Does Costco Offer Roadside Assistance?

Last Updated on October 7, 2026

By James Shaffer Reviewed by Thomas Rockford, insurance industry executive and financial analyst, on September 30, 2026 How we fact-check

Costco is known for member perks—but roadside help can be confusing. In most cases, roadside assistance is not included just because you pay for a Costco membership.

Instead, “Costco roadside assistance” usually means one of two things: (1) a roadside dispatch benefit tied to the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi (you typically pay for the actual service), or (2) roadside assistance coverage available through Costco’s auto insurance partner (American Family Insurance), depending on your policy and state. Executive Members who insure their car through the program get roadside help included on most policies. Other members have to add towing coverage.

Below is what Costco members actually get, how it works, and who to call when you’re stuck.

Membership Isn’t Roadside Coverage: Costco membership tiers don’t automatically include towing, lockout service, or jump-starts.
Credit Card = Dispatch, Not Prepaid Service: The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi can dispatch help, but you pay a pre-negotiated price for each service call.
Insurance Roadside Depends on Your Policy: Roadside assistance through Costco’s insurance program is included on most policies for Executive Members and pays up to $75 per occurrence in most states. Other members must add towing coverage to qualify.
Verify Before You Need It: Save the right phone number and confirm limits/exclusions so you don’t find out at the roadside what isn’t covered.

Table Of Contents

Costco Membership Does Not Include Roadside Assistance
Costco Membership Tiers and Costs
How to Access Roadside Help as a Costco Member
How Costco’s Credit Card Roadside Dispatch Works
How Costco Auto Insurance Roadside Assistance Works
How to Check Which Roadside Benefit You Have
Final Word on Costco Roadside Assistance
FAQs on Costco Roadside Assistance
Sources

Costco Membership Does Not Include Roadside Assistance

If you’re a Costco member, you do not automatically have towing, lockout service, jump-starts, or other roadside help as a built-in membership perk.

However, Costco members may still have access to roadside help through other Costco-related products—most commonly the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi or Costco’s auto insurance program. Tires bought at Costco come with free flat repairs and the Costco Road Hazard Warranty, but Costco’s tire page doesn’t mention any roadside or towing help.

Costco Membership Tiers and Costs

Costco membership fees can change over time, so it’s best to confirm current pricing directly on Costco’s membership page: Join Costco (Current Membership Fees).

Membership Type	Typical Annual Fee	Roadside Assistance Included?
Gold Star	$65/year in the U.S. and Canada since September 1, 2024 (plus tax where applicable)	No
Business	$65/year in the U.S. and Canada since September 1, 2024 (plus tax where applicable)	No
Executive	$130/year total since September 1, 2024 (plus tax where applicable)	No (membership alone). Included on most Costco auto policies from American Family

Bottom line: Upgrading to Executive doesn’t automatically add roadside assistance to your membership. Where Executive status does matter is Costco’s auto insurance program. American Family includes roadside assistance and home lockout help on most policies for Executive Members.

How to Access Roadside Help as a Costco Member

Here’s the simplest way to think about it: Costco doesn’t run a roadside fleet. If you’re getting roadside help connected to Costco, it’s coming from a third party—either Citi (card benefit/dispatch) or American Family Insurance (auto policy coverage).

“Costco Roadside” Source	What It Is	Who It’s For	What You Usually Pay
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi	Roadside Assistance Dispatch Service (Citi arranges help)	Cardholders	You pay a pre-negotiated price for each service call (dispatch is a benefit, not insurance)
Costco Auto Insurance (American Family Insurance)	Roadside Assistance on the auto policy: included on most policies for Executive Members; other members must add towing coverage	Policyholders (availability varies by state and underwriting company)	Covered up to $75 per occurrence ($80 in TX; $100 in MA, MT and SC; no limit in NC); you pay the rest

Quick tip: Before you pay out-of-pocket, check whether you already have roadside coverage through your auto policy, a vehicle warranty, or a credit card benefit—duplicate coverage is common.

How Costco’s Credit Card Roadside Dispatch Works

The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi includes a Roadside Assistance Dispatch Service. That means Citi can help send a tow truck or other help—but you’re responsible for the cost. Citi’s benefit guide says you pay “a pre-negotiated price per service call.” It works in all 50 states, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For Citi’s benefit overview, see: Costco Anywhere Visa® Card Benefits (Citi).

How to request help: Call 1-866-918-4670 (24/7). Citi also publishes details in its “Your Guide to Protection Benefits” for the card: Costco Anywhere Visa® — Guide to Protection Benefits (PDF).

Dispatch programs commonly arrange services like:

Towing
Winching/extraction
Jump-starts
Flat-tire help (Citi’s guide says when a spare is available)
Lockout service (when the key is in the vehicle)
Fuel delivery (up to 2 gallons on the Costco card)

Don’t mix this up with rental car insurance: roadside dispatch is separate from collision coverage on rentals. If you travel frequently, review what Citi cards actually cover here: Do Citi Credit Cards Come With Rental Car Insurance?

