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Car warranties have 24/7 roadside assistance in most cases, but there can be limits to usage amount and frequency.
- Most car warranties have 24/7 roadside assistance, along with trip interruption and rental car benefits
- Roadside assistance usually covers towing, jump-starts, spare tire installation, fuel delivery, and lockout assistance
- Companies like Endurance offer roadside assistance plus extra benefits like tire replacement
Car trouble always seems to happen when you’re on the way to work or to take the kids to school. Sometimes it’s a simple but annoying problem, like you locked your keys in the car.
Roadside assistance through a car warranty can step in to dispatch a locksmith to your location. We’ll talk about what it covers and how to use it with a warranty company below.
Do Factory Car Warranties Have 24/7 Roadside Assistance?
Manufacturer car warranties usually include 24/7 roadside help along with warranty coverage. Some companies provide roadside coverage for the duration of the bumper-to-bumper warranty (which could last up to 5 years/60,000 miles). Others include it for the longer powertrain warranty (up to 10 years/100,000 miles, depending on the company).
Certified pre-owned coverage often mirrors new car protection, but with shorter durations and mileage limits. Car warranties usually transfer automatically, so you could have some roadside coverage if you bought a used car. Contact a dealer to be sure.
Do Extended Car Warranties Come With Roadside Assistance?
Most vehicle service contracts include 24/7 roadside assistance. This is true of many leading companies like Endurance, autopom!, and Toco. These plans may also allow more distance coverage for emergency towing than manufacturer programs.
Note that extended warranty companies dispatch a third-party roadside assistance provider to help. Reliable providers have nationwide coverage, but there may be situations where a provider can’t get to your location. If that’s the case, you can usually get reimbursement for using another roadside company.
Our Top Pick
After reviewing 20 companies, we’ve determined that Endurance is our preferred option for extended car warranties.
- Unlimited Miles for Cars Under 20 Years
- Maintenance Coverage Available
- Salvage or Rebuilt Cars Are Covered
- 24/7 Roadside Assistance
- Direct Administrator of Claims
5 Things a Warranty With 24/7 Roadside Assistance Covers
1. You Need a Tow
2. Your Car Battery Dies
Roadside assistance covers a jump start to get your car working again. You may be able to buy a new battery from the technician, but this cost won’t be covered.
Keep in mind this applies to standard 12-volt car batteries. If your EV runs out of battery, you don’t need a jump start but a tow to a charging station.
3. You Locked Your Keys In Your Car
4. You Get a Flat Tire
5. You Ran Out of Gas
Are There Limits to Roadside Coverage?
Roadside assistance programs limit the number of calls you can make in a period and the dollar amount covered per service. Here are a few roadside assistance limits for different extended warranty companies:
- Endurance: Limited to one service per 72 hours and three per year. Covers up to $150 per service call.
- Toco: Limited to one service per 72 hours. Towing covers up to 15 miles.
- Everything Breaks: Limited to one service per 72 hours. Covers up to $100 for towing.
Another thing to note is car warranty roadside assistance programs only cover the vehicle on your warranty contract. Standalone programs like AAA can cover whatever car you happen to be driving, but that’s not how car warranty roadside assistance benefits work.
Also, you’ll typically have shorter wait times if you call in an urban or suburban area compared to rural or remote locations where service provider networks are sparse. Urban areas typically enjoy faster response times and more service options, while rural service gaps may result in extended wait times or higher costs. Just be aware of this when you’re road tripping on Nevada’s lonely Highway 50.
How To Use Roadside Assistance From an Extended Warranty
Here’s how to use your roadside assistance benefit from a warranty plan:
- Find the roadside assistance provider phone number on your contract
- Give the representative your contract number and location
- You may be able to provide your VIN instead of a contract number
- Wait for the roadside assistance tech to arrive
- Pay any difference over the service allowance to the tech
Other Extended Warranty Benefits
Most extended auto warranty plans include trip interruption and rental car coverage along with roadside assistance. These three benefits are standard for the industry, though some providers might not cover all three.
Trip interruption reimburses you for food and lodging if you have a covered breakdown far from home. This usually requires a distance of 100 miles. Also, the benefit applies to overnight repairs up to a certain limit.
Rental car coverage reimburses you for a rental vehicle when your car is in the shop for an approved repair. This benefit comes with a dollar limit per day and per covered breakdown.
Endurance: Best Car Warranty With Roadside Assistance and More
Endurance is our top choice if you’re looking for the best auto warranty combined with roadside assistance and other benefits. The company offers affordable monthly warranty plans without hidden fees. Transparent warranty terms make it easy to know what’s covered, too.
Endurance’s plans combine breakdown coverage with multiple emergency services and perks. All plans come with 24/7 roadside assistance, rental car coverage, and trip interruption.
The company’s 24/7 roadside service operates through a nationwide network of qualified providers, so assistance is available wherever and whenever you need it. Endurance has a convenient “sign and drive” model, so you don’t pay out of pocket for services.
Endurance Elite Benefits
Besides roadside assistance, Endurance includes Elite Benefits free for one year with all contracts. These benefits go beyond standard warranty perks. You get:
- Up to $150 per tire for repair or replacement ($600 per year total) due to road hazards
- Key fob replacement up to $500 per incident if you destroy, damage, or lose it
- Windshield repair coverage up to $500 per claim
- Collision repair assistance up to $500 per accident
To claim these benefits, mail a paid receipt or work order to Endurance within 60 days.
Recap: Car Warranties With Roadside Assistance
Roadside Assistance and Car Warranty FAQ
Advertiser Disclosure: Consumer Review Center might earn compensation from the companies featured on this page. This compensation could affect the placement, order, and visibility of products, but it does not affect the recommendations made by the editorial team. Not every company, product, or offer has been reviewed.
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