Roadside Assistance Program Comparison

Emergency roadside programs from car insurance companies

Many car insurance companies offer roadside assistance. While these programs vary by location and company, most apply only to the vehicle and drivers listed on the policy. Roadside assistance through a car insurance provider is typically cheap. See below for roadside assistance prices and coverage options from top providers in the United States.

Which insurance company has the cheapest roadside assistance program?

The price of roadside assistance services may vary based on how many vehicles you insure. Below are the estimated prices of popular insurers' roadside assistance plans.

The Zebra’s Auto Security Plan

The Zebra’s Auto Security Plan follows the individual, rather than the driver: you can apply this coverage to another driver’s vehicle, as long as you’re in the car with them. This provides more flexibility than other insurance companies’ roadside assistance packages: GEICO’s and State Farm’s coverage applies only to the vehicle listed on the insurance policy.

AAA Roadside Assistance overview

AAA is what most people think of when they think about roadside assistance. AAA’s program is among the most reliable and in-depth roadside assistance options, but that service comes at a price. See below the coverage options offered by AAA’s membership tiers.

AAA includes basic roadside assistance coverage plus additional perks and benefits, displayed below.

This extra coverage comes at a cost. AAA roadside assistance costs more than assistance provided by an insurer. But AAA typically has better reviews, thanks to its response time and quality of service. Furthermore, AAA might be a good option if you’re interested in discounts on hotels, dining and other services.

There are currently three different membership levels, each with a yearly fee. For each membership tier, you're allowed four free calls per year; there is a service charge for each call over this amount. The AAA membership also includes a bonus subscription to the AAA Explorer magazine. 

AARP Roadside Assistance overview

If you’re an AARP member, you can purchase a discounted roadside assistance policy through Allstate Roadside with tiered services and features, similar to AAA. See the table below for details of the basic (Roadside Assist) and premier (Roadside Elite) pricing and coverage details. 

AARP also offers a multitude of additional benefits and discounts with your membership that aren't provided by a standard insurer in the following categories (with examples added): 

• Health and wellness discounts (pharmacy, hearing and vision)
• Travel (cruises, rental cars)
• Finance (retirement, investments)
• Work (job board, resume help)
• Shopping and grocery (flowers, deliveries)
• Technology (phone plans, anti-virus software)
• Restaurant discounts
• Vehicle (Allstate Roadside, oil changes)
• Entertainment (Ticketmaster, games)
• Family caregiving (medical alert services)
• Home and resl estate (home warranty, mobility services)
• Magazine discounts
• Community (virtual and in-person activities)
• Advocacy

Like AAA, AARP’s roadside assistance coverage is more expensive than coverage from a typical insurance company. But its additional benefits and perks might warrant membership due to the extra savings outside of roadside assistance.

When you become a member AARP offers discounts for multi-year plans that auto-renew, so it can be significant savings if you plan on continuing membership for several years. The following fee structure is based on new members signing up for plans between one and five years (the more years, the higher the discount). You can also get a discount for auto-renewing from year to year. 

But like insurance-based roadside assistance plans, they aren't all equal. For example, if you purchase a new Audi R8 or A8, it actually includes trip interruption reimbursement — which can help cover lodging, food and alternative transportation. They even offer a concierge service to help arrange some of the details. As with these Audi models, the inclusions that come with roadside assistance can vary by vehicle, even from the same manufacturer. It is important to get details from the dealership or manufacturer when purchasing a new car and learning about your new roadside assistance program, specific to your vehicle.

Most manufacturers offer a certain mileage or time frame from your date of purchase (sometimes it is the build or in-service date) where the roadside assistance program is included. When evaluating these programs, consider that most brand-new vehicles likely won't have much trouble when they're right off the assembly line. So it might make sense to look at brands offering longer-lasting plans, like five or six years, when you're more likely to experience issues with the car. Below are some of the most purchased vehicle makes and their new car roadside assistance limits, listed in miles and years. 

Roadside assistance comparison: third-party vendors versus insurance companies

If you're deciding between using your manufacturer's program until the time frame is up, using a third-party company or membership program, or adding roadside assistance to your current car insurance policy, consider the following suggestions as you make a decision: