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 roadside assistance credit cards
Best for roadside coverage
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a standout premium credit card with plenty of luxury perks and statement credits to justify its annual fee.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority PassTM Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests.
- Up to $300 in annual travel credit each account anniversary year
- You can transfer rewards to all of Chase's travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Top-tier travel and shopping protections
- High annual fee
- Requires a high credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 150,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get $3,000 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase TravelSM, including The EditSM and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority PassTM Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music — all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 — a value of $288 annually
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
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
The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is a flat-rate cash-back card with a strong intro-APR offer for purchases.
- Intro APR for purchases
- Valuable welcome bonus
- No annual fee
- You can't transfer rewards to travel partners without pairing it with another Chase card
- Has a foreign transaction fee
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
- No Annual Fee
- Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
- Earn 5% total cash back on Lyft rides through 9/30/27.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fee
3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
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 card members can take advantage of an introductory APR offer.
Best for $0 annual fee
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a no-annual-fee card that earns generous cash-back on everyday purchases and a lucrative welcome bonus.
- Users get a high rewards rate and strong welcome bonus
- Purchases and balance transfers get long intro APR
- No annual fee
- Travelers face a foreign transaction fee
- Few rewarding ongoing benefits
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can use points to redeem for cash through an account statement credit or an electronic deposit into an eligible Chase account located in the United States!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.24% - 27.74%.
- No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
- Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Intro fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, in the first 60 days. 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
Who's this for? The Chase Freedom Unlimited® has a $0 annual fee and earns at least 1.5% cash back on every purchase, 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 an introductory APR for purchases and balance transfers.
Best for low credit scores
The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card can help you build, or rebuild, your credit because you can be approved with no credit or bad credit.
- No annual fee
- Low minimum refundable security deposit starting at $49 to get a $200 initial credit line
- No rewards on purchases
- No welcome offer
- High APR
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- No annual or hidden fees. See if you're approved in seconds
- Building your credit? Using the Capital One Platinum Secured card responsibly could help
- Put down a refundable security deposit starting at $49 to get at least a $200 initial credit line
- You could earn back your security deposit as a statement credit when you use your card responsibly, like making payments on time
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months with no additional deposit needed
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It's free for everyone
- Get access to your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with online banking to access your account from your desktop or smartphone, with Capital One's mobile app
- Top rated mobile app
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
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
- 8x points on all purchases through Chase TravelSM, including The EditSM*
- 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct*
- 3x points on dining worldwide
- 1x points on all other purchases
*After the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
Welcome bonus
Earn 150,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual fee
$795
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 $120). Other perks include access to Sapphire airport lounges and a Priority Pass Select membership (valued at $469), unlocking access to 1,300+ 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.
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 September 2027
- 1.5% cash back on all other purchases
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
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 (see rates and fees) or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees), 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
- 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 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 a $250 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
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.
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.
