Car insurance with roadside assistance

There’s almost no experience more embarrassing or stressful than having your car break down during peak-hour traffic or having a blown tyre throw a wrench into your road trip plans. That’s where roadside assistance comes in. Let’s see what it’s all about and how to add it to your car insurance policy.

Roadside assistance is a service designed to assist you if you break down or run into similar trouble on the side of the road. While each policy might be slightly different, roadside assistance is there to:

• Tow your car to the nearest garage and pay for your taxi out of there.
• Charge a flat battery.
• Get your keys out of a locked car. 
• Change a flat tyre.
• Fill up your gas tank if you run out of fuel. 

If you find yourself in such a jam, you can ring your provider 24/7, and they’ll send out a crew to your location to offer the help you need.

Roadside assistance is built around the idea of a callout: if you’re stuck on the side of the road, you call them, they come out to help you out of a variety of jams. 

Here’s a breakdown of the main services, with examples of how policies may differ among providers, plus what to look for.

Callouts

This means someone coming to help you, distinct from the service they provide once there.Most roadside assistance plans include unlimited callouts under a fair-use policy, so you can get help whenever you need it. That said, if your callouts seem excessive or unreasonable, the provider might cut you off or start charging you for the callout.

• Unlimited callouts. Most plans let you call for help as often as needed, but some, like those bundled with Youi car insurance policies, limit the number of free callouts and charge a fee for additional callouts.
• Service charges. Once help arrives, services like changing your flat tyre to your spare or jump-starting your car are usually free, but you might have to pay for things like replacement parts or towing beyond the plan’s limits.

What to watch for: Check if your plan limits free callouts or charges extra after a certain number. Also, confirm if you’ll need to cover any additional costs for specific services.

Towing

Towing is one of the most important features of roadside assistance, but the specifics often depend on where your breakdown occurs.

• In metro areas, most plans will tow you up to a set distance, like 20 km.
• In regional areas, the limit is often longer—such as 50 km—but some providers, like NRMA, will tow you to the nearest country service centre regardless of the distance.
• In rural or remote areas, other providers may calculate towing based on a round-trip limit, like 50 km to and from the repairer.

What to watch for: Towing distances may be calculated differently (e.g., direct route vs. round trip). If you drive in rural areas, check whether the plan guarantees towing to a regional service centre or has strict kilometre limits.

Fuel delivery

If you run out of fuel, roadside assistance plans will come out to give you a top-up to help you get to the next servo - though how fuel is handled varies between providers.

• Many plans deliver a specific amount of fuel, such as 10 litres, or provide a dollar value, like $15 worth per call-out.
• Delivery itself is almost always free, but whether the fuel cost is covered depends on the plan—many include it, but some lower-tier plans may charge you for the fuel or set a yearly free limit, after which you may have to pay.
• For LPG or electric vehicles, providers typically offer towing to the nearest refuelling or charging station instead.

What to watch for: Some plans limit how often you can request fuel each year, while others reset the benefit per call-out. Always check whether the fuel itself is covered or if you’ll need to pay for it when it’s delivered.

Flat tyre assistance

Most plans offer help with flat tyres, whether that’s putting on your spare tyre for you, or helping get you to a tyre centre for a replacement.

• If you have a spare, they’ll typically replace the flat tyre for free.
• If you don’t have a spare, or if the tyre can’t be replaced on-site, they’ll tow your vehicle to the nearest tyre shop. Whether this towing is included, has distance limits, or incurs extra costs depends on your plan.
• You’ll be responsible for paying for a replacement tyre if needed.

What to watch for: Some vehicles may require specific tools, like locknut keys for anti-theft wheel nuts, which you’ll need to provide. Service may also be declined if the location is unsafe for a tyre change.

Battery assistance

Battery-related breakdowns are common, and most plans cover them, but the details can vary.

• Jump-starts are almost always included at no extra cost.
• If a replacement battery is needed, the cost is generally on you, though the provider may arrange the service and have it installed for you.

What to watch for: If the same battery issue happens repeatedly and hasn’t been fixed by a professional, some providers may charge for further call-outs. Clarify the policy if your battery is older or prone to issues.

Key and lock assistance

If you lock yourself out or lose your keys, roadside assistance can help, but the type of coverage varies.

• Many plans cover locksmith services up to a certain amount, such as $150.
• Alternatively, they may offer a taxi or courier to retrieve your spare key.

What to watch for: Some plans impose a yearly limit on lockout services, while others reset the benefit per call-out. If you frequently misplace keys, ensure you know how the plan handles repeat incidents.

Taxi or transport

If your vehicle is towed, many plans offer support to help you continue your journey.

• Some plans provide taxi or ride-share reimbursements, often up to a certain dollar amount per towing event.
• Premium plans may include car hire or even accommodation if you’re stranded far from home.

What to watch for: Transport and travel benefits may share a yearly cap with other entitlements, such as accommodation or rental cars. Regional and remote areas may have limited availability for these services, so check how they’re handled.

In the table below, you’ll find a range of popular car insurance providers that offer roadside assistance, either as part of their comprehensive car insurance policies or as separate products. These are just a few of the options on the market to demonstrate how details can vary between providers. Where a provider offers more than one level of cover, we endeavoured to choose the level that’s most comparable to others on the list.

Roadside assistance can be a lifesaver, but it’s not a cure-all. Here are some situations where it might not apply, or where you might have to pay extra:

❌ Larger vehicles. Trucks, motorhomes and oversized vehicles are often excluded from standard coverage. For these, you might need a specialised plan or pay extra. Same for trailers and caravans.

❌ Unsafe or off-road locations. Your membership may not cover you if you break down somewhere unsafe, like in floodwaters, areas that are difficult to access, or if you’re bogged in mud, sand or snow.

❌ Commercial use. Cars used for work like rideshare, deliveries and other business-related activities may require a business-specific plan.

❌ Unregistered or unroadworthy vehicles. Providers usually won’t assist vehicles that aren’t registered or roadworthy.

❌ Reckless behaviour. You probably won’t be covered if you’ve been drinking, using drugs or driving recklessly. 

Before you need help, double-check your roadside assistance terms and conditions. Knowing what’s covered (and what isn’t) can save you a lot of stress when you’re stranded in the middle of nowhere.

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If you’re after a new comprehensive car insurance policy, then get the wheels spinning on your search with a car insurance comparison. When you compare with Mozo, you’ll see a range of policies, an at-a-glance overview of each policy’s features, and if there are any discounts on offer. 

While you’re at it, check out the best car insurance in 2024 to learn about award-winning comprehensive car insurance policies that the Mozo experts thought were worth knowing about.