Quick Answer: The rental company typically pays for towing if their vehicle breaks down due to mechanical failure. However, if you caused the breakdown through misuse or an accident, you’ll likely pay. Always call the rental company first, not your own insurance or AAA.
What To Do
- Pull over safely and turn on hazard lights
- Call the rental company immediately using the roadside assistance number on your rental agreement or key tag
- Do not call your personal AAA or insurance until you speak with the rental company
- Stay with the vehicle unless it’s unsafe to do so
- Document everything with photos of the car, your location, and any damage
- Keep all receipts if you must pay for anything upfront
- Get a claim number from the rental company representative
A few things to know before you make that call: the roadside assistance number is almost always printed on your key tag or rental agreement, not just the company’s main customer service line. Using the wrong number can cost you 30 to 60 minutes of hold time while you’re stuck on the shoulder. Save the right number in your phone the moment you pick up the car.
When you call, tell them your exact location using mile markers, cross streets, or a GPS coordinate from your phone. Give them the vehicle’s license plate number and mileage shown on the odometer. These details speed up dispatch significantly. If the breakdown happens at night, stay near the vehicle but position yourself behind the guardrail if one is available and traffic is heavy.
Photo: Pexels
What It Might Cost
Rental company pays:
- Mechanical breakdowns (engine, transmission, flat tire)
- Manufacturing defects
- Normal wear and tear failures
You might pay:
- Accidents you caused ($150-500+ towing)
- Running out of gas ($75-150 service call)
- Lockouts due to lost keys ($100-200)
- Off-road driving damage
- Violations of rental agreement terms
Running out of gas is one of the most common situations where renters get surprised by a bill. The rental company treats it as driver negligence, not a mechanical failure, so the $75 to $150 fuel delivery fee lands directly on your credit card. Same story with a dead battery caused by leaving the lights on overnight.
If you purchased the rental company’s own damage waiver or collision damage waiver at the counter, re-read the fine print before assuming it covers towing from an accident. Many waivers cover damage to the vehicle but exclude towing fees separately. Some credit cards, particularly Visa Signature and certain Chase and Amex travel cards, do cover rental car towing when you pay with that card, but you typically need to have declined the rental company’s own coverage for the card benefit to apply. Call your card’s benefits line to confirm before assuming you’re covered.
Enterprise and Hertz both offer 24/7 roadside assistance included in most rentals. Budget, Avis, and National have similar policies.
Company-Specific Notes
Enterprise: Covers breakdowns, provides replacement vehicle, pays towing to their preferred shop. Enterprise typically aims for a replacement vehicle within two hours in metro areas, longer in rural locations.
Hertz: 24/7 roadside assistance included, covers mechanical issues, may arrange alternate transportation. Hertz uses a network of preferred tow operators, so wait times vary widely by region.
Budget/Avis: Basic roadside help included, but response times can be longer. In rural areas, expect waits of two to four hours in some cases. Both are owned by the same parent company and share roadside dispatch systems.
If you rented through a third-party booking site like Expedia or Priceline, your roadside assistance contact is still the rental car company directly, not the booking platform. The booking platform has no role in roadside dispatch.
Photo: Pexels
Common Questions
Q: Can I call AAA if my rental car breaks down? A: You can, but call the rental company first. If you use AAA without the rental company’s authorization, the rental company may not reimburse you and could dispute any towing charges. Get the rental company’s approval before bringing in outside help.
Q: What happens if the rental car breaks down in a rural area with no cell service? A: Walk or drive to the nearest point with service, then call the rental company immediately. If you cannot reach them within a reasonable time, call 911 for a welfare check and ask local law enforcement to help you contact roadside assistance. Keep your rental agreement with you since it has the vehicle details a dispatcher will need.
Q: Will a breakdown show up as a problem on my rental history or affect future rentals? A: A mechanical breakdown caused by a factory or maintenance defect will not affect your rental standing. If the breakdown involved damage you caused, or if you violated the rental agreement terms, that can be flagged in their system and may result in a charge or a note on your account with that company.
Stay Safe
- Never attempt repairs yourself on a rental
- Don’t accept help from strangers offering towing services
- Stay in your vehicle on busy highways if possible
- Call 911 if you’re in immediate danger
- Don’t sign anything from a tow truck driver without rental company approval
Need roadside help? Visit Tow With The Flow for real answers when your car breaks down.