Chase Sapphire Reserve & Sapphire Preferred Roadside Assistance — How Does It Work?

Roadside assistance card benefits can vary significantly. For example, many cards are equipped with a benefit that offers a basic dispatch referral service, that can simply dispatch a vendor to make the service call. Or, you might find card coverage that offers a service call package for which you’ll pay a set fee.

We’ve previously written about roadside assistance and which cards offer the best coverage but today we’re going to expand on the benefit that comes with the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card and on the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®.

You’ll find that the coverage offered on our 2 featured cards goes above and beyond the basic dispatch service, but benefits do differ by card. Stay tuned while we look closely at the roadside assistance benefit that comes with these cards and how each one works.

Card Snapshots

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card and Chase Sapphire Reserve card are travel rewards cards that offer so much more than roadside assistance.

Let’s start with a snapshot of what each card has to offer. Be sure to click on the orange arrows to reveal the key benefits and pros and cons of each card.

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

75,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,500

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.99% - 28.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
• 2x points on all other travel worldwide

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

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Card Highlights

• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel^SM, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
• Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel^SM
• 10% anniversary points boost – each account anniversary you’ll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 28.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Welcome Offer

Earn 100,000 bonus points + $500 Chase Travel promo credit after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.

100,000 points + $500 Chase Travel credit

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$2,000

Annual Fee

$795

APR

20.24% - 28.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Excellent

Why We Like This Card

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is one of the best options.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like worldwide airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus, it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to cover you at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the more than $2,000 in annual credits, which can offset the annual fee!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 8x points on all Chase Travel purchases
• 5x points on Lyft rides
• 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly

Cons

• $795 annual fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 100,000 bonus points + $500 Chase Travel℠ promo credit after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
• Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
• $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge^® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^® every 4 years
• Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
• Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music - all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 - a value of $250 annually
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.24% - 28.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Bottom Line: The Chase Sapphire Reserve card has far more premium travel benefits than the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. However, the card comes with a much higher annual fee. The Chase Sapphire Preferred card strikes a balance with a lower annual fee without sacrificing rewards earning, great value at redemption time, and plenty of travel insurance benefits. 

What Is Roadside Assistance Coverage?

Credit cards come with all sorts of travel benefits of which roadside assistance, in various levels of coverage, is commonly found. Roadside Dispatch, Roadside Protection, Roadside Assistance, and Premium Roadside Assistance are common terms used for these different levels of coverage. However, the name given to the coverage does not indicate the benefit level you’ll receive, as this differs by card issuer.

For example, Roadside Dispatch may mean that you are provided with a toll-free number that can be used 24/7 to call for referral services to help locate and schedule a service provider. The cardholder would be responsible for the costs of all services received.

Or Roadside Dispatch coverage could mean that you have 24/7 access to a dispatch line that will dispatch a vendor to make the service call, however, you may be charged a flat pre-negotiated fee that will cover a select list of provided services. Any services above and beyond the included services would be the responsibility of the cardholder.

Yet another level of roadside assistance coverage (the name can vary) could include a benefit of a set amount, $50 for example, that is applied to the cost of a service call. You’ll call a toll-free number and a service provider will be dispatched to assist you. Any services beyond the maximum dollar amount per service call benefit are the responsibility of the cardholder.

Roadside assistance benefits can include lockout service, tire changing, emergency fuel delivery, jump-starting, towing, winching, and more.

There are variations of these definitions and even combinations, but generally, these are the levels of roadside assistance you’ll find provided on credit cards.

With this information as a foundation, let’s move on to look at the levels of coverage provided on the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and Chase Sapphire Reserve card.

Bottom Line: Card issuers use different names for roadside assistance coverage and benefit levels will vary. Your card’s specific Guide to Benefits will have the full benefit description, how to use the service, exclusions, and the terms and conditions for coverage. 

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Roadside Assistance — Summary

Before we get into the details of Chase’s roadside assistance coverage offered on each of our featured cards, let’s look at an overview of the coverages provided.

Bottom Line: Both the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and Chase Sapphire Reserve card come with roadside assistance that includes limited towing, fuel delivery, tire changing, jump start and lockout service, and standard winching. The Chase Sapphire Preferred card, however, charges a flat fee per service call, and the Chase Sapphire Reserve card includes 4 free service calls each year. Limits apply. 

How Chase Roadside Assistance Works

Let’s look at how roadside assistance coverage works on both of our featured cards.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

The Roadside Dispatch coverage that comes with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is an automatic pay-per-use benefit requiring no pre-registration:

• Make The Call — When you call 800-847-2869, you will need to provide your name, location, and problem details.
• Service Provider Assignment — While you are on the phone, a service provider will be dispatched. You will be informed of the applicable fee (currently $59.95) for the service call.
• Payment — You will be expected to pay for the service call at the time of dispatch, plus any additional fees. For example, if you need towing for more than 5 miles, you will be charged for the additional cost.
• Services Received — If you receive services on-site that are not included in the standard benefit, your card will be charged for these services.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Card

The Roadside Assistance coverage that comes with the Chase Sapphire Reserve card covers 4 service calls each year — 1 service call within a 7-day period for the same cause, up to a maximum of $50 per event. Like Roadside Dispatch service, there is no need to preregister. Here’s how the coverage works:

• Make The Call — When you call 866-860-7978, you will provide your name, location, vehicle identification number, and problem details.
• Service Provider Assignment — A service provider will be dispatched while you are on the phone.
• Payment — In most cases, when there are no additional services provided beyond those included in the service call, you can just sign and drive at the time of service.
• Services Received — If services are provided beyond those included in the service call benefit, the additional cost will be charged to your associated card.

You are covered as a cardholder for a car you own or lease and for a car that is furnished to you by the owner while traveling away from home.

Hot Tip: You’ll find Roadside Dispatch service offered on Chase Visa credit cards, including the Chase Freedom Unlimited^®. Master Roadside Assist is available on select Mastercards such as the Chase Freedom Flex℠. 

Everything Else You Need To Know

Roadside assistance may not be available in remote or off-road areas. Commercial vehicles are not eligible for coverage. The dedicated roadside assistance service line is open 24/7.

If you’re driving a rental car and break down, you should call the rental car agency, not Chase roadside assistance. The rental car agency will have its own service provider.

Trucks that carry more than 2,000 pounds are excluded on the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.

Services are provided by Cross Country Motor Club on both featured cards.

Final Thoughts

It’s not often we run out of gas, break down on the side of the road, or lock ourselves out of our vehicle, but when it happens it’s good to know that 1 simple phone call could resolve the issue.

My car battery died unexpectedly at midnight in the winter, during a snow storm, at the airport. I neglected to even think of using my card until after the fact. Fortunately, I was able to get a jump-start for my vehicle from a stranger across the parking lot, but using my Chase Sapphire Reserve card’s Roadside Assistance benefit would have certainly been less stressful.

Knowing the coverages available to you on your credit cards can save you money and help avoid further headaches. Roadside assistance is an example where very little effort can accomplish both.

Unlike many travel insurance coverages that come with our credit cards, roadside assistance does not require you to file a claim or submit supporting documents. You simply call, receive the service, and you’re on your way. And, that’s a win-win.