24-Hour Roadside Assistance for Cars and Trucks

Think of 24-hour roadside assistance coverage for your truck or car as having an extra tool in your emergency kit. Roadside assistance can provide the services you need to get you back behind the wheel ASAP. Services usually include changing flat tires, fuel delivery, jump-starts, and lockout assistance. The cost for roadside assistance when added on to an auto insurance policy is around $15 to $60 a year, although it can be more expensive, depending on the plan level you choose.

Before you sign up for roadside assistance, it can be useful to know some basics. In this guide, we’ll look at what you can expect when you enroll in a roadside assistance program.

What Is 24-Hour Roadside Assistance?

Roadside assistance plans cover a range of problems that commonly affect motorists. Whether you’re stuck on a busy highway or a lonely roadside, in a mall parking lot or your own driveway, you can ask for help with a dead battery, flat tire, being locked out, and more.

Since problems can happen at any time, roadside assistance programs make their services available around the clock. Service calls don’t usually require a deductible, and depending on your plan, costs you incur in an emergency may even be reimbursed.

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What Are Some Benefits of 24-Hour Roadside Assistance?

Roadside assistance is designed to protect all drivers, but it can be especially useful for parents of young children, new drivers, and people with physical limitations. Probably the top benefit of having 24-hour roadside assistance coverage is that you can call any time you’re in need. You can keep the number programmed in your phone, or put it in your wallet or glove compartment — your provider may even offer an app.

You can call for advice or hands-on assistance, and someone will help you get what you need. Some plans may even provide legal assistance if you’re charged with a traffic violation or reimburse you if you need to stay in a hotel overnight because your car broke down. Some plans also include benefits such as travel discounts and rewards points.

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What Does 24-Hour Roadside Assistance Cover?

Assistance programs vary significantly depending on the service provider, the coverage level, and what you’re willing to pay. So, when you’re comparing roadside assistance for cars and trucks, it’s important to understand the details of what each plan covers. Roadside assistance is not intended for use after an accident. In that case, 911 will arrange for help to arrive.

Most companies that offer roadside assistance programs set limits on what they will and won’t pay for. Some plans may include free fuel delivery, for example, but charge extra for the gas you receive. Similarly, providers who include free lockout assistance may charge you to have a new key made. If your car needs a tow, there may be a limit on how many miles you can go for free. There may also be a limit on how many service calls you can make in a year.

Plans have different rules on whether a particular driver or vehicle qualifies for a service call. With some plans, you must be driving your own car when you call for assistance. Other plans will cover you even if you’re the passenger or driver in someone else’s car.

Programs generally include some amount of coverage for the following.

Vehicle Towing

If your vehicle can’t be safely repaired or restarted on-site, roadside assistance can tow it to a nearby repair shop.

Battery Jump-Start or Replacement

Roadside assistance can give your dead battery a jump and, if that doesn’t work, install a new battery on-site or give you a tow.

Changing a Flat Tire

If you have a usable spare tire, your service provider will likely change a flat or blown-out tire on-site.

Lockout Assistance

If you’ve locked your keys in your car, roadside assistance can get a locksmith to help. Even if you’ve lost your keys, the service may be able to get you back in your vehicle and back on the road.

Winching Service

Stuck in snow, mud, sand, or water? Your service provider may bring in a winch to extricate your car or truck.

Fuel Delivery

If you run out of gas, your provider can deliver fuel to your location. And if the battery in your electric car needs a charge, you can ask for a tow to the nearest charging station.

Quick Fix Vehicular First Aid

If you have a minor mechanical problem that can be fixed quickly, it may be possible to do so on-site. If not, the service can tow your car to a nearby repair shop.

What Are Some Ways Drivers Can Get 24-Hour Roadside Protection?

There are several different ways you can get roadside assistance coverage for yourself and your family members. If you’ve set aside time for personal insurance planning, such as applying for life insurance, you might also consider adding roadside assistance to your list.

Auto Club Membership

Probably the best-known way to get 24-hour roadside assistance is through an auto club like AAA (pronounced “triple A”). The company will issue you a membership card with numbers to call for service. You may also be able to download an app or send a text.

Plans range from $64.99 to $124.99 per year, plus extra costs for add-ons. Your price will depend on how many family members are covered, your location, and the services you’ve selected.

Credit Card Company Benefits

You may be able to access roadside assistance through one of your credit cards. Again, the cost of overall coverage or a specific service will vary depending on the plan you choose. For example, some credit cards may provide the service for free to their members but with a cap on each claim or on the number of claims a cardmember can make. Others may offer a pay-per-use service or prenegotiated discounts on certain services.

Vehicle Manufacturer

Many car and truck manufacturers also offer roadside assistance as a perk for new car buyers. Your vehicle may include protection that lasts for a few years or the length of your limited warranty. Your sales agreement should provide details on what your plan covers, or you can ask the dealership.

Car Insurance Company

Many car insurance companies have some type of roadside assistance coverage available for their customers. Some plans provide only the basics, while others may offer two or three levels of coverage. Costs generally range from around $15 to $60 or more a year.

When you’re considering cost, keep in mind that you may be able to lower your car insurance cost by bundling it with other types of insurance coverage.

Which Insurance Companies Offer 24-Hour Roadside Assistance?

