Is Safeco Roadside Assistance Worth It?
Wondering if Safeco’s roadside assistance is right for you? Read on to find out!
Written by Amber Reed
Reviewed by Brittni Brinn
Safeco customers who have a full coverage
car insurance
policy can add on roadside assistance for as little as $8 to $10 a year. Services can be accessed through the app or by calling 1-877-762-3101.- Drivers with Safeco car insurance have the option to add on roadside assistance for about $8 to $10 a year
- A full-coverage policy is typically required
- Safeco’s roadside assistance coverage comes with some limitations that other roadside assistance providers like AAA don’t have, like mobile mechanic services
- Drivers with Safeco car insurance have the option to add on roadside assistance for about $8 to $10 a year
- A full-coverage policy is typically required
- Safeco’s roadside assistance coverage comes with some limitations that other roadside assistance providers like AAA don’t have, like mobile mechanic services
What does Safeco roadside assistance cover?
Safeco’s basic roadside assistance package covers things like towing, jumpstarts, and flat tires. You’ll get up to four covered incidents per year. Here’s what’s included:
- Towing services: Safeco provides towing to the nearest qualified repair shop within a 15-mile radius. If you need to get towed farther than 15 miles, expect to have to pay the difference.
- Flat tires: Never changed a tire before? No worries! Safeco will help youchange a flat tirewith your own spare. Just need a little air? They can do that too! If you don’t have a spare, they’ll provide one—but you’ll have to pay for it.
- Battery service: If your battery’s out of juice, Safeco provides a jumpstart to get you moving again. But heads up: there’s no mention of available EV battery services.
- Fuel and fluid delivery: If your car needs fuel, oil, brake fluid, or any other kind of fluids, Safeco can deliver them. The cost of the fuel or fluids is not included, but the delivery is!
- Lockout services: Whether you can’t find your keys or they’re safely locked inside your car, Safeco will send out a locksmith to get you back on track.
Available services can vary by state. Additionally, while some sources report that Safeco provides winching and on-site labor services, Safeco’s own website makes no mention of these services.
Make sure you verify with your local Safeco agent as to what services are included in your roadside assistance coverage. Safeco also offers a roadside assistance package that is designed for
motorcycles
as well!Safeco’s website states that roadside assistance is offered as an add-on policy. It’s not explicitly stated, but it’s fairly common practice for insurers to require that you have both
comprehensive
and collision insurance
in order to add on roadside assistance. If you’re a Safeco customer who doesn’t have roadside assistance and you find yourself stranded, you can still get help through them—you’ll just have to pay for the services.Some sources also mention something called an Emergency Assistance Package, which added things like trip interruption benefits to the roadside assistance package. However, it’s not currently listed at all on Safeco’s site. Again, ask your agent for details!
How to use Safeco’s roadside assistance program
The simplest way to use Safeco’s roadside assistance program is by calling 1-877-762-3101. This number is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you prefer, you can also initiate a roadside assistance call with the
Safeco app
.RECOMMENDED
Compare auto insurance policies
No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms
How much does Safeco’s roadside assistance cost?
Safeco’s roadside assistance package is reported to be around $8 to $10 a year, which makes it one of the least expensive programs around. The cost can vary according to your location (and the Safeco website doesn’t list any prices), so you’ll have to get specific pricing from your agent. You’ll likely need to have a
full coverage
policy to add it on, though, which makes your insurance more expensive overall.Comparatively speaking, Safeco offers one of the cheapest
towing and labor
coverage options around. Costs range widely depending on the provider and can be anywhere from $15 to around $150 per year. GEICO
offers roadside assistance for as little as $14 a year, and Progressive
, Nationwide
, and Allstate
are all around $25 per year.At the end of the day, Safeco’s roadside assistance is definitely one of the cheapest—but it also seems to offer less rigorous coverage than many other providers. If you only need to have basic protection for emergencies, then it seems like a pretty good deal. But if you travel a lot or have an EV, it might not be the best choice for you.
Safeco roadside assistance vs. AAA
When you think of roadside assistance, you probably think of
AAA
. How does Safeco measure up to the OG of roadside assistance providers? Let’s take a look!First off, it’s a lot more expensive. AAA’s basic plan starts at around $60 a year—but it offers more coverage than Safeco. While Safeco’s roadside assistance only covers the vehicle on your policy, AAA provides service to any vehicle that you’re a driver or a passenger in—meaning you could potentially be the hero of a road trip gone awry.
In addition to providing winching services and minor mechanical repairs at their basic plan, AAA also offers two
higher levels of coverage
called Plus and Premier. At the higher levels, you get additional perks like a wider towing radius, free rental cars, hotel discounts, and more.At the end of the day, whether or not a Safeco or a AAA policy is better for you really depends on your needs and your level of comfort. If you like to know that you have the broadest level of protection and perks be you a passenger or a driver, then AAA is a good (but more expensive) choice. But if you’re a Safeco customer who is looking for an economical plan that covers emergencies, then adding roadside assistance to your policy is an easy way to do it.
"Jerryis so helpful! It turns out that Safeco offers me the best plan for my price range. I’m thankful for the extra income I’m saving with a better auto insurance policy.” —Lou C.
Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds
Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds
4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversFAQs
Does using Safeco roadside assistance count as a claim?
No! Using Safeco’s roadside assistance doesn’t count as a claim, so utilizing the service should not have an effect on your premiums.
Do I need to be a Safeco customer to use their roadside assistance?
Yes, you need to be a Safeco customer to use their roadside assistance. If you're a Safeco customer but you don’t have roadside assistance, you can still use it—but you have to pay for the services before they’re sent out.
