Car insurance can cover towing, but which coverage applies, and whether you pay a deductible, depends on why your car needs a tow. Roadside assistance coverage pays for towing after a breakdown, dead battery or flat tire. Comprehensive or collision coverage pays for towing after a covered accident or damage event, but only after you meet your deductible.
Does Car Insurance Cover Towing?
Updated: February 25, 2026
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Towing Coverage: Key Takeaways
Roadside assistance, an optional add-on available from most insurers for $5 to $15 per month, covers towing after breakdowns regardless of fault.
Comprehensive or collision coverage pays for towing only after a covered accident or qualifying incident, and your deductible (typically $500 to $1,000) applies.
Auto club memberships like AAA offer towing as a standalone benefit starting at about $50 per year, with no deductible and no claim filed against your insurance.
When Car Insurance Covers Towing
MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP
"Most drivers assume their policy automatically includes towing, but standard liability-only and even full coverage policies don't include roadside assistance. You need to add it separately, or your only option for non-accident towing is to pay out of pocket or use an auto club membership."
- Mark Fitzpatrick, Licensed Insurance Agent
- Your car breaks down and you have roadside assistance coverage
- Your car is damaged in an accident covered by collision coverage
- A covered peril under comprehensive (like a tree falling on your car) leaves it undrivable
- Your car is towed from an accident scene to a repair shop
- Your car breaks down and you don't have roadside assistance
- You have liability-only coverage (it covers damage you cause to others, not your own vehicle or towing)
- The tow is for routine maintenance or an elective vehicle move
- Your car is impounded
Towing IS typically covered when:
Towing is NOT typically covered when:
Roadside Assistance vs. Other Coverage: Which One Applies?
The most important towing decision you'll make is whether to add roadside assistance or rely on your existing comprehensive and collision coverage, because they serve different situations. Roadside assistance covers breakdowns. As part of a full coverage policy, comprehensive and collision cover accidents and damage events.
Roadside assistance is typically sold as an add-on endorsement for $5 to $15 per month. It covers towing, flat tire changes, jump starts, lockout service and fuel delivery, with no deductible. Many insurers, including State Farm, GEICO, Progressive and Allstate, offer roadside assistance as an add-on. Some bundle it into higher-tier plans.
Comprehensive and collision coverage will pay for towing only when connected to a covered claim. If a flood damages your car (comprehensive) or another driver hits it (collision), the tow to your repair shop is typically included in the claim. But your deductible still applies to the entire claim, not just the tow. If the tow costs $150 and your deductible is $500, the tow cost is rolled into the claim and you'll pay your deductible first regardless.
Do You Pay a Deductible for Towing?
Whether you pay a deductible for towing depends entirely on which type of coverage handles the bill. Roadside assistance coverage has no deductible. You call, they send a tow truck, and you pay nothing out of pocket (up to any per-incident limits in your policy). Comprehensive and collision coverage always carry a deductible, and towing costs are part of the broader claim, not a separate charge.
Most comprehensive and collision deductibles run $500 to $1,000. That means even if towing is the only reason you're filing, you'll owe your full deductible before your insurer covers the rest of the repair. If towing costs $100 and your deductible is $500, you pay the full $100 because you haven't met your deductible, so filing a claim would be pointless.
HOW TO FIND YOUR DEDUCTIBLE
To find your deductible, check your policy's declarations page, which lists your deductible amount for both comprehensive and collision separately. Your insurer's app or online account also shows this. Deductibles for roadside assistance, if your policy has one, are typically waived or set at $0.
How to Get Your Car Towed With Insurance
Towing claims work differently depending on whether you're using roadside assistance or filing under comprehensive or collision. Here's how to handle each scenario efficiently.
For roadside assistance:
1. Call your insurer's roadside assistance line or open their app. Most have 24/7 dispatch and GPS-based truck routing.
2. Confirm your coverage limits before the truck arrives. Most policies cap reimbursement at a set number of miles (commonly 15 to 100 miles). Beyond that, you pay the difference.
3. If you use a third-party tow company and your insurer doesn't dispatch directly, keep the receipt for reimbursement and upload it through your insurer's app or submit within the window specified in your policy (usually 30 to 90 days).
4. Ask your insurer if the incident counts as a "use" against any annual limits on roadside calls, since some policies cap coverage at three or four uses per year.
For accident-related towing under comprehensive or collision:
1. Report the claim immediately. Don't wait. Many insurers have time limits for reporting, and delays can complicate reimbursement for towing and storage fees.
2. Get the tow company's invoice and the address where your car is being stored. Storage fees add up fast, so ask your insurer how long they'll cover storage (if at all) before the car must be moved.
3. Ask your adjuster explicitly to include the tow in the claim before it's closed. Once a claim settles, it's harder to add costs.
