A flat battery in the office parking, a puncture on a dark off-ramp, keys locked in at the beach: most breakdowns need a jump start, a wheel change or a little fuel, not a tow truck. Roadside assistance covers those small rescues, either through a monthly plan, your insurer's line or a provider you pay per call-out. This page explains what plans usually include, what they leave out and how to compare providers. Send one free request and roadside assistance providers near you will quote you directly, with no obligation to accept.
What roadside assistance usually covers
Most plans and pay-per-call providers handle the same short list of jobs at the roadside:
- Jump starts and battery testing, with a new battery fitted on the spot if you pay for it.
- Changing a flat tyre for your spare, or a mobile tyre repair where the plan allows it.
- Emergency fuel delivery, usually enough to reach the next filling station; the fuel is often charged.
- Locksmith help when keys are locked inside or lost.
- A tow to a nearby workshop when the car cannot be fixed where it stands, often up to a set distance.
Read the fine print for limits on call-outs per year, the tow distance included and whether the cover follows the car or the driver.
What plans often leave out
Parts, batteries, tyres and fuel are normally for your account. Many plans exclude cars over a certain age, modified vehicles, trailers and caravans, or breakdowns on private farm roads. A tow beyond the included distance is charged per km, and accident towing often falls under your car insurance rather than the roadside plan. If you only drive in town, a pay-per-call provider can cost less than a plan you never use. If you often drive long national routes at night, a plan with a long tow distance and accommodation help may be worth more. See breakdown service for jobs that need a mechanic and 24-hour towing for night call-outs.
Staying safe while you wait
Pull as far off the road as you can, switch on your hazards and put the warning triangle well behind the car. On a highway, get everyone out on the side away from traffic and wait behind the barrier, not in the car. At night in a quiet area, many people prefer to stay locked inside with the windows up until the provider arrives. Share your live location with someone you trust, and ask the provider for the vehicle type and the operator's name before they arrive so you know who to expect.
What drives the cost
Roadside plans cost from about R117 to R820 a month, depending on the cover: the number of call-outs, the tow distance included, extra drivers and whether trailers or caravans are covered. Pay-per-call jobs are quoted per call-out, with the distance travelled, the time of day and any parts on top. Ask whether the price includes VAT and whether there is a waiting period before a new plan pays out. For a full breakdown of tow rates, see towing prices.
What to include in your request
- Your car's age, fuel type and gearbox
- Where you usually drive, town or long routes
- Plan or once-off call-out
- Whether you tow a trailer or caravan
- Who else drives the car
Roadside Assistance for different clients
- Motorists and families: jump starts, tyre changes and lockouts for commuters, students and families on holiday
- Company fleets and rental firms: one roadside plan across company cars, rental vehicles and courier vans so drivers are never stranded
- Truckers, buses and logistics: light roadside help for bakkies and support vehicles that run beside a truck fleet
- Farmers and 4x4 owners: battery and tyre help for farm bakkies stuck on district roads far from town
- Dealers, panel beaters and workshops: jump starts and short tows for dealer stock, demo cars and auction vehicles
- Construction, mining and plant hire: roadside help for site bakkies and light vehicles serving construction and mining projects
- Caravan, boat and bike owners: cover for caravans, boat trailers and campers on long holiday routes
- Municipalities, estates and schools: roadside cover for municipal, school and estate vehicles that run every day
Frequently asked questions
How much does roadside assistance cost in South Africa?
Does my car insurance already include roadside assistance?
Can I use this site to call for roadside help right now?
Is a monthly plan better than paying per call-out?
Roadside Assistance by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg