Quick Answer: Most roadside assistance plans tow 5-15 miles for free. AAA Plus covers 100 miles. Insurance companies like State Farm and GEICO typically cover 15 miles, while Allstate and Progressive offer 15-25 miles. Credit card programs usually provide 5-10 miles. Distance resets annually, not per incident.
Your car just broke down 40 miles from home, and you need to know exactly how far your roadside assistance will tow you. The answer depends entirely on which provider you have and what coverage level you chose.
What To Do
Check your specific plan first. Call the number on your insurance card or membership card. Ask for your exact towing distance limit and how many miles you have left this year.
Know the standard distances by provider:
- AAA Classic: 5 miles free
- AAA Plus: 100 miles free
- AAA Premier: 200 miles free
- Insurance companies: 5-25 miles (varies by carrier)
- Credit card programs: 5-10 miles
- Employer benefits: Usually 5-15 miles
Understand overage costs. Beyond your free miles, expect to pay $3-7 per additional mile. A 30-mile tow when you only have 15 miles covered will cost you $45-105 extra.
Choose your destination carefully. Most plans let you go to any licensed repair facility within your distance limit. Going to a dealer 20 miles away uses the same coverage as going to a shop 5 miles away.
Ask about network discounts. Some providers offer reduced rates for additional miles beyond your coverage. State Farm covers specific distances that might work for your situation.
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Insurance Company Distance Limits
State Farm: 15 miles standard coverage. Their towing limits are clearly defined in your policy documents.
GEICO: 15 miles free, with specific usage limits per year that affect your total coverage.
Progressive: 15 miles standard. Progressive’s towing coverage includes details about distance and dollar limits.
Allstate: 15-25 miles depending on your policy level. Allstate’s roadside assistance varies by state and coverage tier.
Farmers: 15 miles standard coverage. Farmers Insurance towing benefits include both distance and dollar limits.
What Distance Limits Actually Mean
Distance limits measure from your breakdown location to the repair facility, not round-trip. If you break down 10 miles from home and want to go to a shop 8 miles away, you use 8 miles of coverage, not 18.
Most plans reset annually, not per incident. If you use 10 miles in January, you still have your full coverage available for the rest of the year.
Some plans combine distance and dollar limits. You might have 15 miles OR $75 of towing, whichever comes first. In expensive markets, the dollar limit often runs out before the distance limit.
When You Need More Distance
If your breakdown is beyond your coverage area, you have three options:
- Pay the overage. Usually $3-7 per mile beyond your limit.
- Use a different destination. Find a closer shop within your coverage zone.
- Upgrade your coverage. Some providers let you upgrade mid-breakdown, though you’ll pay the higher premium for the full year.
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Stay Safe
• Never drive a severely damaged vehicle to stay within distance limits • Highway breakdowns require immediate towing regardless of distance coverage • Emergency situations override normal distance restrictions • Keep your roadside assistance number easily accessible in your phone
Common Questions
Q: Do I get a fresh set of towing miles each time I call for help? A: No, the distance limit is per incident, meaning each separate breakdown call starts fresh from that location. However, the number of covered incidents or total benefit resets on your annual policy renewal date, not after each use.
Q: What happens if the closest repair shop is farther than my covered miles? A: You can still use your towing benefit to reach that shop, but you will pay out of pocket for every mile beyond your limit, typically $3 to $7 per mile. Asking the dispatcher about nearby in-network shops can sometimes reduce or eliminate those extra charges.
Q: Can I use roadside assistance towing to go straight home instead of a repair shop? A: Most plans allow you to tow to any location you choose, including your home, as long as it falls within your covered distance. Just keep in mind that a licensed repair facility is often the more practical destination since mechanics cannot work on your car in most residential driveways.
Need roadside help? Visit Tow With The Flow for real answers when your car breaks down.