Best Auto Insurance Companies for Roadside Assistance (2024)

The best auto insurance companies for roadside assistance are AAA, Allstate, and State Farm because they offer a variety of services at affordable prices.

Many drivers might opt to skip roadside assistance — especially when you’re looking for the cheapest auto insurance companies — but it’s usually an affordable coverage option. In fact, roadside assistance often costs less than $10 per month.

Our Top 9 Company Picks: Best Auto Insurance Companies for Roadside Assistance

Check out our picks for the best auto insurance companies for roadside assistance below. Then, enter your ZIP code into our free comparison tool above to find the best roadside assistance plans for your needs.

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#1 – AAA: Best Selection of Roadside Assistance Plans

Pros

• Multiple roadside assistance plans: Choose between the Basic, Plus, and Premier plans for the perfect roadside assistance. Learn more about each plan in our AAA auto insurance review.
• Membership perks: AAA membership offers more than car insurance with roadside assistance. Members get special discounts on a variety of things, like shopping and hotels.
• Dedicate roadside assistance app: AAA’s mobile app is specifically designed to make roadside assistance requests easy.

Cons

• Membership fees: AAA has cheap roadside assistance plans, but you have to pay a membership fee to be eligible for coverage.
• Availability varies: Regional differences in AAA clubs mean that roadside assistance and car insurance coverage vary by location. Do a roadside assistance comparison to ensure you get the coverage you want.

#2 – Allstate: Best for Comprehensive Coverage

Pros:

• Good Hands Rescue program: This pay-per-use roadside assistance program is available to everyone, even if you’re not an Allstate customer.
• Roadside assistance add-on: If you want permanent roadside assistance insurance, you can also add coverage to any Allstate policy.
• Coverage options: Aside from roadside assistance, Allstate also offers a variety of add-ons to customize your policy. Popular options include rideshare insurance and rental car reimbursement.

Cons

• Higher rates: Allstate offers excellent service, but it comes at a price. See how much you might pay in our Allstate auto insurance review.
• Limited coverage for some services: Some roadside coverage options might not be available from Allstate, including tire changes. Additionally, coverage limits vary by location.

#3 – State Farm: Best for Reliable Roadside Assistance

Pros

• Emergency Road Service program: State Farm customers can add roadside assistance to their policy whenever they’d like.
• Quick response times: One of the most important things to look at in emergency roadside assistance comparisons is response times. State Farm roadside assistance reviews consistently mention how fast the response is.
• Additional roadside benefits: Aside from normal roadside services, you can also add things like trip interruption insurance to your policy. Learn more about your coverage options in our State Farm auto insurance review.

Cons

• Some services are limited: When you’re looking for the best roadside assistance plans, you should look at included coverage. State Farm plans often lack locksmith services and have limited off-road assistance.
• Not available everywhere: You’ll need to check with a State Farm representative, as roadside coverage is not available everywhere.

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#4 – Geico: Best for Affordable Coverage

Pros

• Affordable emergency roadside assistance: Although prices vary by location, Geico roadside assistance plans tend to be affordable.
• 24/7 assistance: Geico earns its spot as one of the top roadside assistance companies by offering 24/7 service.
• Low rates: Geico is consistently one of the cheapest options for car insurance. Explore potential rates in our Geico auto insurance review.

Cons

• Some services are limited: While Geico is one of the best roadside assistance companies, plans often lack battery jump starts in some areas.
• Service quality varies: Some customer reviews say Geico offers some of the best roadside service, but others say the coverage is disappointing.

#5 – Progressive: Best for Roadside Assistance on a Budget

Pros

• Flexible coverage options: Progressive offers a variety of coverage options and makes it easy to update your policy whenever you want.
• Excellent roadside service options: With a variety of roadside services available, Progressive is an excellent choice for the best towing insurance, flat tire coverage, and battery jump services.
• Budgeting tools: Progressive offers the Name Your Price tool, which makes it easy to find coverage that matches your budget. Learn more about budgeting options in our Progressive auto insurance review.

Cons

• Service unavailable in remote areas: While Progressive offers coverage throughout the country, finding roadside assistance in remote areas is often difficult.
• Additional roadside assistance charges: When you compare emergency roadside assistance plans, you should be aware that Progressive’s add-on comes with extra charges for some services.

#6 – USAA: Best for Military Families

Pros

• Affordable rates: USAA is almost always the cheapest option for car insurance, no matter where you live. Learn how USAA keeps rates so low in our USAA auto insurance review.
• Extensive roadside coverage: USAA offers some of the best roadside coverage by including a wide variety of services, including towing, battery jumps, and flat tire changes.
• Superb customer service: Whether you have regular car insurance or roadside assistance, USAA offers superb customer service.

Cons

• Membership eligibility: There are strict eligibility requirements for joining USAA. Only active or retired military members and their direct families are eligible for coverage.
• Service limitations: Unfortunately, USAA’s roadside assistance is not available everywhere.

