Quick Answer: Yes, roadside assistance is almost always cheaper than paying for a tow out of pocket. A single tow costs $75–$300. AAA Basic membership runs $60–$80 per year and covers multiple tows. If you drive regularly and don’t already have coverage through insurance or a credit card, a membership pays for itself after one breakdown.
What To Do
- Check what coverage you already have before buying anything. Many people pay for roadside assistance multiple times without knowing it:
- Your auto insurance policy (look for “roadside” or “towing” on the declarations page)
- Credit card benefits (Visa Signature, some Chase and Amex cards include it)
- Your car manufacturer’s roadside program (new cars often come with 3–5 years free)
- Cell phone carrier plans (some include it)
- If you have none of the above, compare your options:
- AAA Basic: ~$60–80/year, 5 miles towing free per call, 4 calls/year
- AAA Plus: ~$100–130/year, 100 miles towing free per call
- Better World Club: similar pricing, slightly more eco-focused
- Allstate Motor Club, AARP roadside: comparable rates
- For one-time coverage, check apps like Urgently or Honk. You can pay per incident ($50–$80 for a basic tow), which is cheaper than calling a random tow company but more than having a membership.
- If you’re already broken down right now and have no coverage, call 3 local tow companies and get competing quotes. Don’t accept the first price.
What It Might Cost
| Option | Cost | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| No coverage, local tow | $75–$150 | One tow, you pay everything |
| No coverage, long tow | $200–$500+ | One tow, you pay everything |
| AAA Basic (annual) | $60–$80/year | 4 calls, 5 miles free towing each |
| AAA Plus (annual) | $100–$130/year | 4 calls, 100 miles free towing each |
| Insurance roadside add-on | $5–$15/year | Towing reimbursement, varies by policy |
| Credit card roadside | $0 extra | Per-incident dispatch fee ~$50–$75 |
The break-even math: if you pay $80/year for AAA Basic and use it once for a $120 tow, you saved $40. Use it twice and you’re way ahead. The real value is the peace of mind on road trips and winter driving.
What roadside assistance typically covers beyond towing:
- Jump starts
- Flat tire change (to your spare)
- Lockout service
- Fuel delivery (you pay for the gas itself)
- Winch-out in some plans
What it usually does not cover:
- Repairs on site beyond basic battery jump
- Towing beyond the included mileage (you pay overage)
- Commercial vehicles
Stay Safe
- Store your roadside assistance number in your phone before you need it. Searching for it while stranded on a highway shoulder is not the time to find out you lost the card.
- Most apps (AAA, Allstate) let you track the tow truck’s ETA in real time. Use them, it’s safer than standing outside waiting and watching.