A dead battery at 2 AM. A flat tire on a deserted road. Keys locked in your car at the grocery store. These frustrating situations happen to everyone eventually. Roadside assistance coverage promises help when you need it, but should you get it through your auto insurance, a motor club like AAA, or skip it entirely? Let's examine what roadside assistance through insurance offers, how it compares to alternatives, and help you decide what's right for you.
What Roadside Assistance Covers
Roadside assistance, sometimes called emergency road service or towing and labor coverage, provides help when your vehicle breaks down or you experience certain common roadside problems.
Typical Services Included
Most roadside assistance coverage through auto insurance includes:
- Towing: Transportation to the nearest qualified repair shop when your vehicle can't be driven
- Battery jump-start: A technician will jump-start your dead battery
- Flat tire service: Help changing your flat tire to your spare
- Fuel delivery: A small amount of gas or diesel if you run out of fuel
- Lockout service: Help getting into your vehicle if you lock your keys inside
- Winching: Pulling your vehicle out of a ditch, snow, or mud
The specific services and limits vary by insurance company, so always review your policy details to understand exactly what's covered.
Understanding Coverage Limits
Roadside assistance comes with limits that cap how much the insurance company will pay for each type of service.
Towing Limits
Towing is typically the most expensive roadside service, and policies set maximum dollar amounts or distance limits for towing coverage.
Common towing limits include:
- Up to $50 per tow
- Up to $75 per tow
- Up to $100 per tow
- Up to 15 miles of towing
- Up to 25 miles of towing
If your tow costs more than your coverage limit, you pay the difference. A 50-mile tow can easily cost $200-$300, so a $75 limit would leave you responsible for a significant balance. Understanding these limits helps prevent surprise bills.
Service Call Limits
Most policies also limit the number of service calls you can make per year, typically ranging from three to six calls annually. Once you've used your allotted service calls, you'll pay out of pocket for additional help until your policy renews.
Labor Limits
For services like jump-starts, tire changes, or lockouts, policies often limit the labor time or dollar amount they'll cover. Common limits include 30 minutes to one hour of labor, or $50-$75 per incident.
How Much Roadside Assistance Costs
Adding roadside assistance to your auto insurance policy is generally inexpensive. Most insurance companies charge between $5 and $25 per year for this coverage.
The low cost makes it tempting to add without much thought. However, before you do, it's worth comparing this option to alternatives that might offer better value.
Comparing Insurance Roadside Assistance to Alternatives
Several alternatives to insurance-based roadside assistance exist, each with distinct advantages and disadvantages.
AAA and Other Motor Clubs
AAA is the best-known roadside assistance provider, offering tiered membership levels with varying benefits.
AAA Basic Membership: Typically costs $50-$70 annually and includes:
- Towing up to 3-5 miles
- Battery service, jump-starts, and testing
- Flat tire service
- Lockout service
- Fuel delivery
- Trip planning and travel discounts
AAA Plus Membership: Costs approximately $90-$120 annually and adds:
- Towing up to 100 miles
- Extended service coverage
- One free locksmith service per year up to $100
- Additional trip interruption benefits
AAA Premier Membership: Ranges from $115-$150 annually and includes:
- Towing up to 200 miles
- Enhanced trip interruption coverage
- Additional service calls
- Priority service
The key advantage of AAA is that coverage follows you, not your vehicle. You're covered whether you're driving your car, borrowing a friend's vehicle, or riding as a passenger. AAA also offers additional benefits beyond roadside assistance, including travel services and member discounts.
Credit Card Roadside Assistance
Some premium credit cards include roadside assistance as a cardholder benefit. These programs typically offer services similar to basic insurance coverage, often with limits around $50-$75 per incident.
The advantage is there's no additional cost beyond your annual credit card fee. The disadvantage is that you usually must pay for the service upfront and then submit for reimbursement, which can be inconvenient when you're stranded.
Pay-Per-Use Services
You can always skip roadside coverage entirely and pay for services when needed. A typical tow costs $75-$200, a jump-start runs $50-$100, and a lockout service costs $75-$150.
If you rarely need roadside help, paying as you go might cost less over time than maintaining annual coverage. However, these services can be significantly more expensive when you need them at inconvenient times or locations.
Manufacturer Roadside Assistance
Many new vehicles come with complimentary roadside assistance for the first few years of ownership, often as part of the vehicle warranty. This coverage usually includes generous towing limits and 24/7 service.
