Best Roadside Assistance Plans

Key Points:

• The best roadside assistance plans can be add-ons to your insurance policy or standalone coverage contracts through individual providers.
• Roadside assistance plans typically include services such as towing, dead battery replacement or jump-start, and emergency fuel delivery.
• You should consider a provider’s towing limits, service call limits, whether or not it offers winching, and extras such as trip interruption benefits when choosing a plan.

If you were to find yourself stuck in a ditch or stranded on the side of the road, emergency roadside assistance could come in handy. The best roadside assistance plans will help you get winched, towed, or fueled up to get you back on the road quickly.

Many of the best car insurance companies in the industry offer roadside assistance as cheap add-ons to insurance policies. In this article, we’ll help you decide which roadside assistance option is best for your needs.

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Best Roadside Assistance Plans

There is no single best roadside assistance plan for everyone. When shopping around, you should consider both your needs and budget. High-end roadside assistance providers can be expensive, and very low-cost roadside assistance companies may not offer the services you need. We recommend looking for a provider with a high rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to ensure you’re getting legitimate coverage.

Here’s a closer look at some of the best roadside assistance providers and the services each one offers.

#1 AAA

AAA roadside assistance is often considered the gold standard in roadside assistance plans. AAA offers three different policies: Basic, Plus, and Premier. The Basic plan limits towings to a short range, but with the Plus plan, you can have your vehicle towed up to one hundred miles, which is much farther than most roadside assistance packages.

The perks of the Plus and Premier AAA memberships are that they offer reimbursements for locksmith fees, trip interruption, emergency medical transport, and even windshield repair. Keep in mind that AAA services are run by different clubs throughout the nation, so your region’s roadside assistance coverage plans may vary. Read our full review of AAA insurance to learn more about the provider.

#2 Progressive

Progressive offers its customers useful emergency roadside services, such as towing, winching, and lockout services. If your vehicle isn’t within a 15-mile radius of a repair shop, Progressive will tow it to the closest qualified shop no matter how far that might be. Additional roadside assistance services offered by Progressive include fuel delivery, battery jump-start or charge, and flat tire changes.

If you have Progressive car insurance already, going with Progressive roadside assistance is a no-brainer. Even if you don’t have Progressive, we recommend looking into the insurer for its great coverage. To learn more about the provider, read our full Progressive auto insurance review.

#3 USAA

USAA car insurance provides great value, and this extends to its roadside assistance program. Services offered by USAA include towing, flat tire repair, fuel delivery, battery jump-start, and lockout services. You’ll pay next to nothing for roadside assistance if it’s included in your USAA auto insurance policy. If not, you can still receive roadside assistance at a special negotiated rate. Towing is included to the nearest repair shop. 

The roadside assistance plan can also reimburse you if you pay for covered services out of pocket. Unlike AAA and Progressive, you have to be a USAA customer to get roadside assistance. Note, eligible customers include active-duty members of the military, veterans, and their children and spouses. If you’re interested in learning about USAA auto insurance, check out our USAA insurance review.

#4 Better World Club

Based out of Oregon, Better World Club is committed to providing great roadside assistance while protecting the planet through its 100 percent carbon-neutral services. This provider is the only green roadside assistance and car insurance company in the market. Plans are available in all 50 states plus Canada. Better World Club even offers roadside protection for bicycles.

Its two sustainable roadside assistance plans offer towing, battery jump-starts, flat tire changes, lockout services, winching, trip routing, and additional discounts. Each new member pays a $15 sign-up fee.

#5 Good Sam

Good Sam’s roadside assistance plans can cover cars, motorcycles, sports trailers, and RVs, making it stand out from other providers. Offering three plan levels, coverage includes flat and spare tire service, dead battery replacement and recharging, trip interruption assistance, and lost key and lockout services.

In addition, Good Sam has some unique coverages that you won’t find with other providers, such as emergency medical assistance. It also offers family member coverage, so your spouse or dependent children can use its services with a member-owned vehicle.

Other Roadside Assistance Plans

See the table below for other popular roadside assistance providers and what each covers. Keep in mind that coverage can depend on the plan level you choose.

*Included free with American Express Serve® or Bluebird® by American Express membership

A roadside assistance plan is a very specific type of auto insurance that helps drivers cover the costs of emergency road services when their car malfunctions or breaks down. It’s an add-on option with almost every auto insurance policy and is generally available for a monthly, semiannual, or annual fee. 

The best roadside assistance plans on the market typically cover basic services such as:

• Towing
• Battery services
• Lockout services
• Flat tire replacements
• Emergency fuel deliveries
• On-site repairs
• Trip interruption coverage
• Winching

Roadside assistance plans are a common offering for major auto insurance companies, but each one is also offered by standalone roadside assistance companies, vehicle manufacturers, and even credit card companies and cell phone providers like American Express and Verizon. Plan costs vary depending on whether you bundle into your auto insurance rate or choose a standalone plan.

How To Use Your Roadside Assistance Plan

To use a roadside assistance plan, simply contact your provider whenever you need service. Customer support will walk you through what to do and contact the necessary services on your behalf. Some providers have their own dedicated roadside technicians, and others hire local independent contractors.

Be aware that almost all roadside assistance plans have limits. There is usually a maximum towing distance, a limit on service hours, and a coverage liability limit. You can get additional services, but you’ll pay for them.

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Are Roadside Assistance Plans Worth It?

Have you ever needed a tow, winch, locksmith, or someone to replace your flat? If the answer is yes, then you might find a lot of value in a roadside assistance plan. Even if the answer is no, it might give you peace of mind just to know that the service is there for you if you’re ever in need. Hopefully, you won’t have to use it, but it’s still nice to have on hand in case something goes wrong on the road.

Some roadside assistance plans are much cheaper than the cost of towing or winching services, while others could cost you several hundred dollars. Sometimes, roadside assistance is included in your policy for free, such as if you’re a Costco member and you purchase Costco car insurance. 

The best roadside assistance plans help you deal with unexpected situations, especially ones you may encounter during long road trips far from your accustomed surroundings. Ultimately, whether roadside assistance is worth it depends on the provider you choose and if you find the coverage valuable or not.

What To Look For In A Roadside Assistance Plan

Not all roadside assistance plans are the same, and some offer better coverage than others. However, there are a few key things that you should look for when shopping for a plan, such as:

• Towing limits: Many roadside assistance providers specify the maximum distance it’ll tow your vehicle, so make sure you’re comfortable with what the provider you’ve chosen offers and that it suits your needs.
• Service call limits: If you anticipate making more than one call per year, you’ll want to ensure that the roadside assistance plan you choose offers you a service call limit that you’re comfortable with. Some providers offer unlimited service calls, so it may be wise to consider them if service calls are a main concern for you.
• Winching: If you’d like to have coverage in case you get stuck in the snow, mud, or a ditch, look for a plan that offers winching services.
• Trip interruption benefits: This coverage can pay for transportation, accommodation, and meals if you’re far from home when you call for assistance. This isn’t something found in a basic roadside assistance plan, so search for a more comprehensive plan if you’re looking for this benefit.

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Best Roadside Assistance Plans: Conclusion

At the end of the day, you probably shouldn’t pick an auto insurance provider based on which has the best roadside assistance plan. It may be a factor, but a reliable claims process, affordable rates, and the right level of coverage are ultimately most important.

If you’re shopping for car insurance and roadside assistance, it’s wise to compare free quotes from multiple providers to find the best fit for you. We recommend starting with two of our top-rated car insurance providers: State Farm and Geico. Learn more about each one below.

State Farm: Best Overall Provider

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) states that State Farm is the most popular auto insurer in the nation, accounting for 17.9 percent of all car insurance policies sold. It offers affordable rates, a wide range of coverage options, and quality customer service to its policyholders, which is why we give it 4.7 out of 5.0 stars.

State Farm offers discounts such as multi-policy, safe driver, defensive driving, and safety equipment discounts. In addition, it offers a usage-based driving program called Drive Safe & Save™ that can lower your insurance rates based on your safe driving habits.

Read more in our State Farm auto insurance review.

Geico: Best For Basic Coverage

Geico’s affordable rates, easy claims process, and nationwide availability make it one of the best options out there. That’s why we rate Geico auto insurance 4.5 out of 5.0 stars. Geico has an A+ rating from the BBB and an AM Best Superior financial strength rating of A++.

Geico’s numerous discounts include safe driver, military, good student, and multi-policy. Geico also offers a usage-based program, called DriveEasy, which can also be used to save money. Many customers find that Geico offers the lowest premiums among major providers. For that reason, we think it’s a good idea to check out Geico car insurance and roadside assistance in your search.

Read more in our Geico auto insurance review.

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Best Roadside Assistance Plans: FAQ

Here are commonly asked questions about the best roadside assistance plans.

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How We Rate Auto Insurers

Our review team extensively researches auto insurance providers to deliver informed and unbiased assessments of leading companies. We evaluate several key rating factors that are important to consumers to determine which providers are the best in the industry:

• Reliability: It’s important that an auto insurer is able to meet its claims obligations. Companies with a strong financial strength rating from AM Best score best in this category. Established insurers with a long history of reliable service also receive positive marks.
• Availability: Insurance companies that offer wider availability to consumers in terms of state availability and few eligibility requirements are more likely to meet consumer needs.
• Coverage: To determine our coverage score, we look at the number of coverage options available as well as coverage limits and deductible options. Our ratings also take into account additional services and benefits like roadside assistance.
• Pricing: Cost can be difficult to compare between insurers because so many factors impact annual premiums. The cheapest insurer for one driver may not be the cheapest for another. To determine our cost score, we look at insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services, discount opportunities, and consumer reports.
• Service: We comb through customer reviews on sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to learn about customer experiences. Insurers with a low volume of complaints score well in this area. We also consider the claims process, giving higher ratings to car insurance providers that offer a smooth experience.
• Technology: Providers with an online quote tool, easy-to-use claims app and a usage-based insurance app score best in this category.

*Data accurate at time of publication.

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