Credit Cards That Offer Free Roadside Assistance

Have you ever had a flat tire on the side of the road, locked your keys in the car, or run out of gas? When car trouble happens, roadside assistance can help you get back on your way. No matter which state you’re traveling in, a simple phone call can connect you with a roadside assistance center that will stay in touch and arrange the help you need. If you carry one of the credit cards listed below, you can use this service for free multiple times.

Credit Cards That Offer Free Roadside Assistance

Many credit cards offer roadside assistance as an extra perk, but only a small number provide it for free. Most cards offer 24/7 dispatch services, but you still have to pay for the actual assistance you use. For example, if you lock your keys in the car, you can call the dispatch service and ask a customer service representative to find a locksmith. The dispatch service will connect you with a locksmith at no charge, but you still have to pay for the locksmith’s service.

The credit cards listed below all offer free roadside assistance. You simply call the dispatch center, and they will arrange for a service provider. If the issue is covered under your card’s policy, a tow truck driver, mechanic, or locksmith will come help you at no charge.

If you have one of the following cards, you can receive free roadside assistance up to four times per year, although you cannot use the benefit multiple times within seven days for the same issue.

• United℠ Explorer Card
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®
• United Club℠ Infinite Card
• United MileagePlus® Club Card
• United℠ Business Card
• United Club℠ Business Card
• The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card

All of the cards above charge an annual fee. By comparison, the United℠ Explorer Card and United℠ Business Card have lower annual fees, and both waive the annual fee for the first year.

Chase roadside assistance includes:

• Battery boost: If your car won’t start because the battery is dead or low, a service provider can come jump-start the battery.
• Tire change: If you have a flat tire, they can help install your spare tire.
• Fuel delivery: If you run out of gas, they can provide an emergency supply. Fuel costs are covered up to two gallons per incident.
• 24-hour towing assistance: If your car breaks down and needs a tow, a representative will arrange towing to the nearest repair shop or to a location chosen by the vehicle owner. Coverage is up to $50 per incident.
• 24-hour lockout assistance: If you accidentally lock yourself out of your car, a qualified locksmith will be sent to help you. Coverage is up to $50 per incident. Note that you are responsible for the cost of any replacement keys needed.

Eligibility requirements for Chase roadside assistance:

To qualify for this service, you must be driving a vehicle you own or lease, or a vehicle furnished by the owner for your use (i.e. rental vehicles are not eligible), and you must arrange service through Cross Country Motor Club at 866-860-7978. The policy applies only to private passenger vehicles used on the road, with a weight limit of no more than 2,000 pounds. Commercial vehicles are not covered; the policy applies only in the U.S. and Canada.

It’s also worth noting that some other Chase credit cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, offer roadside assistance on a pay-per-use basis. However, since the free options are clearly better, we did not include those cards on our list of free roadside assistance benefits.

How to Use It

Here we’ll use the Chase United Explorer card as an example to explain how the benefit works. For the detailed terms, you can refer to its card benefit guide.

• guide to benefit 

The first key point is the phone number—if something goes wrong, remember to call.

• 1-866-359-5402（If you don’t know the number, you can also just call Chase customer service.）

The benefit applies when the cardholder is driving their own car, and leased vehicles count too.

It lists several covered problems. Reimbursement is up to $50 per incident, up to four times per year, and no more than once every seven days. Of course, many services cost less than $50, but towing may not, so it’s best to confirm the price on the phone. Chase can reimburse up to $50.

You’ll need to provide your name, address, vehicle information, location, and phone number. Payment can be made with a Chase card or another card.

Based on readers’ experiences, Chase’s service is pretty good, and you can track the progress along the way.

Roadside Assistance Offered by Other Credit Cards

Wells Fargo, Capital One, and Bank of America offer pay-per-use roadside assistance on some credit cards, which means all you really get is a phone number to call for help. You won’t be billed until the tow truck or repair technician arrives. For example, with a Visa card, each roadside assistance service call costs $79.95. If you have to pay for it anyway, the value is fairly limited.

Some issuers do not offer this benefit at all. In September 2019, Citi removed several travel and purchase protection benefits from many credit cards. Unfortunately, roadside assistance was one of the benefits that was eliminated and has not returned. A few months later, American Express discontinued its roadside assistance benefit in January 2020.

Summary

Free roadside assistance is one of the hidden benefits of certain credit cards, and many cardholders may not realize they can use it multiple times a year. Unlike some other card perks, you do not need to enroll or meet monthly requirements to get free roadside assistance. Simply holding one of the credit cards listed above is enough to enjoy this benefit at no extra cost.

If you want free roadside assistance coverage without paying the annual fee on a premium rewards card, the United Explorer Card may be the best choice. It offers free roadside assistance and has the lowest annual fee among the options listed. That can save you real money while helping you and your car get back on the road.