Roadside assistance and towing coverage: insurance, auto clubs and carmaker programs

What towing and labor coverage includes

State insurance regulators describe the coverage in similar terms:

• The Texas Department of Insurance says towing and labor coverage pays to tow your car if it cannot be driven, and pays for labor to change a flat tire or jump-start your battery. It has dollar limits.
• New Hampshire's insurance department says it reimburses towing expenses when your vehicle is disabled and needs roadside help.
• The NAIC's shopping guide notes that towing coverage may also be called roadside assistance and reimburses your costs if your car is disabled, for example by having it towed to a service facility.
• Massachusetts lists towing and labor as optional coverage for when your car breaks down, and California lists towing and road service as optional endorsements.

Unlike collision or comprehensive, this coverage is about breakdowns and getting the car moving, not repairing damage. It pays for the tow or the roadside labor. It does not pay the repair shop's bill once the car arrives.

Limits and details to check on your policy

Because towing and labor is sold by each insurer on its own terms, the details vary. Points worth asking about:

• The dollar limit per breakdown. If a tow costs more than the limit, you pay the rest.
• Reimbursement or dispatch. Some policies reimburse you after you pay a tow company yourself; ask whether your insurer also arranges help directly.
• Which services count as labor. Flat tire changes and jump-starts are standard examples; ask about lockouts and fuel delivery.
• Whether a roadside call is recorded as a claim on your policy.
• Which vehicles and drivers are covered, and whether you need to add it to each car.

Example: your policy pays up to $100 per disablement for towing and labor. A tow to your mechanic costs $150. You pay $50 and the policy pays $100. These figures are hypothetical, not typical prices or limits.

Roadside coverage compared with auto clubs and carmaker programs

Auto clubs: an example from AAA Club Alliance

Auto clubs sell roadside help as part of a membership. AAA Club Alliance, one AAA club, publishes these limits for its three tiers:

The same club counts each of the following as one roadside call: towing, jump-starts or battery testing and replacement, flat tire changes, lockout service, emergency fuel delivery and getting a stuck vehicle out. It notes that unused calls do not roll over, and that extra services are available at a member rate once your calls are used. Other clubs, and other AAA clubs, may set different terms, so check the club that serves your area.

Manufacturer programs: an example from Ford

Some carmakers include roadside help with new vehicles. Ford says its Roadside Assistance is included for the first 5 years or 60,000 miles from the vehicle's warranty start date, whichever comes first, and lists towing, flat tire changes, battery jump-starts, fuel delivery, lockout assistance and winching, available around the clock. It adds that the service is available to anyone for a per-service fee. Other manufacturers run their own programs on their own terms; your warranty booklet or owner's manual will say what yours includes.

Which option fits you?

For example, if your car breaks down 30 miles from your mechanic and your plan covers only the first 5 miles of towing, you pay for the rest of the distance. A tier that tows up to 100 miles would cover the whole trip.

How to choose roadside help without paying twice

1. Check your vehicle's warranty booklet or owner's manual for a manufacturer roadside program and when it ends.
2. List any auto club membership you or a family member already holds, and its towing distance and service calls.
3. Look at your auto insurance declarations page to see whether towing and labor is already on your policy, and its limit.
4. Compare what each option covers: towing distance or dollar limit, labor services, number of calls and whether you are reimbursed or dispatched help.
5. Ask your insurer whether a roadside call is recorded as a claim.
6. Keep the one that fits your driving and drop duplicates at renewal. Our guide to reviewing your coverage has a fuller checklist.
7. Save the right phone number or app in your phone before you need it.

What roadside help does not cover

• Repairs. Roadside coverage gets the car to a shop; the repair bill is yours, or part of a collision or comprehensive claim if the breakdown was caused by covered damage.
• Crash damage. Damage to your car is collision or comprehensive. After a crash, ask your insurer how towing is handled as part of the claim.
• A rental car while yours is fixed. That is rental reimbursement, which pays only after a covered claim, not after a breakdown.
• Anything above the limit, such as extra towing miles or costs above your policy's dollar cap.

Roadside help is one of the smaller pieces of a policy. The coverage checklist shows how it fits with the coverages that protect against bigger losses, such as liability and uninsured motorist coverage.