Roadside Assistance Program Comparison

Roadside assistance provider comparison

Roadside assistance can give you some much-needed peace of mind. If you’re stranded on the side of the road with a dead battery or flat tire, your roadside assistance service is available to help you. While most major providers offer roadside assistance — usually as an add-on for an additional cost — not all policies are created equal. Let’s compare some roadside assistance programs from top insurers to options offered by third-party service providers.

Table of contents: What is the best roadside assistance program?

1. Roadside programs offered by insurance companies
2. AAA Roadside Assistance
3. AARP Roadside Assistance
4. The Zebra’s Auto Security Plan
5. Your company’s roadside assistance plan vs. a third-party option

Emergency roadside programs from car insurance companies

Many car insurance companies offer roadside assistance. While these programs vary by location and company, most apply only to the vehicle and drivers listed on the policy. Roadside assistance through a car insurance provider is typically cheap. See below for roadside assistance prices and coverage options from top providers in the United States.

POPULAR INSURANCE COMPANIES' ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

The primary options that are inconsistent from company to company are extrication and winching services, as well as small labor and mechanical repair. Progressive is the only company that offers this service.

The price may vary based on how many vehicles you cover. Below are estimated prices of roadside assistance plans.

AAA Roadside Assistance overview

AAA is what most people think of when they think about roadside assistance. AAA’s program is among the most reliable and in-depth of roadside assistance options, but that service comes at a price. See below the coverage options offered by AAA’s membership tiers.

AAA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE COVERAGE

AAA includes basic roadside assistance coverage plus additional perks and benefits, displayed below. Learn more about AAA's roadside assistance and how it compares to other programs here.

ADDITIONAL AAA BENEFITS

This extra coverage comes at a cost. AAA roadside assistance costs more than does assistance provided by an insurer. AAA typically has better reviews, thanks to its response time and quality of service. Furthermore, if you’re interested in discounts on hotels, dining, and other services, AAA might be a good option.

AAA COSTS BY MEMBERSHIP TIER

AARP Roadside Assistance overview

If you’re an AARP member, you can purchase a roadside assistance policy with tiered services and features, similar to AAA. See below the basic and premier coverage options.

AARP EMERGENCY SERVICES

AARP Roadside Assistance coverage options explained

• Pathfinder Trip Routing Service: Tips and maps on destinations in the US, Mexico, and Canada.
• Trip Interruption: This means if your vehicle you are traveling with is disabled as a result of an accident, you will be reimbursed up to $1,500 for our travel expenses. You must be more than 100 miles away from home to be eligible.
• Auto Theft Reward: This will provide a monetary reward for information leading to the arrest of the thief if your vehicle is stolen.
• Legal Defense Reimbursement: Provides litigation defend in the event you are taken to court over a traffic violation. Certain restrictions apply.
• Hospital Emergency Bond: If you're injured more than 100 miles away from and are required to present evidence of financial responsibility at a hospital, this will provide support.
• Arrest Bond Certificate: An AARP edition of a get out of a "get out of jail free card." If you're arrested for a driving-related offense (but cannot be DUI/DWI related), you can use this coverage as a jail bond. Up to $1,000.
• RV Roadside Coverage: You can add this coverage for $24/yr and will get two additional service calls for this coverage.

AARP’s program offers additional benefits not provided by a standard insurer.

AARP NON-EMERGENCY SERVICES

Like AAA, AARP’s roadside assistance coverage is more expensive than coverage from an insurance company.

AARP ANNUAL PRICING

The Zebra’s Auto Security Plan

The Zebra’s plan is similar to those of AAA and AARP. You do not need to participate in the auto insurance plan from Auto and Home Plus — the roadside assistance provider — in order to qualify.

The Zebra’s Auto Security Plan follows the individual, rather than the driver. You can apply this coverage to another driver’s vehicle, as long as you’re in the car with them. This differs from other insurance companies’ roadside assistance packages: GEICO’s and State Farm’s coverage applies only to the vehicle listed on the insurance policy. As an added bonus, the Auto Security Plan is the same price no matter how many dependents — family members like your spouse or children — you add to the policy, unlike AAA or AARP’s products.

If you’re interested in discussing the Auto Security Plan with a representative, click below or call (888) 444-2833.

FIMC ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE

Key terms explained

• Medical reimbursement: This will provide reimbursement of the first 48 hours of emergency medical expenses and ambulance expenses that are not covered by your insurance and that result from car accidents.
• Deductible Reimbursement: This is specific for qualifying events (defined in your policy agreement) and will apply after the claim has exceeded the deductible.

Please note: The Zebra only provides this coverage in the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah*, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

*In Utah, The Zebra provides only the basic $60 plan.

Roadside assistance comparison: third-party vendors versus insurance companies

If you're deciding between a third-party roadside assistance company or your current car insurance company with whom you have an auto insurance policy, consider the following suggestions:

How does your insurance company handle roadside assistance claims?

If you have too many roadside claims with your current car insurance provider, your coverage can be dropped altogether. If you file multiple claims with a third-party vendor, your car insurance coverage should be unaffected.

What are you willing to pay?

Third-party roadside service vendors offer more products and better service, but they are more expensive. If you prefer to keep your rates low, the coverage provided by your current company might be a good solution for you.

What do you want from your roadside assistance coverage?

Which plan works best for you may depend on how you drive, who you are, and what you want out of your roadside assistance package. If you’re already an AARP member, its program might be an easy option for you. If you prefer AAA’s stellar reputation and extra amenities, choose this option. If you’re content with more barebones service, your current provider’s package might be sufficient.

The Zebra's roadside assistance package, backed by FMIC, is a good mix of the two. While it doesn’t include as many amenities as AARP and AAA, it does cover more than a standard car insurance company’s roadside assistance option. The best choice is to define for yourself what you want and what you’re willing to pay for.

Additional resources

If you're looking for additional resources related to car insurance, see our related articles below.

• AARP vs. AAA auto insurance comparison
• AARP vs. AAA roadside assistance program comparison
• AAA vs. typical roadside assistance options
• Understanding car insurance vs. car warranties