Capital One & roadside assistance benefits

Getting the most out of your credit card means more than just earning and redeeming rewards. If you’re a Capital One cardholder and you run into car trouble, help could be a call away. That’s because some Capital One cards come with roadside assistance benefits. 

Key takeaways

• Roadside assistance is designed to help drivers on frequently traveled roads and may not be available everywhere.

• Roadside assistance is available through eligible Capital One credit cards thanks to network benefits from Visa® and Mastercard®.

• Roadside benefits aren’t complimentary, but negotiated prices might be lower than what you can find on your own.

• Using roadside benefits can also save you the hassle of having to find and vet local service providers if you’re in a new place.

While Capital One doesn’t offer roadside assistance benefits directly, many Capital One cardholders have access to emergency roadside assistance through their network benefits with Visa and Mastercard.

Roadside assistance comes with some of Capital One’s credit cards, including eligible travel rewards cards and cash back cards. If your card comes with the roadside assistance benefit, it’s yours to use whenever you need it. There’s no pre-enrollment necessary.

Using your Capital One credit card’s roadside assistance benefit is as easy as making a phone call. 

Whom you should call can vary from card to card. So it’s best to check your card’s benefits guide to see which number you’ll need to call if you need roadside assistance. 

Not sure what benefits come with your account? Just take a look at your card. You’ll be able to see what type of Visa or Mastercard it is. For example, if you have a Visa Signature card or World Elite Mastercard, it should say so.

The operator should ask you where you are and what the problem is. Then, they should dispatch the appropriate local service provider.

And if you’re still not sure which number to call, you can always call Capital One—just use the number on the back of your card.

Pricing for roadside assistance depends on your card.

You might only have to pay a flat fee for each roadside service you need. But there can be additional fees in some situations, like if your car needs to be towed more than five miles or if it needs to be winched out of a ditch.

So why use roadside assistance? The fees for some services might be pre-negotiated by your card network. Or the prices for each service might be set by the actual service provider.

Typically, roadside assistance fees can be billed directly to your Capital One card to make the entire process easier. When you have a roadside emergency, the last thing you need is another bill to keep track of.

The services covered by roadside assistance can vary from card to card. But here’s what’s typically included in your roadside assistance network benefit: 

• Towing and winching

• Jump-starts

• Fuel delivery

• Flat tire changes 

• Lockout service 

With roadside assistance, you may not have to search for local services while you’re in a tight spot.

What’s not included in your roadside assistance benefits can vary depending on your credit card. But Visa and Mastercard roadside assistance benefits may not offer help for things like:

• Emergency services in off-road areas that are not accessible to ordinary towing vehicles

• Emergency services for large vehicles like trailers, campers, vehicles-in-tow or vehicles weighing over 10,000 pounds

If you need roadside assistance with a rental car, it’s probably a good idea to call the rental car agency first. It might have special procedures that you need to follow for emergency roadside services. 

But rental car insurance is also available through some Capital One credit cards. This benefit can save you the added cost of buying insurance through the rental company. If your card has a rental car insurance benefit, you might be covered for things like theft and physical damage to the vehicle.

To find out if your Capital One card comes with roadside assistance or rental car insurance, you can check out your card’s benefits guide.

If you have a Capital One credit card, you have access to lots of great Capital One credit card benefits. Explore them all to see if you’re taking advantage of everything your Capital One credit card offers. 

Not a Capital One cardholder but want to learn more? Compare rewards cards and apply online.

Who wouldn’t want to get the most out of their credit card? Here are some things to know about Capital One travel rewards credit cards: 

• Get a one-time 75,000-mile bonus with the Capital One Venture X card and receive an additional 10,000 bonus miles every year, starting on your first anniversary. View important rates and disclosures.

• Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, every day and get 75,000 bonus miles upon signup with the Capital One Venture card. View important rates and disclosures.

• Earn unlimited 1.25X miles with no annual fee with the Venture One card from Capital One. View important rates and disclosures.

• Explore travel rewards card options by comparing Capital One Venture cards. 

• Learn how Venture X cardholders can get access to a worldwide network of airport lounges thanks to a complimentary Priority Pass membership.