The TRUTH about GEICO Roadside Assistance: Review

updated Feb 25, 2022

GEICO is the second largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States. They currently insure more than 28 million of the vehicles zipping around the roads because of their competitive pricing.

Of course, those cars and trucks may occasionally get a flat or have the battery die. So it seems logical that GEICO would offer their customers the option of purchasing an add-on Emergency Road Service (ERS) package at a competitive price as well. 

How Much Does GEICO Roadside Assistance Cost?

Customers may, at any time, add Roadside Assistance coverage to their existing GEICO auto insurance policy. Unlike other providers, GEICO only charges $1.17 per month for each vehicle covered under the same auto policy. In other words, if you have three automobiles covered under your family GEICO policy then you’ll only pay $3.51 per month for all three vehicles. That’s pretty reasonable when you take a look at other comparable roadside programs. 

For example, Progressive sells a very similar roadside package to their policyholders but the cost is $23 annually. If you decide to go for a full blown auto club or association, like AAA, then you should expect to pay much higher premiums for roadside services.

We mean “higher” as in nearly five times what you’ll pay for GEICO’s emergency roadside program. Of course, auto clubs tend to offer broader services, as well as other perks and discounts. 

Before you commit to any roadside assistance plan, we encourage you to evaluate the different services offered versus the annual price you’ll pay to have that particular plan.

In addition, think about what you’ll pay out-of-pocket if you decide to skip getting a 24-hour roadside assistance altogether. Can you afford to hire a locksmith if your keys are locked in the vehicle? Do you know the average towing charges within your region? 

We recommend you explore all options before committing to any particular program. 

What is Included in GEICO Roadside Service?

We wondered the same thing and then did the research for you. Here’s what GEICO advertises as part of their 24-hour roadside assistance program: 

• Towing to the nearest repair location, up to 100 miles
• $100 towards locksmith service to access your vehicle
• Winching and/or Extraction for up to 1 hour regardless of distance from roadway
• Up to 1 hour of mechanical labor at the site of the breakdown
• Delivery of gasoline 
• Change of flat tire
• Jump start of battery

Now let’s review what is NOT covered under the GEICO roadside plan:

• Battery delivery and installation
• Emergency electric vehicle charging

Of course, auto clubs tend to have the most robust service offerings, as well as other perks and discounts. None of the auto insurers, including GEICO, include things like bicycle breakdown or trip interruption compensation. 

How to Contact GEICO’s Roadside Service?

The most straightforward way to use GEICO’s roadside assistance is by calling GEICO’s toll-free phone number 1-800-424-3426. However, if you use the GEICO mobile app to request help, GEICO will actually be able to pinpoint your exact location. This will save you from figuring out where you are located and having to communicate that information to them.  

GEICO is famous for their excellent mobile service app. Actually the GEICO mobile app currently has a 4.8/5.0 star rating based on 225,000 consumer reviews. The GEICO mobile app is a convenient way for policyholders keep up on their coverage (think tracking claims and downloading ID cards), as well as request emergency roadside service day or night. 

Remember, if you are stranded in the boondocks and opt to call an independent towing/service company (rather than GEICO), be sure to save your receipts for possible future reimbursement. You probably won’t be reimbursed if you don’t have receipts.

How Does GEICO Handle Roadside Service Claims? 

You may live in a busy metro area, like Houston or New York, that has statutes requiring you to contact the nearest towing service. Although that towing company may not be part of the GEICO network, you can pay out-of-pocket at the time of the service and submit a claim to GEICO later. The insurer guarantees they will reimburse their ERS policyholders subject to the limits of their policy. 

To get your ERS claim processed, you’ll need to send GEICO the original receipt with your name, address, phone number, and policy number. For any questions related to the ERS claim, phone their dedicated number: (800) 522-7775. 

How Does GEICO Roadside Assistance Compare to Other Providers?

As you’ll see in the chart below, it’s probably only fair to compare GEICO’s roadside service to what other insurance carriers are currently offering. GEICO’s pricing and benefits are quite similar to Progressive, Allstate, and USAA. 

In comparison to AAA’s extensive benefits, GEICO roadside assistance is lacking somewhat but AAA members also pay quite a bit more. AAA members that travel frequently appreciate their extensive discounts on airline tickets, rental cars, and hotel rooms which are not available through GEICO. If you’re investing that much in a roadside plan you may never actually use then maybe you should expect some extras. With GEICO, you get just what you need and exactly what you can afford. 

We put together the below chart to help you figure out if GEICO roadside assistance will (or will not) be the best choice for you. 

	GEICO	USAA	Progressive	State Farm	AAA
Yearly Cost	$14	$12-15	$23	$48	$79
Winching/ Extrication	1 hr		100 ft	Free if reachable from road	Free if reachable from road
Towing	100 miles	Nearest	15 miles	Nearest	7 miles
On-Site Mechanical Adjustment	1 hr	Free if possible	1 hr	1 hr	Free if possible
Car Locksmith	$100	√	1 hr	1 hr	$50
Fuel Delivery	√	√	√	√	√
Jump Start	√	√	√	√	√
Flat Tire Service	√	√	√	√	√
Battery Delivery & Installation					√
Trip Interruption Reimbursement					Up to $250
Auto/Stereo Theft Reward					$500 auto/ $200 stereo
Legal Defense Reimbursement					$50 – $300
Emergency Electric Vehicle Charging					√
Bicycle Breakdown					√
Identity Theft Protection					√
Products/Services Discounts					√

Which Roadside Assistance Should You Choose?

We can’t tell you if GEICO is the best roadside assistance plan for you and your family. However, we can advise you to consider these important questions when deciding: 

• How far do you and your family members drive on average? 
• Does your car still have a manufacturer’s warranty? 
• Which services are you and your family most likely to use? 
• If you don’t have any ERS, what’s your plan for managing vehicle breakdowns? 

In case you’re wondering, we checked around for GEICO customer feedback regarding their ERS program. The carrier received 4.7/5 star rating based on 1,222 policyholder reviews. Overall 97% of the customers would recommend the GEICO emergency road service.

At the end of the day, it’s all about picking the 24-hour emergency roadside plan that works for each driver within your household. It makes good sense to pay for a program that you’re most likely to use. Should you decide GEICO is the one you want then simply go to your mobile app or online customer account and follow the prompts.