Which auto insurance companies offer the best roadside assistance?
When shopping for the best roadside assistance programs, it's important to keep both cost and coverage top of mind. Annually, drivers typically spend around $1,732.
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Written by
Leslie Kasperowicz
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Reviewed by
Daniel Walker
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UPDATED: May 5, 2022
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- Most roadside assistance plans are available for a flat fee every month
- Standard coverage options include high towing limits and winching to get your car out of mud, sand, or snow
- More expensive plans generally offer added perks as well, like hotel discounts and trip interruption insurance
Many insurance companies in the auto industry offer roadside assistance, but what exactly are the best roadside assistance policies out there?
Most roadside assistance policies are available for a flat fee every month, or year, in additional to your regular car insurance. But does all car insurance include roadside assistance?
Keep reading to find out which car insurance companies offer the best roadside assistance. Ready to start comparing auto insurance rates? Simply enter your ZIP code into our easy tool and start your free comparisons today.
Table of Contents
Which auto insurance companies offer the best roadside assistance?
The best roadside assistance policies will generally offer a few of the following: towing, flat tire change, lockout (open a door if the keys are locked inside), jump-start of a dead battery, and fuel delivery. These services are meant to provide a “no out-of-pocket cost” to you beyond your original membership fee.
Some of the best plans also offer additional services, including trip interruption coverage and discounts on travel or dining from partner providers.
Let’s look at some of the best roadside assistance carriers on the market currently.
Allstate
Allstate offers all the services you’d expect from a roadside assistance company, as well as some additional features for a reasonable price.
Here is what a membership will get you:
| Plan Cost | Information |
|---|---|
| $79 - basic | membership includes services such as towing, battery jump-starts, fuel delivery, lockout, and tire changes |
| $149 - elite | increased limits of covered calls per year from three to five; also includes $1,500 worth of trip interruption coverage, three free CARFAX reports (helpful if you’re shopping for a used car), plus a variety of discounts on travel and retail services |
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You can also choose their pay-per-use option, with towing fees starting at $119. You can also add a spouse and up to two children between the ages of 16 and 18 to your membership for free.
Allstate will also cover you for up to $150 worth of towing on its basic plan. While this may sound like a great deal, since most likely the towing company will charge you between $2 and $7 per mile for a tow, this will only realistically get you about 21 miles. So if you’re in need of assistance out of state, you may need to pay additional fees.
However, you do not need to be an Allstate insurance customer to purchase one of their roadside assistance memberships, so any of these services can be utilized even if you don’t have an Allstate policy.
Additionally, these services can be added to your existing insurance policy for just $25 per year if you have one.
AAA
AAA offers three different policies: Classic, Plus, and Premier. The Classic plan limits towings to five miles, but with the Plus plan, you can have your vehicle towed up to one hundred miles, which is much farther than most roadside assistance packages.
Services include:
- Towing
- Dead battery
- Flat tire
- Lockout
- Emergency fuel service
- Minor mechanical first aid
Towing covers 25 miles to one of AAA’s service facilities. If you do need a replacement vehicle while your car is in the shop, AAA can help arrange that and provide special rates from preferred rental providers.
Here is a better look at the membership tiers:
| Plan | Cost | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Classic | $54 per year ($20 fee for new members) | Towing, lockout, dead battery, flat tire, fuel delivery, 3-mile towing limit , Discounted rates on rental cars |
| Plus | $90 per year $20 fee for new members) | Includes all Classic plan services, 100-mile towing limit, free emergency fuel, vehicle locksmith services ($100 limit) |
| Premier | $127 per year $20 fee for new members) | Includes all Plus plan services, 1 tow up to 200 miles, remaining tows up to 100 miles, free 1-day car rental with tow, home lockout service |
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Even with the most basic AAA membership, you have access to the Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) services in some states. AAA can help with completing any paperwork you would normally do at the DMV (like vehicle registration, titling, and plate renewal services), instead of going to the DMV directly. You can do these things at any AAA office, and AAA will cover all necessary fees.
The perks of being a Plus or Premier AAA member are that you are offered reimbursements for locksmith fees, trip interruption, emergency medical transport, and even windshield repair.
The average cost for AAA’s roadside assistance starts at $52 a month.
Progressive
Progressive roadside assistance offers a 24/7, inexpensive roadside assistance program. In addition to standard services like towing and fuel delivery, Progressive covers getting your car out of snow, sand, mud, or water, for up to 100 feet away from a road or highway.
It’s a great choice for those who tend to drive in hazardous weather or on roads in poor condition or those who live in a state that has seasonal changes.
Here’s a complete breakdown of their services:
- Vehicle towing: towing your vehicle anywhere within a 15-mile radius. If there isn’t a repair shop within 15 miles, Progressive will tow it to the nearest qualified repair shop. If you choose to have your vehicle towed to a shop that isn’t the closest one, you need to pay for the extra mileage. Keep in mind, you’re responsible for the cost of any parts and/or repairs made to your vehicle.
- Winching service: if your car is trapped in mud, snow, water, or sand (within 100 feet of a road or highway), Progressive will pull your car out with a motor-powered cable or chain.
- Battery jump-start: jump-start your car at the scene to help get you on your way.
- Fuel delivery: if you run out of gas, Progressive will deliver fuel directly to your vehicle. You only pay for the cost of the fuel. The delivery and service are free.
