Is The General Roadside Assistance Worth It?
How does The General’s roadside assistance measure up to competition like AAA? Let’s find out.
Written by Mariza Morin
Reviewed by Brittni Brinn
The General customers can add roadside assistance to their current
car insurance
policy—no matter their insurance coverage—for about $120 a year. To access emergency roadside assistance services through The General, you’ll need to call 1-844-608-4726.- Roadside assistance gives you peace of mind in case your car breaks down.
- The General offers roadside assistance through Nation Safe Driver.
- While auto clubs like AAA offer more roadside assistance services, it may be easier to add coverage to your regular The General car insurance policy.
- Roadside assistance gives you peace of mind in case your car breaks down.
- The General offers roadside assistance through Nation Safe Driver.
- While auto clubs like AAA offer more roadside assistance services, it may be easier to add coverage to your regular The General car insurance policy.
What does The General roadside assistance cover?
Through a partnership with
Nation Safe Driver
, The General’s roadside assistance program covers 24-hour emergency services whether your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere or you accidentally lock yourself out of your own vehicle. Coverage includes:- Towing services: If you get stranded, The General will cover the costs to tow your vehicle to a qualified repair shop of your choosing or the nearest mechanic.
- Battery jumpstarts: Did your battery die overnight? Can’t find yourjumper cables? Not only will The General bring your battery back to life if it dies, but they will also perform minor adjustments to alternators, starters, and more.
- Fuel delivery service: If you run out of gas, The General will send a service truck to deliver enough fuel to get you to the nearest gas station. You can even have water, oil, or other supplies delivered to you as well.
- Locksmith services: Lock yourself out of your car? The General will help you get back into your car or dispatch a locksmith to assist you.
Please note that The General does not offer many common roadside assistance services, such as
flat tire changes
or wincing services if you get stuck in the mud or snow. However, you don’t have to have collision
and comprehensive insurance
—also known as full coverage insurance—to add roadside assistance to your car insurance policy as most insurance companies require.If you’re already insured through The General, you should consider adding on roadside assistance if you have an older car that’s prone to mechanical failures or you have a long commute for work. Roadside assistance will usually follow you no matter where you go!
How to use The General’s roadside assistance program
Do you need to utilize The General’s roadside assistance services? You can do so by calling their dispatch services at 1-844-608-4726. This emergency phone number is available 24/7 in the United States and Canada for roadside claims.
While The General has a mobile app to help you manage your insurance policy anywhere at any time, you can’t start an emergency roadside assistance claim through the app. That’s because roadside assistance is not part of The General’s regular insurance policies as this 24-hour emergency program is fully provided by the Nation Safe Driver.
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How much does The General roadside assistance cost?
Depending on where you live, The General roadside assistance program cost ranges between $120 and $138 a year when added to your regular auto insurance policy. But unlike most insurance companies, you don’t have to have full coverage to add on this vital emergency plan.
How does The General stack up to the competition? It’s about typical for the industry, though you could potentially find immense savings through other top car insurance companies for roadside assistance—also known as
towing and labor coverage
—which generally costs between $15 and $150 per year. For example, GEICO
offers one of the most affordable roadside assistance plans as low as $14 per year, while the average is about $80 per year for most other insurance providers.Also, keep in mind that
an AAA membership
starts at $59.99 per year—which we’ll discuss in greater detail below.The General roadside assistance vs. AAA
The General’s roadside assistance program shares some similarities with AAA’s Basic plan, but there are also a couple of major differences.
Not only does AAA’s Basic plan include flat tire services, but AAA provides roadside assistance services to any vehicle you’re driving or happen to be a passenger in. With The General, roadside assistance only applies to vehicles covered by your current policy.
Additionally, AAA offers
two higher tiers of coverage
: Plus and Premier. Benefits include emergency services such as up to 100 miles of towing and free one-day rental cars, along with free passport photos. Extra perks for AAA members include travel and hotel discounts.While you can possibly add roadside assistance to a six-month policy from The General for about $60 to $69, again, you can get an AAA membership starting at $59.99 for the entire year that includes automatic enrollment into their popular roadside assistance program—that’s definitely more bang for your buck! This may be worth balancing multiple memberships considering how much more roadside assistance services you’ll get with an AAA membership.
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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 The General roadside assistance count as a claim?
No. Roadside assistance is not part of The General’s insurance policies or premiums, as this 24-hour emergency program is fully provided by the Nation Safe Driver—so calling for roadside assistance shouldn’t raise your insurance rates.
Do I need to be a The General customer to use their roadside assistance?
Yes. But no matter which car insurance coverage you have with The General, you can easily add roadside assistance to your current policy.
