Quick Answer: Costco auto insurance through Connect by American Family includes 24/7 roadside assistance with towing up to 15 miles, jump starts, lockout service, flat tire changes, and emergency fuel delivery. Coverage is automatic with comprehensive or collision coverage.
What To Do When You Need Help
- Call the roadside assistance number on your insurance card or app (usually 1-800-247-7987)
- Provide your policy number and exact location using GPS coordinates or nearest mile marker
- Describe the problem clearly: won’t start, flat tire, locked out, or need towing
- Stay with your vehicle in a safe location while help is dispatched
- Show your insurance card to the service provider when they arrive
When you call, be as specific as possible about your location. If you are on an interstate, give the mile marker number and the direction of travel. If you are in a parking lot or neighborhood, give the nearest cross street. Dispatchers use this to route the closest available provider, which cuts your wait time significantly. Average response times run 30 to 60 minutes in suburban areas and can stretch to 90 minutes or more in rural locations, so plan accordingly before dark or in bad weather.
Photo: Pexels
What Your Coverage Includes
Your Costco auto insurance roadside assistance covers:
- Towing service up to 15 miles to nearest qualified repair facility
- Battery jump start if your car won’t start
- Lockout service if keys are locked inside
- Flat tire change to your spare tire
- Emergency fuel delivery up to 2 gallons
- Winching service if stuck in snow or mud
A few things worth knowing about each service. The battery jump start covers a standard 12-volt system. If you drive a hybrid or electric vehicle, tell the dispatcher upfront because a standard jump pack can damage some EV systems and a different procedure or provider may be needed.
The flat tire change means they will swap your flat for your existing spare. If your spare is also flat, missing, or you drive a newer vehicle with no spare at all, you will need a tow instead. Many vehicles built after 2015 come with a tire inflation kit rather than a spare, so check your trunk now before you need to.
Emergency fuel delivery brings up to 2 gallons, which is enough to get most vehicles to the nearest station. The fuel itself is usually billed separately at cost, so expect a small charge of roughly $5 to $10 for the gas.
Winching covers getting pulled out when you are stuck on or immediately adjacent to a road. A vehicle buried deep in a ditch or off a trail on private land may not qualify, and the dispatcher will tell you upfront if your situation is outside the service scope.
Service Limitations
- Towing beyond 15 miles costs extra (typically $3-5 per additional mile)
- Only covers vehicles listed on your policy
- Some services limited to 3-4 calls per year
- Won’t cover off-road recovery beyond basic winching
The per-mile overage adds up fast. If your nearest dealership or specialty shop is 40 miles away, you are looking at $75 to $125 in overage charges on top of the free 15 miles. In that situation, it is worth asking the dispatcher to confirm exactly which shop they consider the nearest qualified repair facility before the truck rolls, because you may be able to redirect to a closer option.
The annual call limit of 3 to 4 uses per vehicle is a common catch people miss. If you have a vehicle with recurring problems, those calls can burn through quickly. Keep track of how many times you have used the service in a policy year.
What It Might Cost
Roadside assistance is included free with comprehensive or collision coverage. If you only have liability coverage, you can add roadside assistance for about $15-25 per year.
Additional towing distance beyond the included 15 miles runs $3-5 per mile.
Common Questions
Q: Does the 15-mile towing limit mean the nearest shop, or can I choose where the car goes? A: The coverage is written around the nearest qualified repair facility, so the provider may push back if you want a shop farther away. You can request a specific destination, but anything beyond 15 miles will cost you the per-mile overage regardless of which shop you pick.
Q: What happens if I use roadside assistance more than 3 or 4 times in a year? A: Once you hit the annual call limit, additional service calls are out of pocket at standard commercial rates, which typically run $75 to $150 for a basic tow. If you are approaching that limit, look into a supplemental roadside plan or handle minor issues like a dead battery with your own jump starter.
Q: Is roadside assistance through Connect by American Family the same as AAA? A: They cover similar core services, but AAA membership typically offers longer free tow distances (often 100 miles or more at higher tiers) and no annual call caps. The Connect by American Family benefit is a solid free add-on with collision or comprehensive coverage, but frequent roadside users may find AAA provides more value for the calls they make.
Photo: Pexels
Stay Safe
- Pull completely off the roadway when possible
- Turn on hazard lights immediately
- Stay inside your vehicle on busy highways
- Keep emergency supplies in your car: water, blanket, flashlight
- Never accept help from strangers on isolated roads
Need roadside help? Visit Tow With The Flow for real answers when your car breaks down.