurance coverage can have you covered.
Here’s the thing though: roadside assistance is not necessarily automatically included in your insurance plan. Some providers may include it, but not all. This means you should check if it’s in your policy and if not, you should definitely consider getting it.
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Not everyone knows how to change a tire or diagnose engine trouble. Roadside assistance insurance is a great way to have a trained professional at your fingertips who can help you with these issues.
Even if you are mechanically inclined, if you’ve lost your keys or run out of gas, your technical know-how will likely not be enough.
This makes getting roadside assistance car insurance your best offensive against life’s little slip-ups and accidents on the road.
Something else to consider when thinking about roadside assistance insurance coverage: the age of your car. If your vehicle is getting on in years and growing unreliable, roadside assistance car insurance makes even more sense.
One more thing. If you frequently drive long distances, roadside assistance insurance is a good call. The reason is simple: the more time you spend driving, the more likely you are to require help on the road.
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You not only get car insurance with roadside assistance from your provider. You may also be able to get roadside insurance through:
To find out which of these options is best for you, consider what they offer in their coverage as well as the cost of their roadside insurance.
If you’ve ever run out of gas or locked your keys in your car, you can probably attest to the fact that having roadside assistance insurance coverage was—or would have been—handy. Roadside assistance insurance is an affordable and easy way to get out of inconvenient and potentially dangerous situations.
After all, there’s nothing like being stuck on the side of the road at midnight to bring to mind every episode of Forensic Files you ever watched. But when you have this roadside coverage, you can rest easier knowing someone is on the way to help.
Roadside assistance car insurance is extremely affordable and can cost as little as $50 a year or as much as $360. The only real way to get a handle on what it will cost you is to check with your insurance company. After all, it may already be included.
Of course, there are also completely separate plans not linked to your insurance policy, like AAA, which can cost you $60 to $350 a year. The benefits of these third-party roadside assistance programs are they offer you discounts on flights and hotels, making it a great option if you travel a lot.
But if you don’t, then an insurance add-on may be your best bet. Weigh your options and see what sits well with you.
This table shows you rates for roadside assistance and will give you an idea of what to expect to pay. Just keep in mind rates are not locked in and are subject to change. Get a free roadside insurance quote to find out how much this coverage will cost you.
| Roadside Assistance Coverage Provider | Approximate Cost | BBB Rating | Expected Coverage | Towing Limits | Policy Limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive | $16 | A+ | Towing, winching, jump-start, fuel delivery, battery change, lockout service, flat tire change, on-scene labor | 15 miles or nearest repair shop | Service limits vary by policy |
| AAA | $38–$164 | A+ | Towing, flat tire change, jump-start, fuel delivery, mechanical first aid, locksmith service, identity theft protection, passport photos, trip planning | The nearest gas station, AAA-approved repair facility, or preferred mechanic | Limit of four service calls per membership year |
| Better World Club | $58-$98 | A+ | Battery jump-start, flat tire change, lockout service, fuel delivery, trip routing, discounts on hotels, rental cars, and some other perks | Five miles with the Basic Auto package, 100 miles with the Premium Auto package | Limit of four service calls per year |
| USAA | $14 | A- | Towing, lockout service, jump-start, flat tire change, fuel delivery | Nearest repair shop | Pays up to $100 per occurrence |
| Geico | $14 | A+ | Towing, jump-start, flat tire change, lockout service | Nearest repair shop | Limit of five service calls per year |
| CARCHEX | $60–$110 | A+ | Towing, mechanical first aid, flat tire change, emergency battery service, lockout service, fuel delivery, theft reward, trip route mapping | 25 miles | Limit of five to unlimited service calls per year—package depending |
| Allstate Motor Club | $86–$144 | A+ | Towing, jump-start, fuel delivery, lockout service, flat tire change, trip planning | $150–$250 benefit per tow, depending on package | Limit of three to five service calls per year, depending on package |
| AARP | $64–$84 | A+ | Towing, flat tire change, fuel delivery, battery boost, winching, lockout service, trip routing, auto theft reward, emergency hospital bond, arrest bond certificate, legal defense reimbursement, trip interruption guarantee | Five miles with the basic package, 100 miles with premium package | Limit of 3–4 service calls per year, depending on package |
| OnStar | $300–$756 | F | Automatic crash response, automatic emergency services contact, towing, flat tire change, fuel delivery, stolen vehicle assistance, remote vehicle diagnostics, 2GB hotspot data | 40 miles or nearest repair shop | Service limits vary by customer and state |
*These rates are to be used as an average and that the actual rates may vary depending on the information gathered during the quoting process.
If you don’t have an insurance company or what to get a quote on the best roadside coverage, request a quote with us. We’ve curated a list of the best insurance with roadside assistance and can pair you with your perfect provider.
For very little, roadside assistance insurance can give you so much peace of mind—and you may already have it included with your existing coverage!
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It may be, though not all insurers provide this coverage. Call your provider to ask.
Fuel delivery, towing, locksmith and lock opening services, winching and extraction, flat tire service, and battery charging are the most common services provided with roadside coverage.
Hollay Ghadery Hollay Ghadery is a writer and editor who is passionate about financial literacy as a means to personal fulfillment. Hollay has over 18 years of experience creating content about a range of topics related to personal finance, including insurance, investing, banking, and credit cards. When Hollay isn't writing, she's spending time with her four children, two dogs, and three goats.
