The best credit cards in Canada with roadside assistance in 2024

We've rounded up the best credit cards with free roadside assistance among their list of benefits.

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As you prep your car for the winter, it’s time to think about your credit card for a very special perk. 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.

Best credit cards with roadside assistance

CategoryRoadside Assistance Credit Card
Best cash back cardTD Cash Back Visa Infinite*
Best instant-approval cardTriangle World Elite Mastercard
Honourable mentionBMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard*

Why trust us

MoneySense is an award-winning magazine, helping Canadians navigate money matters since 1999. Our editorial team of trained journalists works closely with leading personal finance experts in Canada. To help you find the best financial products, we compare the offerings from over 12 major institutions, including banks, credit unions and card issuers. Learn more about our advertising and trusted partners.

Best cash back credit card for roadside assistance

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TD Cash Back Visa Infinite Card

  • Annual fee: $139 (rebated for the first year.)
  • Earn rate: 3% cash back on gas, grocery and recurring bill payments; 1% on all other purchases
  • Welcome offer: You can earn up to $500 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. Account must be approved by June 3, 2024.
  • Annual income requirement: Personal income of $60,000 or household income of $100,000
  • Rewards redemptions: Redeem at anytime when you have at least $25 worth of cash back earned
  • Recommended credit score for approval: 725 or higher
  • Interest rates: 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers

At a glance: 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.  


Best instant-approval credit card with free roadside assistance

Triangle World Elite Mastercard

Visit triangle.canadiantire.ca for more details
  • Annual fee: $0
  • Earn rate: 4% back on purchases at Canadian Tire, Sport Chek, Mark’s/L’Équipeur, Atmosphere, Party City, Sports Rousseau, Hockey Experts, L’Entrepôt du Hockey and participating Sports Experts stores; 3% at grocery stores (excluding Walmart and Costco), up to $12,000 per year; 1% everywhere else; $0.05 to $0.07 back per litre at Gas+ and Essence+
  • Welcome offer: Get 15% back in Canadian Tire Money on your first purchase at a participating retailer, up to $50.
  • Annual income requirement: Personal income of $80,000 or household income of $150,000
Visit triangle.canadiantire.ca for more details
  • Recommended credit score for approval: Not specified
  • Interest rates: 19.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers

At a glance: 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. Also, cardholders receive exclusive discounts and offers on oil changes, car washes, entertainment, shopping, travel, hotels, attractions and more.


Honourable mention

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BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard

Get a $50 Cash Bonus upon approval on ratehub.ca
  • Annual fee: $120
  • Earn rate: 5% cash back on groceries, 4% back on transit, 3% back on gas and electric vehicle charging, 2% on recurring bill payments, and 1% back on everything else
  • Welcome bonus: You can earn up to 10% cash back in your first three months and have the $120 annual fee waived in the first year.
  • Annual income requirement: Personal income of $80,000 or household income of $150,000
Get a $50 Cash Bonus upon approval on ratehub.ca
  • Additional benefits: Complimentary Roadside Assistance Program; BMO World Elite Total Travel and Medical Protection; 25% off at National and Alamo for car rentals; and Mastercard Travel Rewards program.
  • Interest rates: 20.99% on purchases, 23.99% on cash advances, 23.99% on balance transfers

At a glance: 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.


Is roadside assistance worth it?

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.

Read more on Canada’s best credit cards:

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About Lisa Hannam

About Lisa Hannam

Lisa Hannam is the executive editor at MoneySense.ca. She is an award-winning editor with over 20 years of experience in service journalism.
About Keph Senett

About Keph Senett

Keph Senett writes about personal finance through a community-building lens. She seeks to make clear and actionable knowledge available to everyone.