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Is Tesla roadside assistance better than AAA?
I have Tesla's roadside assistance because I just bought the vehicle—however, I'm having second thoughts. Should I just keep the Tesla roadside assistance or should I get AAA?
Eric Schad · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
On paper, Tesla roadside assistance is not better than an
AAA membership
—however, there is a key distinction between the two that make them hard to compare:- Tesla roadside assistance is a warranty product: Tesla’s roadside assistance services are included for free with the four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty on your new Tesla. This includes towing for up to 500 miles—but only if your Tesla broke down due to a covered issue.
- AAA roadside assistance is a membership program: You have to pay for your AAA membership—around $60/year for up to five miles of towing with the basic Classic plan. The most expensive towing limit maxes out at 200 miles, but unlike Tesla, AAA’s towing services won’t be limited based on the cause.
Consider the following difference between Tesla’s and AAA’s roadside assistance plans to decide which is better for you:
- Pricing: Tesla roadside assistance is free while AAA roadside assistance costs around $60 to $125/year depending on your level of coverage and where you live.
- Towing services: Tesla will tow your car up to 500 miles for warrantable services, but you’ll be responsible for thecost of your towif the issue is not covered under warranty. AAA will tow your car up to five miles for a basic plan or 200 miles for the premier plan—regardless of the issue.
- Non-towing services: Both Tesla and AAA offer comparable lock-out and flat tire services. However, Tesla may charge extra if you need multiple services at once.
- Response times: Several Tesla owners have complained that Tesla roadside assistance often takes a few hours to a full day to respond. AAA’s average response time is 21 minutes.
The bottom line: Tesla’s roadside assistance is convenient as long as your car is under warranty—however, it wouldn’t hurt to get a AAA membership too to make sure that your bases are covered for non-warranty issues.
MORE: How to join AAA and make sure you have roadside assistance coverage
View full answer
- Gregory R.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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