There are many ways to get roadside assistance, from towing and labor coverage to clubs and credit cards. Here’s where to find help, what it costs, and what it covers:

Add towing and labor coverage to your insurance policy

Roadside assistance (aka “towing and labor”) is an extra coverage option provided by most auto insurance companies. Costs start at around $20 per year to add the option to a

full coverage car insurance policy

in Florida.

Not only is it cheap, but tow and labor coverage usually includes a wide range of services, such as:

Battery boosts

Fuel delivery

Lockout services

Tire change services

Towing

Winching services

Keep in mind that factors like your driving history, profile, location, and more play a big role in determining your rates. That’s why it’s so important to compare multiple

personalized car insurance quotes

while you’re shopping.

If you’d rather keep the savings and skip the hassle of comparing rates, try

Jerry

, your personal pocket insurance broker! He’ll find the best five to seven offers in your area and compare them for you. All you have to do is head to the App Store and download the country’s number one

trustworthy insurance comparison app

Key Takeaway Finding affordable towing and labor coverage (and
cheap car insurance
) depends on comparing quotes from multiple companies.

MORE:

What is towing and labor coverage? Do I need it?

Find a car insurance company that offers roadside assistance

According to Jerry’s shopping survey (one of the largest in the nation), the five

best car insurance companies in Florida

are:

Kemper

The good news is that all five offer some form of towing and labor coverage. Rates, services, and policy requirements vary, so compare

Esurance

Kemper

, and

Safeco roadside assistance

reviews before buying.

Join a Florida roadside assistance club

Florida roadside assistance clubs provide 24/7 no-cost or low-cost roadside services in exchange for a monthly or yearly membership fee. Costs range from $50-$360 per year, but carrying a card can also provide extra benefits.

Here’s a quick run-down of the major roadside assistance clubs in Florida, starting membership fees, and what they offer:

AAA

($65/year): The original roadside assistance club, AAA’s vast size brings plenty of member rewards, including nationwide coverage, extensive discounts, and trip interruption benefits.

Better World Club

($61.95/year): “America’s only 100% carbon neutral roadside assistance club” covers all the basics and offers discounts, trip interruption benefits, and bicycle, motorcycle, and RV coverage options.

CarChex

(pricing varies by vehicle model and age): Focusing more on repairs than roadside assistance, CarChex offers emergency help as a benefit of its

mechanical breakdown insurance

plans.

Good Sam

($99.95/year): Covering flats, dead batteries, and other common vehicle problems, premium Good Sam plans include emergency travel, medical, and trip interruption benefits.

OnStar

($29.99/month): A subsidiary of GMC, OnStar’s plans include roadside assistance as well as automatic emergency calls, stolen vehicle location services, and navigation assistance.

MORE:

How to join AAA and make sure you have roadside assistance coverage

See if your vehicle manufacturer offers roadside assistance

Popular automakers like Toyota, Honda, and Ford offer complimentary roadside assistance with the purchase of a new or certified pre-owned vehicle. Most plans cover the basics, but it pays to read the fine print.

For example,

Toyota Roadside Assistance

offers unlimited mileage and lasts two years.

Ford Roadside Assistance

lasts five years but has a mileage limit of 60,000 miles. Finally, while the

Honda Roadside Assistance

program only lasts three years/36,000 miles, it includes car rental, trip interruption, and limited concierge benefits.

Check if your credit card offers roadside assistance

Some credit cards offer free roadside assistance, but the terms and conditions often limit it to a certain number of miles or uses, and there’s a flat fee for any additional services. If you’ve got one of these major credit cards in your wallet, check your paperwork to see what’s covered and what’s not.

Capital One

(select cards including Savor Rewards, Venture One, and Quicksilver, offered through Visa or MasterCard)

Chase Credit cards Roadside Dispatch

(select cards including Sapphire Preferred, Slate, and Freedom offered through Visa and MasterCard)

Costco Roadside Assistance

MasterCard Master RoadAssist

(select cards including Platinum, World, or World Elite, as well as those issued by certain banks, including Capital One and Chase)

Visa Traditional Credit Card benefits

(every card plus select cards from Bank of America, Capital One, Wells Fargo, and U.S. Bank)

Key Takeaway If you’d rather not add tow and labor coverage to your car insurance, you might be able to find roadside assistance services through clubs, carmakers, or credit cards.

How to get free roadside assistance in Florida

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) sponsors a free emergency roadside assistance and highway safety program called the

Road Ranger Service Patrol

. As handy as they are, they don’t cover everything (or everywhere).

Who are the Road Rangers?

