Roadside help written into your auto policy.
Towing and road service added to your car insurance, compared with the auto club or other roadside plan you may already pay for.
Quick answer Roadside assistance coverage, called towing and road service on an auto policy, includes a tow and labor at the scene when your car is disabled, up to the limit the policy sets, often per tow.
- The California Department of Insurance lists towing and road service as an optional extra on an auto policy, so it isn't included unless you chose it.
- The roadside endorsement on an auto policy spells out what counts as labor, so read it before relying on it.
- Roadside coverage doesn't pay for a rental car; rental reimbursement is a separate add-on that helps pay for a rental while your car is repaired after a covered accident.
- Towing and labor coverage pays up to a limit, often set per tow, and any cost above that limit is yours to pay.
- An auto club membership may already include towing, so compare it with your auto policy's declarations page to avoid paying for roadside help twice.
By Sam Alishahi · CA Insurance License #4348151 · Reviewed October 2026 · How this page is researched
An add-on, not part of the basics
Towing and road service is an optional add-on to a personal auto policy. It pays for a tow and labor at the scene when your car is disabled, up to the limit the policy sets, often stated per tow. The California Department of Insurance lists it next to rental reimbursement as an extra you can buy, so it isn't there unless you chose it.
If you belong to an auto club, you may already have roadside help, and paying for it twice adds up. I check what your current policy and memberships include, then quote your auto policy with and without towing and road service so you can see the difference in dollars.
- TowingA tow when the car can't be driven, up to the policy's limit.
- Labor at the sceneWork done where the car broke down, as the endorsement defines it.
- Rental reimbursementA separate add-on that helps pay for a rental while your car is repaired after a covered accident.
- Auto clubA membership you may already have. Check it before adding towing to your policy.
What underwriters will ask
Having these ready means I can go to market on the first call. The quote form asks for the same things, and anything you don’t know yet can wait.
- Vehicles: year, make and model of each car.
- Current policy: the declarations page showing which add-ons you already carry.
- Memberships: any auto club or other roadside plan you pay for.
- Drivers: everyone in the household who drives.
- Use: commuting distance, pleasure or business.
- Wish list: towing, rental reimbursement or both.
Roadside assistance coverage, answered
Is roadside assistance included in car insurance?
Not automatically. The California Department of Insurance lists towing and road service as an optional coverage you can add to an auto policy, along with rental reimbursement. Your declarations page shows whether you have it.
What's the difference between roadside coverage and an auto club?
Roadside coverage is part of your insurance policy and pays up to the limit it states. An auto club is a separate membership. If you already belong to one, you may already have towing, so check before adding it to your policy.
Is there a limit on towing?
Yes. Towing and labor coverage pays up to a limit, often set per tow, and anything above it is yours to pay. The limit is in the policy.
Does roadside coverage pay for a rental car?
No. That's rental reimbursement, a separate add-on that helps pay for a rental while your car is repaired after a covered accident.
What does towing and labor pay for?
The cost of a tow and labor at the scene when your car is disabled, up to the policy limit. The endorsement spells out what counts as labor, so read it before you rely on it.
How do I know if I'm paying for roadside help twice?
Compare your declarations page with any auto club membership or other roadside plan you pay for. If both include towing, you may be able to drop one. I'll line them up for you.
Do you offer roadside assistance coverage outside California?
Yes. Clients across the country send the same quote form. California policies are placed directly; outside California the request is handled together with a partner agency in your state, and the shopping across carriers works the same way. Rules, minimums and markets differ by state — see insurance requirements by state.
Send your declarations page. I'll check the add-ons.
Your current auto policy and any auto club card are enough to start.
Alishahi Insurance · Saman Alishahi, independent insurance broker, California License #4348151. General information, not a quote or a promise of coverage; coverage depends on underwriting and the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy actually issued.
Tell me how to reach you. I’ll take it from there.
Takes about 30 seconds. I review every request personally and call you back, usually the same day.
(424) 552-4545Answered 24/7 · CA License #4348151
Get a reminder before your renewal.
Tell me when your policy renews and I’ll email you about six weeks before, when it’s worth comparing. One email, no calls.