The difference between free vs. paid roadside assistance in Canada
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Earlier this year, my car died in a parking lot. You may know the dreaded feeling: you turn the key over and over, you hear the engine rev but it doesn’t start, and you hope that your car will come back to life, but – nothing. To make matters worse, I wasn’t covered by any roadside assistance plan.
Flash forward to now, and I know that roadside assistance is a must for any driver. You might think that CAA is the go-to roadside assistance provider, but it’s not the only game in town. Canadian Tire and even your credit card can provide workable roadside assistance alternatives.
What is roadside assistance?
Roadside assistance is added coverage aside from insurance that can help you in the event that something goes wrong with your car while you’re on the road. Companies that provide roadside assistance can help with anything ranging from helping you get back into your vehicle if you’re locked out or towing you to a mechanic in the event of a total breakdown.
Free roadside assistance
While not everyone loves getting stuck by the side of the road in a dead car, the situation becomes less dire when you remember that your credit card comes with 24/7 roadside assistance and that you don’t even have to pay a cent.
To take advantage of this free roadside assistance, all you have to do is call the phone number on the back of the card or in your benefit agreement and wait for a tow truck to come to the rescue.
Below you’ll find the credit cards with the best roadside assistance options in the country.
Recommended credit cards for free roadside assistance in Canada
BMO CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®*
up to 10%
Welcome Bonus
$950
First Year Value
$690
Annual Value
Welcome Bonus: Get up to 10% cash back in your first 3 months and the $120 annual fee waived in the first anniversary* Expires Jun 01, 2025
Get this card if you...
-
are a high-earner looking to earn cash back
-
want great perks like travel insurance and concierge services
-
value a great welcome offer
Annual Fee & Annual Interest Rates
$120
Annual Fee
21.99%
Purchase
23.99%
Cash Advance
23.99%
Balance Transfer
Our Take
The BMO CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®* is a premium credit card offering elevated cash back rates on categories such as groceries, transit, gas, and recurring bill payments. Cardholders benefit from complimentary roadside assistance, comprehensive insurance coverage, and flexible cash back redemption options, so you can maximize your rewards on everyday spending.
Eligibility
Excellent (740+)
Recommended Credit Score
$80,000
Required Annual Personal Income
$150,000
Required Annual Household Income
Pros
-
Valuable sign-up bonus
-
High 5% cash back rate on groceries
-
Free roadside assistance
-
Excellent extended warranty and purchase protection terms
Cons
-
Restrictive spending limits for most cash back categories
-
Sign-up bonus structure is head-scratchingly complicated
-
High minimum income requirements
Annual Interest Rates
21.99%
Purchase
23.99%
Cash Advance
23.99%
Balance Transfer
Fees
$120
Annual Fee
$2.5
Foreign Transaction
Rewards cash back
5%
Groceries: 5% cash back up to $500 spent per month ($25 in cash back)*
4%
Transit: 4% cash back up to $300 spent per month ($12 in cash back)*
3%
Gas: 3% cash back up to $300 spent per month ($9 in cash back)*
2%
Recurring Bills: 2% cash back up to $500 spent per month ($10 in cash back)*
1%
Everything Else: 1% cash back, unlimited*
Insurance Benefits
$2,000,000
Emergency medical insurance amount
$500,000
Travel accident insurance amount
$65,000
Rental car insurance amount
Our Take
The BMO CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®* is a premium credit card offering elevated cash back rates on categories such as groceries, transit, gas, and recurring bill payments. Cardholders benefit from complimentary roadside assistance, comprehensive insurance coverage, and flexible cash back redemption options, so you can maximize your rewards on everyday spending.