- Battery charge for electric cars: If you run out of charge, Progressive can arrange to tow your vehicle anywhere within a 15-mile radius, or to the nearest qualified charging facility if there isn’t one within 15 miles. You only pay for the cost of the charge.
- Locksmith service: If your keys are lost, stolen, or accidentally locked inside your vehicle, Progressive will dispatch a qualified service provider. You’re only responsible for keys/costs to replace them.
- Flat tire change: A roadside professional will put the spare tire on your vehicle at the scene for no cost as long as you can provide a spare.
- On-scene labor: Progressive provides up to one hour of labor if your car is disabled. If you need more than an hour, you can simply choose to have your vehicle towed to the nearest qualified repair shop or pay for any extra costs.
There may be a limit to the number of roadside assistance events your policy covers. Additionally, in some states, such as North Carolina and Virginia, roadside assistance coverage is subject to limits stated on your policy.
Other roadside assistance options that Progressive offers:
- Motorcycle Roadside Assistance
- Boat Roadside Assistance
- RV Roadside Assistance
- Trip Interruption coverage for motorcycle and boat
The average cost of Progressive’s roadside assistance is around $16 a month on average on top of your existing policy.
AARP
AARP roadside assistance is the best roadside assistance for seniors. Through Allstate’s team-up of roadside assistance programs, AARP members are able to take advantage of these same services offered to Allstate policyholders.
Similarly to AAA’s model, you can purchase a roadside assistance policy with tiered services and features as an add-on to your already existing policy.
Starting at around $62 per month, the program offers services such as towing, winching, dead battery jump-start, flat tire change, fuel delivery, and lockout. Memberships also include three free calls for service per year.
Those benefits also extend to rental cars as well.
Other features also include:
| Cost | Covers | Additional info |
|---|---|---|
| $64–$84 | Trip routing, auto theft reward, emergency hospital bond, arrest bond certificate, legal defense reimbursement, trip interruption guarantee | 5 miles with the basic package, 100 miles with premium package |
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The towing limit is only 10 miles, but a 100-mile limit is available if you upgrade to the $149 Elite plan.
Allstate’s roadside assistance also provides 24-hour emergency roadside to AARP members across the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada.
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Other Roadside Assistance Programs
Similarly to comparing auto insurance quotes, which plan works best for you may depend on a few numbering factors like how you drive, where you live, and what you want out of your roadside assistance package.
Here are some honorable mentions:
| Company | Cost | Details | Miles to Shop | Calls per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Better World Club | $58-$98 | Battery jump-start, flat tire change, lockout service, fuel delivery, trip routing, discounts on hotels, rental cars, and more | 5 miles with the Basic Auto package, 100 miles with the Premium Auto package | Limit of 4 service calls per year |
| USAA | $14 | Towing, lockout service, jump-start, flat tire change, fuel delivery | Nearest repair shop | Pays up to $100 per occurrence |
| GEICO | $14 | Towing, jump-start, flat tire change, lockout service | Nearest repair shop | Limit of 5 service calls per year |
| CARCHEX | $60–$110 | Towing, mechanical first aid, flat tire change, emergency battery service, lockout service, fuel delivery, theft reward, trip route mapping | 25 miles | Limit of 5 to unlimited service calls per year, depending on package |
| OnStar | $300–$756 | 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 |
| American Express | Included with American Express Serve or Bluebird by American Express membership | Towing, winching, jump-start, fuel delivery, lockout service, flat tire change | Nearest repair shop | Only provides coordination and assistance with obtaining services (cost of services are the responsibility of the customer) |
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While these insurers run a little bit more expensive than the ones we mentioned previously, that doesn’t mean that their services are poor quality. The best choice for you depends on what you want out of a roadside assistance program as well as what is going to fit comfortably within your budget.
What is the best roadside assistance membership?
The answer to this is going to depend on a few factors that mostly range from: what is going to fit your needs and your budget to, what you want out of a roadside program. While many auto insurance companies offer roadside assistance, these programs will always vary greatly by location.
If you already have an existing policy, Progressive is the best bang for your buck. Starting at only $16 a month on top of your policy is a great deal as well as Progressive offering some amazing perks on top.
If you don’t already have a policy that includes roadside assistance, Allstate is another great option. With Allstate, you don’t need an existing policy. Anyone can purchase any of the tiered options and get the full coverage needed to keep safe while driving on the road.
Is AAA the best roadside assistance?
This is a common question, especially since AAA started as a high school driving curriculum and pedestrian safety program. Since AAA is spread out over multiple car insurance companies and groups throughout each state they reside in, there are numerous reasons why they would be a great option in terms of coverage.
As stated above, they do run a bit more expensive than both Allstate and Progressive, with membership rates ranging about $50 to $100 per year.
In terms of coverage, though, they have about the same amount of coverage as the other two providers. So, if cost is a big factor for you, they might not be the best fit.
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Which auto insurance companies offer the best roadside assistance? Key Takeaways
While most auto insurance companies have their own roadside assistance programs, there are some that stand out amongst the competition. With both Progressive and Allstate having similar programs featuring cheap and competitive rates, they are both the top picks for us in terms of the best roadside assistance.
Now that you’ve learned about what the best roadside assistance programs are, take the time to enter your ZIP code into our free tool and start comparing quotes in your area.