Roadside assistance coverage pays for help when your car breaks down, such as a tow, a jump-start, a flat-tire change, lockout service or fuel delivery. It’s usually an optional add-on to your car insurance policy. It covers the service call and a limited amount of labor, but not the cost of parts, fuel, keys or repairs.
Whether it’s worth buying depends on what you already have. Many drivers get similar help through a newer car’s manufacturer program, a motor club like AAA, a credit card or a phone plan, so it’s worth checking before you pay for the same thing twice.
Key Takeaways
- Roadside coverage pays for the service call, such as a tow to a nearby shop, a jump-start or a tire change. You still pay for parts, fuel, keys and repairs.
- Insurer add-ons tend to be inexpensive, but they have limits. Progressive and GEICO generally tow up to about 15 miles, while State Farm tows to the nearest repair location.
- Using roadside coverage may count as a claim. Progressive says it does, and State Farm says a claim will likely be filed, so ask how your insurer records it.
- Check what you already have before you buy. New-car programs, motor clubs, credit cards and phone plans can offer similar help.
| What it usually covers | What it usually doesn’t cover |
|---|---|
| Towing to a nearby repair shop, up to a distance or dollar limit | The cost of fuel, parts, tires, batteries or replacement keys |
| Jump-starts and flat-tire changes (with your spare) | Repairs beyond a limited amount of on-scene labor |
| Lockout service | Towing beyond your policy’s limit |
| Fuel delivery, and winching if you’re stuck near a road | Impound or storage lot fees |
What Roadside Assistance Covers
The Texas Department of Insurance describes the basic version, often called towing and labor coverage, like this: it “pays to tow your car if it can’t be driven. It also pays for labor to change a flat tire or jump-start your battery.” Most insurers now bundle more services under the roadside name, including lockouts, fuel delivery and winching.
Every version comes with limits. The Texas Office of Public Insurance Counsel notes that towing may only go to the nearest repair facility and that “There usually is a distance or dollar limit.” Tire and battery help is usually capped by labor time, such as one hour, or by a dollar amount on your declarations page. For fuel and other fluids, “Most policies only cover the cost to deliver” them.
The same agency lists a few restrictions some companies use: no coverage once a car reaches a certain age or mileage, a cap on the number of roadside claims per policy period, reduced payment if you don’t get approval before calling a tow truck, and deadlines for submitting receipts. Allstate adds that some insurers require comprehensive or collision coverage before they’ll add roadside assistance to a policy.
How Major Insurers’ Roadside Coverage Compares
Here’s what each company says on its own website. Details can vary by state, so check your declarations page for the limits on your policy.
| Insurer | Towing | Other services | How it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive | Up to 15 miles, or to the nearest qualified shop if none is within 15 miles | Jump-starts, fuel delivery (you pay for the fuel), spare tire installation, lockout service (you pay for any new key), winching within 100 feet of a road, up to one hour of labor, and towing an electric vehicle to a charging facility | Request help in the app, online or at 1-800-776-4737. Price not published. |
| State Farm | To the nearest repair location | Up to one hour of mechanical labor, delivery of gas, oil or a battery, a tire change, and up to one hour of locksmith labor. You pay for the items themselves. | State Farm is billed directly for basic services. It says you can typically request help “as many times as needed” and that its average cost is $10 to $20 a year. |
| GEICO | Up to 15 miles to the nearest qualified repair facility, in most states | Jump-starts, tire changes with a working spare, lockout service up to $100 for covered causes, winching within about 30 feet of the road, and fuel delivery | Dispatch or reimbursement. GEICO advertises it for as little as $14 a year per car. |
| Allstate | Possible reimbursement based on how far the car is towed and your coverage | Allstate lists unlimited service calls for its auto policy roadside plans | Price and towing distance not published |
| Nationwide | Varies by coverage level (Basic or Plus) | Fuel delivery, lockout service, jump-starts and more, provided through Agero | Must be added to each policy. Not available on named non-owner policies. |
| Liberty Mutual | To the nearest qualified facility | Jump-starts, fuel delivery (not the cost of fuel), flat-tire changes and unlocking doors | Tied to its optional Towing and Labor coverage. Confirm the details with Liberty Mutual. |
| Farmers | Emergency towing | Dead battery help, flat-tire changes, lockout help and winching. Farmers says it may include limited rideshare coverage when your car is disabled. | Request help, or file a reimbursement claim online if you paid for service yourself |
If you’re comparing specific plans, RateFrog’s articles on GEICO’s towing limit and Allstate roadside assistance vs. AAA go into more detail.
