Is National General’s Roadside Assistance Coverage Worth It?
Last Updated on January 9, 2026
National General’s roadside assistance can be worth it if you want higher towing limits, multiple service calls per year, and membership-style benefits beyond what a basic towing add-on provides. But it’s not a good fit if you already have strong roadside coverage through your auto policy, warranty, credit card, or another motor club.
One important update: National General’s Motor Club program has shown signs of being restricted or transitioned (some official pages still list plan details, while others indicate the program is no longer offered). If you’re considering it, confirm current availability and pricing for your state before you pay.
Our Rating of National General Roadside Assistance Program
3.3
out of 5
★★★☆☆
Summary
Bottom line: National General’s motor club can make sense if you want higher towing mileage and several included service calls per year, but you should verify current availability and avoid duplicating coverage you already have.
National General Motor Club has historically been offered in tiered plans commonly described as Basic, Standard, and Elite, with towing limits often listed around 5, 20, and up to 100 miles and a set number of service calls per year depending on membership type and location. Typical benefits include towing, jump starts, flat-tire changes with a spare, fuel delivery where you pay for the fuel, winching within plan limits, and lockout assistance, with some tiers adding trip interruption reimbursement and travel or discount perks. Like most roadside programs, it does not cover repair parts and labor, towing beyond the mileage cap, or specialty recovery requiring extra equipment. The biggest drawback is uncertainty around enrollment and state availability, so treat published charts as a starting point and confirm the current plan options, limits, and exclusions before enrolling.
Best for
- Drivers who want higher towing mileage than a basic towing add-on typically provides
- Households that benefit from multiple included service calls per year
- Frequent drivers who may use trip interruption reimbursement and other membership-style extras
Not ideal for
- Anyone who already has strong roadside coverage through an auto policy, warranty, credit card, or another motor club
- Drivers who need predictable enrollment and consistent benefits across all states and tiers
- Situations involving repairs, towing beyond plan mileage caps, or specialty recovery outside standard access conditions
- Our Rating of National General Roadside Assistance Program
- What Is National General’s Roadside Assistance Coverage?
- What Does National General Roadside Assistance Cover?
- What Does National General Roadside Assistance Not Cover?
- National General Motor Club Perks and Travel Discounts
- National General Motor Club Pricing
- Final Word on National General’s Roadside Assistance Coverage
- FAQs on National General Roadside Assistance
What Is National General’s Roadside Assistance Coverage?
National General is an auto insurer based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and is part of the Allstate family of companies. It has long offered roadside benefits through a membership-style program often referred to as the National General Motor Club.
This type of coverage is different from a simple towing-and-labor endorsement on an auto policy. A motor club membership usually comes with a defined number of service calls per year, preset towing distances, and extra travel/discount perks. For a broader overview of how these add-ons typically work, see this guide to emergency roadside assistance coverage.
Because plan availability and enrollment can change, treat any published pricing/benefit charts as a starting point—then verify the current plan options directly with National General (or the motor club administrator) before enrolling.
What Does National General Roadside Assistance Cover?
Roadside assistance generally covers common “can’t-drive” situations—help getting moving again, or towing to a repair facility. National General’s motor club benefits have typically included the services below (exact limits vary by tier and location).
| Covered Service | What It Usually Includes | Common Limits to Watch |
|---|---|---|
| Towing services | Tow to the nearest repair facility or a destination within the plan’s mileage cap | Mileage limit per tow; restrictions on secondary tows |
| Jump starts | Battery jump service when your vehicle won’t start | Battery replacement not included |
| Flat-tire changes | Installing your spare tire at the breakdown location | No spare = possible tow instead |
| Fuel deliveries | Emergency fuel delivery to get you to the next station | You typically pay for the fuel itself |
| Winching | Pulling a vehicle from a ditch/snow/mud when accessible by a standard service truck | Depth/distance limits; severe off-road conditions excluded |
| Lockout services | Service to regain entry to the vehicle | Key cutting/replacement may have separate reimbursement caps |
| Trip interruption coverage | Reimbursement for certain meals/lodging/alternate transportation after a covered disablement away from home | Distance-from-home requirements; receipts required; dollar cap applies |
Most plans also set a maximum number of included service calls per year. Once you exceed the plan’s annual service allotment, additional calls are usually billed at the member’s expense.
