Is National General’s Roadside Assistance Coverage Worth It?

Last Updated on September 11, 2023

You may have heard about National General’s roadside assistance coverage program. But is it worth it?

Available for $59 to $119 per year, National General’s roadside assistance plan covers breakdowns, towing, spare tire changes, jumpstarts, and other roadside emergencies.

Roadside assistance is the right choice for some drivers but not others. Is it the right choice for you? Keep reading to find out if National General’s roadside assistance coverage is worth it.

Table of Contents:

What Is National General’s Roadside Assistance Coverage?

National General is a car insurance company headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Founded in 1920, the company sells property and casualty insurance, including auto insurance, to customers across the United States. National General was formerly known as the GMAC Insurance Group.

Today, National General offers a roadside assistance plan called the National General Motor Club. Membership is priced at $59 to $119 per year.

Your National General Motor Club membership includes coverage for towing, jumpstarts, flat tire changes, fuel delivery, winching, vehicle lockouts, and certain other roadside emergencies.

Any National General policyholder can sign up for National General’s roadside assistance plan, which is also known as the National General Motor Club.

Overall, National General’s roadside assistance coverage works similar to the roadside assistance policies from other insurers: you pay a few extra dollars per month for coverage against unexpected emergencies you may experience while driving.

What Does National General Roadside Assistance Cover?

To determine if National General’s roadside assistance is worth it, it helps to understand what is covered. National General’s roadside assistance covers all of the following:

You get three to seven free claims services per year before you need to pay, depending on your membership level. On the Basic plan, for example, you receive three complementary claims services per year. on the Elite plan, you get seven claims services per year across your entire family.

What Does National General Roadside Assistance Not Cover?

Like other roadside assistance plans, National General Motor Club does not cover all expenses related to roadside breakdowns.

If you have the Basic plan, for example, then National General Motor Club only covers towing up to 5 miles. If your car breaks down more than 5 miles away from a service station, then you may still need to pay for towing.

National General Motor Club also does not cover the cost of repair parts or the cost of repairing the mechanical breakdown itself.

If your engine fails while driving, for example, then National General Motor Club will cover the cost of towing your vehicle to the nearest service center, but you will still need to pay to repair your vehicle yourself – similar to AAA and other roadside assistance plans.

National General Motor Club Perks & Discounts Program

National General Motor Club covers roadside emergencies – just like any roadside assistance program. However, subscribers also get additional perks and travel discounts.

As a member of the National General Motor Club, you save up to 50% on dining, shopping, and entertainment nationwide by showing your National General Motor Club card at select locations.

When traveling, you could also save up to 50% on restaurants, hotels, car rentals, theme parks, cruises, and entertainment.

After signing up for National General Motor Club, you can browse the PerksConnect database to view participating retailers and check available offers.

Members also get a free trip routing service. You can order maps directly to your home prior to your trip, for example.

National General Motor Club Pricing

National General Motor Club is priced at $59 to $119 per year, depending on your desired coverage options and the number of people in your family you wish to cover.

Here’s how pricing breaks down for National General’s roadside assistance policy:

Basic ($59 to $69 Per Year): National General Motor Club offers a Basic policy for $59 (for singles) or $69 (for couples). You get a maximum of three complimentary service claims per year. The Basic plan includes towing (up to 5 miles), jump starts, flat tire changes, fuel deliveries, winching, lockout service, lock replacement (up to $60), and key replacement (up to $25). It does not include trip interruption coverage, legal defense, or other premium services. It also does not include coverage for any dependents.

Standard ($79 to $94 Per Year): National General Motor Club offers a Standard policy for singles, couples, and families. Single drivers pay $79 per year, couples pay $94 per year, and you can add dependents under 21 for $15 extra per year. Standard includes all of the same coverage as Basic, but with additional towing limits (up to 20 miles) and trip interruption coverage (up to $750). Standard members also get higher lock replacement payouts (up to $90) and a maximum of four complimentary service claims per year.

Elite ($89 to $119 Per Year): National General Motor Club’s highest roadside assistance level is the Elite option. Elite is priced at $89 per year for singles, $99 per year for couples, and $119 per year for families. Your plan includes seven complementary service claims per year. It includes everything on the Standard policy along with additional coverages for mechanical failure, legal defense (up to $1,000), arrest bond (up to $1,000), auto theft deterrent awards (up to $10,000), hospital emergency room bond (up to $1,000), and a vehicle repair check guarantee (up to $500). You also get higher towing limits (free towing up to 100 miles) and higher lock replacement coverage (up to $130). You can also add any dependents under age 26 to your policy at no added cost (via the family plan).

Final Word on National General’s Roadside Assistance Coverage

National General offers a popular roadside assistance program called the National General Motor Club.

Priced at $59 to $119 per year, National General Motor Club covers towing, lockout services, winching, fuel delivery, flat tire changes, jump starts, and more.

Generally, customers agree that the National General Motor Club provides good value if you need to make one or two claims per year. It may be especially useful for frequent drivers, those with older vehicles, or anyone who doesn’t feel comfortable changing a tire on the side of a road.

For under $5 to $10 per month, National General Motor Club covers drivers against many unexpected events while offering comparable value to AAA and other major roadside assistance plans.

Depending on the unique needs of you and your family, National General’s roadside assistance may or may not be worth it. Contact National General today for more information on it’s roadside assistance program.

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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