Overview: Roadside Assistance
Roadside assistance gets a stalled car moving again where it stopped. A boost, a lockout, a tire change, a splash of gas, a loose battery cable. Most calls end with you driving away.
Winter sets the workload. The first deep cold snap brings a wave of dead batteries, and a storm can stretch the wait for hours. That's why the kit in your trunk matters. Canada's emergency preparedness advice lists a blanket, a small shovel, a scraper, jumper cables, sand or cat litter, and water in plastic bottles. If you're stuck in a storm, stay in the car and keep the tailpipe clear of snow.
Coverage comes from several places. A CAA membership covers the member, not the car, so it works when you ride as a passenger too. Insurers sell roadside help as an add-on, and many credit cards and new-car warranties include a version. Most plans cap the calls you get each year and set how far a tow goes.
Our listings show what each provider states on its own website about service area, hours and fees. Use the province and city lists below to find providers that cover your roads.
Cost of roadside assistance in Canada
Need help now? Compare the call-out total first. An annual membership is a separate decision and may not cover a breakdown that has already happened. Passenger vehicles in normal urban coverage. One-off service prices and annual memberships are alternatives.
| Service | Budget estimate | Scope and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Battery boost | CA$75–90per call-out · Ask whether taxes are included | Routine passenger-vehicle jump start; replacement battery extra. |
| Fit your spare tire | CA$75–100per call-out · Ask whether taxes are included | Install a usable spare you already have; no new tire or puncture repair. |
| Vehicle lockout | CA$75–120per call-out · Ask whether taxes are included | Unlock a routine passenger car; no replacement key. |
| Emergency fuel delivery | Starting prices CA$85–90per call-out, fuel extra · Taxes extra | Delivery service within the usual local service area.Add the fuel itself and any outlying-area charge. |
| Annual plan: short-distance towing | CA$74.99–115per member, per year · Taxes extra | Entry-level passenger-vehicle cover; compare call limits and towing distance.Regular annual prices; example plans include up to 10 km per covered tow. |
| Annual plan: longer-distance towing | CA$114.99–165per member, per year · Taxes extra | Extended passenger-vehicle cover; check covered destinations and exclusions.Regular annual prices; example plans include up to 200 km per covered tow. |
What changes the price
- Location, time of day and vehicle type
- What your existing vehicle, insurance or card cover includes
- Membership call limits, tow distance and waiting period
Ask before you book
- What will this specific call cost, including travel and any failed-service charge?
- If the first service fails, is any payment credited toward a tow?
- When does membership cover begin, and does it cover me or one registered vehicle?
Comparing offers
Confirm coverage before paying twice. Compare regular renewal prices as well as introductory offers.
Starting prices are entry prices for the stated scope, not a ceiling on the final quote.
Frequently asked questions
What can actually be fixed at the roadside?
Boosts, lockouts, fuel delivery, a spare put on, a blown fuse or a loose battery cable. In deep cold, add frozen door locks and cars that won't start because the block heater never got plugged in. In some areas CAA also tests and replaces batteries on the spot. Anything that needs a hoist, parts or a proper diagnosis leaves on the back of a truck.
When does a roadside call stop being a roadside call?
When the fix won't hold long enough to get you home. A battery that dies again a few blocks later, an engine that keeps overheating, a brake or steering warning. Then it's a tow. In Ontario, tow operators need a provincial certificate. Unless police direct the tow, they also need your written consent on a form showing where the car is going and the maximum rates. Read it before you sign.
Do I already have roadside cover somewhere?
Quite possibly. Check your auto policy for a roadside endorsement, your credit card benefits and the new-car warranty booklet. A CAA membership covers you rather than a particular car, so it still applies when you're riding with someone else. The fine print sets the limits: how many calls you get each year, how far a tow goes, and whether a card's plan needs you to have paid with that card.
Is it safe to wait in the car on the shoulder?
On a quiet street, yes. On a busy highway shoulder, it's usually safer to get out on the side away from traffic if there's a safe place to stand. In a blizzard the advice flips. Canada's emergency preparedness guidance says stay inside and keep the tailpipe clear of snow, since a blocked pipe can push exhaust into the car. In Ontario, passing drivers must slow down for a tow truck stopped with amber lights flashing.
What should I keep in the car for a winter breakdown?
Enough to stay warm and get unstuck while you wait. Canada's Get Prepared list includes a blanket, extra clothing, a small shovel, a scraper and snowbrush, a wind-up flashlight, jumper cables, sand or cat litter, and water in plastic bottles that won't break if they freeze. Add a phone charger that works in the car. A long wait in a storm is far easier with all of that on board.
