GEICO doesn’t tow every driver for free. A tow is only included if you’ve added Emergency Roadside Service (ERS), GEICO’s optional roadside coverage, to your policy, or if a separate covered claim, like a covered collision or comprehensive loss, pays for the tow instead.
Once you have GEICO’s roadside assistance program, there’s no separate charge for a covered tow up to the mileage limit. You’re still paying for that coverage itself, so check how much GEICO roadside assistance costs before assuming it’s already on your policy.
Key Takeaways
- Towing isn’t automatically free on every GEICO policy. You need optional ERS, or a separate covered claim that includes the tow.
- With ERS, towing goes to the nearest qualified repair facility, up to 15 miles in most states. You pay the mileage beyond that.
- Without ERS, GEICO says it can still try to help you find a local provider, but doesn’t say what a non-ERS caller pays for that help.
- In North Carolina, this coverage is called Towing and Labor Coverage rather than Emergency Roadside Service.
Towing Comes With ERS, an Optional Coverage
GEICO’s Emergency Roadside Service page lists towing as one of several services ERS provides, alongside battery jump starts, tire changes, lockout help, fuel delivery and winching. ERS is an add-on you choose, priced per vehicle, not something every GEICO policy includes by default.
That means “free towing” really means “towing with no extra per-use charge, as long as you’re already paying for ERS.” GEICO also notes that ERS “may not apply to all vehicles on your policy,” so it’s worth confirming which of your cars actually carry it.
How Far GEICO Tows You Once You Have ERS
GEICO says towing is covered “up to 15 miles to the nearest qualified repair facility” in most states. If your vehicle needs to go farther than that, you’re responsible for the additional mileage. GEICO doesn’t publish one nationwide per-mile rate for that extra distance; our guide to GEICO’s towing mileage limits has the full rules, including how they can differ by state.
As one real example, GEICO’s own materials for the Houston area describe a contracted tow rate of $75 with the first five miles included, plus $1.50 for each additional mile. That’s a local example, not a nationwide rate. Still, it shows how a single uncovered or over-the-limit tow can cost more than a full year of ERS at its starting price.
When a Claim, Not ERS, Pays for the Tow
Towing can also be paid through other parts of your policy. GEICO’s guide to whether car insurance covers towing explains that if your car is damaged in a collision, or in a covered comprehensive event like theft, fire or flooding, towing from the scene may be included under that coverage instead of ERS.
If another driver is at fault for the damage, their liability insurance may also cover your tow. In any of these cases, you may need to pay the tow company first and submit for reimbursement, so ask about the process before you’re stranded, not after.
What Happens If You Don’t Have ERS
GEICO says that even without ERS, you can call and it may negotiate with local providers to help you find roadside help. It doesn’t say what a non-ERS caller ultimately pays for that help, so plan on covering the cost yourself.
Other ERS services work the same way. If you’re locked out of your vehicle or dealing with a flat tire, GEICO’s roadside coverage helps if you have ERS on that car, and doesn’t if you don’t.
How to Check Whether You Have It
Your declarations page shows which vehicles carry ERS. If you’re not sure, or want to add it, call GEICO’s customer service and ask directly rather than assuming coverage that might not be there when you need it.