The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Advertiser disclosure
The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Guides
The 5 best credit cards that offer roadside assistance
Katie Genter is a digital nomad who has traveled full time since June 2017. She writes and edits stories about points and miles, and loyalty programs, often letting her personal experiences color these stories.
Augusta Stone is a credit cards writer for TPG. She joined the TPG team in 2023 and is excited to take points and miles beginners with her on a journey toward maximizing rewards.
also contributed to this story
February 20, 2025 • 12 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Editorial note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
Related stories
Quick summary
Several credit cards offer roadside assistance benefits, but coverage and terms vary widely.
Some cards provide a set dollar amount per event, while others arrange services at a negotiated rate, leaving you to pay the remainder.
Roadside assistance services may include towing, jump-starts, tire changes, fuel delivery and lockout help, but limits and eligibility differ by card.
Comparisons are made between credit card roadside assistance and traditional memberships, highlighting when a card benefit may suffice.
What to consider
Coverage may only apply when traveling away from home, and definitions of 'away from home' can be vague.
Most cards limit the number of covered events or set caps on reimbursement per incident, with some only offering access to paid dispatch services.
Commercial vehicles and certain vehicle types may be excluded from coverage, so reviewing your card's guide to benefits is essential.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of specific roadside assistance benefits and how they stack up against traditional auto club memberships.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
Need a jump or help with a flat tire? When things go wrong — especially on the road — it can be easy to panic and forget about all the options you have. However, one or more of your credit cards may provide a roadside assistance benefit that can help.
The level of assistance and terms vary widely, though. Some cards cover up to a certain amount per event. But, many only arrange help at a negotiated rate and leave you to pay the rest of the bill.
Let's discuss the best credit cards for roadside assistance and describe what type of help you can expect with each.
Welcome bonus: Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Based on TPG's June 2026 valuations, this welcome offer is worth $2,050.
Reward rates:
8 points per dollar spent on all purchases made through Chase Travel℠ (after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually)
4 points per dollar spent on flights and hotels booked directly (after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually)
3 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide (including eligible takeout and delivery services)
1 point per dollar spent on everything else
Roadside benefit: Roadside assistance benefit covers up to $50 for each service event, up to four events each year (including tow, jump-start, tire change, locksmith and gas), up to four events each year.
Annual fee: $795
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is still my pick for the best travel rewards card. The card offers solid travel and shopping protections, and earning at least 3 points per dollar spent on dining is compelling.
You likely won’t apply for the Sapphire Reserve solely due to its roadside assistance benefit. But, it’s one more reason to consider getting the card if you travel frequently.
Welcome bonus: Earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
THE POINTS GUY
Reward rates:
5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel
3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services
1.5% cash back on everything else
Roadside benefit: Roadside dispatch provides access to select roadside services (including towing, jump-start, tire change, lockout service, winching and gas delivery) at a set price per service call.
Based on TPG's February 2025 valuation of Ultimate Rewards points at 2.05 cents each, you can get more than double the return when you redeem Ultimate Rewards points for travel instead of cash back.
Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening, plus receive a $300 credit to use on hotel and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel in the first cardholder year. Based on TPG's September 2026 valuations, this bonus is worth $1,688 (including the credit).
THE POINTS GUY
Rewards rates:
5 miles per dollar spent on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
2 miles per dollar spent on every other purchase
Roadside benefit: Roadside dispatch provides access to select roadside services at a set price per service call. This benefit is only available to accounts approved for the Visa Signature card. Terms apply.
Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
THE POINTS GUY
Rewards rates:
2 points per dollar spent on travel and dining
1.5 points per dollar spent on all other purchases
Roadside benefit: Roadside dispatch provides access to select roadside services at a set price per service call.
Annual fee: $95
The Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card is one of the highest-earning cash back credit cards if you belong to the highest tier of the BofA Rewards™ program. At this tier, you’ll get a 75% rewards bonus on the points earned by the Premium Rewards card. So, you’d earn 3.5 points per dollar spent on travel and dining and 2.625 points per dollar spent on everything else.
Welcome bonus: Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first three months from account opening. Per TPG's February 2025 valuations, this bonus is worth up to $320 when redeemed for travel.
THE POINTS GUY
Rewards rates:
3 points per dollar spent on restaurant purchases, takeout, catering, food delivery services, travel, gas stations and electric vehicle charging stations, transit, eligible streaming services and phone plans
1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Roadside benefit: Roadside dispatch provides access to select roadside services at a set price per service call.
Annual fee: $0
The Wells Fargo Autograph Card is a solid option for earning points and making straightforward redemptions toward travel. The card comes with roadside dispatch services and cellular telephone protection, which are good perks for a card that doesn't charge an annual fee.
Roadside assistance with the Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Chase Sapphire Reserve provides roadside assistance when you’re stranded away from home in the U.S. or Canada with a roadside emergency. Call Cross Country Motor Club at 1-866-860-7978 for assistance. You’ll be covered up to $50 per service event (up to four events each year) when using this service.
The coverage is available when traveling away from home and driving a vehicle you own, being leased or being furnished to you by the owner. Although the guide to benefits notes that you must be “away from home,” the most recent Chase Sapphire Reserve guide to benefits doesn’t define a required distance away from home.
GENERAL_BOJANSTORY/GETTY IMAGES
Coverage includes jump-start, tire changing (if you have a good, inflated spare), fuel delivery (up to two gallons), towing (up to $50), standard winching and lockout services (up to $50; does not include key replacement).
Self-propelled, four-wheel vehicles designed, licensed and used for private on-road transportation — as well as trucks with a carrying capacity of up to 2,000 pounds — are covered. Commercial vehicles, however, are not covered.
Although roadside assistance is no longer a benefit on most Citi and American Express cards, some other cards still offer roadside assistance as a benefit. However, many only help with arranging services that you need to pay for yourself.
OSCAR WONG/GETTY IMAGES
This benefit can still be valuable since it saves you from searching for a provider on your own. But, you might end up with a hefty bill.
To determine whether your card provides roadside benefits, check your guide to benefits or call the number on the back of your card.
How does credit card roadside assistance compare to AAA?
If you have a AAA membership for the discounts and benefits, especially at places like hotels and amusement parks, it may be worth keeping. But if you typically call AAA for roadside assistance and this is the only reason you're a AAA member, you might be better off replacing that membership with a credit card that offers roadside assistance.
This is especially true if you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve, which offers complimentary roadside assistance up to $50 four times each year.
EMS FORSTER PRODUCTIONS/GETTY IMAGES
Some other credit cards — including all Visa cards — provide paid access to roadside assistance. This access may be adequate if you don’t utilize the benefit too frequently. Just remember that the roadside assistance benefit supplied by some credit cards technically requires you to be traveling away from home. So, the benefit might not apply if your car battery goes dead in your driveway.
Roadside assistance, like travel insurance, is a benefit that’s easy to forget about because it’s one you hope never to need. You likely won’t apply for new cards solely based on roadside benefits. But, it’s worth figuring out if any of your current cards offer roadside assistance benefits.
After all, it’s always good to know who to call for the cheapest and fastest fix if you need roadside assistance.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
For rates and fees of the Wells Fargo Autograph, click .
