Roadside assistance 101: Capital One credit card benefits

Getting the most out of your credit card means more than just earning and redeeming rewards. Did you know that your Capital One card may come with roadside assistance benefits too? If you’re a Capital One cardholder and ever run into car trouble, help could be only a call away. 

So, what roadside assistance benefits come with my Capital One card? 

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 most popular cards, like Venture®, Savor® and Quicksilver®. And if your card comes with the roadside assistance benefit, it’s yours to use whenever you need it. There’s no pre-enrollment necessary.

Wondering how to use your Capital One credit card’s roadside assistance benefit? It’s as easy as making a phone call. 

The roadside assistance providers—and the corresponding hotline number—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. 

The operator will ask you where you are and what the problem is. Then, they’ll dispatch the appropriate local service provider. And remember, if you feel unsafe, the best thing to do is to call 911. 

Not sure what benefits come with your account? Just take a look at your card. You’ll be able to see if it’s a Visa or Mastercard and what specific account type it is. For example, if you have a Visa Signature card, it should say “Visa Signature” on your physical card.*

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 your roadside assistance network benefits 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. 

The fees for some services might be pre-negotiated by your card issuer. 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 Capital One credit card’s roadside assistance network benefit: 

• Towing and winching
• Jump-starts
• Fuel delivery
• Tire changes 
• Lockout service 

With roadside assistance from your Capital One credit card, you won’t have to search for local roadside assistance 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. 

Speaking of rentals, your Capital One credit card may come with rental car insurance. 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. By understanding the roadside assistance benefits specific to your card, you can better understand how this coverage may help in a pinch. 

If you have a Capital One credit card, you have access to lots of great Capital One credit card benefits—from roadside assistance to travel rewards, fraud coverage and more. Explore all the benefits available to you to see if you’re taking advantage of everything your Capital One credit card offers. 

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.