The Road Ranger Service Patrol provides stranded motorists with limited roadside assistance services. They also support emergency responders by clearing the roads of debris and directing motorists after a traffic incident in compliance with

Florida’s move-over laws

To get help, dial *347 (or *FHP, which stands for Florida Highway Patrol). Patrol members will also stop to lend a hand if they notice your car on the side of the road.

Major toll road	Road Ranger hours of operation
Florida Turnpike (milepost 0-308)	24/7
SR 408, East-Wess Expressway (milepost 0-1)	24/7
SR 869, Sawgrass Expressway (milepost 1-21)	24/7
SR 589, Veterans Expressway (milepost 2.2-19)	24/7
SR 528, Beachline Expressway (milepost 0-8)	6:00 AM - 10:00 PM, seven days a week
SR 570, Polk Parkway (milepost 0-24)	6:00 AM - 10:00 PM, seven days a week
SR 417, Seminole Expressway (milepost 38-55)	6:00 AM - 10:00 PM, seven days a week
SR 417, Southern Connector (milepost 0-10)	6:00 AM - 10:00 PM, seven days a week
SR 429, Western Beltway (milepost 0-11)	6:00 AM - 10:00 PM, seven days a week
SR 23, First Coast Expressway (milepost 31-46)	6:00 AM - 10:00 PM, Monday to Friday
SR 589, Suncoast Parkway (milepost 19-55)	5:00 AM - 9:00 PM, seven days a week

What do the Road Rangers cover?

The Florida Road Rangers provide limited roadside assistance services with minor issues. They’re also generally trained in first aid and CPR.

Dial *347 or flag down a Ranger and they can help you:

Make up to two local phone calls

Deliver up to two gallons of fuel

Change a flat tire (if you have a spare)

Jump start your battery

Refill your water

Complete an emergency repair totaling 15 minutes of labor or less

Since their inception, the Road Rangers have assisted in over 6.1 million incidents, helping about 4,000 stranded motorists per month.

What don’t the Road Rangers cover?

If your problem exceeds the time limit or falls outside the Road Rangers’ list of services, the Ranger will contact a tow truck or another service provider to help you at your cost. For example, they won’t be able to help you if:

You need alternative transportation or accommodations

You need a battery replacement

You need a tow to your home or the nearest garage

Your car breaks down on a remote country road

Your car is stuck in a ditch

Your car is stuck in the driveway

You’ve been locked out of your car in a parking lot

Key Takeaway The Road Rangers are free, but they only offer a limited number of roadside assistance services on Florida’s major toll roads.

MORE:

Driving to Florida: tips, tricks, and laws

FAQ

Is there free roadside assistance in Florida?

Yes, the Florida Road Ranger Service Patrol offers free but limited emergency roadside assistance services to stranded motorists on major toll roads. Dial *347 (*FHP) and they’ll be able to help you by delivering gas, boosting your battery, or making two local phone calls.

How do I get roadside assistance in Florida?

You can get roadside assistance from a club, car manufacturer, or credit card, but the cheapest and most comprehensive source of coverage is your auto insurance company.

Is Road Rangers free in Florida?

Yes, the services provided by the Road Ranger Service Patrol are free. However, their list of services, coverage area, and hours are limited. For comprehensive, 24/7 service, it’s best to join a roadside assistance club or add towing and labor coverage to your car insurance policy.

How much is roadside assistance in Florida?

The cost of roadside assistance varies. The Florida Road Rangers provide a small list of services for free. Joining a roadside assistance club costs between $50 and $360, while credit cards with emergency service benefits often carry a yearly fee. By contrast, adding towing and labor coverage to a full coverage car insurance policy in Florida carries an average starting cost of $20 per year.

What is the roadside assistance phone number in Florida?

Call *347 (*FHP) to get in touch with the Road Ranger Service Patrol. Barring any inclement weather or congestion, a service provider should arrive in 20-30 minutes. A Ranger will also stop to see if you need assistance if they see your car at the side of the road.

What are the benefits of roadside assistance?

Besides peace of mind, some roadside assistance club memberships carry benefits like discounts and trip interruption protection. For example, AAA members enjoy discounted rates on rentals, restaurants, hotels, stores, and tourist attractions nationwide. Customers of

National General’s roadside assistance

program have access to free maps and navigation assistance.

Is roadside assistance cheaper in Florida?

Most roadside assistance club memberships and auto manufacturer plans have a flat-rate pricing scheme. Mechanical breakdown insurance providers, however, will often decide your rates by examining the age and condition of your vehicle. Finally, your driving profile, history, location, and more could help you find cheap car insurance and equally cheap towing and labor coverage.

Are you overpaying for car insurance?

Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.

Try Jerry