Roadside assistance belongs on the same list as a plunger, first-aid kit and a screwdriver small enough to fix your sunglasses: “Things you don’t realize you need, until you need them.” Simply put, when you’re stranded on the highway during a good ol’ Canadian snowstorm or on your way to the cottage, having roadside assistance can feel like winning the lottery. So, why wait on getting a credit card with free roadside assistance?
Best credit cards with roadside assistance in Canada
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Gold: Best for roadside assistance
TD Cash Back Visa Infinite Card
Through a free Deluxe TD Auto Club membership, get unlimited service calls, available 24/7.
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Interest Rates:
20.99% purchase, 22.99% cash advance, 22.99% balance transfer
Welcome offer:
$600 value
Earn up to $600 in value, including 10% in Cash Back Dollars in the first 3 months on Bonus Eligible Purchases up to a total spend of $3,500. Conditions apply.
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BMO CashBack World Elite MasterCard
Get free basic roadside assistance through Dominion Automobile Association (DAA).
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Interest Rates:
21.99% purchase, 23.99% cash advance, 23.99% balance transfer
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See also: Our top pick for gas rewards
CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite Card
Earn 4% cash back on gas and EV charding. (Does not come with roadside assistance.)
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Interest Rates:
20.99% purchase, 22.99% cash advance, 22.99% balance transfer
Welcome offer:
$250 value
Earn a 10% cash back welcome bonus of up to $250 (first 4 statements). Offer not available to QC residents. Terms and conditions apply.
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Dive into the pros and cons of the best credit cards with roadside assistance in Canada.
Gold: Best credit card with roadside assistance
At a glance: The TD Cash Back Visa Infinite is the best credit card in Canada for roadside assistance. Thanks to a complimentary Deluxe TD Auto Club membership, you get 24/7 access to unlimited roadside service calls for personal use, which covers towing (up to 200 km), emergency tire changes, fuel delivery and more. Unique perks like stolen vehicle emergency services give you additional peace of mind.
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TD Cash Back Visa Infinite Card
Annual fee: $139 (rebated first year)
Welcome offer: Earn up to $600 in value, including 10% cash back on eligible purchases during the first three months (on up to $3,500 in purchases). Conditions apply.
Card details
| Interest rates | 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers |
| Income required | Personal income of $60,000 or household income of $100,000 |
| Credit score | 680 or higher (recommended) |
Pros
- Comprehensive roadside assistance: Includes unlimited service calls covering towing (up to 200 km), emergency tire changes, battery boosts, lockout assistance, emergency fuel delivery (five litres), winching, stolen vehicle support, and more.
- Travel insurance: You’ll be covered for travel medical (up to $2 million for up to 10 days), baggage delays/losses, and rental car loss/damage, as well as assistance services for personal emergencies while travelling.
- Rewards: A high cash back earn rate in three major spending categories.
- Easy redemptions: Redeem cash back any time with a minimum of $25.
- Car rental discounts: Save at Avis and Budget locations.
Cons
- Earning cap: You’ll earn 3% on only the first $15,000 spent annually across all categories.
- High annual fee: The fee is relatively high for a cash back card, although the features may be worth it for some cardholders.
Silver: Best credit card with roadside assistance
At a glance: The Triangle World Elite Mastercard is a top choice for drivers, offering a complimentary Canadian Tire Roadside Assistance Gold Plan valued at $114.99 a year. Get five free service calls per year, giving you access to services like towing (up to 200 km), tire changes, fuel delivery and more. Plus, get exclusive offers on oil changes, car washes, entertainment, shopping, travel, hotels and attractions. Get all these benefits for no annual fee.
