How to Get Roadside Assistance in Texas
While Texas offers free roadside assistance in certain areas, it’s still a good idea to pay for roadside assistance.
Written by Talullah Blanco
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
The state of Texas has free roadside assistance around the Austin and San Antonio metro area through TxDOT’s HERO program. But paying for roadside assistance through a
car insurance
company or roadside assistance club is still worth the cost. Roadside assistance companies offer valuable services such as jump starts, flat tire changes, towing, lockout assistance, and gas or oil delivery for drivers who break down. If you have roadside assistance, you’ll never be left stranded on the side of the road searching for “towing companies near me” and stuck paying per-mile rates. Let’s find the best roadside assistance in Texas instead!
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Every driver gets stranded on the road at one point or another. Vehicles breaking down is just a part of car ownership. That’s why it’s important to get roadside assistance through a club like AAA, your credit card, your insurance company, or your vehicle’s manufacturer. Whichever provider you choose, roadside assistance is usually relatively affordable and will cover you outside of the TxDOT HERO service range.
MORE: Why your car breaks down and how to avoid it
Roadside assistance clubs in Texas
AAA
is the most popular roadside assistance club across the nation, including Texas. While roadside assistance through an auto club like AAA or the National Automobile Club (NAC) is the most expensive option costing an average of $60 to $165 per year, the benefits could be worth the higher price
. Here are the benefits you’ll get with a basic AAA membership:
- Lockoutassistance
- Dead battery services
- Tire services
- Towing services up to seven miles 4 times per year
Opting for the most expensive plans will get you towing services up to 200 miles, free car rentals, and even trip interruption coverage–a benefit that reimburses you for nonrefundable travel expenses if your trip is cut short. A roadside assistance club is a great option for someone with a troublesome car or enough pocket change to cover the cost.
MORE: How to join AAA and make sure you have roadside assistance coverage
Manufacturers that offer roadside assistance
There’s a chance you have roadside assistance through your vehicle’s manufacturer if you’ve purchased a new car. Many automobile manufacturers offer roadside assistance to new car buyers for a short-term period including:
Credit card companies that offer roadside assistance
That’s right, you could have roadside assistance through your credit card company without even knowing it! Here are the major credit card companies that automatically provide roadside assistance benefits to their customers:
- Bank of America
- Capital One
- Chase
- Citi
- Wells Fargo
- U.S. Bank
If you have a credit card through your local credit union, you may have roadside assistance benefits too. All Visa credit cards provide roadside assistance for a fee and options vary for non-Visa card holders. You can check the terms of your credit card to find out what roadside assistance benefits you’re eligible for and how to access them.
MORE: 5 reasons you should consider an auto loan from a credit union
Insurance companies that offer roadside assistance
Getting roadside assistance through your car insurance provider is usually the easiest and cheapest option for most drivers, especially if you own a used car.
If you are a
full coverage
policyholder with a major car insurance company such as Nationwide, Progressive, GEICO, or State Farm, you can purchase roadside assistance for around $10 to $20 per year as an add-on benefit. Insurance companies usually refer to roadside assistance as “towing and labor coverage
” but you’ll get the same benefits: dead battery services, spare tire changes and tire repair, lockout assistance, fuel delivery
, and towing. Check with your insurance provider to find out if roadside assistance is available as an add-on coverage to your policy. The exact roadside assistance benefits included in coverage vary by provider, so it’s worth shopping around and comparing quotes from several different insurance companies (at least three to five!) to find the best option at the right price for you.
How to find free roadside assistance in Texas
The Texas Department of Transportation operates the Highway Emergency Response Operator (HERO) program, which offers free emergency roadside assistance to drivers on interstates throughout the
Austin
and San Antonio
metro area. The goal of HERO is to improve safety and traffic flow on 138 miles of
I-35, US 183, US 290, SH 71, and Loop 1
(MoPac) in the greater Austin area and 239 miles of San Antonio highway. Through the HERO program, drivers can call 512-974-HERO to get free roadside assistance in Austin or 210-732-HERO to request assistance in the greater San Antonio metro area.
HERO operators also known as HEROs offer these services:
- Clear roadways and restore normal traffic flow after an accident
- Emergency response services
- Assistance to stranded motorists
Operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, HERO provides drivers with assistance they need after an accident or incident. Whether you have a
flat tire
, run out of gas, need minor vehicle repairs or a jump start, HERO is there to help you out for free. However, Texas is a big state, and HERO's service range is limited to the greater metro areas of Austin and San Antonio. That’s why it’s a good idea to consider paying for additional roadside assistance coverage options for most Texas drivers.
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What is the phone number for AAA?
The roadside assistance number for AAA is (800) 222-4357 and can be called 24/7 for assistance as a member.
Does Texas have free roadside assistance?
Yes, Texas has free roadside assistance but the services are only available to drivers on interstates throughout the greater Austin and San Antonio metro areas.
