Does Car Insurance Cover Towing?

by COUNTRY Financial

Having your car towed is a great way to ruin your day, and it’ll probably get even worse when you see the bill from the wrecking company.

So, does car insurance cover towing? It’s a nuanced topic, but the short answer is this:

If you’re concerned about needing a tow in the future, roadside assistance coverage will cover towing in most instances. Sometimes called towing coverage, it’s a separate type of coverage you can buy and add to your car insurance policy.

Read on to learn what roadside assistance coverage is and how it works.

What is Roadside Assistance Coverage?

Roadside assistance coverage is an additional car insurance coverage COUNTRY Financial offers. It’s purchased separately and added to your car insurance policy, like liability coverage, comprehensive coverage, etc. 

We’ll reimburse you up to $100 for several roadside emergencies, including:

• Towing
• Tire changes
• Jump starts
• Lockout assistance 
• Oil and gas delivery

Roadside Assistance Coverage from COUNTRY Financial applies whether your car breaks down on a road trip or in your own driveway. It can be added to your policy at any time, so contact your insurance  agent if you’re interested.

Does insurance cover towing after an accident?

As long as you’ve purchased roadside assistance coverage, you’ll likely have one less thing to worry about after an accident—you’ll be covered for towing up to your policy limits.

On the other hand, if your car is undriveable after an accident and you don’t have roadside assistance coverage, there’s a small chance you might be covered for towing. 

Some insurance companies bundle roadside assistance with comprehensive coverage or collision coverage. This isn’t common, though, and even when towing is bundled with other coverage, the amount you’re covered will likely depend on the type of accident, who caused it and other details.

What if my car breaks down?

Your car is only a machine, and machines break down. Tires blow out, mechanical parts fail, batteries die. Roadside assistance coverage exists with this in mind: protection in case of breakdowns or emergencies.

Statistically speaking, you’re more likely to break down and need roadside assistance coverage if your car is:

• Pre-owned
• An older model
• High mileage
• Heavily modified with aftermarket or performance parts 
• Driven in an area with harsh weather and/or rough roads

Even if none of those apply to you, you could still need roadside assistance coverage. There’s always a chance you could blow a tire, lose your keys or run out of gas. And if you don’t have roadside assistance coverage, you won’t be reimbursed for related costs.

Finally, if you have insurance that bundles towing protection with collision or comprehensive coverage, you still may not be covered for breakdowns or roadside emergencies. Those bundles are usually intended for towing after an accident, not breakdowns.

Is roadside assistance considered a claim?

Yes, requesting roadside assistance is generally considered a claim.

If your car breaks down or needs a tow, you’ll first pay for any services you need out-of-pocket. But if you’ve purchased roadside assistance coverage or towing coverage, you can file a claim with your insurance and be reimbursed for those costs.¹ (You likely won’t get all your money back, but you’ll be reimbursed up to your policy limits, which can be a substantial amount.)

For more on how it all works, learn about our Roadside Assistance Coverage.

Final thoughts

As you can see, whether you’re covered for towing is a tricky topic. It’s possible (though unlikely) roadside assistance or towing coverage is already included in your standard policy, but even then, there are caveats. If your car breaks down, the only way you’re likely to be reimbursed for towing costs is with roadside assistance purchased separately.

If you’d like to know more about roadside assistance coverage , talk to your insurance agent today—they can help you determine how much coverage you need and answer any questions.

Updated 8-25-25