Roadside assistance has been a credit card perk for years, but you might wonder if it’s better than a membership with CAA or Canadian Tire. We spent time combing through cards that offer roadside assistance and compared the coverage – and we found that roadside assistance from your credit card is generally just as good (if not better!) than paid standard memberships.
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Best credit cards with free roadside assistance
| BMO Mastercard Basic Roadside Assistance | Canadian Tire’s Triangle World Elite Roadside Assistance | TD Auto Club Membership (standard) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calls per year | 4 | 5 | Unlimited |
| Towing distance | 10 km | 200 km | 200 km |
| Battery boost? | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Door unlock? | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Winch/pull out? | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Tire change? | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Gas delivery? | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Eligibility | Membership stays with the credit card holder | Membership stays with the credit card holder | Membership stays with the credit card holder |
| Apply now | BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard | Triangle World Elite Mastercard | TD Cash Back Visa Infinite Card |
BMO roadside assistance
BMO currently offers emergency roadside assistance on one of their top cards, the
$150 GeniusCash + Exclusive: Up to $480 bonus cash back + First year fee waived.*
GC: $150
With an annual fee of $120, this card has an impressive insurance package, premium perks like concierge service, and the rare free roadside assistance we’ve been talking about (worth an estimated $100/year).
BMO Roadside Assistance allows cardholders to call a 24-hour, toll-free number from anywhere in Canada and the continental United States. BMO will arrange for a pre-qualified towing professional to help you out of your sticky situation.
As long as your BMO account is in good standing, BMO will have you covered – whether you're in your vehicle, a rental, or even just a passenger in someone else’s car. With this complimentary roadside assistance package, you’ll be covered for:
- Battery boosts
- Emergency gas delivery (cardholder pays for gas)
- Flat tire change if a safe and inflated spare tire is available
- Lockout services
- Winch from mud/ditch/snow (up to 1 hour)
- Towing to the nearest qualified repair facility (up to 10 km)
TD roadside assistance
The
GC: $100
You’ll get 24/7 access to roadside assistance, including the following situations:
- Towing
- Battery boosts
- Gas delivery
- Tire changes
- Winching services
On top of this, the TD Auto Club Membership will keep you covered in the event of a car accident. If it's a local accident within 80 km of your home, you’ll receive $25 for personal transportation. If the accident happens further from home, TD offers some pretty extensive traffic accident emergency services that include:
- Up to $200 in accident towing
- Up to $200 in emergency transportation/rental car
- Up to $200 in emergency accommodations and meals
- Up to $200 in transportation to return to the repair site
- Up to $50 in personal necessities
TD has optional Auto Club memberships. Upgrade to a Deluxe and get extra benefits like no distance limitations for towing, personal necessities reimbursement, and expanded coverage.
As a primary cardholder, your TD Auto Club membership will cover you as long as your TD Cash Back Visa Infinite account is in good standing. For an additional fee, you can also get coverage for your partner and any unmarried children under the age of 22 who reside with you.
Canadian Tire roadside assistance
If you want a free alternative to Canadian Tire’s paid Silver Member Plan, the
Here are your plan options:
- Vehicle Plan: Allows service to 1 registered vehicle
- Member Plan: Brings the service to you regardless of which vehicle you’re in
With either plan, you’ll have complimentary access to 24-hour roadside assistance across Canada and the U.S. You’ll get a maximum of 5 calls per 12-month period and unlimited tows to any Canadian Tire Auto Service Centre within 200 km.
Cardholders are covered for:
- Battery boost
- Lockout services
- Winch from mud/ditch/snow
- Tire change
- Emergency fuel delivery (cardholder pays for gas)
- Towing to the destination of your choice within 200 km
If you’re interested in roadside assistance from Canadian Tire but can’t afford the $74.99/year fee for a Silver Membership, this is a valuable option to have in your back pocket.
CAA vs. Canadian Tire roadside assistance
Let’s jump to the paid roadside assistance services to see how they compare.
You've likely already heard of CAA as it's probably the best-known coverage plan. If you have a membership, you'll also get access to the CAA Dollars rewards program, where you can earn rewards (that never expire). You can use this program to save on purchases at select retailers, earn a percentage back, and redeem rewards for membership renewal (and upgrades, entertainment, or travel.
Let's see how the CAA program stacks up against the upgraded Canadian Tire roadside assistance plan.
| CAA Basic | Canadian Tire Silver Plan | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $90 | $74.99 |
| Calls per year | 4 | 3 |
| Towing | Up to 5 km | 10 km, increased to 25 km to Canadian Tire Auto Centres |
| Battery boost | ✅ | ✅ |
| Door unlock | ✅ Up to $50 cost | ✅ |
| Winch/pull out | ✅ One operator and truck | ✅ One operator and truck for 20 minutes |
| Tire change | ✅ Does not include repairs | ✅ Does not include repairs |
| Gas delivery | ✅ | ✅ |
| Eligibility | Membership stays with the registered person | Membership stays with the registered vehicle or any vehicle the member drives |
Both programs offer similar coverage, though CAA costs $15 per month more. Bear in mind that there are different levels of service and springing for the deluxe Canadian Tire option might be better for you.
That said, CAA membership comes with so many other discounts and services that can offset the cost difference.
Ultimately, you’ll have to decide if a paid membership that renews annually is worth it.
Credit card vs. paid roadside assistance
After analyzing the free roadside assistance from credit cards and the coverage you get from paid or upgraded memberships, it’s pretty clear that complimentary card roadside assistance offers more value.
In several cases, you’ll even get more extensive coverage or availability. The fact that you can earn rewards and other perks from the credit cards seals the deal.
That said, if you’re looking for premium roadside assistance that includes the greatest towing distances, free fuel delivery, and expanded coverage amounts, you’ll probably want to splurge on CAA’s premium plan.
You’ll have to do the math to see if the cost ($170 annually) makes sense for you.
Manufacturer roadside assistance
We’ll wrap up our comparisons with one final option, though it won’t apply to everyone. When you purchase a new vehicle, it typically comes with roadside assistance.
The length of coverage depends on the manufacturer and your warranty. For example, Ford's roadside assistance gives you free coverage as long as your vehicle is under warranty – typically anywhere from 2 to 5 years.
Each manufacturer is different so always check before assuming that your new ride has coverage.
FAQ
Does the Canadian Tire Mastercard include roadside assistance?
Yes, with the Triangle World Elite Mastercard, you can make up to 5 roadside assistance calls per year with towing up to 200 km. You’ll also get standard roadside assistance services like fuel delivery, winching, and battery jumps.
Does the Costco credit card offer roadside assistance?
No, Costco's roadside assistance plan was discontinued in March 2021. If you're looking for a paid roadside assistance plan, take a look at the options from CAA and Canadian Tire.
Does Visa have roadside assistance?
Yes, some Visa cards offer roadside assistance. The TD Cash Back Visa Infinite Card, for example, offers 24/7 roadside assistance with unlimited calls for help.
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