Does Sprint Offer Roadside Assistance Coverage?

Last Updated on February 5, 2026

Sprint Drive was a connected-car add-on sold under the Sprint brand before Sprint became part of T-Mobile. It combined an OBD-II plug-in device with an app for vehicle location, Wi-Fi hotspot features, diagnostics, and in-app roadside help.

If you’re searching for “Sprint roadside assistance” today, the key thing to know is that Sprint no longer operates as a standalone carrier—most Sprint-branded services have moved under T-Mobile. The closest current equivalent is typically T-Mobile’s SyncUP DRIVE connected-car device and service.

Sprint Drive Is a Legacy Product: Sprint Drive was sold under the Sprint brand, and “Sprint roadside assistance” questions now usually point to T-Mobile-era options.
Bundled Roadside Help Has Caps: Connected-car roadside benefits typically include limits on events, towing distance, and fuel—always confirm current in-app terms.
Roadside Assistance Isn’t Auto Insurance: It helps with breakdown logistics (tow, jump, lockout), but it won’t replace collision or comprehensive coverage.
Compare Apples to Apples: When shopping, line up event limits, towing distance, exclusions, and total annual cost across connected-car add-ons, insurance endorsements, and AAA-style memberships.

Table Of Contents

Sprint Drive and Roadside Assistance After the T-Mobile Merger
What Sprint Drive Was
Roadside Assistance: What’s Typically Included
SyncUP DRIVE: The Closest Current Replacement
Sprint Drive vs. Auto Insurance Roadside Coverage
Driver Tracking and Insurance: A Practical Note
Final Word on Sprint Roadside Assistance
FAQs on Sprint Drive Roadside Assistance

Sprint Drive and Roadside Assistance After the T-Mobile Merger

Historically, Sprint Drive advertised in-app roadside assistance as one of its perks. Post-merger, Sprint Drive availability for new sign-ups is limited, and the feature set you can access depends on your device, your plan, and whether the underlying network/app support is still active for your specific setup.

For most people looking for a “Sprint Drive”-style experience now, start by reviewing T-Mobile’s SyncUP DRIVE details and in-app terms. (Features, pricing, and limits can change.)

What Sprint Drive Was

Sprint Drive used a small device that plugs into your vehicle’s OBD-II port (commonly found in U.S. gasoline-powered cars from model year 1996 and newer). The companion app provided features like vehicle tracking, basic diagnostics, driving alerts, and hotspot connectivity.

Like most connected-car dongles, it’s important to treat location tracking as a privacy-sensitive feature. Only enable sharing features you actually need (for example, tracking a teen driver’s location), and review your app permissions.

Roadside Assistance: What’s Typically Included

Roadside assistance bundled with a connected-car product is usually designed for common “stuck on the side of the road” problems—jump starts, lockouts, fuel delivery, flat-tire help, and limited-distance towing. It’s not the same thing as auto insurance coverage for a crash, and it typically won’t pay for parts or major repairs.

Service Scenario	What Roadside Assistance Often Helps With	Related Guide
General roadside assistance	Help when your car won’t move (non-accident breakdowns)	Emergency Roadside Assistance Coverage Explained
Lockout	Entry assistance (limits/exclusions may apply)	Will Auto Insurance Pay for a Locksmith?
Out of gas	Emergency fuel delivery (often limited)	Will Auto Insurance Deliver Gas?
Dead battery	Jump start / battery service (varies)	Will Auto Insurance Pay for a Jumpstart?
Flat tire	Spare tire change (if you have a usable spare)	Will Car Insurance Pay for a Flat Tire?
Towing	Tow to a nearby destination (distance limits are common)	Does Car Insurance Cover Towing?

Quick tip: If you’re in an unsafe location (heavy traffic, fire risk, medical emergency, severe weather), prioritize safety first—move to a safe spot if you can and call 911. Roadside programs are not emergency rescue services.

SyncUP DRIVE: The Closest Current Replacement

T-Mobile’s SyncUP DRIVE is a similar connected-car device and service. It’s designed to plug into the OBD-II port for tracking, maintenance insights, and hotspot connectivity. T-Mobile also describes in-app roadside assistance access through its partner (instructions may route you through the T-Life app).

You can review current device/service details here: SyncUP DRIVE (T-Mobile), and setup/help details here: SyncUP DRIVE Setup & Help.

