Free Manufacturer Roadside Assistance: Every Brand's Program

💡 Key Takeaway:

• Most new cars include free roadside assistance automatically — no enrollment needed.
• Coverage windows range from Toyota's 2-year/25,000-mile plan to Hyundai and Kia's industry-leading 5-year/60,000-mile program.
• Standard services include towing, jump starts, flat tire changes, lockout service, and fuel delivery — but collision recovery and off-road retrieval are never included.
• Tow distance limits typically run 25–50 miles, which may not reach a dealer in rural areas.
• Once factory coverage expires, you'll need a replacement — either through AAA or a standalone plan.

Nearly every major automaker provides free roadside assistance with a new car purchase — Toyota, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Chevrolet, Kia, Subaru, Volkswagen, and 20+ others. Programs activate automatically at purchase with no sign-up required. Coverage duration is where brands separate themselves, ranging from 2 years at the low end to 5 years for the most competitive programs.

Here's the full breakdown by brand:

Source: Manufacturer owner's manual supplements and program guides, compiled February 2026. Verify current terms at the respective brand's website.

Luxury brands often include added perks. You'll notice brands like BMW and Mercedes-Benz include extras that mainstream brands skip — such as trip interruption reimbursement ($500–$1,000), concierge hotel booking, and rental car coordination. If those perks matter to you, factor them into your brand comparison before you sign.

Our manufacturer roadside programs deep-dive covers CPO and lease-specific variations if you need more detail by purchase type.

Coverage typically spans 2–5 years or 25,000–60,000 miles, whichever comes first. Hyundai and Kia lead the segment with 5-year/60,000-mile coverage. Toyota and Lexus sit at the low end — 2 years or 25,000 miles — which can expire before your basic maintenance schedule is even complete.

💡 Key Takeaway: Duration is always tied to the original in-service date, not the current owner. If you buy a used 2024 Ford F-150 in 2026, the 5-year clock already started ticking, meaning you may only have three years of Ford roadside assistance remaining.

Mileage caps can expire quickly. One honest limitation worth knowing: the mileage caps bite harder than most buyers expect. If you drive 20,000 miles per year — common for commuters and fleet users — Toyota's 25,000-mile limit expires in roughly 15 months. The "2-year" label can be misleading if you log serious miles.

For context on what you'll pay once factory coverage runs out, check our roadside assistance cost guide.

Free roadside assistance with a new car covers essential services like towing to the nearest authorized dealer, flat tire changes, jump starts, lockout service, and emergency fuel delivery. Most programs tow 25–50 miles at no cost. Coverage applies only to mechanical breakdowns — not accidents, collision recovery, or off-road extractions.

Typical Covered Services

• Towing: To the nearest authorized dealer (not necessarily your preferred independent shop).
• Battery Jump Start: Or battery replacement (some brands may charge for the battery itself, similar to AAA's battery service).
• Flat Tire Change: Using your spare (if no spare is present, towing applies).
• Lockout Service: Unlocking or key retrieval, not key replacement.
• Emergency Fuel Delivery: Usually 1–2 gallons; the cost of the fuel itself may be your responsibility.

What's Never Covered

• Accidents and Collision Recovery: That's your insurance company's job.
• Off-Road Extractions: If you're stuck in mud, sand, or snow.
• Mechanical Repairs: At roadside, beyond basic diagnostics.
• Towing to a Shop of Your Choice: Manufacturer programs tow to their dealers.

⚠️ Warning: The towing destination matters significantly. If your Toyota breaks down 40 miles from the nearest Toyota dealer, but there's an independent shop 5 miles away you trust completely, Toyota roadside assistance will tow you the full 40 miles to the dealer — not to your preferred independent shop. If you'd rather choose your own repair facility, a plan like AAA gives you that flexibility.

Curious how these services stack up in detail? Our what does roadside assistance cover page breaks it down service by service.

Utilize our comparison tool to find the perfect fit. Use the comparison tool below to filter programs by brand, coverage length, and services included — so you know exactly where your new car stands.

Use the interactive tool below to compare programs side by side and see which manufacturer roadside benefits apply to your specific vehicle.

Manufacturer roadside assistance is better for newer vehicles under warranty — it's free, brand-specific, and available 24/7. However, AAA beats factory programs in three key areas: it covers any vehicle you're driving (not just your new car), it never expires, and its Plus and Premier tiers provide 100–200 miles of towing versus the 25–50 miles most manufacturers allow.

