Towing: What Roadside Plans Cover and What They Don't

A breakdown is stressful enough without wondering whether your roadside plan will pay for the tow. Towing benefits come from several places, including auto insurance, motor clubs, credit cards, factory warranties, and many extended car warranties. Each sets its own limits. Here is what they commonly cover and where gaps show up.

Where towing coverage comes from

You may already have towing help through one or more of these:

• Factory roadside assistance that comes with many new cars for a set period
• Auto insurance add-ons for towing and labor
• Motor club memberships
• Credit card benefits, which sometimes offer dispatch services at a set price rather than free towing
• Extended car warranties, many of which include roadside assistance as a benefit

Check each source before you buy another. Overlapping coverage is common.

What towing benefits usually include

Most plans that include towing will:

• Send a tow truck to your location when the car can't be driven
• Tow to a nearby repair facility, within a set distance or dollar limit
• Cover the base hook-up fee and mileage up to the limit

Many roadside plans also bundle related services, such as jump-starts, flat tire changes, lockout help, and fuel delivery. The fuel itself may or may not be included.

Common limits and exclusions

This is where people get surprised. Watch for:

1. Distance or dollar caps. A plan may cover towing up to a certain number of miles or a set dollar amount per event. You pay the rest.
2. Destination rules. Some plans tow only to the nearest qualified shop. If you want your car taken to a dealer farther away, you may pay extra.
3. Service call limits. Some plans cap how many times you can use roadside help each year.
4. Off-road and inaccessible locations. Winching a car out of a ditch, mud, or snow may be limited or excluded.
5. Vehicle size and type. Heavy-duty trucks, vehicles with trailers attached, and some modified vehicles may need special equipment that isn't fully covered.
6. Reimbursement vs. direct dispatch. Some plans send a truck directly. Others require you to pay and submit receipts for reimbursement up to a limit.

Towing under an extended car warranty

When an extended car warranty includes roadside assistance, towing is often tied to the plan's terms. Some plans pay for towing only when the breakdown involves a covered part. Others treat it as a general benefit regardless of the cause.

Also check how towing fits with the claims process. Many plans require that you get authorization before repairs start. Towing to a licensed repair facility of your choice is usually allowed, but confirm before the truck shows up. Our claims page explains the general steps.

Electric vehicles and towing

Many electric vehicles should be transported on a flatbed rather than towed with wheels on the ground, since the drive motors are connected to the wheels. Running out of charge also creates a different problem than running out of gas, because a tow truck can't deliver a can of fuel. Some roadside plans offer a tow to the nearest charging station. Check your owner's manual and your plan for EV-specific details. Our hybrid and EV components page covers related coverage.

Make a plan before you need it

Do this now, not on the shoulder of a highway:

• Save your roadside phone number in your phone and keep a printed copy in the glove box
• Know your contract or membership number
• Note your tow distance limit
• Pick a preferred repair shop and save its address
• Learn whether your car needs a flatbed

When you call, give your exact location, describe the problem, and ask about any costs before the truck is dispatched. If you're on a busy road, stay in the car with your seat belt on and hazard lights flashing, or move well away from traffic if it's safe to do so. Your safety comes before the car.

How Warranty Wizards can help

We help you compare plans from independent third-party providers, including the roadside and towing benefits some plans offer. We'll explain what a plan covers before you buy. Get a free quote at /get-a-quote/ or see an overview of our plans.