# Roadside assistance (towing and labor)

> Roadside assistance defined: optional towing and labor coverage that pays for a tow, a jump-start or a flat-tire change, up to your policy's limit.

Canonical page: https://statecover-guide.com/glossary/roadside-assistance/  
Last reviewed: October 28, 2026 by the StateCover Guide editorial team  
General information, not legal or insurance advice.

## Quick answer

Roadside assistance, often listed on a policy as towing and labor coverage, is an optional add-on that pays for help when your car cannot be driven: a tow, a jump-start, a tire change and similar services where the car broke down.

## How it works

- **What it pays for.** The Texas Department of Insurance says towing and labor coverage pays to tow your car if it can't be driven, and for labor to change a flat tire or jump-start your battery.
- **How much.** California describes towing coverage as an addition to the policy that pays a specified amount for towing and related labor. Costs above that amount are yours.
- **It counts as a claim.** Each roadside call is a claim on your policy. In Texas, an insurer may refuse to renew your towing and labor coverage after several such claims within a set period, though it cannot nonrenew the whole policy for them.

Example: your coverage pays up to $100 per tow and the tow costs $160. The policy pays $100 and you pay the other $60.

If you already get roadside help from another source, such as an auto club membership, compare what each one covers before paying for the same service twice.

## Related terms

- [Endorsement](https://statecover-guide.com/glossary/endorsement/)
- [Rental reimbursement](https://statecover-guide.com/glossary/rental-reimbursement/)
- [Declarations page](https://statecover-guide.com/glossary/declarations-page/)
- [Comprehensive coverage](https://statecover-guide.com/glossary/comprehensive-coverage/)
- Guide: [Roadside assistance coverage vs auto clubs](https://statecover-guide.com/coverage/roadside-assistance/)

## Sources

- [Texas Department of Insurance, Auto insurance guide](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/pubs/consumer/cb020.html) — what towing and labor coverage pays and how claims affect renewal
- [California Department of Insurance, Automobile Insurance Terms](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/01-auto/autoterms.cfm) — definition of towing coverage