Free Roadside Assistance Programs Worth Having Before a Trip

Free roadside help worth having before a trip includes new-vehicle automaker coverage, free state highway patrols, and select card benefits. Roadside assistance means help for tows, jump-starts, lockouts, tire changes, and fuel delivery when a car is disabled. Check eligibility before you leave, because years, mileage, tow distance, and location limits decide what is actually free.

Save the right phone number and app access for your car and route.

Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on November 03, 2026.

Check automaker coverage first

Hyundai Motor America via its dealer Assurance page notes that new vehicles include 5 years and unlimited miles of 24-hour roadside help from the in-service date. That help includes towing to the nearest Hyundai dealer, jump-start, flat-tire change, lockout help, and fuel delivery through AAA contractors. Learn more in the Hyundai Assurance roadside page.

Toyota Support notes that ToyotaCare includes 2 years and unlimited miles of 24-hour help. Coverage extends to 3 years and unlimited miles for Mirai, Prius, and Toyota battery-electric and plug-in hybrid models. Covered help includes jump-start, lockout, fuel delivery, tire service, winching, and towing up to 25 miles in the continental U.S.

and Alaska. Chevrolet Certified Service notes 5 years or 60,000 miles of roadside help, whichever comes first, plus electric-vehicle tow coverage for 8 years or 100,000 miles. Advisors are available 24 hours at 1-800-243-8872 or through the myChevrolet app for towing to the closest dealer, unlock, spare-tire change, jump-start, and fuel delivery.

See the Chevrolet roadside assistance page. Ford Support notes complimentary coverage for 5 years or 60,000 miles from the warranty start date. It includes towing to the nearest Ford dealer, flat-tire help, jump-start, lockout, and fuel services.

Ford reserves the right to change program details.

Know free highway patrols on your route

Florida DOT notes that Road Rangers provide free highway help on patrol routes. Drivers can dial *347 for tire changes, jump-starts, minor repairs, clearing disabled vehicles and debris, emergency gasoline, diesel and water, and two free local calls. Details are in the Florida DOT Road Rangers page.

Texas DOT notes free Highway Emergency Response Operator patrols that clear minor crashes and help stranded motorists. Permian Basin drivers call 877-699-HERO and Austin-area drivers call 512-974-HERO. Coverage is limited to patrolled highways and hours, and the Texas program material notes a Summer 2025 start for the cited expansion.

These patrols help where they patrol, not everywhere. They do not replace automaker towing to a dealer. Check whether your travel roads are covered before you count on them.

Check what a card will pay for

Chase notes that Sapphire Reserve includes 24-hour roadside help in the U.S. and Canada. Covered events include towing, tire change with an inflated spare, battery boost, lockout, fuel delivery, and winching within 100 feet of pavement.

Coverage is up to $50 per event for four events per year, with amounts above $50 billed to the card. See the Chase roadside benefit guide. Visa benefits information via FNBO describes Roadside Dispatch for most Visa cardholders.

It is 24-hour pay-per-use access to a dispatcher who stays on the line while arranging a tow operator or locksmith. It provides access rather than free service, with a set per-call fee, so confirm that your card includes it. Card help has narrow limits.

The tire must have an inflated spare, winching must be near pavement, and yearly event counts apply. Carry payment for amounts above the benefit.

Know what is not included

Parts, repairs, and labor are not covered under the Hyundai plan described above. Fuel delivered is help, not always free fuel, and tows usually go to the nearest or closest dealer. Tow-distance caps, mileage caps, and model-year limits can end free coverage.

Pay-per-use dispatch is different from included assistance. You still pay the service charge plus the tow or locksmith charge. For automaker plans, service after the years-or-miles limit is not included.

Save numbers before you leave

Match help to your car and route, then store access where passengers can find it. Limits change, so read your warranty booklet, card terms, and state patrol page. Keep the in-service or warranty start date with your trip papers, since several plans run from that date.

• Save 1-800-243-7766 if you drive a covered Hyundai.
• Save 1-800-243-8872 and the myChevrolet app if you drive a covered Chevrolet.
• Save *347 if you will drive patrolled Florida highways.
• Save your card roadside number, plus 877-699-HERO for the Permian Basin or 512-974-HERO for the Austin area if those routes apply.
• Pack an inflated spare, charger, water, and proof of coverage.