How Does Roadside Assistance Work in Arkansas? Towing and Labor, Claims and Your Towing Rights
Most drivers are not sure whether they have roadside coverage, what it includes, or whether using it costs them later. The first two answers take a minute with your declarations page. The third is the one worth reading closely.
What is roadside assistance on an auto policy?
It is an optional add-on. On many policies it appears as towing and labor rather than roadside assistance, sometimes next to a separately named emergency road service package. If neither line is on your declarations page, you did not buy it. The NAIC lists towing among the optional coverages you can add.
What it usually pays for
The Idaho Department of Insurance describes roadside or towing and labor coverage as paying for towing and similar help, such as a lockout or running out of fuel. Jump starts and tire changes are common inclusions. Exact services differ by insurance company.
How a call works
You call the number your insurer gives you, a contracted provider comes out, and the insurer pays that provider up to what the coverage allows. Anything beyond the allowance, a tow past the covered distance being the usual one, comes back to you.
Limits differ by company and tier
Distance and dollar allowances vary between insurance companies and between coverage tiers at the same company. Regulators advise reading what is and is not covered, so check your own policy rather than an article.
What it does not replace
Roadside coverage is not repair coverage. It gets the car moving or to a shop. The repair itself is an ownership cost, or a collision or comprehensive claim if a covered loss caused it.
You may be paying for this more than once
Roadside help reaches drivers through several channels: the auto policy, a motor club membership, a credit card benefit and a manufacturer program on many newer cars. The FTC notes you may already have roadside help through a motor club, credit card or your auto policy. Find out which you have before you need one.
Does using roadside assistance count as a claim?
It can. A roadside call usually does not surcharge your premium the way an at-fault accident can, but some insurers record it as a claim, and the record can appear in your claims history.
It may be reported to CLUE
A Triple-I spokesperson told a VERIFY news report that roadside assistance requests can count as claims and be reported to CLUE, the industry claims database insurers check when you apply or renew. Nationwide confirmed it reports them. AAA said its own roadside service, which is separate from insurance, does not.
Not a surcharge, but still a record
Not raising your rate and not counting are two different things. Insurers weigh claim history when deciding whether to renew a policy and when deciding whether to write a new one. How much a run of small service calls matters varies by insurance company.
Use what you bought, wisely
None of this is a reason to sit on the shoulder of I-49 at night instead of calling. It is a reason to know which number to call. If you also have a motor club that keeps service calls off your insurance record, that may be the better first call for small jobs.
Check your own report
You can request a free copy of your CLUE report once a year under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and dispute errors with LexisNexis. If you have used roadside several times recently, tell us before your renewal.
What does roadside assistance usually cover?
General mechanics. Service lists, distance allowances and per-call limits vary by insurance company and coverage tier, and your own policy controls.
| Situation | Usually included | Worth checking |
|---|---|---|
| Flat tire | Changing to your spare | What happens if there is no usable spare |
| Dead battery | Jump start | Whether a new battery is a service or a purchase |
| Locked out | Lockout service | Whether a replacement key or fob is extra |
| Out of fuel | Fuel delivered to the car | Whether the fuel itself is billed |
| Will not start | Tow to a repair shop | Covered distance, and who picks the shop |
| Stuck off the road | Sometimes, as winching or extrication | Often limited, a common source of surprise bills |
| Towed after a crash | Usually handled under the accident claim | Where the car went and who is billed for storage |
What is the difference between a consent and a non-consent tow in Arkansas?
A consent tow is one done with the permission of the owner or the person in charge of the car, which is what a roadside call is. A non-consent tow moves a vehicle without that permission, such as an unattended, abandoned or disabled car, which often happens after a crash.
Why the label matters
Arkansas’s towing law defines both terms in Ark. Code § 27-50-1202, and the state’s consumer protections for overcharging focus on non-consent towing, recovery and storage. After a crash on a Northwest Arkansas highway, the truck that arrives may not be one you chose.
The Towing and Recovery Board
Ark. Code § 27-50-1203 creates the Arkansas Towing and Recovery Board, now under the Department of Labor and Licensing. It directs the Board to set up a procedure to accept and investigate consumer complaints about overcharging for non-consent towing, recovery, storage or immobilization, and to sanction excessive fees.
What to ask for
Board rules require operators to keep a current maximum rate schedule posted where the public can see it and to provide itemized billing that explains how towing and storage charges were figured. If a bill looks wrong, ask for both first. This is general information, not legal advice.
Does Arkansas law stop insurers from counting roadside calls against me?
Not directly. Ark. Code § 23-63-110 bars an insurer from cancelling a policy or raising the premium solely because of claims that did not result in a loss to the insurer. A paid roadside call is a payment by the insurer, so that protection generally does not reach it.
What the statute does protect
It covers claims that cost the insurer nothing, and it says a request for policy information, or a conversation about whether an event is covered, is not a claim at all. Our guide on being dropped by your home insurer explains how it works for homeowners.
Why a tow is different
When the insurer pays a provider for your tow or jump start, that payment is a loss to the insurer. The claim sits outside the statute’s protection, even though it is small.
Where the line sits varies
How many service calls an insurance company tolerates before it matters is an underwriting decision, not a published rule, and it changes. That is a good question to put to us rather than guess at.