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#7 – Nationwide: Best for Add-on Options

Pros

• Extensive roadside coverage: Nationwide takes a spot among the best roadside assistance companies by offering an extensive variety of emergency services.
• Option to add roadside assistance to any plan: You can include roadside assistance as an add-on with any Nationwide policy.
• Add-on options: Nationwide offers plenty of add-ons besides roadside assistance. Popular options include gap insurance and a vanishing deductible program. To learn more, read our Nationwide auto insurance review.

Cons

• Availability limited in rural areas: If you live in a rural or remote area, it might be difficult to purchase Nationwide roadside assistance.
• Additional costs for coverage: While Nationwide’s roadside assistance is affordable, some services come with an extra charge.

#8 – AARP: Best Roadside Assistance for Older Drivers

Pros

• Comprehensive roadside assistance: AARP is one of the top roadside service companies because it offers comprehensive services and excellent response times.
• Optional benefits: You can customize your AARP policy with more than just roadside assistance. AARP also offers add-ons like new car replacement and accident forgiveness.
• Underwritten by The Hartford: The Hartford, which writes policies for AARP, has a reputation for excellent customer service. To learn more, read our The Hartford auto insurance review.

Cons

• Fees for membership: While it’s a small fee of under $20 per year, you’ll need to pay to renew your AARP membership once a year.
• Higher rates for some: AARP allows anyone 18 and older to become a member, but it has higher car insurance rates for young drivers.

#9 – American Family: Best for Personalized Service

Pros

• Excellent roadside assistance coverage options: American Family offers several roadside assistance options, making it easy for you to get the help you need.
• Dedicated roadside assistance service: Unlike some of its competitors, American Family has a dedicated team of representatives who focus on roadside assistance.
• Personalized service: American Family focuses on providing personalized service to every customer through its vast network of local agents.

Cons

• Rates can be high: It’s not usually the most expensive insurance company, but American Family is also rarely the cheapest. See more rate information in our American Family auto insurance review.
• Some services are limited: Getting help with a flat tire can be difficult through American Family’s roadside assistance.

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The Best Roadside Assistance Providers

The best roadside assistance policies will generally offer a few of the following: towing, flat tire change, lockout (open a door if the keys are locked inside), jump-start of a dead battery, and fuel delivery. These services are meant to provide a “no out-of-pocket cost” to you beyond your original membership fee.

Some of the best plans also offer additional services, including trip interruption coverage and discounts on travel or dining from partner providers.

Let’s look at some of the best roadside assistance carriers on the market currently.

Allstate

Allstate offers all the services you’d expect from a roadside assistance company, as well as some additional features for a reasonable price.

You can also choose their pay-per-use option, with towing fees starting at $119. You can also add a spouse and up to two children between the ages of 16 and 18 to your membership for free.

Allstate will also cover you for up to $150 worth of towing on its basic plan. While this may sound like a great deal, since most likely the towing company will charge you between $2 and $7 per mile for a tow, this will only realistically get you about 21 miles. So if you’re in need of assistance out of state, you may need to pay additional fees.

However, you do not need to be an Allstate insurance customer to purchase one of their roadside assistance memberships, so any of these services can be utilized even if you don’t have an Allstate policy.

Additionally, these services can be added to your existing insurance policy for just $25 per year if you have one.

AAA

AAA offers three different policies: Classic, Plus, and Premier. The Classic plan limits towings to five miles, 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. It’s also easy to start a roadside request using the AAA website.

Services include:

• Towing
• Dead battery
• Flat tire
• Lockout
• Emergency fuel service
• Minor mechanical first aid

Towing covers 25 miles to one of AAA’s service facilities. If you do need a replacement vehicle while your car is in the shop, AAA can help arrange that and provide special rates from preferred rental providers.

Here is a better look at the membership tiers:

Even with the most basic AAA membership, you have access to the Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) services in some states. AAA can help with completing any paperwork you would normally do at the DMV (like vehicle registration, titling, and plate renewal services), instead of going to the DMV directly. You can do these things at any AAA office, and AAA will cover all necessary fees.

The perks of being a Plus or Premier AAA member are that you are offered reimbursements for locksmith fees, trip interruption, emergency medical transport, and even windshield repair.

The average cost for AAA’s roadside assistance starts at $52 a year.

Progressive

Progressive roadside assistance offers a 24/7, inexpensive roadside assistance program. In addition to standard services like towing and fuel delivery, Progressive covers getting your car out of snow, sand, mud, or water, for up to 100 feet away from a road or highway.

It’s a great choice for those who tend to drive in hazardous weather or on roads in poor condition or those who live in a state that has seasonal changes.

