Is it worth it to pay for roadside assistance in Australia depends on your car age, driving habits and risk tolerance, but for most drivers it is worth it for peace of mind and financial protection. A single tow without cover costs $200 to $400 for a 20km tow in metro Sydney or Melbourne, and $500 to $1,500 for a regional or remote tow. A private battery jump start costs $100 to $200. So paying $95 to $135 per year for basic roadside assistance from NRMA, RACV, RACQ, RAA or RAC WA, or $70 to $110 per year as an add-on to your comprehensive car insurance from Budget Direct, Allianz or AAMI, can pay for itself with one callout. Roadside assistance is particularly worth it if your car is more than 4 years old or has over 80,000 km, as failure rates for batteries, alternators and cooling systems increase significantly after this. It is worth it if you drive long distances, commute daily with children, drive at night, or travel in regional and remote areas where help is hard to find. It provides 24/7 help with average response of 45 minutes in metro areas. It is less worth it if you have a brand new car with 3 to 7 years free manufacturer roadside assistance included when you service at the dealer, such as Toyota, Mazda, Kia, Hyundai, MG, or if you rarely drive under 5,000 km per year in metro areas, or if your premium credit card already includes free roadside assistance. For older cars and families, premium cover with 100km towing and accommodation is worth the extra cost.
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