How to Get Roadside Assistance in New Mexico
The state of New Mexico offers free roadside assistance for certain interstates—but paying for roadside assistance coverage may still be a good idea.
Written by Jason Tushinski
Reviewed by Amy Bobinger
Through its “Courtesy Patrol” service, the state of New Mexico offers free roadside assistance from Monday through Friday, 6 am to 6:45 pm, on interstate and expressway systems within the Albuquerque Metropolitan Area (AMA).
Roadside assistance providers offer services to drivers who’ve suffered a vehicle breakdown on the road, including tire changes, minor repairs, towing, emergency fuel deliveries, and more. With a roadside assistance plan in your back pocket, you won’t have to feverishly devise a survival plan if your car runs out of gas. And if you break down, you’ll have a way to get back home and figure out your
car repairs
. Keep reading to learn how to get free roadside assistance in
New Mexico
through the state’s Courtesy Patrol program—and reasons you might want to still include roadside assistance coverage on your car insurance
.How to get roadside assistance in New Mexico
Before you find yourself in a roadside pickle, it’s best to explore what your roadside assistance options are. You can get roadside assistance in several ways, like joining your local AAA club or motor club. Getting roadside assistance through your vehicle manufacturer, your credit card, or your insurance company are also easy options. Roadside assistance is a relatively cheap expense, and if you drive outside the
Albuquerque
area, you’ll likely benefit—Courtesy Patrol isn’t available outside the AMA.Roadside assistance clubs in New Mexico
AAA
is a popular pick for roadside assistance in New Mexico, and that shouldn't come as a surprise. While roadside assistance might be more expensive with AAA—it has an average yearly price between $60 and $165 per year—it is the gold standard of roadside help, and the higher price is likely worth it
. Here’s what you get with a basic AAA membership:
- Dead battery jumpstarts
- Flat tire changes
- Car lockoutservices
- Up to 7 miles worth of towing services (four times yearly)
That’s just the basic plan—if you choose one of AAA’s upgraded plans, you’ll be entitled to services such as towing benefits up to 200 miles, free rental cars, and trip interruption coverage. If you want to ensure all your automotive ducks are in a row, splurging for a more expensive roadside plan is a good idea, especially if your car is prone to breakdowns.
MORE: How to join AAA and make sure you have roadside assistance coverage
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Manufacturers that offer roadside assistance
If you’ve recently driven off the lot in a new car, your vehicle manufacturer likely provides you with roadside assistance. Most major car makers offer roadside assistance plans on new vehicles for a limited time period:
Credit card companies that offer roadside assistance
If you’re a credit card user, you might have roadside assistance as part of your card’s plan. Many prominent credit card providers offer roadside assistance to customers, automatically. Some of those providers include:
- Bank of America
- Capital One
- Chase
- Citi
- Wells Fargo
- U.S. Bank
If you’ve got a Visa credit card, you’re set—all of them offer roadside assistance, but this perk comes with a fee. With non-Visa credit cards, offers of roadside assistance vary. Be sure to read the fine print of your credit card agreement to ensure you have access to roadside assistance and, if so, how to access it when in need.
MORE: Why your car breaks down and how to avoid it
Insurance companies that offer roadside assistance
If you don’t own a brand-new car and don’t have manufacturer-provided roadside assistance, you likely won’t have to look far for a roadside plan—your car insurance carrier likely offers it!
Most major car insurance providers, such as
Progressive
, Nationwide
, and AllState
, offer roadside assistance as an add-on option. It usually costs just $10 to $20 per year for drivers who purchase full coverage insurance. If you do buy a roadside assistance plan through your car insurance provider, it will likely be referred to as “towing and labor coverage
”, but the benefits are identical—towing, emergency fuel delivery
, flat tire changes, battery jumpstarts, etc.Ask your insurance company if roadside assistance is available to you as an add-on option. Also, don’t be afraid to compare roadside assistance plans from different providers—not only because different plans offer different benefits, but to ensure you get the best deal.
How to find free roadside assistance in New Mexico
Courtesy Patrol is a service offered by the New Mexico Department of Transportation that provides roadside assistance to drivers stranded on highways within the Albuquerque metro area (AMA) only, Monday to Friday from 6am to 6:45pm. Here is where Courtesy Patrol is offered within the AMA:
- I-25 from NM 500 (Rio Bravo Blvd) to NM 556 (Tramway Blvd)
- I-40 from 98th Street to NM 556
- NM 423 (Paseo Del Norte)—i-25 to NM 45 (Coors Blvd)
The following services are provided free of charge by Courtesy Patrol:
- Flat tire changes
- Battery jumpstarts
- Emergency deliveries of fuel, diesel, and water
- Debris clearing
- Traffic maintenance during incidents
Courtesy Patrol does not offer free towing services. If you need your car to be towed, Courtesy Patrol will assist you in finding a tow, but you’ll have to pay for it.
If you need help on a highway within the Albuquerque metro area, call Courtesy Patrol at 505-242-COPS (2677).
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What is the phone number for AAA?
If you’re a AAA member and you need roadside assistance in New Mexico, call (800) 222-4357. You’ll have access to 24/7 help.
Does New Mexico have free roadside assistance?
Yes, Courtesy Patrol offers free roadside assistance to New Mexico drivers, but only on highways within the Albuquerque metro area. Do know, you’ll likely have access to more services if you buy a roadside assistance plan from a provider such as AAA.
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