Eligibility
Excellent (740+)
Recommended Credit Score
$80,000
Required Annual Personal Income
$150,000
Required Annual Household Income
Pros
-
Valuable sign-up bonus
-
High 5% cash back rate on groceries
-
Free roadside assistance
-
Excellent extended warranty and purchase protection terms
Cons
-
Restrictive spending limits for most cash back categories
-
Sign-up bonus structure is head-scratchingly complicated
-
High minimum income requirements
Annual Interest Rates
21.99%
Purchase
23.99%
Cash Advance
23.99%
Balance Transfer
Fees
$120
Annual Fee
$2.5
Foreign Transaction
Rewards cash back
5%
Groceries: 5% cash back up to $500 spent per month ($25 in cash back)*
4%
Transit: 4% cash back up to $300 spent per month ($12 in cash back)*
3%
Gas: 3% cash back up to $300 spent per month ($9 in cash back)*
2%
Recurring Bills: 2% cash back up to $500 spent per month ($10 in cash back)*
1%
Everything Else: 1% cash back, unlimited*
Insurance Benefits
$2,000,000
Emergency medical insurance amount
$500,000
Travel accident insurance amount
$65,000
Rental car insurance amount
When you sign up for a BMO credit card eligible for roadside assistance, you’ll get a free membership for basic coverage with Dominion Automobile Association (DAA)*. The membership is worth $69/year, but comes free with this credit card. The coverage with DAA covers you in any passenger vehicle, be it your own or a rented car. It includes four calls a year anywhere in Canada or the US, and covers emergency fuel delivery, flat tire change, lockout service, winching, and battery boost. There is, however, a short 10 km towing radius to the nearest garage so it’s not recommended for long-distance trips.
- *Terms and conditions apply
- BMO is not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click on the Apply now link for the most up to date information.
TD Cash Back Visa Infinite* Card
up to $600 in value
Welcome Bonus
$452
First Year Value
$0
Annual Value
Welcome Bonus: Earn up to $600 in value†, including 10% in Cash Back Dollars in the first 3 months on Bonus Eligible Purchases up to a total spend of $3,500†. Conditions Apply. Offer effective as of January 7, 2025.
Get this card if you...
-
want to earn cash back on everyday purchases
-
want to redeem cash back at any time
-
appreciate a good welcome offer
Annual Fee & Annual Interest Rates
$139
Annual Fee
20.99%
Purchase
22.99%
Cash Advance
22.99%
Balance Transfer
Our Take
The TD Cash Back Visa Infinite* Card is a cash back credit card offering elevated earn rates on gas, groceries, and recurring bill payments, with a standard rate on all other purchases. Cardholders benefit from perks such as a comprehensive roadside assistance package through the Deluxe TD Auto Club Membership and travel insurance coverage; however, the card carries an annual fee, and the elevated cash back rates are subject to a maximum spend limit, after which a lower rate applies.
Eligibility
Excellent (740+)
Recommended Credit Score
$60,000
Required Annual Personal Income
$100,000
Required Annual Household Income
Pros
-
Solid welcome offer
-
High earn rate for 3 popular categories
-
Can use cash back right away
-
Useful automotive benefits
Cons
-
Maximum spend limit for 3% cash back
-
High annual fee for a cash back card
Annual Interest Rates
20.99%
Purchase
22.99%
Cash Advance
22.99%
Balance Transfer
Fees
$139
Annual Fee
$2.5
Foreign Transaction
3.00%
Balance Transfer
$0
Over The Limit Penalty
Rewards cash back
3%
Earn 3% cash back on groceries, gas, and recurring bill paymentsâ€
1%
Earn 1% cash back on all other purchasesâ€
50%
Earn 50% more Starbucks Stars when you link your TD card to your Starbucks account.â€
Insurance Benefits
$1,000
Mobile device insurance amount
$65,000
Rental car insurance amount
Earn up to $600 in value†, including 10% in Cash Back Dollars in the first 3 months on Bonus Eligible Purchases up to a total spend of $3,500†. Conditions apply. Offer effective as of January 7, 2025.
To receive the first-year annual fee rebate for the Primary Cardholder, you must activate your Card and make your first Purchase on the Account within the first 3 months after Account opening. To receive the first Additional Cardholder first-year annual fee rebate, you must add your first Additional Cardholder while the offer is in effect. Starbucks Bonus Offer for New Linked Members†: Link your TD Cashback Visa Infinite to earn 600 Starbucks Stars and redeem them for free Starbucks treats. Limited time only. Conditions and restrictions apply. |
Our Take
The TD Cash Back Visa Infinite* Card is a cash back credit card offering elevated earn rates on gas, groceries, and recurring bill payments, with a standard rate on all other purchases. Cardholders benefit from perks such as a comprehensive roadside assistance package through the Deluxe TD Auto Club Membership and travel insurance coverage; however, the card carries an annual fee, and the elevated cash back rates are subject to a maximum spend limit, after which a lower rate applies.