Does Using Roadside Assistance Count as a Claim?
It can, and insurers don’t all handle it the same way. Progressive answers the question directly: if your car breaks down and you use your roadside coverage, “you’ll file a claim to use your coverage.” State Farm says, “When you use this coverage, a claim will likely be filed,” and suggests asking your insurer how it may affect your policy.
Allstate’s separate roadside memberships are different. Allstate says events on a membership plan “are not considered insurance claims and, therefore, will not impact your auto insurance premium.” That statement covers the membership, not roadside coverage on an Allstate auto policy. GEICO, Nationwide, Liberty Mutual and Farmers don’t say on the pages we checked how roadside use affects your rates.
Some states limit what insurers can do. In Texas, an insurer can’t refuse to renew your policy because of towing and labor claims, although it can drop that coverage if you have four such claims in 36 months, according to the Texas Department of Insurance. Before you rely on roadside coverage often, ask your insurer how the calls are recorded.
Roadside Coverage vs. AAA and Other Motor Clubs
A motor club membership is a separate product from car insurance. The biggest difference is who’s covered. Insurer roadside coverage generally applies to the car on your policy. As Allstate explains, it “doesn’t follow you, for instance, when you get behind the wheel of a friend’s car.” Memberships usually follow the person instead. Allstate says its memberships “cover any car that you drive or ride in as a passenger.”
Memberships also tend to offer longer tows on higher tiers, but they cost more. AAA is a federation of regional clubs, and each club sets its own benefits and prices. Here’s how three clubs describe their towing limits:
| AAA club | Classic | Plus | Premier | Service calls per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AAA Mountain West Group | 5 miles | 100 miles | One tow up to 200 miles per household per year, plus tows up to 100 miles | 4 |
| AAA Club Alliance | 5 miles | 100 miles | 100 miles, plus one tow up to 200 miles | 4 (5 for Premier) |
| Auto Club Enterprises | 7 miles | 100 miles | Up to 200 miles once per household per year | 4 |
Allstate sells roadside memberships too. Its Roadside Assist plan starts at $75, with 15 miles of towing and three service calls a year, and its higher plans offer 25 or 100 miles of towing. RateFrog’s review of whether the Allstate Motor Club is worth it compares the plans.
Roadside Help You May Already Have
- New-car programs. Many automakers include roadside assistance for the first few years. Ford covers the first 5 years or 60,000 miles from the warranty start date, and ToyotaCare includes roadside assistance for 2 years with unlimited mileage (3 years for certain models).
- Credit cards. Visa’s Roadside Dispatch is a pay-per-use service for many Visa cardholders. As of September 2026, a standard service call costs $79.95 and includes up to 5 miles of towing. Check your own card’s benefit guide, since card benefits vary.
- Phone plans. Verizon offers roadside assistance for $4.99 a month per line, including up to 10 miles of towing.
- Pay-per-use services. Allstate’s pay-per-use service doesn’t require you to be an Allstate customer. Allstate advertises tows for $154.
- Highway safety patrols. Some states run free patrols that help stranded drivers with flat tires, dead batteries and disabled vehicles on major highways.