If you’re researching “free roadside assistance,” read the fine print: many card programs advertise roadside “assistance,” but it’s often a dispatch-and-pay arrangement, not a prepaid membership plan.

How Costco Auto Insurance Roadside Assistance Works

Costco promotes auto and home insurance through a partnership with American Family Insurance (formerly CONNECT). Auto policies are written by American Family Connect Property and Casualty Insurance Company, American Family Connect Insurance Company or Midvale Indemnity Company. You can start at Costco’s insurance page here: Costco Auto & Home Insurance Services.

If you have auto insurance through Costco’s program, roadside assistance is included as a benefit on most policies for Executive Members. If you’re not an Executive Member, you must add towing coverage to your policy to get it. American Family says it covers up to $75 per occurrence ($100 in Massachusetts, Montana and South Carolina, $80 in Texas, and no limit in North Carolina). Your declarations page and endorsements are the final word.

To learn more about how American Family’s coverages typically work, see our review of American Family Insurance and our guide to American Family roadside assistance coverage.

Need roadside help through the Costco/American Family program? American Family lists the roadside assistance phone number as 1-888-742-4572 (and 1-866-641-5443 for Executive Members’ home lockout help) on its Costco-member contact page: American Family (Costco) Contact Information. You can also find towing/roadside info here: Roadside Assistance (American Family/Costco).

Cost note: insurance-based roadside assistance usually has a per-occurrence limit and exclusions. American Family’s Costco coverage doesn’t pay for the battery or fluids (gas, oil, coolant), and it doesn’t pay to replace keys or locks. When in doubt, confirm your limits and exclusions before relying on it.

How to Check Which Roadside Benefit You Have

Check your auto policy declarations: look for “towing & labor,” “roadside assistance,” or a similar endorsement (wording varies by carrier/state).
Check your card benefit guide: roadside dispatch benefits are usually listed under travel/emergency protections.
Don’t assume membership = coverage: Costco membership tiers don’t automatically include roadside help.
If you’re shopping rates through Costco: compare discounts and add-ons the same way you would with any carrier—see: Is auto insurance cheaper through Costco?

Quick tip: If you call roadside a lot, consider whether a membership plan (or a higher roadside limit on your auto policy) makes more sense—frequent service activity can sometimes affect renewal pricing or eligibility, depending on the insurer.

Final Word on Costco Roadside Assistance

Costco membership alone doesn’t include roadside assistance. If you’re a Costco member, your roadside options usually come from (1) the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi’s roadside dispatch service or (2) roadside assistance coverage tied to an auto policy through Costco’s insurance program (American Family Insurance), depending on your state and policy.

To avoid surprises, confirm what you have before you break down: check your policy declarations, read your card benefit guide, and keep the right phone numbers saved in your contacts.

If you already have the Costco auto policy and you’re a Gold Star member, I would check whether towing coverage is on it. Without it, you have no roadside help from the policy at all.

FAQs on Costco Roadside Assistance

Does a Costco membership include roadside assistance?

No. Costco membership (including Executive) doesn’t automatically include roadside assistance like towing, lockout service, or jump-starts. Executive Members get it only if they also have a Costco auto policy from American Family.

What’s the difference between roadside dispatch and roadside assistance coverage?

Roadside dispatch helps arrange a service provider to come to you (and you typically pay the provider’s cost). Roadside assistance coverage is an insurance benefit/add-on that may pay covered costs up to a policy limit, subject to exclusions.

Does the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi include roadside assistance?

It includes a Roadside Assistance Dispatch Service. Citi can send help, but you pay a pre-negotiated price for each service call. Always confirm details in your card’s benefit guide.

What number do I call for Costco Anywhere Visa® roadside dispatch?

Citi’s benefit guide for the card lists 1-866-918-4670 for Roadside Assistance Dispatch Service. Verify the current number in your card’s benefit guide or Citi account materials.

Does Costco auto insurance include roadside assistance?

For Executive Members, it’s included on most policies. Other members must add towing coverage to get it. American Family says it pays up to $75 per occurrence in most states, and limits and exclusions vary by state.

What number do I call for roadside help through Costco’s insurance program?

American Family’s Costco-member site lists 1-888-742-4572 for roadside assistance. Confirm your coverage first, since roadside benefits depend on your policy and state.

Will using roadside assistance affect my insurance rates?

It depends on the insurer and how roadside events are recorded. American Family says occasional emergency use is unlikely to affect your rates, but calling often, such as for regular jump-starts or running out of gas, may. If you’re concerned, ask your carrier how roadside calls are handled in your state.

Sources

Checked September 30, 2026