How Does Buick Roadside Assistance Work?
Buick offers 24-hour OnStar Roadside Assistance to vehicles under warranty. The service is available to all models but free for models 2007 or later.
Written by Patrick Price
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
Buick offers roadside assistance to its customers through OnStar. While this service is available for all Buicks, it’s only free for 2007 or later models that are still under warranty.
One of the worst things that can happen while driving is breaking down by the side of the road—especially if you’re far from home. Hopefully, that situation never arises. Just in case, though, Buick offers roadside assistance to help drivers deal with the hassle of sudden mechanical trouble.
If you’re a Buick owner, you must familiarize yourself with your roadside assistance benefits. To fill you in on the details,
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How does Buick Roadside Assistance work?
When you purchase a new Buick car or light-duty truck that was manufactured after 2006, it will come with warranty coverage that includes OnStar roadside assistance—which provides emergency assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This warranty is valid for five years or 100,000 miles—whichever comes first. Roadside assistance is free of charge for as long as the warranty is active.
Every roadside assistance program includes different services. The OnStar program offered by Buick has the following benefits:
- Free towing to the nearest Buick dealer
- Locksmith services and/or OnStar remote unlock
- Flat-tire change
- Battery jumpstart
- Emergency fuel delivery
It’s important to know, however, that these services do have limitations. The towing service, for instance, is only available if your vehicle is on (or alongside) a legal roadway. Though OnStar will provide you with advisor-assisted unlocking services, they will not cover the cost to replace lost/stolen keys.
Similarly, they will only replace
flat tires
using your Buick’s onboard spare, and the emergency fuel delivery will only provide up to $5.00 worth of gas. How to use Buick roadside assistance
Buick’s roadside assistance is available 24/7 when you call 800-252-1112. Additionally, if you have an active OnStar or Connected Services plan and have enrolled in the mobile app, you can use the app to request assistance.
If your car trouble is the result of a collision, you’ll need to call 911 before you contact roadside assistance. You’ll also need to make an
insurance claim
at some point, so be sure to carefully document any damages—take pictures if you can. MORE: How to file a car accident claim report
What if my Buick warranty expired?
Buick Roadside Assitance can be a helpful way to pay for the costs of sudden mechanical failure. Unfortunately, once five years have passed (or you’ve driven more than 100,000 miles) your warranty will expire—and your free roadside assistance benefits will expire with it.
However, even if your Buick’s warranty has expired, you can still contact Buick Roadside Assistance for help—you’ll just be required to pay for any services yourself.
Is Buick Roadside Assistance worth it?
Buick includes roadside assistance along with any purchase. You’ll receive the service, at no extra cost, one way or another. At the cost of $0, then, it is obviously worth it.
That being said, if you’re looking to depend on Buick’s roadside assistance program, you may want to consider investing in additional coverage. As mentioned above, the are quite a few limitations on Buick’s roadside assistance—it’s not nearly as extensive as the programs offered by other companies.
If you want to make sure that you’re fully protected in any scenario, you may want to consider investing in alternative roadside assistance programs—keep scrolling for details.
Alternatives to Buick Roadside Assistance
Besides the roadside assistance that is included with your Buick’s limited warranty, there are several other services that you can enroll in to guard against the possibility of mechanical failure.
When you’re first buying your Buick, you can sign up for one of these additional programs:
- Protection Plans that provide additional protection on top of the limited warranty
- Prepaid Maintenance, which covers routine maintenance such as oil changes, filter changes, and tire rotation
- Tire and Wheel Protection, which covers the cost of repair and/or replacing tires when needed
In addition to these programs, you can also purchase OnStar’s essential roadside assistance plan for $19.99 per month.
Many drivers also choose to purchase roadside assistance services directly from their car insurance provider and/or add
towing and labor coverage
to their existing car insurance policy. How to save money on Buick insurance
Having roadside assistance means that you won’t be on you’re own if you get caught stranded by the side of the road. However, it doesn’t cover all the costs associated with car trouble/maintenance. For everything else, you’ll need good car insurance.
Fortunately, quality coverage doesn’t need to be a huge added expense. Finding great car insurance for an affordable price is easier and faster than ever—as long as you have the free
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FAQ
Is Buick’s extended warranty worth it?
Whether or not purchasing one of Buick’s extended warranties is worth it will depend on your budget and the amount of driving time/strain that you put on your Buick. In general, though, Buick’s warranties are not as extensive as those provided by other manufacturers. You may be better off simply purchasing more extensive car insurance coverage.
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