When you're stranded on the side of a road with a dead battery or flat tire, your credit card may be able to help. Many consumer and business credit cards have roadside assistance benefits that can help you arrange the services you need. But this perk isn't available with all cards and the cost of the service varies.
CNBC Select reviewed many of the most popular credit cards to find the top credit cards with roadside assistance for various needs. (See our methodology for information on how we choose the top credit cards with roadside assistance).
Best for roadside coverage
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Rewards
Earn 5X total points on flights and 10X total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3X points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases plus, 10X points on Lyft rides through March 2025
Welcome bonus
Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Annual fee
$550
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
22.49% - 29.49% variable
Balance transfer fee
5%, minimum $5
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Excellent
Terms apply.
Read our Chase Sapphire Reserve® review.
Pros
- $300 annual travel credit for travel purchases
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit up to $100 every four years
- Priority Pass™ Select lounge access at 1,000+ VIP lounges in over 500 cities worldwide
- Points are worth 50% more when redeemed for travel via Chase Travel℠
- Special benefits at The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection
- Complimentary year of Lyft Pink membership
Cons
- High annual fee, but it can be offset by taking advantage of all the card’s perks
- No introductory APR
- Estimated rewards earned after 1 year: $1,469
- Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $3,346
Rewards totals incorporate the points earned from the welcome bonus
Who's this for? The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a top card for premium benefits and travel, and its roadside assistance benefits are also notably better than what's available with many other credit cards.
Roadside assistance benefits: According to the Chase Sapphire Reserve benefits guide, cardholders are covered by the card's roadside assistance benefit whenever they are driving a vehicle they own or lease, as well as cars "furnished to you by the owner," which includes rental cars.
Cardholders are covered for up to $50 per event, up to four times per year — just call Cross Country Motor Club at 1-866-860-7978 to use this service. Services covered include:
- Towing
- Tire change (must provide your own functional spare tire)
- Jump-start
- Fuel delivery (up to two gallons of gas)
- Standard winching
- Lockout service
Other standout benefits: Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders receive an annual travel credit of up to $300 each year. They also get a complimentary Priority Pass airport lounge membership, as well as comprehensive travel and purchase protections, such as primary rental car insurance and trip delay reimbursement.
Best for small businesses
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Rewards
Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
Welcome bonus
Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% for the first 12 months from account opening on purchases; N/A for balance transfers
Regular APR
18.49% - 24.49% variable
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fee
3%
Credit needed
Good/Excellent
Terms apply.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Free employee cards
- Simple cash-back program
- Special financing offer for purchases
Cons
- 3% fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
Who's this for? The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is a powerful $0-annual-fee business credit card. It earns a minimum of 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
Roadside assistance benefits: The Ink Business Unlimited features Roadside Dispatch as a part of its Visa Signature Business benefits. This perk covers services such as:
- Towing
- Fuel delivery
- Jump-start
- Tire change
- Lockout service
- Winching
For assistance call 1-800-847-2869. Fees apply and are billed directly to your card.
Other standout benefits: New cardmembers can take advantage of a 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases (after that, an 18.49%–24.49% variable APR applies)
Best for $0 annual fee
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Rewards
Enjoy 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; and 3% cash back on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
Welcome bonus
INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% for the first 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers
Regular APR
20.49% - 29.24% variable
Balance transfer fee
Intro fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that, either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
Member FDIC. Terms apply.
Read our Chase Freedom Unlimited® review.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Rewards can be transferred to a Chase Ultimate Rewards card
- Generous welcome bonus
Cons
- 3% fee charged on foreign transactions
Who's this for? The Chase Freedom Unlimited® has a $0 annual fee and earns at least 1.5% cash back on every purchase ( 3% cash back on up to $20,000 spent in combined categories in the first year; then an unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases), making it an excellent choice for anyone who doesn't want to overthink their credit card strategy.
Roadside assistance benefits: Freedom Unlimited cardholders have access to a 24/7 pay-per-use roadside assistance service through Visa. For a pre-negotiated fee, you can get:
- Fuel delivery (up to five gallons)
- Tire change (must have a replacement tire)
- Standard winching
- Standard towing (up to five miles, you pay for additional miles)
- Jump-start
- Lockout service
Call 1-800-847-2869 when you need to use your roadside assistance benefit.
Other standout benefits: New card members can take advantage of 0% intro APR for purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months (then a variable 20.49%-29.24% applies; a balance transfer fee of the greater of 3% of the amount transferred or $5 applies to transfers made within the first 60 days of account opening).
Best for low credit scores
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
Rewards
None
Welcome bonus
No current offer
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
N/A for purchases and balance transfers
Regular APR
29.99% variable
Balance transfer fee
$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
No credit history
Terms apply.
Pros
- No annual fee
- $49, $99 or $200 refundable deposit
- No fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
Cons
- High variable APR
- No rewards program
Who's this for? As a secured credit card, the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card is ideal for anyone with weak credit or a thin credit history who might not get approved for a traditional, unsecured credit card.
Roadside assistance benefits: The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card offers roadside assistance as part of its World Mastercard suite of benefits.
The Master RoadAssist® Roadside Service perk covers travel in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. You'll be charged a pre-negotiated fee for services such as jump-starting, towing, tire change and fuel delivery.
These emergency services aren't available in off-road areas and for certain vehicles, such as campers. When you need roadside assistance, call 1-888-531-4227.
Other standout benefits: This card requires a minimum deposit as low as $49, $99 or $200 upfront refundable deposit based on your creditworthiness, but regardless of which deposit amount you qualify for, you'll still receive the same $200 credit limit.
More on our top credit cards for roadside assistance
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
The top-tier protections and luxury benefits offered by the Chase Sapphire Reserve go far beyond roadside assistance, making this a go-to option if you value peace of mind and comfort.
Rewards
- 10X total points per dollar on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel℠*
- 10X points per dollar on Lyft purchases through March 2025
- 5X total points per dollar on flights purchased through Chase Travel℠*
- 3X points per dollar on other travel*
- 3X points per dollar on dining
- 1X points per dollar on all other purchases
*After the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
Welcome bonus
Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual fee
$550
Notable perks
Each year, Chase Sapphire Reserve card members get up to $300 in travel credits, helping you earn back about half of the annual fee. And once every four years, card members can be reimbursed for a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee (worth up to $100). Other perks include access to Sapphire airport lounges and a Priority Pass Select membership (valued at $469), unlocking access to more than 1,400 airport lounges worldwide.
Cardholders also have access to other useful travel and purchase protections, including:
- Trip delay reimbursement
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
- Primary rental car collision coverage
- Lost luggage reimbursement
- Emergency evacuation and transportation insurance
- Purchase protection
- Return protection
- Extended warranty coverage
With the Sapphire Reserve, you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards® points to Chase's 14 airline and hotel partners. If you prefer to use Chase points to pay for the travel you book through the Chase travel portal, your points are worth 50% more (1.5 cents each).
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is an especially rewarding small business card, especially when you take into account its $0 annual fee and generous welcome bonus.
Rewards
- 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 2025
- 1.5% cash back on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn a $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
The Ink Business Unlimited allows you to add employee cards for no additional cost. This card has a handful of other benefits, including:
- Purchase protection
- Extended warranty
- Primary rental car theft and damage insurance
- Travel and emergency assistance services
Plus, if you have a Chase card that enables transfers, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, the rewards you earn with the Ink Business Unlimited can be pooled onto that card, giving you more redemption options.
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
The Chase Freedom Unlimited stands out because of its potentially valuable welcome bonus and generous cash-back rates.
Rewards
On up to $20,000 spent in the first year:
- 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel
- 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery service)
- 3% on all other purchases
After your first year or $20,000 spent:
- 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel
- 5% back on Lyft rides (through March 2025)
- 3% back at drugstores
- 3% back on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services)
- 1.5% on all other purchases.
Welcome bonus
Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
For a $0 annual fee card, the Chase Freedom Unlimited has a good amount of built-in protections. Cardholders get:
- Rental car collision coverage (secondary)
- Extended warranty protection
- Purchase protection
- Travel and emergency assistance services
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
Cardholders also enjoy discounts and special perks with partners like Lyft, Instacart and Gopuff.
The rewards you earn with the card are more valuable when paired with another Ultimate Rewards® card, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, as you'll be able to transfer your points to Chase's partner travel programs, such as United, Southwest and Hyatt.
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
If you're in the market for an easy-to-get credit card, the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card is a great option, and the refundable security deposit to open this card starts at only $49.
Rewards
None
Welcome bonus
None
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card has no foreign transaction fees and comes with a handful of *World Mastercard benefits, including:
- Rental car coverage (secondary)
- Price protection
- Purchase assurance
- Extended warranty
- Mastercard ID Theft Protection™
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
- Baggage delay insurance
- Travel accident insurance
Plus, Capital One automatically considers cardholders for a credit limit increase based on their payment history and creditworthiness in as little as six months.
AAA vs. credit card roadside assistance
The cost of a AAA membership (American Automobile Association) varies depending on where you live, and the roadside assistance benefits depend on what level of membership you pay for. The fee you're likely to pay when you use your credit card roadside assistance is often comparable to the cost of an annual Classic AAA membership for two drivers. However, a AAA card gets you access to discounts on hotels, rental cars, travel, entertainment and more.
If you don't plan on taking advantage of the other benefits available to AAA members, you may be better off saving the cost of a membership and relying solely on your credit card's roadside assistance. When you want additional protection for a long road trip, you always have the option of purchasing travel insurance with roadside service benefits.
FAQs
Does credit card roadside assistance apply for rental cars?
Credit card roadside assistance benefits generally extend to rental cards. However, whenever you have an issue with a rental car, you'll usually want to reach out to the car rental company first.
Do Discover credit cards have roadside assistance?
Discover credit cards do not offer roadside assistance services.
Do American Express cards have roadside assistance?
U.S.-issued American Express cards do not have roadside assistance benefits.
Bottom line
When your car breaks down, you may have access to help through your credit card. Not every card has roadside assistance benefits and the services provided by most cards come with a fee. So before you need to tow your car it's a good idea to read your credit card's benefits guide and decide whether other roadside services, such as AAA, are a better fit for you.
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Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best credit cards for roadside assistance.
Our methodology
To determine which credit cards are best for roadside assistance, CNBC Select analyzed the most popular credit cards available to U.S. consumers. We compared each card on a range of features in addition to the card's roadside assistance benefit, including the annual fee, rewards, welcome bonus, introductory and standard APR and foreign transaction fees, as well as factors such as required credit and customer reviews when available. We also considered additional perks, the application process and how easy it is to redeem points.
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*For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