Item	What to Expect (Typical)
How you request help	In-app roadside assistance option (you may be asked to consent to sharing vehicle/location details needed to dispatch help).
Use limits	A limited number of roadside events per 12-month period is common for bundled services (check the current in-app terms for your account).
Towing & fuel limits	Bundled roadside assistance often includes mileage and fuel-gallon caps (check your current terms before relying on it for long-distance towing).
Hotspot connections	Connected-car hotspot limits (devices connected, speeds, and data) depend on plan and device version.

Sprint Drive vs. Auto Insurance Roadside Coverage

Some drivers already have roadside help through an auto insurance policy endorsement, a club membership, a vehicle warranty, or even a credit card. The “best” option depends on what you want covered and how you prefer to pay.

Option	Best For	Key Tradeoff
Connected-car roadside add-on	People who also want tracking/diagnostics/hotspot features	Service limits and towing distance caps are common; terms can change with app/network updates.
Auto insurance roadside endorsement	Drivers who want roadside help tied to their policy	May have per-event limits; insurer handling varies by company and state.
Motor club membership (e.g., AAA)	Drivers who want a standalone roadside program	Benefits vary by tier/region; you’ll pay membership dues whether you use it or not.
Manufacturer roadside assistance	Newer vehicles still in warranty	Usually time-limited; may not cover every situation.

If you’re comparing an app-based roadside benefit to AAA, keep in mind they’re not always the same product. AAA membership benefits can vary by region and membership level, and membership is separate from any wireless plan or connected-car service. If you’re debating AAA, see: Is an AAA Membership Worth It? and AAA Towing Cost.

Driver Tracking and Insurance: A Practical Note

Some connected-car services track driving behaviors (like speeding, rapid acceleration, and hard braking) for alerts and trip history. That data can be useful for coaching new drivers, but you should assume any telematics-style product may create data you’ll want to manage carefully (permissions, account access, and who can see reports).

Quick tip: If your goal is “cheap towing,” compare the towing distance caps and per-year event limits across options (connected-car add-on, insurance endorsement, and a club membership). The cheapest monthly price isn’t always the cheapest tow.

Final Word on Sprint Roadside Assistance

Sprint Drive was one way Sprint customers could get app-based roadside help bundled with connected-car features. After Sprint joined T-Mobile, most people looking for this type of service should compare today’s T-Mobile SyncUP DRIVE offering (and its current in-app terms) against alternatives like an auto insurance roadside endorsement or a standalone AAA membership.

Note: Coverage details, limits, and availability can vary by plan, device version, and location. Always confirm the current roadside assistance terms inside your app before relying on it for a trip.

FAQs on Sprint Drive Roadside Assistance

Does Sprint still offer roadside assistance?

Sprint-branded offerings have largely shifted under T‑Mobile since the merger. Sprint Drive was the best-known Sprint-branded option that bundled roadside help with connected-car features, but many customers today will be pointed to T‑Mobile-era products and support channels instead.

Is Sprint Drive still available for new customers?

In most cases, Sprint Drive is considered a legacy product. Availability depends on your account type, device, and whether the supporting app/network services are still active for your setup. If you’re shopping today, compare current connected-car options (such as T‑Mobile SyncUP DRIVE) rather than assuming Sprint Drive can be newly activated.

What does connected-car roadside assistance usually include?

Most bundled roadside programs focus on common emergencies like towing (often with a distance cap), jump starts, lockout service, fuel delivery (often capped), and a spare-tire change (if you have a usable spare). Parts and major repairs are typically not included.

How many times per year can I use roadside assistance?

Many roadside programs include a limited number of service events per 12-month period. The exact number depends on the provider and your terms. Check your in-app disclosures or membership terms for the current limit.

Is this the same as having an AAA membership?

Not necessarily. A connected-car roadside benefit may be administered by a roadside partner, but an AAA membership is its own product with its own tiers, regional rules, and benefits. If you want AAA benefits specifically, you should compare membership tiers and terms directly.

Will roadside assistance pay for repairs?

Roadside assistance generally pays for dispatch and basic services (tow/jump/lockout/fuel), not the underlying repair or replacement parts. If you need repairs, you’ll usually pay the shop directly (or use a warranty/insurance coverage that applies).

Can using roadside assistance affect my auto insurance rates?

It depends. If roadside help is provided through your auto insurance policy, the insurer may record the incident like other policy activity (rules and underwriting practices vary by company and state). If roadside help is provided through a standalone membership or a connected-car service, it typically stays outside your auto policy.