Yes, whenever an auto policyholder enacts their roadside assistance coverage, it counts as a claim.
However, it doesn’t affect your car insurance rates as much as you think. Emergency Roadside assistance provided by your car insurance company is a handy service while on the road. It is even cheaper than those offered by auto clubs.
The most asked question about roadside assistance is how severe a claim is and whether it will affect car insurance rates by showing up on their record.
One roadside assistance claim, even two, won’t affect your car insurance premiums. You use your roadside assistance plan when your car has an issue you which you didn’t cause, so there’s no fault in the claim.
However, when a driver starts having excessive roadside assistance claims, action may be taken by your insurance company.
Usually, after at least two roadside assistance claims in a year, your rates may show an increase. Your insurance company may even consider you high-risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a tow arranged by my insurance company show up on my auto insurance record?
Service-only roadside events don’t get reported to your auto insurance record, but if the tow is related to vehicle damage from an accident or other loss event, it will show up on your report. This can affect your future premiums or eligibility for certain coverage options.
Can frequent roadside assistance calls trigger a premium increase even if they’re not claims?
Yes, some insurance companies monitor roadside assistance usage patterns and frequent calls can indicate increased risk, which may result in higher premiums, limited roadside assistance coverage or other policy restrictions.
If my battery jump is reimbursed instead of billed directly, is that still a claim?
Reimbursement for a simple jump start is considered a minor expense under your roadside assistance endorsement, not an insurance claim. So it won’t affect your claims history or premium.
Does using AAA or another third-party provider impact my auto insurance record?
No, assistance from AAA or other third-party providers is separate from your auto insurance policy, so your insurance company won’t be notified unless you report an associated claim or incident.
Is there a limit to how many roadside calls I can make before I’m charged more?
Policies usually have a service call limit (3-5 calls per policy year); exceeding that limit can result in out-of-pocket expenses, a policy surcharge or a review of your coverage due to perceived higher risk.
If I add roadside assistance after a breakdown, will using it immediately count as a claim?
The first use after purchasing roadside assistance coverage usually counts as a standard service call. But some insurance companies have waiting periods or extra fees for same-day activations which can affect how that first service is handled.
Does roadside assistance affect my deductible like a claim does?
Roadside assistance doesn’t have a deductible like collision or comprehensive claims do. So getting roadside service won’t require any deductible payments or affect your claim-related deductible status.