Eligibility
Excellent (740+)
Recommended Credit Score
$60,000
Required Annual Personal Income
$100,000
Required Annual Household Income
Pros
-
Solid welcome offer
-
High earn rate for 3 popular categories
-
Can use cash back right away
-
Useful automotive benefits
Cons
-
Maximum spend limit for 3% cash back
-
High annual fee for a cash back card
Annual Interest Rates
20.99%
Purchase
22.99%
Cash Advance
22.99%
Balance Transfer
Fees
$139
Annual Fee
$2.5
Foreign Transaction
3.00%
Balance Transfer
$0
Over The Limit Penalty
Rewards cash back
3%
Earn 3% cash back on groceries, gas, and recurring bill paymentsâ€
1%
Earn 1% cash back on all other purchasesâ€
50%
Earn 50% more Starbucks Stars when you link your TD card to your Starbucks account.â€
Insurance Benefits
$1,000
Mobile device insurance amount
$65,000
Rental car insurance amount
Earn up to $600 in value†, including 10% in Cash Back Dollars in the first 3 months on Bonus Eligible Purchases up to a total spend of $3,500†. Conditions apply. Offer effective as of January 7, 2025.
To receive the first-year annual fee rebate for the Primary Cardholder, you must activate your Card and make your first Purchase on the Account within the first 3 months after Account opening. To receive the first Additional Cardholder first-year annual fee rebate, you must add your first Additional Cardholder while the offer is in effect. Starbucks Bonus Offer for New Linked Members†: Link your TD Cashback Visa Infinite to earn 600 Starbucks Stars and redeem them for free Starbucks treats. Limited time only. Conditions and restrictions apply. |
This offer is not available for residents of Quebec. For Quebec residents, please click here.
The TD Cash Back Visa Infinite* Card offers one of the best roadside assistance package available on a credit card. With this card, you’ll get access to the Deluxe TD Auto Club Membership†. This plan includes all the standard services like emergency service calls, lockout services, winching, traffic accident emergency services, and more†.
Of the rest of the cards, it’s 200 km towing radius is only beaten by the Triangle World Elite Mastercard and you can call for service six times throughout the year. Additionally, if you’re unable to contact the TD Auto Club for assistance and you use another service provider, you’ll get reimbursed up to a set amount for services like lockout assistance or emergency service calls†. Not only does this card provide excellent roadside assistance, but it’s also one of the best credit cards to use for gas rewards in Canada.
Learn more by reading our complete TD Cash Back Visa Infinite* Card review.
†Terms and conditions apply.
†Terms and conditions apply.
This offer is not available for residents of Quebec. For Quebec residents, please click here.
The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) is not responsible for the contents of this site including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete and current information on any TD product, please click the Apply Now button.
Paid roadside assistance in Canada
Paid roadside assistance plans offer the same services as the credit card plans, but for an annual or monthly membership fee. Paid plans still limit the towing radius and number of service calls available per year. There are second-tier plans available that expand the towing radius, number of calls and level of service, but they cost more. In Canada, the best paid roadside plans are available from Canadian Tire and the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA).
Canadian Tire
For $99.95, the Canadian Tire Gold Plan gives you all the regular services plus free emergency fuel deliveries and a towing radius of 200 km and one extra service call than you’d get with CAA. With roadside assistance from Canadian Tire, you’ll also get member perks like discounts on Canadian Tire Garage services and on partnered car rentals. The Canadian Tire Gold Plan is also available free with The Canadian Tire Triangle World Elite Mastercard.
CAA
Of course, you can always rely on a CAA membership to help you out with car troubles in a pinch. The available plans and prices vary depending on your location and whether you opt for an annual or monthly payment, but the Plus plan offers the best value. With it, you’ll get four service calls a year and a towing distance of 200km, free emergency fuel delivery, battery services, and more. Since CAA is such a wide network, members will also get other perks like free passport photos, special pricing on merchandise, bicycle assistance, and road trip accident assistance.
Paid or free: what roadside assistance is better?
You may want to invest in paid roadside assistance if you often drive long distances or you drive an older vehicle that’s prone to breakdowns. Otherwise, the service provided by one of the roadside assistance credit card plans mentioned here may be sufficient coverage, particularly if you only drive locally.
FAQs
BMO is not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click on the Apply now link for the most up to date information.
The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) is not responsible for the contents of this site including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete and current information on any TD product, please click the Apply Now button. Sponsored Content.
Aaron Broverman is a freelance writer based in Toronto. When he’s not writing about money for publications like Yahoo Canada and Money.ca, you’re likely to find his nose in a comic book. He likes comics so much, he hosts a podcast called Speech Bubble where he interviews those involved in the comic industry. You can follow him on Twitter: @broverman.
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†Terms and Conditions apply.