What are the best credit cards with free roadside assistance?

One of the best credit cards with free roadside assistance is Chase Sapphire Reserve® because it offers coverage for towing, flat tires, dead batteries, lockouts, and empty gas tanks, up to $50 per service call. Cardholders can use the roadside assistance benefit up to four times per year. 

Credit card roadside assistance – sometimes called roadside dispatch – is a service offered by certain cards that gives cardholders a dedicated phone line to call for help with roadside emergencies. Some cards cover up to a certain amount per event, while others only arrange help at a negotiated rate. The remaining charges will be automatically billed to your account.

Popular Credit Cards with Roadside Assistance Benefits

Roadside Assistance Details: 24/7 hotline for services such as towing, tire changes, jump-starts, lockout service (no key replacement), standard winching, and delivery of up to two gallons of gas. You’re covered for up to $50 per service call, with a maximum of four events per year. 

Initial Bonus: 60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months

Ongoing Rewards: You can earn a total of 10 points per $1 spent on hotels and car rentals booked through Chase, a total of 10 points per $1 spent on prepaid restaurant reservations or takeout orders made through Chase, a total of 5 points per $1 spent on flights purchased through Chase, 3 points per $1 spent on all other travel and dining purchases, and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases

Annual Fee: $550

Roadside Assistance Details: 24/7 hotline for services such as towing (up to five miles), tire changes, jump starts, lockout service (no key replacement), standard winching, and delivery of up to five gallons of gas. There is a fee that cardholders need to pay in order to benefit from the services mentioned above, but the exact amount is not disclosed. In addition, the cardholder is still responsible for services that are not covered.

Initial Bonus: 75,000 miles for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months

Ongoing Rewards: 5 miles per $1 spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, and 2 miles per $1 on all other purchases

Annual Fee: $95

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

Roadside Assistance Details: 24/7 hotline for services such as towing (up to five miles), tire changes, jump starts, lockout service (no key replacement), standard winching, and delivery of up to five gallons of gas. There is a fee that cardholders need to pay in order to benefit from the services mentioned above, but the exact amount is not disclosed. In addition, the cardholder is still responsible for services that are not covered.

Initial Bonus: $200 cash rewards after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months

Ongoing Rewards: 2% cash rewards

Annual Fee: $0

Roadside Assistance Details: 24/7 hotline for services such as towing (up to five miles), tire changes, jump starts, lockout service (no key replacement), standard winching, and delivery of up to five gallons of gas. There is a fee that cardholders need to pay in order to benefit from the services mentioned above, but the exact amount is not disclosed. The cardholder is responsible for services that are not covered, too.

Initial Bonus: 50,000 points for spending $3,000 in the first 90 days

Ongoing Rewards: 2 points per $1 spent on travel and dining, and 1.5 points per $1 on all other purchases

Annual Fee: $95

It is worth noting that the roadside assistance benefit is offered through a card’s network, rather than its issuer. However, the issuer does decide what benefits are included with its card. It is also important to note that the only major credit card networks that offer this benefit are Visa and Mastercard.

Even if your credit card doesn’t include this benefit, there are plenty of companies that offer roadside assistance plans. Most plans are available for a flat fee every month or year and offer better coverage than the credit cards mentioned above.