If your vehicle has manufacturer roadside assistance, you probably don't need additional coverage through your insurance or a motor club. Just remember that this benefit typically expires when your warranty does.
Do Roadside Assistance Claims Affect Your Insurance Rates?
This is one of the most common questions about insurance-based roadside assistance, and the answer is reassuring: roadside assistance claims typically don't affect your insurance rates.
Roadside assistance claims are considered non-chargeable claims. They don't indicate risky driving behavior or fault in an accident, so insurance companies don't use them to justify rate increases or policy non-renewal.
You can use your roadside assistance benefit without worrying about premium consequences. This distinguishes roadside claims from collision or comprehensive claims, which can impact your rates even when you're not at fault.
The Exception: Excessive Use
While occasional roadside assistance use won't affect your rates, extremely frequent use might raise questions. If you're calling for service weekly, your insurer might wonder about your vehicle's condition or encourage you to address underlying mechanical problems.
In rare cases, excessive use could theoretically lead to non-renewal, though this is uncommon. For normal usage, a few service calls per year, you can use the benefit without concerns.
Advantages of Insurance-Based Roadside Assistance
Despite strong competition from motor clubs, insurance-based roadside assistance offers several advantages.
Convenience of One Policy
Having roadside assistance on your auto policy means one less membership to track, one less bill to pay, and one less account to manage. Everything is bundled with your insurance, simplifying your financial life.
Lower Cost
At $5-$25 annually, insurance roadside assistance costs less than even basic AAA membership. If you just want simple coverage and don't value the additional AAA benefits, insurance-based coverage provides essential services at a lower price.
No Upfront Payment
When you use insurance roadside assistance, you typically don't pay anything upfront. The service provider bills your insurance company directly. With some other options, you might need to pay and seek reimbursement later.
Disadvantages of Insurance-Based Roadside Assistance
Insurance roadside assistance also has limitations compared to alternatives.
Lower Limits
Insurance policies typically offer lower towing limits than upgraded motor club memberships. A $75 towing limit might not get you far if you break down miles from the nearest town.
Vehicle-Specific Coverage
Insurance roadside assistance usually covers specific vehicles listed on your policy. If you're driving a borrowed car, renting a vehicle, or riding as a passenger, you might not have coverage. Motor club memberships like AAA cover you regardless of which vehicle you're in.
Fewer Additional Benefits
Insurance roadside assistance focuses solely on roadside help. Motor clubs offer travel planning, hotel discounts, insurance services, and other member benefits that may add value beyond emergency assistance.
Making the Right Choice
Deciding which roadside assistance option fits your needs depends on several factors.
Choose Insurance Roadside Assistance If:
- You want basic coverage at minimal cost
- You prefer the convenience of bundling with your auto policy
- You rarely travel far from home where towing limits matter less
- You don't need additional motor club benefits
- Your vehicle has manufacturer roadside assistance that will soon expire
Choose AAA or Motor Club If:
- You frequently drive long distances
- You want person-based coverage that follows you to any vehicle
- You value additional benefits like travel services and discounts
- You want higher towing limits and more generous service terms
- Multiple drivers in your household can benefit from one membership
Skip Additional Coverage If:
- Your vehicle has active manufacturer roadside assistance
- You have premium credit card coverage you're comfortable using
- You prefer to pay for services only when needed
- You're mechanically inclined and can handle many roadside issues yourself
Can You Have Multiple Coverages?
You can maintain both insurance roadside assistance and a motor club membership if you choose. This provides backup coverage and higher combined limits. However, you typically can't collect from both for the same incident. If you use your insurance roadside coverage for a tow, you can't also file a claim with AAA for the same service.
For most people, maintaining duplicate coverage doesn't make financial sense. Choose the option that best fits your needs and budget rather than paying for overlapping protection.
The Bottom Line
Roadside assistance through your auto insurance provides affordable, convenient coverage for common roadside emergencies. At typically less than $25 per year, it's one of the least expensive optional coverages available.
The question isn't whether roadside assistance has value, but rather which source provides the best value for your specific situation. Evaluate your driving patterns, travel habits, and desire for additional benefits beyond basic roadside help.
If you want simple, inexpensive coverage and rarely drive far from home, insurance-based roadside assistance is an excellent choice. If you travel frequently, want person-based coverage, or value the additional benefits motor clubs offer, AAA or similar memberships might be worth the higher cost.
Whatever you choose, having some form of roadside assistance provides peace of mind and practical help when you need it most.