Does Hyundai have free roadside assistance?

Yes, roadside assistance is worth it if you have an old car, regularly drive long distances, live somewhere with bad weather (especially snowstorms), or are unfamiliar with car maintenance. Roadside assistance can be cheap, and it can help with everything from towing and winching to jump-starts and lockout services.

When Roadside Assistance Is Worth It... read full answer

You have an old car. Cars that are at least 10 years old are twice as likely to be stranded on the side of the road and four times as likely to require a tow than younger cars, according to AAA. With that in mind, it is worth considering roadside assistance if your car is more than 10 years old.

You regularly drive long distances. Generally, it is worth buying roadside assistance if you commute every day or regularly take long-distance road trips, as your car will experience more wear and tear than the average vehicle.

You live somewhere with bad weather. Where there is bad weather, there are road hazards. Especially if you live in a place that gets a lot of snow, your risk for getting stuck in a ditch or losing control of your vehicle is much higher. Thus, buying roadside assistance, especially a plan that includes winching, is worth the money.

You are unfamiliar with car maintenance. If you feel uncomfortable changing a tire or jumpstarting your car’s engine—or you don’t want to worry about car maintenance at all— it is worth it to purchase roadside assistance to ease your anxiety.

You get it through your car insurance company. Roadside assistance is usually much cheaper through an insurance company than through an auto club. It is worth noting that before allowing you to buy roadside assistance, your insurer may require you to buy comprehensive and collision coverage.

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

Roadside assistance covers towing to nearby service stations, battery changes or jump-starts, and delivery of fuel or oil. Many roadside assistance programs also cover locksmith services up to a certain dollar amount and replacing a flat tire with an existing spare.

What Roadside Assistance Covers

• Towing

From 3 to 200 miles per tow, depending on the plan... read full answer

• Extraction services

Removal of vehicles from ditches, deep snow, mud, or off-road terrain

• Locksmith services

Assistance if a policyholder is locked out of their vehicle

• Battery changes

Often includes discounted replacement batteries

• Jump-starts

Starting the battery after it has died or become too weak to start the vehicle

• Tire changes

Help with changing a flat; may include a discounted replacement tire

• Fuel delivery

Can include free or discounted fuel, up to a certain amount or enough to get to the nearest gas station, depending on the plan

Some roadside assistance programs also include discounts at participating restaurants, attractions and hotels, as well as trip interruption coverage and travel assistance. Roadside assistance can cost anywhere from $8 to over $170 per year, depending on whether you purchase it as an add-on to an existing car insurance policy or through another company.

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

Car insurance does not cover towing if you have a liability-only policy, but it might if you have full coverage. Many full coverage car insurance policies will reimburse drivers for towing that results from a collision but won’t cover towing due to a mechanical issue or breakdown.

Some full coverage policies only cover towing if you pay extra for ... read full answerroadside assistance, though. Roadside assistance is usually an easy and affordable add-on. You can add it to your policy for around $5 to $15 per car, per month.

When purchased as an add-on, roadside assistance typically includes:

• Towing (up to a certain distance, in most cases)
• Flat-tire changes
• Jumpstarts and battery replacements
• Fuel delivery if you run out of gas
• Locksmith services

Some insurers offer towing and labor coverage in addition to roadside assistance plans. Towing and labor plans typically cover towing, tire changes, and jump starts but not the full scope of services available with roadside assistance. Because towing coverage varies so much from policy to policy, it’s important to know exactly what is covered by speaking to your insurer directly.

If you don’t have roadside assistance as part of your car insurance, you could also consider purchasing roadside assistance from a third-party, like AAA. Third-party providers offer the same roadside services you would get by adding on to your insurance policy, but some have extra perks. AAA, for example, offers free trip-planning tools, identity theft monitoring, and thousands of shopping, entertainment, and dining discounts.