What Roadside Towing Memberships Cost and When They Actually Help

How roadside towing memberships work

A roadside towing membership is a contract between you and a towing company or roadside service network. You pay an annual or monthly fee, and in return, the company sends a tow truck to your location if your car breaks down, gets a flat tire, runs out of gas, or needs a jump start. The service covers the cost of the tow itself — usually up to a certain distance, often 5 to 100 miles depending on the plan you choose.

The membership does not cover repairs. A mechanic still charges you for fixing whatever went wrong. What the membership covers is getting your car from the roadside to a repair shop, your home, or another location you choose. Some memberships also include lockout service (if you lock your keys in the car) and fuel delivery.

You typically call a phone number or use a mobile app when you need help. The company dispatches a tow truck to your location, and the driver takes your car where you direct them. The whole process usually takes 30 minutes to two hours depending on how busy the service is and how far away you are from the nearest available truck.

Key Takeaways

• Roadside towing memberships cost between $50 and $200 per year, depending on the distance covered and what services are included.
• Your auto insurance may already include roadside assistance, so check your policy before buying a separate membership.
• National networks like AAA and Better World Club cover you anywhere in the country, while local towing companies may only serve a specific area.
• The membership covers the tow and basic roadside help like lockouts and fuel delivery, but not the cost of repairs or parts.
• You choose where the tow truck takes your car, so you can go to a mechanic you trust rather than one the towing company picks.

What these memberships actually cover

Standard coverage includes towing to a repair shop, your home, or another destination within the distance limit. Most memberships cover at least one tow per year, though some include unlimited tows. The distance limit is the key variable: a 5-mile membership is nearly useless if you break down on the highway far from home, while a 100-mile membership costs more but covers longer distances.

Many memberships also include lockout service (a technician comes to unlock your car), fuel delivery (someone brings you gasoline if you run out), jump-start service (if your battery is dead), and tire change assistance (someone helps you change a flat). Read the fine print to see which of these are included in the plan you are considering.

What memberships do not cover: repairs, parts, towing caused by an accident (some policies exclude this), or towing to a location more than the stated distance away. If you need a tow beyond the distance limit, you usually pay the difference out of pocket. Some memberships also exclude commercial vehicles or vehicles over a certain weight.

Cost and where to buy

Annual memberships typically cost between $50 and $200 per year. Monthly plans run $5 to $15 per month. The price depends on the distance covered, how many tows are included, and what extra services are bundled in. A basic 5-mile membership costs less than a 100-mile membership with unlimited tows and lockout service.

You can buy memberships directly from national networks like AAA, Better World Club, or roadside assistance companies like Roadside Assistance America. Local towing companies in your area may also offer memberships. Some credit card companies and auto insurance providers include roadside assistance as a cardholder or policyholder benefit — check before you pay for a separate membership.

Membership usually starts immediately after you pay, though some companies require you to activate it through their app or website. Keep your membership card or app information in your car so you can provide it when you call for help.

Check your insurance and credit card first

Before you buy a roadside towing membership, call your auto insurance company and ask whether your policy includes roadside assistance. Many standard policies include at least one free tow per year, and some include unlimited tows. If you have roadside assistance through insurance, you do not need to buy a separate membership unless you want more tows per year or longer distance coverage.

Check your credit card benefits too. Some premium credit cards include roadside assistance for cardholders. If you have multiple cards, call the issuer of your primary card and ask what roadside benefits come with it.

If you already have roadside assistance through insurance or a credit card, buying a membership is redundant unless the coverage is very limited. If your insurance covers only one tow per year and you drive an older car that breaks down frequently, a membership with unlimited tows might make sense.

National networks versus local towing companies

National networks like AAA and Better World Club operate across all 50 states. If you travel frequently or take long road trips, a national membership means you have coverage no matter where you break down. These memberships tend to cost more — typically $100 to $200 per year — but the coverage is consistent everywhere.

Local towing companies offer memberships that work only in a specific city or region. These are usually cheaper, sometimes $50 to $100 per year, but they do not help if you break down outside their service area. A local membership makes sense if you rarely leave your area and want to support a local business.

Some people buy both: a local membership for everyday use and a national membership for road trips. Others choose a national network and skip the local option. The choice depends on how much you drive and how far from home you typically go.

When a membership makes financial sense

A single tow from a roadside breakdown to a repair shop typically costs $75 to $150 depending on distance. If you break down once per year, a $100 annual membership pays for itself. If you drive an older car that breaks down more often, or if you drive long distances regularly, a membership saves money over time.

If you drive a newer car under warranty, you may not need a membership. Newer cars break down less often, and many manufacturers include roadside assistance as part of the warranty. Check your owner's manual or call the manufacturer's customer service line to see what is included.

If you have limited savings and a breakdown would create financial hardship, a membership provides peace of mind even if you never use it. The cost is predictable and low, whereas a single unexpected tow can be expensive and stressful.

What to do if you need a tow

Call the membership company's phone number or use their app as soon as you realize you need help. Have your membership number ready, your location (address or GPS coordinates), and the make and model of your car. Tell the dispatcher where you want the tow truck to take your car — usually a repair shop, your home, or a friend's house.

The dispatcher will tell you approximately how long the tow truck will take to arrive. Stay in your car if it is safe to do so, or move to a safe location away from traffic if you are on a highway. The tow truck driver will call you when they are a few minutes away.

When the driver arrives, show them your membership card or app confirmation. They will load your car and take it to the location you specified. If the tow exceeds your distance limit, ask the driver what the overage cost will be before they tow you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my auto insurance already cover towing?

Many standard auto insurance policies include roadside assistance with at least one free tow per year. Call your insurance company and ask whether your policy includes roadside assistance and how many tows are covered. If it does, you may not need a separate membership unless you want more tows or longer distance coverage.

Can I choose where the tow truck takes my car?

Yes. You tell the dispatcher where you want your car towed — a repair shop, your home, a friend's house, or another location. You are not required to use the towing company's preferred mechanic or shop. This is one advantage of a membership: you keep control over where your car goes.

What happens if I need a tow longer than my membership covers?

You pay the difference out of pocket. If your membership covers 50 miles and you need a 75-mile tow, you pay for the extra 25 miles. Ask the driver what the overage cost will be before they tow you so you know what to expect.

Do I need a membership if I have a new car?

Newer cars break down less often, and many manufacturers include roadside assistance as part of the warranty. Check your owner's manual or call the manufacturer to see what is included. If your warranty covers roadside assistance, you may not need a separate membership.

Can I use a roadside membership if my car is in an accident?

Some memberships exclude tows caused by accidents. Read the fine print of the membership you are considering. If accident tows are excluded and you want that coverage, look for a membership that includes it, or contact your auto insurance company about accident towing coverage.