Here’s a complete breakdown of their services:

• Vehicle towing: Towing your vehicle anywhere within a 15-mile radius. If there isn’t a repair shop within 15 miles, Progressive will tow it to the nearest qualified repair shop. If you choose to have your vehicle towed to a shop that isn’t the closest one, you need to pay for the extra mileage. Keep in mind that you’re responsible for the cost of any parts and/or repairs made to your vehicle.
• Winching service: If your car is trapped in mud, snow, water, or sand (within 100 feet of a road or highway), Progressive will pull your car out with a motor-powered cable or chain.
• Battery jump-start: Jump-start your car at the scene to help get you on your way.
• Fuel delivery: If you run out of gas, Progressive will deliver fuel directly to your vehicle. You only pay for the cost of the fuel. The delivery and service are free.
• Battery charge for electric cars: If you run out of charge, Progressive can arrange to tow your vehicle anywhere within a 15-mile radius, or to the nearest qualified charging facility if there isn’t one within 15 miles. You only pay for the cost of the charge.
• Locksmith service: If your keys are lost, stolen, or accidentally locked inside your vehicle, Progressive will dispatch a qualified service provider. You’re only responsible for keys/costs to replace them.
• Flat tire change: A roadside professional will put the spare tire on your vehicle at the scene for no cost as long as you can provide a spare.
• On-scene labor: Progressive provides up to one hour of labor if your car is disabled. If you need more than an hour, you can simply choose to have your vehicle towed to the nearest qualified repair shop or pay for any extra costs.

There may be a limit to the number of roadside assistance events your policy covers. Additionally, in some states, such as North Carolina and Virginia, roadside assistance coverage is subject to limits stated on your policy.

Other roadside assistance options that Progressive offers:

• Motorcycle Roadside Assistance
• Boat Roadside Assistance
• RV Roadside Assistance
• Trip Interruption coverage for motorcycle and boat

The average cost of Progressive’s roadside assistance is around $16 a month on average on top of your existing policy.

AARP

AARP roadside assistance is the best roadside assistance for seniors. Through Allstate’s team-up of roadside assistance programs, AARP members are able to take advantage of these same services offered to Allstate policyholders.

Similarly to AAA’s model, you can purchase a roadside assistance policy with tiered services and features as an add-on to your already existing policy.

Starting at around $62 per month, the program offers services such as towing, winching, dead battery jump-start, flat tire change, fuel delivery, and lockout. Memberships also include three free calls for service per year.

Those benefits also extend to rental cars as well.

The towing limit is only 10 miles, but a 100-mile limit is available if you upgrade to the $149 Elite plan. 

Allstate’s roadside assistance also provides 24-hour emergency roadside to AARP members across the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada.

Other Roadside Assistance Programs

Similarly to comparing auto insurance quotes, which plan works best for you may depend on a few numbering factors like how you drive, where you live, and what you want out of your roadside assistance package.

Annual Cost and Coverage for Roadside Assistance Programs

Read more: Auto Insurance Discount for American Express Employees

While these insurers run a little bit more expensive than the ones we mentioned previously, that doesn’t mean that their services are poor quality. The best choice for you depends on what you want out of a roadside assistance program as well as what is going to fit comfortably within your budget.

Best Insurance Company for Roadside Assistance Membership

The answer to this is going to depend on a few factors that mostly range from: what is going to fit your needs and your budget to, what you want out of a roadside program. While many auto insurance companies offer roadside assistance, these programs will always vary greatly by location.

If you already have an existing policy, Progressive is the best bang for your buck. Starting at only $16 a month on top of your policy is a great deal as well as Progressive offering some amazing perks on top.

If you don’t already have a policy that includes roadside assistance, Allstate is another great option. With Allstate, you don’t need an existing policy. Anyone can purchase any of the tiered options and get the full coverage needed to keep safe while driving on the road.

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Best Insurance Company for Roadside Assistance Spotlight: AAA

This is a common question, especially since AAA started as a high school driving curriculum and pedestrian safety program. Since AAA is spread out over multiple car insurance companies and groups throughout each state they reside in, there are numerous reasons why they would be a great option in terms of coverage.

First and foremost, AAA makes it easy to request road service in an emergency. Check below to see how you’d get started making a roadside claim.

As stated above, they do run a bit more expensive than both Allstate and Progressive, with membership rates ranging from $50 to $150 per year.

In terms of coverage, though, they have about the same amount of coverage as the other two providers. So, if cost is a big factor for you, they might not be the best fit.

Buy From the Best Auto Insurance Companies for Roadside Assistance Today

While most auto insurance companies have their own roadside assistance programs, there are some that stand out amongst the competition. With both Progressive and Allstate having similar programs featuring cheap and competitive rates, they are both the top picks for us in terms of the best roadside assistance.

Now that you’ve learned about what the best roadside assistance programs are, take the time to enter your ZIP code into our free tool and to compare roadside assistance plans today.

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