After a crash, start with the claim
A tow after an accident is part of the accident claim, not roadside coverage. Our guide on being rear-ended in Arkansas covers who pays when another driver caused it.
How do I set up roadside help before I break down?
Ten minutes now saves a stressful decision on the side of the road.
- Check for towing and labor on your declarations page.
Two minutes settles it.
- List every other source you have.
Motor club, credit card, manufacturer program. Duplicate coverage is common, and some sources stay off your insurance record.
- Note the covered tow distance.
It is the term most likely to produce an unexpected bill, especially if your preferred shop is not the nearest one.
- Decide which number you will call first.
Save it in your phone. Making that choice at night on a shoulder is how it gets made for you.
- After a non-consent tow, ask for the rate schedule and itemized bill.
Both are required. Asking early is easier than disputing later while storage accrues.
Know what you carry, and what it has cost you.
Cribb Insurance Group is an independent agency in Bentonville serving Northwest Arkansas. We compare coverage from multiple insurance companies and can tell you whether towing and labor is on your policy, how far it tows, and how the companies we work with treat service calls, so you can choose the roadside option that fits.
Ask Cribby about roadside assistance
Cribby is Cribb Insurance Group’s AI assistant for general insurance questions. Start with one of these, or ask your own. For your own policy, talk with our team.
Want to see what your current policy says? Upload your declarations page to Coverage Compare. It shows whether towing and labor or roadside coverage is on each vehicle, alongside your other coverages, so you can see what you already have before adding a motor club.
Use Coverage CompareRoadside assistance questions
How does roadside assistance work on an auto policy?
It is optional coverage, often shown as towing and labor on the declarations page. You call the number your insurer provides, a contracted provider comes out, and the insurer pays the provider up to what the coverage allows. Anything beyond that, such as a tow past the covered distance, comes back to you.
Does using roadside assistance count as a claim?
It can. A roadside call usually does not surcharge your premium like an at-fault accident, but some insurers record it as a claim and report it to the CLUE claims database. Insurers look at claim history at renewal and when writing new policies, so a run of small calls can matter even if none raised your rate.
Does a jump start or lockout count as a roadside call?
If your insurer paid a provider to come out, it is a service call under the coverage, whatever the size of the bill. Jump starts, lockouts, fuel delivery, tire changes and tows are all typical examples. A motor club membership that is separate from your insurance may keep small calls off your insurance record.
Does Arkansas law protect me if a claim did not cost the insurer anything?
Yes, in part. Ark. Code § 23-63-110 bars an insurer from cancelling or raising premium solely because of claims that did not result in a loss to the insurer. A roadside call the insurer paid for is a loss to the insurer, so it generally falls outside that protection. This is general information, not legal advice.
What is a non-consent tow in Arkansas?
Arkansas law defines a non-consent tow as moving, holding or retrieving a vehicle, such as an unattended, abandoned or disabled one, without the express or implied permission of the owner or person in charge. A consent tow is one you authorized. The state’s overcharging complaint process focuses on non-consent towing, recovery and storage.
Can I dispute a towing bill in Arkansas?
Yes. Ark. Code § 27-50-1203 directs the Arkansas Towing and Recovery Board to accept and investigate complaints from consumers who believe they were overcharged for non-consent towing, recovery or storage. Board rules require operators to post a maximum rate schedule and provide itemized billing. Ask for both before you pay.
Is roadside assistance worth adding to my policy?
It depends on what you already have. If a motor club, credit card or manufacturer program already covers you, adding it to the policy may duplicate that. If you have nothing else, it can be a practical add-on, and what it costs varies by insurance company. Check your declarations page and other memberships, then ask us to price it.
Sources we checked for this guide:
- Ark. Code § 23-63-110, claims that do not result in a loss
- Ark. Code § 27-50-1202, consent and non-consent towing defined
- Ark. Code § 27-50-1203, Arkansas Towing and Recovery Board
- Arkansas Towing and Recovery Board rules (rate schedule, itemized billing)
- Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing: Towing and Recovery Board
- Idaho Department of Insurance: Optional auto coverages
- VERIFY: Do roadside assistance calls go on your CLUE report?
Insurance answers you can understand. From a local agency you can know.
We believe good insurance decisions start with clear information. Our Northwest Arkansas insurance guides explain coverage, pricing considerations and policy differences in everyday language, so you can shop with greater confidence.
Find out whether you have roadside coverage, and how your insurer counts it.
Send us your declarations page. We will tell you whether towing and labor is on it, how far it tows, and whether recent service calls could shape your renewal. That last conversation is worth having before the renewal, and we can compare options from multiple insurance companies while we are at it.
A quote is an estimate. It is not a guarantee of final premium, coverage or eligibility. The insurance company sets the actual rate and the actual coverage terms after its underwriting review, and they may differ from any figure shown here. Cribb Insurance Group Inc is an independent insurance agency, not an insurance company. Your insurance company issues the policy and pays covered claims. Coverage cannot be bound, changed or cancelled through this website, email, social media or voicemail, and is not in force until Cribb Insurance Group Inc or the insurance company confirms it in writing. Coverage, eligibility, discounts and prices vary by insurance company, policy and individual situation. Cribb Insurance Group Inc, 1601 SW Regional Airport Blvd, Bentonville, AR 72713, (479) 286-1066.