Towing after an accident is a different situation. It may be covered under your collision or comprehensive coverage, and Progressive notes that the at-fault driver’s liability coverage may pay for the tow. Maine goes further: its law requires auto liability policies to pay up to $500 for towing and storage when police request a tow after an accident.
Is Roadside Assistance Worth It?
For many drivers, the math is simple. State Farm puts its average cost at $10 to $20 a year, and GEICO advertises coverage from $14 a year per car. A single pay-per-use tow can cost well over $100: Allstate advertises $154, and Verizon charges its customers without the subscription $159 for the first 5 miles. If you’d use roadside help even once every few years, an add-on can easily cover its cost.
It makes less sense if you already have a motor club, a manufacturer program or a card benefit that does the same job. It’s also worth weighing the claim question. If your insurer records each roadside call as a claim, a membership that isn’t tied to your auto policy may be the better fit for someone who calls for help often.
| Your situation | What to consider |
|---|---|
| Your car is new and has a manufacturer program | You may not need anything else until that program ends |
| You drive an older car | Breakdowns are more likely, so an inexpensive add-on or a membership is worth pricing |
| You often drive far from towns | Look at towing distance. A 15-mile limit may not reach a shop, so a membership tier with a longer tow may fit better. |
| Several people in your household drive different cars | A membership that follows each person may cover more situations than a per-car add-on |
How to Use Your Roadside Coverage
- Confirm you have it. Check your declarations page or ID card. State Farm, for example, says “Coverage H” on the back of your ID card means you have Emergency Road Service.
- Call through your insurer or its app. When the insurer dispatches the provider, it’s often billed directly, so you don’t pay up front for covered services.
- Ask about limits before the tow. Find out how far the car will be towed and what you’ll owe for extra miles.
- Keep receipts if you pay yourself. Some insurers reimburse you afterward, but they may limit what they pay or set a deadline for sending receipts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Roadside Assistance Cover Other Cars I Drive?
Usually not when the coverage comes from your insurer, since it’s generally tied to the car on your policy. Motor club memberships usually follow the member instead. RateFrog has a separate article on whether you can use GEICO roadside assistance for someone else.
Does Roadside Assistance Pay for Towing After an Accident?
It’s mainly for breakdowns. After a crash, towing may be covered by your collision or comprehensive coverage or by the at-fault driver’s liability coverage. Check with your insurer when you report the accident.
How Many Times Can I Use Roadside Assistance?
It depends on the plan. State Farm says you can typically request help as many times as needed, while the AAA clubs listed above allow four service calls a year on most tiers. Some insurers limit the number of roadside claims per policy period.
Should I Add Roadside Coverage If I Already Have AAA?
Often it isn’t necessary, but compare the details. Look at towing distance, how many calls you get and whether your insurer treats roadside calls as claims. Some drivers keep both for longer tows or for cars that aren’t covered by the membership.
Sources
- Texas Department of Insurance: Auto Insurance Guide
- Texas Office of Public Insurance Counsel: Roadside Assistance
- NAIC: What Does Auto Insurance Cover?
- Maine Revised Statutes, Title 29-A, section 1605-B
- Progressive: Roadside Assistance
- Progressive: Does Car Insurance Cover Towing?
- State Farm: Emergency Road Service Coverage
- State Farm: Get Roadside Assistance
- State Farm: How Roadside Assistance Coverage May Save You Money
- GEICO: Emergency Roadside Service
- Allstate: Roadside Assistance
- Allstate: Towing and Labor Cost Coverage
- Allstate: Pay-Per-Use Roadside Assistance
- Nationwide: Roadside Assistance
- Liberty Mutual: Roadside Assistance
- Farmers: Roadside Assistance
- AAA Mountain West Group: Membership Terms and Conditions
- AAA Club Alliance: How Far Will AAA Tow My Car?
- Ford: Roadside Assistance Services
- Toyota: ToyotaCare
- Visa: Roadside Dispatch Benefit (PDF)
- Verizon: Roadside Assistance FAQs