provider. This add-on provides emergency roadside services, such as towing, tire changes, fuel delivery, lockout assistance, and battery jumpstarts.

Roadside assistance coverage explained

If your insurance company offers roadside assistance—sometimes called towing and labor coverage—you can add it to your existing car insurance policy for an additional cost. Some insurance companies automatically include roadside assistance in their

full-coverage insurance

policies, but since it’s an optional coverage, it isn’t included in

liability-only insurance

policies.

The services covered by roadside assistance vary from insurer to insurer, but they may include:

Towing service to a repair shop when your car can’t be driven

Labor costs incurred at the location of the breakdown

Tire changes

Delivery of oil and gas

Battery assistance

Lockout service and/or locksmith services

Labor charges at the breakdown location

Jumpstarts

Winching

Roadside assistance usually doesn’t cover the cost of parts. For instance, while your service provider may cover the fee for jumpstarting your car battery, it will likely not pay to replace your dead battery with a new one.

Learn more:

Where can I find towing coverage for my car?

Roadside assistance is affordable through most insurers

Insurer-provided roadside assistance generally won’t raise your insurance premium significantly. On average, you may pay an extra $10 to $20 each month.

Here are some factors that can impact the cost of towing and labor coverage:

Insurance company

Vehicle make and model

Age of the car and how likely it is to breakdown

How often you use the service

While some car insurance companies offer standalone roadside assistance products, it is usually cheaper to add it to your existing car insurance policy. Some insurance companies may require you to purchase

collision insurance

and

comprehensive coverage

before you can add roadside assistance coverage to your policy, though.

Some insurers consider roadside assistance calls to be a type of claim. This means that even though it is cheap to add roadside assistance to your policy, using it could cause your insurance rates to go up at your next policy renewal. If you think you might need roadside assistance a lot, a standalone policy might be a better value.

Towing and labor coverage limits

As with other forms of auto insurance, roadside assistance comes with set limits, which can vary depending on your individual policy. To find out what your limits are, contact your insurance company.

Some limits may include:

A maximum number of covered service requests per 12-month period

A cap on your costs per breakdown

Caps on towing distances to home or repair facilities

Also, roadside assistance only covers your car. If you’re driving a friend’s vehicle and need an emergency tire change, your car insurance company might not cover you.

Roadside assistance is worth it for frequent drivers

If you drive a lot, roadside assistance can come to the rescue in all kinds of scenarios. For example, it can help you out if you have a dead battery, a flat tire, or if you’ve accidentally

locked your keys in your car

If you’re thinking about whether roadside assistance is right for you, consider the following factors:

Roadside assistance might be a good fit for you if:

You drive frequently and put a lot of miles on your car

You often drive outside of the city (where towing distances are greater)

You have an older car that isn’t very reliable

You live in an area that experiences inclement weather

You want the peace of mind of having roadside assistance for your teen motorist or other family member

Roadside assistance might not be necessary if:

You don’t drive often

You don’t drive far from your home

You are handy when it comes to minor vehicle repairs and tire changes

Learn more:

How do I call a tow truck if my car breaks down?

Towing and labor coverage vs. standalone roadside assistance plans

Towing and labor coverage is not the only option for emergency roadside assistance—you can also purchase a standalone roadside assistance plan.

Companies that offer standalone roadside assistance plans include

AAA

, Better World Club, Good Sam,

Allstate

AARP,

and Onstar. These plans offer some of the same services as towing and labor coverage, like towing, battery jumpstarts, fuel delivery, spare tire changes and more.

In addition, they might include helpful extras, like a 100-mile towing allowance, trip interruption reimbursement, and rental car reimbursement.

Towing and labor coverage is usually much cheaper than a standalone roadside assistance plan. However, if you use this service a lot, you might see a hike in your insurance premium. For this reason, if you think you might use roadside assistance services a few times, a standalone plan might be cheaper in the long run.

The best car insurance companies for roadside assistance

Our experts at Jerry have put together the average monthly cost for policies that include towing and labor coverage from some of the best car insurance companies. They then compared that to the national average for a full coverage policy, which is about $165 a month.

Car insurance company	Cost with roadside assistance	% over average
AAA	$204	24%
Dairyland	$215	30%
Direct Auto	$255	55%
Founders	$171	4%
Mercury Auto	$186	13%
National General	$201	22%
Nationwide	$137	-17%
Progressive	$137	-17%
Safeco	$159	-4%
State Auto	$157	-5%
Travelers	$145	-12%

If you and your family’s peace of mind is of the utmost importance to you, it’s a good idea to get a car insurance policy with an excellent roadside assistance program. To make sure you are getting the best deal on your policy, use

Jerry

With Jerry, you can compare car insurance quotes from dozens of providers using your driver profile, including your driving record and vehicle information. You can adjust your coverage options—including towing and labor coverage—directly in the app.

Simply download the Jerry app, enter your information, and you can review auto policies within a few minutes.

Need affordable roadside assistance?

Compare rates with Jerry to see if you can save

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FAQ

Are car insurance companies the only providers of roadside assistance?

You can also purchase roadside assistance from a car manufacturer after you buy a new vehicle. Some cell phone providers, such as T-Mobile and Verizon, also sell plans with roadside assistance. You might also be able to get roadside assistance through a credit card company, such as Chase or Visa.

Can I receive a reimbursement if I paid out of pocket for towing services?

If you have roadside assistance through your insurer and paid for assistance out of pocket, you should be able to submit your receipts and request a refund from your insurance company. But make sure to double-check your auto insurance policy or call an insurance agent.

How do I request emergency roadside help from my insurance company?

If you have towing and labor coverage through your insurance company, you can request help in a number of ways. Some companies, like

Allstate

and

GEICO

, have mobile apps that allow you to request roadside assistance. They even include your GPS location! You can also go to your insurance company’s website or call them.

Do I have to have an insurance policy to get roadside service?

Some car insurance companies offer membership or pay-per-use plans that do not require you to be a policyholder. They are usually much more expensive, though.

Is there special car insurance for tow truck drivers?

Yes, tow truck companies that employ tow truck operators can purchase towing insurance. If you are purchasing insurance for tow truck drivers, it’s a good idea to purchase insurance coverage options such as general liability insurance, medical payments insurance, physical damage coverage, and bodily injury liability coverage.

Does NY have free roadside assistance?

New York’s Highway Emergency Local Patrol (HELP) program offers free roadside assistance in specific areas of New York. HELP roadside assistance covers the metro areas of Albany, Buffalo, Hudson Valley, Long Island, New York City, and Rochester. HELP does not cover Brooklyn, Manhattan, or The Bronx.

Meet our experts

Hillary Kobayashi

Hillary Kobayashi is an insurance writer and editor specializing in insurance and finance topics. Hillary’s mission is to use her knowledge and love of education to help car owners better understand how they can save time and money on car ownership. The articles Hillary has published for Jerry span topics from state-specific bill of sale requirements to SR-22 insurance information.

Prior to joining Jerry, Hillary spent over ten years in education at Pacific University and the University of Oregon.

Amy Bobinger

Licensed Insurance Agent — Expert Insurance Editor

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.