How to Choose a Roadside Assistance Plan

Some new cars come with roadside assistance plans at no added cost. These remain in effect for the length of the factory warranty, usually a minimum of three years. Unlike many other plans, which will provide towing to the nearest repair shop, these typically will only take you to an authorized dealership.

Best for: New-car owners. If you want to save money, this is a good, economical choice. “It’s worth buying an additional basic full-service plan so you’re covered in case you break down when the dealership is closed or there isn’t one nearby,” says Chuck Bell, CR’s financial policy expert.

These roadside assistance plans can be added to your insurance premium and will cover all insured drivers and cars. The cost may be lower than purchasing a plan from another provider, and the claims process may be streamlined if you end up needing to file one. Allstate, for example, will allow you to tack roadside assistance onto your existing coverage for as little as $25 per vehicle per billing period.

Best for: Families with multiple drivers and cars. But read the fine print to make sure the company doesn’t count calls for service as claims, which could raise your annual premium.

This choice, from companies including AAA, Better World Club, Good Sam, and National General Motor Club, usually offers the widest range of benefits and the most membership tiers. AAA has three plans, including one that provides four assistance calls per year and up to 3 miles of towing, and one with four calls per year and up to 100 miles of towing. Costs range from about $40 to more than $160 annually.

Best for: Road warriors and drivers with older cars. A full-service plan also typically includes discounts on dining, hotels, shopping, and fuel at participating vendors. Good Sam also covers members driving in some locations outside the continental U.S.

Some cards may cover basic roadside assistance, but many companies charge a flat fee per incident. For example, all Visa cards come with an à la carte roadside assistance option that costs $80 per incident. Cards from individual banks, such as Bank of America and Chase, may also come with roadside assistance.

Best for: Those who have no other coverage. Credit card plans generally aren’t as good a value as a full-service plan. They’re better than paying full price for towing if you don’t want to pay for a yearly membership, but they don’t include extra discounts that you’ll find with other plans.