4. If your car was towed to a shop you didn't choose, you may have the right to move it to a preferred shop. Ask your insurer first, since a second tow adds cost that may or may not be covered.
MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP
One towing-specific detail most drivers miss: storage fees at a tow yard can exceed $50 to $100 per day and aren't always covered by your policy. If your car is towed after an accident, call your insurer the same day to ask about storage coverage and get your vehicle released or transferred quickly.
Is Roadside Assistance Considered a Claim?
Using roadside assistance is not considered an insurance claim in the traditional sense. Most insurers categorize roadside assistance calls as service dispatches rather than loss events, so they don't appear on your claims history the way a collision or comprehensive claim would. That means calling for a tow, a jump start or a lockout won't trigger a rate increase at renewal, and it won't count against you when you shop for coverage with another insurer.
The exception worth knowing: some policies limit the number of roadside calls per year (often three or four), and exceeding that threshold can result in the add-on being dropped from your policy or flagged at renewal. Check your policy's roadside assistance terms to confirm your annual limit before you need it.
Auto Insurance and Towing Coverage: Bottom Line
Car insurance covers towing only when you have the right coverage type for the situation: roadside assistance for breakdowns or comprehensive and collision for accident-related tows (with your deductible applying). For most drivers, adding roadside assistance for $5 to $15 per month is the most cost-effective way to cover routine towing without filing a claim or paying out of pocket. Check your policy's declarations page to confirm what you have, and compare roadside add-ons from your current insurer against AAA membership if you want broader coverage.
Towing Coverage: FAQ
Does liability-only car insurance cover towing?
No. Liability insurance covers damage you cause to other people and their property. It doesn't cover your own vehicle, towing or roadside services. If you have liability-only coverage and your car breaks down, you'll pay for the tow yourself unless you have a separate roadside assistance plan or auto club membership like AAA.
Does car insurance cover towing after a flat tire?
Roadside assistance coverage handles towing after a flat tire if you can't change it yourself or don't have a spare. Standard comprehensive or collision coverage won't pay for a flat tire tow unless it's connected to a covered accident. Some roadside assistance plans will change the tire on-site instead of towing, which is faster and doesn't count as a separate service call.
Is there a mileage limit on towing coverage?
Yes, most roadside assistance policies cap towing at a set number of miles, commonly 15, 50 or 100 miles depending on your plan. State Farm's roadside assistance, for example, reimburses towing to the nearest qualified repair facility. If the tow exceeds your mileage limit, you pay the difference. AAA's Basic plan covers up to five miles. Its Plus and Premier tiers cover 100 miles and more.
Does car insurance cover towing fees if my car is impounded?
No. Standard car insurance policies exclude impound towing and storage fees. If your car is towed by law enforcement for a traffic violation, parking infraction or other legal reason, you'll pay those costs out of pocket. Some credit cards with travel benefits include impound assistance reimbursement. Check your card benefits before assuming you have no options.
Does GEICO, State Farm or Progressive include roadside assistance automatically?
None of the major insurers include roadside assistance automatically with standard policies. It's an optional add-on you purchase separately. GEICO's Emergency Road Service can be added for about $14 per year. State Farm's Emergency Road Service is a few dollars per month. Progressive's Roadside Assistance is also an optional endorsement. Prices vary by state, so check your specific policy or get a quote from your insurer directly.
Is AAA membership better than insurer roadside assistance for towing?
It depends on how far you drive and how often you might need a tow. AAA Basic membership starts at about $50 to $70 per year and covers up to five miles of towing, though Plus and Premier tiers go up to 100 miles and beyond for $100 to $130 annually. Insurer roadside assistance typically costs less per year but may offer shorter towing distances. AAA also covers non-registered vehicles and rental cars, which insurer roadside assistance typically doesn't. If you frequently drive long distances or in rural areas, AAA's higher tiers offer more protection per dollar.
Methodology
MoneyGeek's analysis of towing coverage examined policy documents, coverage terms and add-on pricing from major U.S. insurers including GEICO, State Farm, Progressive, Allstate and Farmers, as well as auto club membership options from AAA. We reviewed roadside assistance add-on pricing, mileage caps and per-incident limits to understand how coverage varies across providers.
Towing cost estimates are based on industry data from the American Automobile Association and insurer claims data. The per-mile tow rate range of $2 to $4 reflects national averages and will vary by region, vehicle type and tow company. Deductible ranges cited ($500 to $1,000) represent the most common choices among U.S. policyholders, per industry data. Your actual deductible may be lower or higher.
Coverage terms, pricing and policy availability change regularly. Confirm current details directly with your insurer or agent before making coverage decisions.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research for insurance shoppers. His insights have been featured in CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.