How to Get Roadside Assistance in Arizona
Arizona does offer some publicly-available roadside assistance services, but investing in a roadside assistance plan may be a good idea.
Written by Thidas Senanayaka
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
You can obtain roadside assistance services in Arizona either through your car insurance company or a roadside assistance club. There are some publicly available services that are free, though they are more limited than paid services and focus largely on rescuing stranded drivers.
Having the right
car insurance
is a good way to protect yourself in the case of an unforeseen collision or accident, but what happens if your car stops working in the middle of a drive, leaving you stranded? That’s where roadside assistance companies come in. They offer services like jump starts, tire changes, towing, and even fuel delivery. Read on to find out about how to get roadside assistance in Arizona.Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds (Title in payload)
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Generally speaking, there are quite a few options for roadside assistance: roadside assistance clubs like AAA, your vehicle manufacturer (if your car’s relatively new), and even your insurance company can provide the service via
towing and labor coverage
. These options are usually better than the (limited) public services offered by the Arizona Department of Public Safety and Department of Transportation.
Roadside assistance clubs in Arizona
You’ve probably already heard of AAA, also called the American Automobile Association. AAA is an auto club, similar to other companies like Better World Club and Good Sam.
An AAA membership will likely be the most expensive option for roadside assistance. For Example, AAA’s plans range from $60 a year to $120 a year in the Maricopa County area.
A basic AAA plan ($59.99 a year) can get you:
- Up to five miles of standard towing services
- Bicycle towing
- Battery services
- Emergency fuel delivery
Higher-tier plans can get you more benefits. The most comprehensive plan, for example, gets you towing benefits up to 200 miles, emergency fuel and fuel delivery, a one-day car rental included with tow, and worldwide travel accident insurance. You get the idea, if you like to cover all your bases, roadside assistance companies are the way to go.
MORE: How to join AAA and make sure you have roadside assistance coverage
Manufacturers that offer roadside assistance
Some auto manufacturers offer complimentary roadside assistance with every new car they sell. Different manufacturers have different policies, though, and their coverage may depend on the specific model you choose. Here are some examples:
Credit card companies that offer roadside assistance
Credit card companies also offer roadside assistance services. Here’s a list of credit card providers that offer roadside assistance services, albeit some may have extra fees:
- Bank of America
- Capital One
- Chase
- Citi
- Wells Fargo
- U.S. Bank
All Visa credit cards offer Roadside Dispatch services, though you’ll have to pay a fee to get standard towing, tire changing, and fuel delivery services, among other things. For non-Visa cards like MasterCard, the options will vary depending on what you carry, so always check the terms and conditions and make sure you know what you’re entitled to.
MORE: Why your car breaks down (and how to avoid it)
Insurance companies that offer roadside assistance
A common—and affordable—source of roadside assistance services is actually provided by your insurance company. This might be an excellent option for those of you who don’t want to spend a lot for a club membership or don’t own a brand-new car.
Some examples of car insurance companies offering roadside assistance as an add-on benefit are
Nationwide
, Allstate
, and Progressive
. Your rate will often average between $10 and $20 a year for drivers with full coverage.For example, Nationwide has a base rate of $22 and offers a 15-mile towing limit. Benefits won’t be as comprehensive as something offered by AAA, but the insurance coverage comes at a good value.
How to find free roadside assistance in Arizona
There are a few options in Arizona for free emergency roadside assistance services, especially if you’re stranded in the middle of the road after a breakdown. The Arizona Department of Transportation’s (ADOT) Equipment Services division is a full-service professional fleet operation that focuses on maintenance and repairs. Call the
24-hour hotline
at 877.800.8520 for help getting your vehicle towed to the nearest EQS repair shop. The state’s department of Public Safety (AZDPS) also has a similar
Roadside Motorist Assistance
(RMA) program. It’s staffed by civilian Roadside Motorist Assistants with specialized training that can perform minor repairs, tire/wheel changes, fuel delivery, give short rides off the highway, or call a tow service if needed. This service is intended for people stranded on highways. The Freeway Service Patrol program is a similar program jointly administered by the Maricopa Association of Governments, AZDPS, ADOT, and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Similar to the RMA program, it helps motorists stranded on freeways due to minor accidents or disabled vehicles.
AAA Arizona sponsors the program as well, which was first launched in 2000. Unlike the RMA, however, the service only covers the freeway system in Maricopa County.
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What is the phone number for AAA?
AAA’s roadside assistance number is (800) 222-4357. If you’re a AAA member, you can call 24/7 for assistance.
Does Arizona have free roadside assistance?
Yes, but the programs are largely public-safety focused. They don’t include the comprehensive services that you can expect from a roadside assistance club like AAA or an insurance provider’s plan.
