Here's What You Need to Know

• Some of the top-rated insurance companies with basic roadside assistance plans are State Farm, American Family, and Farmers
• Allstate and AAA are known for their extensive roadside assistance plans
• Basic plans generally only cost a few dollars a month, while upgraded ones are more expensive

Roadside assistance is an insurance add-on that people don’t usually think about until they’re stranded on the side of the road. Even the best car insurance policies won’t help with a flat tire or dead battery unless you have roadside assistance.

Not all roadside assistance plans were created equally, though. Some insurance companies have basic plans that offer little more than a helping hand for the most common problems. Others offer plans perfect for people who put thousands of miles on their cars each year.

Read on to learn which insurance companies have the highest customer-rated roadside assistance plans, then compare prices to find the best one.

Best Insurance Companies for Roadside Assistance

Before looking at the best roadside assistance insurance companies, you should understand what a basic plan offers. The typical plan includes:

• Gas delivery
• Towing
• Battery jumps
• Flat tires
• Entrapment
• Lockouts

While this is what a basic plan covers, there are roadside assistance plans that can help you out with any problem you come up against.

The roadside assistance plan that will work best for you depends on what you think you’ll need. Keeping that in mind, here are the insurance companies with the highest customer-rated roadside assistance plans in no particular order.

Number 10: Nationwide

Starting off the list is Nationwide’s roadside assistance plan. With Nationwide, you can choose between either the basic or plus plans.

You get excellent service with even the basic plan because it includes ditch extraction. Long-distance drivers will find extra value with the plus plan because it guarantees towing for up to 100 miles. In addition, if you break down more than 100 miles from home, the plus plan offers a trip reimbursement of up to $500.

Nationwide gets high praise for its customer service and commitment to helping its customers resolve roadside problems.

Number 9: American Family

While American Family’s roadside assistance only offers standard services, it comes at a low price. American Family provides drivers with a simple add-on package with gas delivery, locksmith services, and battery jumps. Getting roadside assistance is as easy as pushing a button with the MyAmFam app.

While the American Family roadside assistance plan is basic, customers say the service is not. They love that American Family representatives genuinely care about their problems.

Number 8: Farmers

Farmers offers another simple, inexpensive plan similar to American Family. Farmers steps up its service by including winching services if your car gets stuck within 10 feet of a public street.

Farmers is an excellent choice if you want a basic plan covering essential roadside assistance services. However, if you put a lot of miles on your car, you might want to look elsewhere.

Most customers say that Farmers’ roadside assistance is a great option if you already have a policy. Farmers proves itself a reliable option for assistance.

Number 7: Allstate

Allstate has the most flexibility of all the roadside assistance plans out there.

You have two choices with Allstate. You can buy roadside assistance as an add-on to an existing policy or a standalone subscription plan. If you don’t want a roadside assistance plan but need help, you can also use the Allstate pay-per-use feature on the app, no matter where you get insurance.

Drivers that need a simple roadside assistance plan will do fine with the Allstate add-on or pay-per-use feature. However, if you want the best coverage Allstate offers, you’ll need to join the Allstate Motor Club.

Despite its popularity, Allstate’s Motor Club has very few reviews. However, those who do have it are generally impressed with the service.

Number 6: Progressive

Progressive is known for offering affordable rates and friendly service. This insurance provider continues that trend with the Progressive roadside assistance program.

Roadside assistance with Progressive offers standard services. It also includes winching services from mud, sand, snow, or water up to 100 feet away from a paved road. So if you frequently drive in poor weather conditions, Progressive might be the best choice.

Progressive gets mixed reviews for its roadside assistance like most big insurance companies. Some customers say they’ve used it several times and never had to wait more than half an hour, while others say it’s a complete scam.

Number 5: USAA

While USAA has high customer satisfaction rates, only active or retired military members and their families are eligible for coverage.

If that applies to you, USAA’s roadside assistance is an affordable add-on option to your standard car insurance policy. A unique feature of USAA’s plan is that you can contact USAA after an incident and request reimbursement.

Although USAA’s roadside plan might not have the most impressive lineup of services, people love the service they receive. USAA consistently gets high marks for its ability to produce happy customers.

Number 4: Travelers

The aptly named Travelers offers some of the best roadside assistance plans. Travelers customers have two options — basic and premier — both of which are affordable.

Both packages include winching. The premier plan includes additional services such as 100 miles of towing, personal property coverage, and trip interruption.

Although customers report a mix of being either satisfied or unsatisfied with the services received, most rave about the plan's affordability.

Number 3: State Farm

Budget-conscious drivers can get cheap State Farm roadside assistance. This is a great plan if you think you won’t need major assistance on the road and you want a little reassurance.

If you drive long distances or put a lot of local miles on your car, you should probably look elsewhere.

Because it’s so basic, State Farm’s roadside plan receives average reviews from customers.

Number 2: GEICO

You get five calls per year when you add a roadside assistance plan to your insurance with GEICO. You can use those calls for anything from towing to changing tires to jump-starts.

GEICO’s app makes it simple to contact help with roadside assistance. The app will walk you through the entire process and provide the technician with your exact location by GPS.

Most customers give their experience with GEICO five out of five stars, stating that they got assistance quickly and were expertly resolved.

Number 1: AAA

AAA roadside assistance is what people usually think of first. Although AAA sells insurance, you don’t need it to buy a roadside assistance plan.

AAA is not the cheapest option, but some plans can cover just about anything you want. You get up to four calls a year, and all plans include towing to AAA-approved mechanics and repair facilities.

Although AAA is the gold standard for roadside assistance, this company has problems with some customer reviews. While many reviewers say they are loyal customers for life, other people are dissatisfied with their service or lack thereof.

How much does roadside assistance cost?

Besides the actual service, one of the key features all customers talk about is the price. While the price of any plan you buy will depend on your unique circumstances, you can estimate how much roadside assistance costs below.

As you can see, there’s a lot of variation between these plans. Like car insurance, price isn’t the only thing to consider when shopping for roadside assistance. Use the prices above to get an idea of where to start, but the most important factor should be the services included in the plan.

Do you need roadside assistance?

While it’s never a bad idea to have roadside assistance available anytime you need it, some cars are more vulnerable than others.

To get an idea of whether or not you should buy roadside assistance, consider the factors below:

• Your mileage. If you put a lot of miles on your car, or if you frequently drive to areas you’re unfamiliar with, roadside assistance is a good idea. You can probably skip it if you don’t drive much or travel.
• Your car’s age. Older cars are more likely to have problems, which roadside assistance can help with. New cars often come with free emergency services for several years or miles, which means they don’t need a plan.
• Your knowledge. Drivers that don’t know how to fix car problems will benefit from knowing help is a phone call away. As for convenience, you can let your provider do all the work of finding the right service to fix your problem.
• Your budget. If you’re on a tight budget, skipping roadside assistance is one way to help keep your insurance prices down.

There’s no reason not to get roadside assistance, so a safety net, while you’re on the road is never a bad thing if you want it and can afford it.

Find the Best Roadside Assistance Today

Whether you need a serious roadside assistance plan for long drives or a simple add-on for reassurance, roadside assistance is valuable to any insurance policy. You’re not stuck with whatever your insurance company offers. Some providers allow you to use roadside assistance no matter where you get your coverage.

If you’re ready to find a roadside assistance plan that meets all your needs, compare as many companies as possible. The more you research, the more likely you will find the perfect plan at the right price.