Typical Plan Tiers and Limits
Historically, National General Motor Club has been offered in tiers (often labeled Basic, Standard, and Elite). Published plan charts have commonly shown:
| Plan Tier | Towing Limit (Commonly Listed) | Included Service Calls (Commonly Listed) | Extra Benefits (Often Included) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | Up to 5 miles | About 3 per year (single/couple) | Core roadside services; limited lock reimbursement |
| Standard | Up to 20 miles | About 4 per year | Adds trip interruption reimbursement; higher lock reimbursement |
| Elite | Up to 100 miles | Varies by membership type; family tiers typically higher | May include additional security/legal-style benefits and higher reimbursement caps |
Why this matters: towing distance and the number of included calls are usually the two benefits that determine whether a motor club membership actually saves money.
What Does National General Roadside Assistance Not Cover?
Roadside assistance is meant to get you moving again (or to a shop), not to pay for the repair itself. Even with strong motor club benefits, these items are usually not covered:
- Repair parts and labor (for example: alternators, batteries, tires, or engine repairs).
- Towing beyond your plan’s mileage cap (you may pay the overage).
- Specialty recovery requiring extra equipment, additional vehicles, or unsafe access conditions.
- Non-emergency convenience services outside the plan rules (varies by administrator).
In other words, a motor club can reduce the cost of the “help” portion of a breakdown, but it won’t eliminate the cost of fixing what caused the breakdown.
National General Motor Club Perks and Travel Discounts
Beyond roadside calls, motor club memberships often include travel planning and discount portals. National General’s program has historically advertised extras like trip routing/maps and member discounts with participating retailers.
These perks can be a nice add-on, but they shouldn’t be the main reason to buy the plan. Discount availability changes, many offers overlap with other memberships, and savings depend on how often you actually use the portal.
National General Motor Club Pricing
Pricing depends on tier and membership type (single, couple, or family). Historically, publicly listed pricing has commonly landed in the $59 to $119 per year range, with higher tiers costing more in exchange for higher towing limits and additional benefits.
Because enrollment availability can change—and because some motor club pages have indicated the program may no longer be offered—use this section as a framework for comparison, then confirm the current price and benefits before enrolling.
| Tier (Commonly Listed) | Who It’s Often For | What You’re Mainly Paying For | What to Double-Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | Drivers who want low-cost help for occasional breakdowns | Core roadside services with short towing | Service call cap; towing miles; lock/key reimbursement rules |
| Standard | Commutes and local travel where a longer tow is helpful | Mid-range towing plus trip interruption reimbursement | Trip interruption requirements; receipts; distance-from-home rules |
| Elite | Frequent drivers and road trippers who want longer towing | Highest towing mileage and the most added benefits | Whether extra “security/legal” benefits are included and how they pay |
Some tiers have historically included key reimbursement (which can matter if you lose a fob). For details on when insurance pays for missing keys versus when you’ll pay out of pocket, see whether auto insurance pays for lost keys.
Higher tiers have also been marketed with “legal defense” style add-ons. If that’s a deciding factor, it helps to understand what auto insurance does and does not pay for in legal situations—this guide explains when policies might help with legal fees.
Quick tip: Before paying for any motor club, compare it to what you already have. Many drivers already get basic towing/lockout benefits from an auto policy add-on, a warranty plan, or even certain credit cards—so a second roadside plan may be redundant unless it improves towing miles or service-call limits.
How It Compares to AAA and Other Options
AAA is the most common benchmark because it combines roadside calls with travel perks. Whether a motor club is “worth it” often comes down to towing miles, how quickly service arrives in your area, and whether you’ll use the extras. For a broader comparison framework, see whether an AAA membership is worth it.
Final Word on National General’s Roadside Assistance Coverage
National General’s roadside assistance has historically offered solid value for drivers who want predictable towing mileage and multiple service calls per year. It’s most useful for frequent drivers, households sharing one membership, or anyone who wants higher towing limits than a basic policy add-on provides.
However, it’s not automatically the best choice for everyone—especially if you already have roadside coverage elsewhere or if the motor club program is restricted in your state. Confirm current availability, benefits, and pricing before enrolling, and compare it against what you can add directly to your auto policy.
For the most accurate, current plan information, use National General’s support resources or ask an agent to confirm what’s available where you live. You can also start here: National General customer service contact information.
