Question: I have Tesla’s roadside assistance because I just bought the vehicle—however, I’m having second thoughts. Should I just keep the Tesla roadside assistance or should I get AAA?
Answer: When comparing Tesla roadside assistance and AAA, each has pros and cons,depending on the service your vehicle needs.
Price
- Tesla: Tesla Roadside Assistance is free of charge if your Tesla is covered with a Basic Vehicle Limited Warranty or the Extended Service Agreement.
- AAA: AAA Roadside Assistance is a paid membership plan. Your benefits vary depending on where you live and which tier you choose.
Although the Tesla membership is free, you have to pay for some services that would be covered under AAA, so the cost difference may even out. One example is extraction — AAA will retrieve your vehicle from a ditch, whereas that’s on Tesla’s not covered list.
Towing
- Tesla: If you experience a breakdown covered by your Tesla warranty, you can be towed to the nearest Tesla Service Center, up to 500 miles. If the breakdown is not covered by the warranty or you have to be towed more than 500 miles, you are responsible for towing costs.
- AAA: You can be towed up to four times a year through AAA. With a Classic plan—the lowest tier—tows are covered up to three miles. With Plus, you can be towed up to 100 miles, and with Premier, you can get one tow a year up to 200 miles, and three tows up to 100 miles
AAA’s towing service is flexible and available up to four times a year. However, the three-mile limit on a Classic plan may be restrictive. In comparison, Tesla’s Roadside Assistance only covers towing for warranty-covered breakdowns, making AAA’s Plus or Premiere plans a more flexible choice
Lockout
- Tesla: As long as you can prove you’re the owner of the vehicle, a Tesla technician will unlock your vehicle or tow it up to 50 miles to a Service Center if you can’t open your car with the fob, with the app, or remotely.
- AAA: A AAA technician will help you get into your car if you’re locked out, and a portion of the parts and labor ($60–$150, depending on your membership tier) will be covered for each service call.
If you drive a Tesla, you can usually open it with the app or by contacting the Tesla Service Team to open the car remotely. If that doesn’t work, AAA will be a good option for helping you get into the vehicle.
Battery service
- Tesla: If your battery dies and you’re not near a charging station, a technician can get you back on the road—but you’ll have to pay for this service.
- AAA: If you’re an AAA member and drive an EV, you can get mobile charging at no cost if your battery dies while you’re on the road.
Since Tesla charges for mobile battery charging, AAA is the clear winner here.
Flat tire
- Tesla: If you have a flat tire, a technician will come out and change your flat or tow your car to the nearest Tesla Service Center. If you’re being towed 50 miles or less and you’re having your tire work done by Tesla, you won’t pay for the tow—but you will have to pay for transportation costs over 50 miles, and you’ll also have to pay to have your tire repaired or replaced.
- AAA: If you have a spare tire, a AAA technician will change your flat and put the spare on. If you don’t have a spare, you can use your towing benefit.
Tesla requires you to have your tire repaired or replaced at one of their service centers—otherwise, you’ll have to pay for the tow. With AAA, there’s no requirement on where you have your tire repaired, and you won’t have to pay for the tow as long as your benefits cover it.
Other perks
An AAA membership comes with additional benefits like discounted rental cars, hotels, auto parts, and more.
Ultimately, the restrictions on Tesla’s coverage may make AAA a more flexible option. If you’re already covered by Tesla’s Roadside Assistance plan, you’ll need to weigh out the additional benefits AAA provides including free battery charging.
Expert insurance writer and editor Amy Bobinger specializes in car repair, car maintenance, and car insurance. Amy is passionate about creating content that helps consumers navigate challenges related to car ownership and achieve financial success in areas relating to cars. Amy has over 10 years of writing and editing experience. After several years as a freelance writer, Amy spent four years as an editing fellow at WikiHow, where she co-authored over 600 articles on topics including car maintenance and home ownership. Since joining Jerry’s editorial team in 2022, Amy has edited over 2,500 articles on car insurance, state driving laws, and car repair and maintenance.
Giselle Gomez is an editor with over a decade of experience editing content across personal finance, education, travel, and sports. In editing for Jerry, Giselle’s focus is on making sure content is consumer and SEO-friendly and helping readers understand all things car ownership. In prior roles, she worked as a content strategist, syndication editor, and writer. Her work is featured in AP, NerdWallet.com, BestColleges.com, and more. Giselle holds a master’s degree from Arizona State University.
