> **Quick Answer:** Liability insurance covers damage you cause to other people and their property. It does not cover towing or any costs for your own vehicle. To get towing covered by your auto policy, you need either a roadside assistance add-on or comprehensive/collision coverage with a towing benefit. If you have neither, you're paying out of pocket.
## Does Liability Insurance Pay for a Tow?
No. Liability pays the other driver's repair bill and medical costs when you're at fault in an accident. It stops at your bumper. Your vehicle, your tow, your bill. This is true whether you broke down on the side of the road or got rear-ended and your car is undriveable. Liability is the legal minimum required in every state, and it was never designed to protect your own car.
If you're sitting on the shoulder right now wondering if you're covered, check your declarations page for any of these: "roadside assistance," "towing and labor," or "emergency road service." Those are the line items that actually pay for a tow.
## What Coverage Actually Covers Towing?
Three options can cover a tow through your insurance policy. Roadside assistance is the most direct. It's usually a cheap add-on, often $5 to $15 per month, and it pays for towing, lockout service, battery jump-starts, and fuel delivery up to a per-incident limit. Most carriers cap towing reimbursement somewhere between $50 and $100 per call, though some go higher. [Progressive's towing coverage limit](/progressive-insurance-towing-coverage-limit-per-incident/) and [GEICO's reimbursement cap](/geico-roadside-assistance-towing-reimbursement-limit/) are good examples of how much these limits vary by carrier.
Comprehensive or collision coverage sometimes includes a towing benefit, but only when the tow is directly connected to a covered loss. Your car caught fire, hit a deer, or was totaled in a collision: the tow to the shop is typically wrapped into that claim. A random breakdown on the highway with no accident involved? Collision won't touch it.
If you're unsure what you're carrying, call the member services number on your insurance card before you call a tow truck. You need to know your coverage and your reimbursement limit before a driver hooks up your car.
## What If I Don't Have Roadside Assistance on My Policy?
You have three realistic options. First, AAA. If you have a membership, call them. AAA Classic members get up to 5 miles of free towing per call; Premier members get up to 200 miles. [How far AAA will tow your car for free](/how-far-will-aaa-tow-your-car-for-free/) depends entirely on your membership tier.
Second, check your credit card. Some Visa Signature and certain Mastercard World cards include roadside dispatch as a cardholder benefit. Coverage varies and some only dispatch the truck without paying the bill. [Credit card roadside assistance coverage](/does-credit-card-roadside-assistance-cover-towing-cost
*Photo: Pexels*
/) is inconsistent enough that you need to verify before you rely on it.
Third, pay out of pocket and negotiate. A local tow for the first 5 to 10 miles typically runs $75 to $125. Long-distance tows are charged per mile, usually $3 to $7 per mile beyond the base distance. If you end up disputing the charge after the fact, [here's how to dispute a towing charge](/how-to-dispute-a-towing-charge-after-roadside-emergency/) through the right channels.
## Should I Add Roadside Assistance to My Policy Right Now?
If you're stranded without coverage today, adding it now won't help you for this call. Insurance companies apply a waiting period or simply won't backdate a claim. But once you're back on the road, yes, add it. The annual cost is usually under $100 and a single tow costs more than a year of the coverage. If you want to compare whether going through your insurer or a standalone membership makes more sense, [AAA versus roadside assistance through insurance](/aaa-vs-roadside-assistance-through-insurance-which-is-better/) lays out the real differences.
The one scenario where skipping the add-on makes sense: you already have AAA, your credit card provides solid coverage, or you drive a newer vehicle still under a manufacturer's roadside program. Paying twice for the same coverage is unnecessary. Otherwise, the add-on is worth it.
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*Photo: Pexels*
## Common Questions
**Q: Does liability cover towing if the accident was the other driver's fault?**
A: If the other driver was at fault, their liability insurance should cover your tow as part of your property damage claim. Get their insurance information at the scene and file a claim against their policy, not yours.
**Q: Will my insurance go up if I use roadside assistance for a tow?**
A: Generally no. Roadside assistance claims are not fault-based and most carriers do not count them against your premium. Confirm with your specific insurer, since a few companies do track frequency of use.
**Q: Does liability insurance cover towing after a hit-and-run?**
A: No. Liability won't help. If you have uninsured motorist property damage coverage, that may apply depending on your state. Otherwise you'd fall back on roadside assistance or pay out of pocket.
**Q: Can I get reimbursed for a tow I already paid for if I add roadside assistance later?**
A: No. You cannot backdate coverage or get reimbursed for a tow that happened before you added the benefit to your policy.
**Q: What's the cheapest way to get a tow right now if I have no coverage?**
A: Call your dealership if your car is still under warranty. Some manufacturers include roadside assistance. Otherwise, call a local independent tow company rather than a national dispatch service: you'll often get a lower rate and faster response.
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Does Liability Insurance Cover Towing Costs: The Straight Answer
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