Triangle World Elite Mastercard
Annual fee: $0
Welcome offer: None
Card details
| Interest rates | 21.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances and on balance transfers (21.99% for Quebec residents) |
| Income required | Personal income of $80,000 or household income of $150,000 |
| Credit score | Not specified |
| Point value | $1 in Canadian Tire Money is worth $1 when redeemed at participating retailers. |
Bronze: Best credit card with roadside assistance
At a glance: The BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard is another great option for roadside assistance, offering free basic coverage ($69 annual value) through the Dominion Automobile Association (DAA). Get 24/7 access to up to four service calls per year, including towing (up to 10 km), tire changes, fuel delivery and more. Additional cardholders also receive free coverage, making it a family-friendly option.
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BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard
Annual fee: $120 (waived first year)
Welcome offer: Earn up to 10% cash back during your first 3 months on up to $2,600 in purchases.
Card details
| Interest rates | 21.99% on purchases, 23.99% on cash advances, 23.99% on balance transfers (21.99% in Quebec) |
| Income required | Personal income of $80,000 or household income of $150,000 |
| Credit score | 760 or higher |
Pros
- Comprehensive roadside assistance: Includes four free service calls per year, including towing (up to 10 km), tire changes, winching, battery boosts, lockout assistance, emergency fuel delivery and more.
- High earn rates: Earn up to 5% back in four major spending categories.
- Insurance offerings: Extensive insurance for a cash back card, including coverage for travel medical, rental cars, baggage, flight delays and more.
- Excellent extended warranty and purchase protection: Doubles the manufacturer’s warranty for up to 2 years and provides 180 days of purchase protection, surpassing the typical 1-year extended warranty and 90-day purchase protection offered by most cards.
- Easy redemptions: Redeem your cash back any time for as little as $1.
- Fuel savings: Save up to 7 cents per litre at Shell locations.
Cons
- Limited towing distance: Maximum towing distance (10 km) is significantly less than what the other cards offer.
- Earning caps: The bonus categories have low monthly spending limits, ranging from $300 to $500, which is restrictive for a premium card.
- No free lounge visits: The included Mastercard Travel Pass membership (provided by DragonPass) doesn’t include free airport lounge visits, only discounted ones.
- High income requirements: This card may be less accessible.
Another credit card for your next road trip
Gold: Best credit card for gas purchases in Canada
At a glance: The CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite offers unbeatable rewards on gas and EV charging. Plus, save up to $0.10 per litre at select gas stations with Journie Rewards.
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CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite
Annual fee: $120 (rebated first year)
Welcome offer: Earn 10% cash back (up to $250 in cash back on your first four statements), plus a first-year annual fee rebate. Offer not available to Quebec residents.
Card details
| Interest rates | 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers |
| Income required | Personal income of $60,000 or household income of $100,000 |
| Credit score | 725 or higher |
What is roadside assistance?
Roadside assistance is a service provided to drivers when their vehicle breaks down or encounters problems while on the road. It helps ensure that motorists can get back on the road quickly or receive assistance in case of emergencies.
What does roadside assistance include?
The services typically offered in a roadside assistance plan include:
- Towing: If your car breaks down and cannot be repaired on-site, your provider may tow it to a nearby mechanic or service station.
- Flat tire repair or replacement: If you get a flat tire, your provider can help with changing it or putting on a spare tire.
- Battery jump start: If your car battery dies, your provider can help by jump-starting the battery.
- Fuel delivery: If you run out of fuel, your provider may deliver some to you, so you can get to the nearest gas station.
- Lock-out assistance: If you lock yourself out of your car, your provider can help unlock it.
- Winching: Your provider may help you recover your car if it’s stuck in a ditch, the snow or mud.
Is a credit card with roadside assistance worth it?
Most people look at travel points or cash back when searching for a credit card, but roadside assistance is an underrated perk. Roadside assistance could cost upwards of $70 a year if you pay directly for a membership from Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) or another provider. The price of a tow can vary depending on where you live, but without a membership plan, some Canadians have paid thousands of dollars for a single tow.
When you have roadside assistance built in as a feature on your credit card, you can get emergency towing, gasoline delivery, battery boosts, tire changes, access to your car when you’ve lost the keys, and much more. The value of these emergency services can often outweigh the annual fee on credit cards.
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