AAA vs. Manufacturer Roadside Assistance Comparison

Consider this scenario: You're on a road trip in your spouse's 2019 Camry — five years old, Toyota roadside assistance long expired. Your bumper-to-bumper is gone. The Camry overheats 60 miles from the nearest dealer. Toyota can't help.

✅ Pro Tip: With AAA Plus, you get a 100-mile tow and the driver of your choice. With manufacturer coverage alone, you're paying out of pocket in such a situation.

AAA's broad network offers greater reach. AAA's 35,000+ contracted providers (aaa.com) also give it broader geographic reach, especially in rural areas where manufacturer dispatch networks can be thin. Average response times run 30–60 minutes in urban areas, but can stretch past 90 minutes in rural regions — for both services.

The honest answer: Use your manufacturer coverage while it lasts, then evaluate whether AAA is worth it or a standalone roadside plan makes more sense. Our insurance roadside vs. AAA comparison is also worth reading before you decide.

Most certified pre-owned (CPO) programs include free roadside assistance as part of the extended warranty package, but coverage is typically shorter than new-car plans. Toyota CPO vehicles get 1 year/12,000 miles of roadside coverage. Ford CPO cars receive coverage for the remainder of their powertrain warranty. Hyundai CPO vehicles retain the original 5-year/60,000-mile benefit — one of the strongest CPO roadside programs in the industry.

Key CPO Distinctions

• Hyundai and Kia CPO: The original factory roadside assistance transfers in full. If the car has 20,000 miles on it, you get coverage through 60,000 miles — no reduction.
• Toyota CPO: A separate 1-year/12,000-mile plan starts from your purchase date. It doesn't extend remaining factory coverage.
• Ford CPO: Roadside assistance mirrors the powertrain warranty duration — check the specific terms in the CPO contract.
• GM CPO (Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, Cadillac): 24/7 roadside assistance for 12 months is included, separate from any remaining factory time.

If you're shopping CPO and roadside coverage matters to you, Hyundai and Kia offer the most transparent, transferable benefit. Every other brand requires you to read the fine print carefully.

To use manufacturer roadside assistance, call the toll-free number in your owner's manual or glovebox card, or request service through the brand's mobile app. Have your VIN ready, share your location, and a dispatched provider will typically arrive within 30–60 minutes. There's no out-of-pocket cost for covered services.

Step-by-Step for Most Common Programs

1. Find your number: It's printed on the glovebox card, in the owner's manual under "Roadside Assistance," or in the brand app (Toyota App, FordPass, myChevrolet, BMW Connected).
2. Call or request in-app: Ford roadside assistance and Toyota roadside assistance both accept GPS-based app requests — faster than calling if you're in an area with good cell service.
3. Provide your VIN: The dispatcher will verify your coverage automatically.
4. Describe the issue specifically: "Battery won't turn over" gets you a jump truck. "Car won't start but lights work" might dispatch a diagnostic unit. Specificity gets you the right vehicle the first time.
5. Wait safely: Move away from traffic. The NHTSA recommends staying behind the guardrail if you're on a highway shoulder.

No payment is required at the scene for covered services. If a service falls outside your program's terms — like towing beyond the distance limit — the provider will quote you the overage before proceeding.

If you ever find yourself without coverage, our car broke down with no AAA guide walks through your options, and the roadside assistance app roundup covers on-demand alternatives.

Electric vehicles (EVs) receive enhanced manufacturer roadside assistance that includes mobile charging dispatch or towing to the nearest charging station for range depletion events — a service standard ICE programs don't offer. Tesla provides 4 years/50,000 miles of coverage, while Rivian offers 5 years/60,000 miles with EV-specific flatbed protocols. Range depletion is treated as a covered breakdown event.

Critical EV-Specific Rules to Know

• Flatbed Towing Only: EVs from Tesla, Rivian, and most other brands cannot be towed with a dolly or wheel-lift, as it damages the drivetrain. Verify your manufacturer's program dispatches flatbeds by default; some third-party providers assigned by dispatch don't carry them.
• Mobile Charging Trucks: Tesla operates its own mobile service vehicles in major metro areas. In rural areas, you'll generally be towed to the nearest Supercharger instead.
• Cold Weather and Range Depletion: At temperatures below 20°F, EV range can drop 25–40% (per NHTSA cold weather EV data). A charge depletion call in Montana in January looks very different from one in Phoenix in July. Manufacturer programs account for this — but wait times in remote areas can exceed 90 minutes.
• Ford Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning: Ford roadside assistance applies the same 5-year/60,000-mile window as ICE models, with EV towing protocols added.

For a broader view of towing EVs and understanding tow vehicle matchups, our towing capacity guide covers load math that also applies when hauling EVs on trailers.