Insurance companies that provide 24-hour roadside assistance typically offer the service as an add-on to an auto policy. However, some companies may provide a roadside protection membership to non-policyholders.

If you’re not sure whether you already have roadside protection, contact your agent or log in to your account on your insurer’s website to get information about your coverage. You may also find the information on your insurance card. If all else fails, you can also check out the benefits of each provider via online insurance comparison sites.

Here are a few companies that offer roadside assistance:

Allstate

Allstate offers 24-hour roadside assistance programs to both policyholders and non-policyholders. Costs and limitations will vary based on the plan you choose.

GEICO

GEICO’s roadside assistance program is available to policyholders as an add-on, and it covers most of the basics other plans offer. The cost is determined by the number of vehicles you want to cover.

Liberty Mutual

To access Liberty Mutual’s 24-hour assistance program, which offers basic roadside services, you must purchase optional towing and labor coverage as an add-on to your policy.

Nationwide

Nationwide offers 24-hour roadside assistance as an optional add-on for policyholders. The basic plan covers the same services offered by other insurers, but optional features and program details vary by state.

Progressive

Emergency roadside assistance is available as an optional add-on for Progressive auto insurance policyholders. Progressive’s program covers service basics, such as towing, jump-starts, and lockout assistance.

State Farm

State Farm’s roadside assistance program is an add-on for policyholders. If you have this coverage and need assistance, State Farm will mostly be billed directly for any basic services you receive, in which case, you won’t have to worry about waiting to be reimbursed.

(The above coverages are accurate as of the writing of this article but may differ in the future.)

What Is the Average Cost of 24-Hour Roadside Assistance for Cars?

When added to your car insurance policy, roadside assistance coverage costs anywhere between $15 and $60 per year on average. The price of a roadside assistance plan can vary based on how many vehicles you want to cover, where you live, whether your coverage is through your auto insurance or some other source, and the level of coverage you choose.

It’s a good idea to compare several plans and choose the best one for your individual needs and budget.

What Is the Average Cost of 24-Hour Roadside Assistance for Trucks?

The cost of roadside assistance for a pickup truck can be the same or similar to the cost for a car. However, most insurance companies offer separate coverage for RVs, boats, and motorcycles, which often need specialized services.

How Much Does 24-Hour Roadside Assistance Cost Without Insurance?

The national average cost of a local tow without roadside assistance coverage is between $75 and $125, or between $2 and $4 per mile.

What Makes 24-Hour Roadside Assistance Different From Other Coverage?

Standard car insurance is designed to protect car owners against financial losses when they’re in an accident or if their car is damaged, stolen, or vandalized. But a standard auto policy doesn’t typically include roadside assistance for situations such as a flat tire or running out of gas. That’s a different kind of coverage, and it usually costs extra to add it to a car insurance policy.

Another difference is that in most states, you are required to carry a minimum level of car insurance. However, you aren’t required to carry roadside assistance coverage. It’s your choice.

How Do You Choose a 24-Hour Roadside Assistance Program?

There are a few points you should consider when you’re shopping for a roadside assistance program.

Do You Already Have Protection?

If you aren’t sure, check your car warranty, credit cards, and your car insurance policy. Even if you are covered, it can be a good idea to compare your coverage to what’s available to make sure you have everything you need.

What Are the Coverage Limits?

Read the fine print for details and coverage limits before you sign up for a plan. Be sure you’re getting the services you expect and need most.

What Will It Cost?

Plans are generally low cost, ranging from $15 to $60, perhaps more, per year. It’s a good idea to compare prices of different plans to determine which one works best for your budget.

Does the Provider Get Good Reviews?

Don’t forget to check the provider’s reputation. Reliability is important when you’re stuck on the side of the road waiting for a tow or a jump-start. An important part of researching different plans includes reading customer reviews.

The Takeaway

A 24-hour roadside assistance plan is designed to provide drivers with the help they need to get back on the road as soon as possible. Drivers typically get roadside assistance through their auto insurance, but you can also find it via credit card benefits, car manufacturers, and auto clubs, such as AAA. Prices vary from around $15 to $60 per year as an auto insurance add-on to $125 or more per year through an auto club. Considering that a single tow without coverage can cost as much as $125, paying for a roadside-assistance plan can prove well worth the investment.

If you’d like to check out roadside assistance options, start by going online to compare your current auto insurance plan and benefits with those of other major companies.

When you’re ready to shop for auto insurance, SoFi can help. Our online auto insurance comparison tool lets you see quotes from a network of top insurance providers within minutes, saving you time and hassle.

SoFi brings you real rates, with no bait and switch.

FAQ

Does using roadside assistance increase your premium?

If you make only one or two claims a year, utilizing roadside assistance is unlikely to affect your insurance premium. But if roadside assistance claims are frequent or excessive, they may contribute to rate increases.

What does roadside assistance cover?

Every plan is different, but most include basic coverage for lockout assistance, changing a flat tire, jump-starting a battery, fuel delivery, minor engine fixes, and towing. Some providers also have premium plans that include extra services, such as more towing miles and trip interruption coverage.

How many times can I use roadside assistance?

Most policies limit the number of service calls you can make to three to five per year. It’s in your best interest to stay within these numbers to keep your premiums stable.

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Photo credit: iStock/nopponpat

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