Does GEICO Have Good Roadside Assistance Coverage?

Last Updated on November 8, 2023

Roadside assistance is an add-on feature for most auto insurance companies, but well worth it if you travel frequently or have an older, less reliable vehicle. Instead of paying out-of-pocket, you can get free services like towing, gas, and even a jumpstart from your insurer’s roadside assistance service.

Most insurance companies contract a third party to handle their roadside assistance, but they will file claims on your behalf to your insurer. Other insurance companies allow you to use another towing service and file a claim for reimbursement.

GEICO does have a roadside assistance option for auto insurance plans, and the coverage starts at $14 per year as of 2020. To request roadside service, call GEICO’s emergency service phone number at 1 (800) 424-3426. GEICO allows you to request emergency roadside assistance from your mobile device, too.geico roadside assistance coverage

Table of Contents:

Adding it to Your Existing Policy

You can add GEICO Emergency Roadside Service to your existing auto insurance policy, but the price is per car – not policy. Therefore, each vehicle will be $14 per year. So, the more vehicles you insure, the more you pay annually to add this on.

Adding the coverage is simple. You log in to geico.com and go to their emergency services page to add it to your policy instantly. Your annual premium will automatically adjust for the year’s service fee, and you pick which vehicles to apply the roadside coverage.

What Does GEICO’s Emergency Roadside Assistance Cover?

Every insurance company has different services offered for roadside assistance, and GEICO is no different. When you add on this service, you will only get:

  • Jumpstart service for a dead battery. Their roadside contractor will come to your broken-down vehicle and jump-start your battery free of charge. If they cannot get your vehicle to start, they will then tow it.
  • Labor charges for changing a flat tire on the side of the road. GEICO roadside assistance service will change a flat tire, using either your spare on the vehicle or bringing a new tire along. You must pay for the brand-new tire if they do not use your spare. If they use your spare, your insurance just pays the labor fees for installing that spare tire on your car.
  • Towing your vehicle if it breaks down. GEICO’s towing policy is simple. If your car breaks down unrelated to an accident, you will get a free tow to the nearest repair facility. There is a 20-miles limit for towing. Unfortunately, they will only tow you to the nearest approved provider. If you want to go somewhere else, you’ll have to pay for extra mileage.
  • Lockout services, but only up to $100. If you are locked out of your car, GEICO roadside assistance will dispatch a locksmith service and get you back into your vehicle. The only catch is that they pay up to $100 for the lockout service, which rarely covers a full lockout if you need a new key or have a FOB that requires reprogramming. Regardless, you get $100 off the service, which works well if you lock your keys in your car.

Can You Do a Reimbursement?

Some insurance companies let you file a claim for reimbursement when you pay for the emergency roadside service yourself. GEICO enables you to do this too. However, you must have paid for a GEICO-approved towing service, and you will send the bill to GEICO for a reimbursement check. You can send them via email, but they do not have an online service at this time.

How Does GEICO Compare to Other Roadside Assistance Programs?

Please review the table below to see how GEICO’s roadside assistance program compares to other providers. GEICO, as you can see, has a very competitive offering.

CompanyGEICOAAAUSAAProgressiveState FarmLiberty Mutual
Annual Cost$14+$38-74$12-15$16-$23$36-48$12+
Winching and Extraction1 hour includedFree if possible from roadFree if possible from road100 feetFree if possible from roadFree if possible from road
TowingTo nearest repair facility7 milesTo nearest repair facility15 milesTo nearest repair facility100 miles
Mechanical Adjustment1 hour includedIncluded1 hour included1 hour included1 hour included1 hour included
Locksmith$100$50-$100Included1 hour included1 hour included$50
Flat TireIncludedIncludedIncludedIncludedIncludedIncluded
Fuel DeliveryIncluded up to $5Included - you pay for gasIncluded - you pay for gasIncluded - you pay for gasIncluded - you pay for gasIncluded - you pay for gas
Battery Jump StartIncludedIncludedIncludedIncludedIncludedIncluded
Battery ReplacementNot AvailableIncludedNot AvailableNot AvailableNot AvailableNot Available
Electric Vehicle ChargingNot AvailableIncludedIncludedTow to charging stationNot AvailableIncluded
Emergency Travel ReimbursementNot Available$250Not AvailableNot AvailableNot AvailableNot Available

Is GEICO’s Roadside Assistance Worth the Added Cost?

The biggest question is whether it is worth it to pay $14 per year per vehicle or not. In most cases, you would spend well over $14 to tow your car, and when you have coverage through your insurance company, you do not have to worry about taking on towing plus repairs. Repairs will still be on you once you reach the facility, but the average tow is often over $150 – something you save by paying just $14 per year. Even if you don’t tow your vehicle once a year, that $14 per year will add up, and you may eventually use it.

One note, however, is that while GEICO emergency roadside assistance offers fuel delivery services, they only will include $5 worth of fuel with each delivery. If you want (or need) more fuel to get your vehicle up and running, you’ll have to pay for it yourself. The good news is that the $5 worth of fuel that’s included is already better coverage than most of GEICO’s roadside assistance competitors.

Another thing to note is that with GEICO’s towing policy, if you use the towing service three to five times per year, you will be warned about excessive use, and you may be disqualified from having the policy again in the next renewal. Therefore, keep that in mind if your vehicle requires frequent tows annually.

How to Contact GEICO’s Roadside Assistance

For most people, the easiest way to request GEICO’s emergency roadside service is via GEICO’s mobile app. Using the mobile app, you can request all of GEICO’s roadside services with just a few clicks.

The mobile app is compatible with most Apple and Android smartphones. It is available 24/7 and has a GPS locator feature so that GEICO can find you quickly and easily. The app also has a service tracker so that you can see where the tow truck is and how far away they are from you.

If you do not have a smartphone, are unable to use a smartphone, or would simply like to speak with a human, you can call GEICO’s 24/7 roadside assistance phone number at 1 (800) 424-3426.

Final Word on GEICO Emergency Roadside Service

At the end of the day, you need to find a roadside assistance program that can help you and your family out 24/7 if you get stuck on the side of the road. GEICO’s Emergency Roadside Service program fits the bill. There is nothing wrong with adding GEICO roadside assistance to your plan, especially when you travel frequently – and when you consider the savings, it is more worth it than paying out of pocket. To add GEICO’s roadside assistance to your policy, visit the GEICO website or mobile app or call GEICO customer support at 1 (800) 207-7847.

James Shaffer
James Shaffer James Shaffer is a writer for InsurancePanda.com and a well-seasoned auto insurance industry veteran. He has a deep knowledge of insurance rules and regulations and is passionate about helping drivers save money on auto insurance. He is responsible for researching and writing about anything auto insurance-related. He holds a bachelor's degree from Bentley University and his work has been quoted by NBC News, CNN, and The Washington Post.
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