Roadside assistance is something you never think about—until you need it. Having one of these credit cards in your wallet will ensure you're never caught off guard. Use this guide to choose the option that's right for your spending habits and needs.
Add “roadside assistance” to the list that includes a plunger, first-aid kit and a screwdriver small enough to fix your sunglasses: “Things you don’t realize you need, until you need them.” But this credit card perk can feel like you won the lottery when you’re stranded on the highway during a good ol’ Canadian snowstorm or on a steaming hot long weekend on the road to cottage country. That’s why we rounded up the best credit cards with free roadside assistance.
You likely know credit cards can earn you travel points or cash back, but roadside assistance is an underrated perk. It’s worth looking at when when considering which credit card you want in your wallet. Roadside assistance could cost $75 or more a year, if you pay directly for a membership from Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) or another provider. Depending on where you live, the price of a tow can vary, but without a membership plan, some Canadians have been gouged $4,000 in fees for a single tow. When you have roadside assistance built in as a perk on your credit card, you can get emergency towing, gasoline delivery when you’ve stuck, your dead battery revived, your flat tires fixed, access to your car when you’ve locked the keys inside, and much more. The value of those emergency services makes the annual fee on the credit card worth paying, plus some cards waive that cost the first year, so it’s a win-win for this kind of perk.
| Category | Roadside Assistance Credit Card |
| Best cash back card | TD Cash Back Visa Infinite |
| Best instant-approval card | Triangle World Elite Mastercard |
| Honourable mentions | • Triangle Mastercard • BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard |
You might not expect a bank to offer roadside assistance with its credit card, but TD does through AXA Asistance. Its Deluxe Auto Club membership comes along with the TD Cash Back Visa Infinite credit card. Roadside assistance coverage is 24/7, and the service calls are unlimited (to personal use only, of course). The max towing distance is up to 200 kilometres to the nearest appropriate service centre. Also included are emergency tire changes, battery boost, lost key lockout assistance, emergency fuel delivery (five litres), and even stolen vehicle emergency services and claims (accommodations, transportation, personal necessities, etc.). Get up to $200 in meals and/or accommodation reimbursement when you’re stranded due to an auto incident. And, if you’re in need of legal advice for an automotive incident, in certain circumstances, you can receive up to $300 toward the fees you paid. Travel planning and emergency car rental reimbursement are also part of the package.
Get more details about the TD Cash Back Visa Infinite Card*
The Triangle World Elite Mastercard includes a Roadside Assistance Gold Plan that is worth $115 (65 for a secondary member) annually. The program includes towing for distances up to 200 kilometres per service call, with a flatbed or specialty equipment, and unlimited tows to Canadian Tire locations. Plus you get battery boosts, flat-tire changes, lockout service, fuel delivery (up to $5 of gas) and, should you get stuck in a ditch, extrication and winching. You’ll also have 24/7 service . This package is perfect for frequent road-trippers and people with long commutes. The rewards are tailored to regular Canadian Tire shoppers, but they work at other stores such as Sport Chek, Mark’s, Party City, Atmosphere, and seven other retailers. Purchases at these retailers will earn you 4% back in Canadian Tire (CT) Money. Plus, shop at grocers, excluding Costco and Walmart, to get 3% back in CT Money. Fuel spends at Gas+ and participating Husky locations have a return of $0.05 to $0.07 on the litre. (In 2024, it will also include Petro-Canada stations, too.) Your accumulated CT Money can be redeemed at Canadian Tire and participating retailers. Plus, cardholders receive exclusive discounts and offers on oil changes, car washes, entertainment, shopping, travel, hotels, attractions and more. You can apply online for instant credit and find out if you’re approved right away. Also, if you’re making a big purchase, you can also take advantage of its no fee, no interest financing on equal monthly payments for qualifying $150 minimum purchases at any of our participating retailers $150.
If you buy your wipers and oil at Canadian Tire and fill up your tank regularly at Gas+ stations, then you might as well reward yourself with gas rewards and the coverage of road side assistance with the Triangle Mastercard. One of the nice perks, is the Gold Member Plan from Canadian Tire, which has an annual value of $115. You can use it if you’re the driver or passenger of a car. You’re covered for towing distance up to 200 kilometres per service call to the destination of your choice. And when you use this card at Gas+ stations, you earn $0.05 per litre in CT Money rewards.
With the BMO CashBack World Elite credit card, you get basic coverage access to the roadside assistance program with Dominion Automobile Association (DAA) for free—it costs $99 annually on its own. Coverage is 24/7, and you get up to four service calls per year. The maximum distance for towing is 10 kilometres. The service includes emergency tire changes, winching, battery boost, lost key lockout assistance and emergency fuel delivery. Coverage is free for additional cardholders.
Get more details about the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard*
| Credit Card | Service Calls Annually | Towing Distance |
|---|---|---|
| TD CashBack Visa | Unlimited | 200 km |
| Triangle World Elite Mastercard | 5 | 200 km |
| Triangle Mastercard | 5 | 200 km |
| BMO CashBack World Elite | 4 | 10 km |
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