Is Travelers’ Roadside Assistance Coverage Good?
Last Updated on January 11, 2026
Travelers roadside assistance is a low-cost add-on you can attach to an eligible auto policy to help with common roadside problems like towing, lockouts, flat tires, jump starts, and fuel delivery. It’s typically worth considering if you want insurer-backed dispatch and you don’t already have comparable coverage through a membership, warranty, or credit card benefit.
Travelers offers two tiers—Roadside Assistance and Premier Roadside Assistance—with the main difference being towing distance and extra benefits like trip interruption and personal property coverage.
Our Rating of Travelers Roadside Assistance Program
3.7
out of 5
★★★★☆
Summary
Bottom line: Travelers roadside assistance is a practical, low-friction policy add-on for routine roadside emergencies, with the best value depending on your towing-distance needs and whether you want Premier extras.
Both tiers include core services like towing, jump starts, lockout assistance, flat tire changes, fuel delivery (fuel cost not included), and winching, but the plan is not intended to cover repairs, replacement parts, or complicated recovery beyond covered scope. The standard tier is built around shorter tows, while Premier increases towing distance and adds benefits like trip interruption and personal property coverage, with availability and details varying by state and policy.
Best for
- Drivers who want insurer-dispatched roadside help tied to their Travelers auto policy
- Local drivers who mainly need short-distance towing and common on-site services
- Road trippers who want longer towing distance plus trip interruption benefits
Not ideal for
- Drivers who already have comparable roadside coverage through memberships, warranties, or credit cards
- People expecting roadside to pay for mechanical repairs, parts, or supplies like fuel and keys
- Drivers who want coverage that follows them across vehicles rather than being tied to the policy
- Our Rating of Travelers Roadside Assistance Program
- What Is Travelers Roadside Assistance?
- What Does Travelers Roadside Assistance Cover?
- What Travelers Roadside Assistance Does Not Cover
- Travelers Roadside Assistance: Standard vs. Premier
- Travelers Roadside Assistance Reviews and Customer Experience
- How to Contact Travelers Roadside Assistance
- Final Word on Travelers Roadside Assistance
- FAQs on Travelers Roadside Assistance
What Is Travelers Roadside Assistance?
Travelers roadside assistance is an optional coverage (often added as an endorsement) that helps pay for certain emergency services if your vehicle becomes disabled. It works like most emergency roadside assistance coverage: you request service, and a vendor network dispatches help based on the issue and your coverage limits.
Unlike a standalone membership program, insurer roadside assistance is usually tied to the vehicles and coverages listed on your policy. That means the best “fit” often depends on how many vehicles you insure, how far you typically drive, and whether you want longer towing distances or extra travel protections.
What Does Travelers Roadside Assistance Cover?
Travelers roadside assistance is designed for common roadside emergencies—not mechanical repairs. Travelers lists services like towing, jump starts, fuel delivery (fuel cost not included), flat tire changes, and lockout assistance as core features of both tiers. For an official overview, see Travelers’ coverage page: Emergency Roadside Assistance.
Here’s what is typically included with Travelers roadside assistance services and what is usually not included.
| Service | What Travelers Roadside Assistance Can Help With | What You May Still Pay For |
|---|---|---|
| Towing | Tow to a nearby repair facility (mileage limits apply based on your plan) | Any towing beyond the plan limit, storage fees, and repairs |
| Jump Start | Service call to help start a dead battery | Battery replacement cost and any related repairs |
| Flat Tire Change | Swap a flat with your spare (if a usable spare is available) | New tire purchase, wheel repair, or shop labor |
| Fuel Delivery | Delivery service to get you enough fuel to reach a station | The cost of the fuel itself and any additional service beyond the plan’s terms |
| Lockout Assistance | Help getting back into your vehicle if you’re locked out | Key replacement, lock replacement, or advanced key programming |
| Winching | Help pulling a stuck vehicle back onto a drivable surface (within plan terms) | Recovery beyond the covered scope or complicated extraction situations |
Travelers also notes that supplies, replacement parts, keys, fuel, other fluids, and repair-facility labor are typically not included, and mileage/distance limits apply. Coverage details can vary by state and policy, so it’s smart to confirm your exact benefits on your declarations page or with your agent.
What Travelers Roadside Assistance Does Not Cover
Travelers roadside assistance is meant to get you moving again or get your vehicle to a repair shop. It’s not a repair plan and it won’t pay for most underlying mechanical fixes.
