What does the Mastercard roadside assistance cover?

Visa roadside assistance covers standard towing, tire changes, jumpstarts, locksmiths, fuel delivery, and winching for any Visa credit card customer. Visa Roadside Dispatch, as the program is officially known, costs $69.95 per service call. That amount must be charged to your Visa card. But there is no fee or registration required for access. And there’s no limit to how many times you can use this service. You simply call … read full answer(800) 847-2869 anytime you need Visa Roadside assistance, 24/7.

Visa roadside service coordinates your service request with local contractors. So, additional services may be available at a higher cost. For example, additional fees apply to tows over 5 miles and winching exceeding 100 ft.

Here is what Visa roadside assistance covers:

• Jumpstarting – Battery boost
• Standard Towing – Up to 5 miles included
• Tire Changing – You must have usable, inflated spare
• Lockout Service – No key replacement
• Fuel Delivery – Up to 5 gallons, plus the cost of fuel
• Standard Winching – On up to 100 ft. of paved or county-maintained road.

Visa Roadside Dispatch is not free but it may cost less than other local options. If you do not have the time to compare cost, you can at least rely on Visa roadside assistance being available 24/7.

The best credit card with free roadside assistance is the Chase Sapphire Reserve. The coverage includes towing, flat tires, dead batteries, lockouts, and empty gas tanks. You’re covered for up to $50 per service call, with a maximum of 4 events per year, for $200 in annual coverage.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card’s annual fee is $550. Some of the additional perks helping to cover that cost include 60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months and a complimentary Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership.… read full answer

You need roadside assistance if you have an older car, commute or travel long distances, or simply want peace of mind. Vehicles that are at least 10 years old are four times as likely to need a tow, according to research by AAA. Plus, 1 in 3 Americans experience a vehicle breakdown every year, according to … read full answerAgero—the largest provider of wholesale roadside assistance in the U.S.

On the other hand, if your car is relatively new or still covered by a manufacturer’s warranty, roadside assistance is probably unnecessary.

Why Most Drivers Need Roadside Assistance

1. Roadside assistance covers a lot of different services

Common examples include:

• Mechanical repairs
• Towing services
• Fuel-delivery services
• Flat tire service
• Locksmith services
• Battery jump-starts
• Winching services

Your specific number of tows, miles of towing, and coverage costs will depend on the provider and assistance plan that you select.

2. Roadside assistance can be very affordable.

Insurers usually offer the cheapest roadside assistance coverage—around $20 per year. It costs a bit more if you buy roadside assistance through an auto club. However, clubs often offer additional coverage options and discounts at affiliated businesses.

3. Roadside assistance is available from a variety of sources.

You can get roadside assistance from:

• Your existing car insurance coverage
• An automobile club like AAA
• Certain credit card benefits packages

To learn more, check out WalletHub’s guide to the best roadside assistance.