- Repairs and replacement parts: If a component fails (starter, alternator, tire, etc.), roadside assistance typically covers the service call or tow—not the repair.
- Fuel, keys, and other supplies: Fuel delivery commonly covers the delivery service, but not the fuel itself. Key replacement and advanced key programming are usually not included.
- Towing beyond your plan limit: Any mileage beyond the plan’s towing distance is usually out of pocket.
- Electric vehicle charging: Travelers’ standard roadside description focuses on fuel delivery and towing. If you drive an EV, confirm whether your plan covers towing to a charging location and what limits apply.
- Alaska availability: Travelers indicates roadside assistance availability can be limited by state (for example, certain Travelers roadside assistance materials specify it is not offered in Alaska).
Quick tip: Before adding roadside assistance, check whether you already have similar coverage through a new-car warranty, a credit card benefit, or a bank “premium account.” Paying twice for the same benefit is one of the most common coverage mistakes.
Travelers Roadside Assistance: Standard vs. Premier
Travelers offers two levels of roadside coverage. Both tiers include the core roadside services (jump starts, fuel delivery, flat tire changes, lockouts, winching). The major differences are towing distance and whether you want travel/per-person extras.
| Feature | Roadside Assistance | Premier Roadside Assistance |
|---|---|---|
| Towing distance | Up to 15 miles | Up to 100 miles |
| Jump start, fuel delivery, flat tire change, lockout assistance, winching | Included | Included |
| Trip interruption reimbursement | Not included | Included (generally up to $200/day, up to $600 total, when eligible and sufficiently far from home) |
| Personal property coverage | Not included | Included (generally up to $500 for eligible theft/damage tied to a covered claim) |
If you regularly drive longer distances (or want extra protection for meals/lodging after a covered breakdown), Premier is usually the more practical tier. If you mainly want basic help for local driving, the standard option is often enough.
To understand how “trip interruption” is commonly handled across auto policies, see emergency travel expenses coverage. And for what insurers usually mean by personal belongings coverage, see personal effects coverage.
Travelers Roadside Assistance Reviews and Customer Experience
Roadside assistance satisfaction usually comes down to three things: how fast help arrives, whether the service provided matches the problem, and how clear the coverage limits are. Like most insurers, Travelers relies on contracted service providers, so response times can vary by time of day, weather, and local provider availability.
If you’re evaluating Travelers more broadly (beyond roadside assistance), it can help to review independent customer satisfaction studies. J.D. Power publishes annual regional results in its auto insurance study, and rankings can vary significantly by region and year. You can view the latest study release here: J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Auto Insurance Study.
One practical consideration: some insurers treat frequent roadside calls as claim activity for underwriting purposes, even when they don’t pay for repair damage. If you expect to use roadside assistance often (for example, an older vehicle or high-mileage driving), ask how usage is recorded and whether it can affect renewal pricing in your state.
Travelers vs. Standalone Roadside Memberships
Insurer roadside assistance is not the best fit for every driver. If you want higher towing distances, coverage that follows you across vehicles, or specialty vehicle options, a membership may be a better match.
| Option | Best For | Key Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| Travelers roadside assistance | Drivers who want a simple, policy-based add-on with core emergency services | Coverage is typically tied to your auto policy and has towing distance limits |
| AAA membership | Drivers who want a dedicated roadside program and higher-tier towing options | Annual membership cost is separate from your auto policy |
| Better World Club | Drivers comparing alternatives to the largest membership providers | Coverage terms and service networks still vary by location and plan level |
How to Contact Travelers Roadside Assistance
Travelers offers roadside assistance 24/7 for covered services. You can request help by phone or online (when available).
Phone: 800-252-4633 (800-CLAIM33). Travelers’ roadside assistance phone menu typically routes requests through the claims line (often by selecting the roadside option). You can also find additional contact guidance here: Travelers customer service contact number.
When you call, have your policy information ready and be prepared to share your location, the vehicle details, and the type of problem (lockout, flat tire, tow, etc.).
Final Word on Travelers Roadside Assistance
Travelers roadside assistance is a straightforward option for drivers who want help with common roadside problems and prefer to keep coverage inside their auto policy. The standard tier is geared toward local towing and basic emergencies, while the Premier tier is better suited to longer-distance driving and travelers who want trip interruption and personal property benefits.
The best next step is to compare the standard and Premier limits against what you already have (credit card benefits, warranty coverage, or memberships) and choose the option that avoids overlap while still covering your most likely roadside risks.
