Flat tire changes, fuel delivery, jump starts, and towing—these rescue services are already included for free in your car insurance. Yet 90% of drivers don't even know which number to call first when stranded: Should you call your insurer directly on the highway? Wrong! Insurance providers typically won't send tow trucks onto highways. You must first call 12122 to get your vehicle off the highway, then request your insurer's free towing service. Knowing this sequence can save you 800–1500 yuan per incident.
01 Correct sequence for highway rescue: Contact 12122 first, then your insurance company.
If your vehicle breaks down on a closed highway, the insurance rescue team ** is not permitted to enter the highway for assistance under **, which is an industry standard. Follow these two steps:
Step 1: Move to the safe area outside the guardrail and call 12122. The highway patrol will arrange a tow truck to take you to the nearest exit or service area. In provinces like Jiangsu, towing is free; in other regions, costs range from approximately 200 to 600 yuan. Step 2: After exiting the highway, contact your insurance provider's customer service hotline (e.g., Ping An at 95511). Your complimentary towing benefit becomes active now, allowing you to be towed further to a repair shop or charging station.
Many drivers don't know the correct order of operations. Calling your insurance directly on the highway often leads to a claim denial, forcing you to pay high rates for private towing. Remember: highway rescue and insurance-assisted rescue are two separate services with distinct free coverage limits.
⚠️ Important Notes for Highway Rescue
When waiting for roadside assistance on the highway, always stand outside the guardrail. Never remain inside or near your vehicle. 12122Towing services only cover distance to the nearest exit; vehicles are not towed directly to repair shops. Insurance-based towing includes a mileage limit (typically 50 km). Any excess distance will be charged at 8-12 yuan per kilometer.
02 Non-Accident Roadside Assistance Explained: Free Tire Changes, Fuel Delivery, and Jump Starts
🚗 Free Towing 🔧 Free Tire Change ⛽ Free Fuel Delivery 🔋 Free Jump Start 💧 Free Water Delivery
"Non-accident roadside assistance" means your vehicle ** is unable to move due to a breakdown—such as a flat tire, running out of fuel, a dead battery, or low coolant—not because of a collision **. In this case, all rescue services provided by your insurance company are completely free. The coverage includes the following:
Free Tire Change – If your tire blows out or leaks, the insurer sends someone to replace it with a spare or inflate it (your vehicle must have a spare tire or air pump). Free Fuel Delivery – If your car runs out of fuel and stalls, the insurer delivers fuel free of charge; however, you pay for the fuel (market price + service fee). Free Jump Start – If your battery is dead and won't start the engine, we provide free jump-start service. Some insurers also offer emergency power banks. Free Towing – Typically 5 times per year, up to 50 km free per tow. Excess mileage is charged at 8-12 yuan/km. Free Recovery Assistance – If your vehicle gets stuck in a ditch or slides off the road, we arrange free recovery using a crane or professional rescue team.
Real-World Case: Out of gas on the road? Don't panic. After a driver's vehicle broke down on a provincial highway, they called our insurance hotline. A rescue truck arrived in 20 minutes, delivered 10 liters of fuel, and charged only 90 yuan for the gas—the rescue service itself was free. If you had called a private delivery service, transport fees would start at 200 yuan, with towing costing over $1,000. This is the value of your insurance's added benefits.
Service Item | Cost | Limit (Visits/Mileage) | Important Notes --- | --- | --- | --- Tire Change | Free | Included in 5 rescues | Owner must have a spare tire or air compressor Fuel Delivery | Service is free; fuel cost borne by owner | Same as above | Door-to-door delivery only. Fuel costs approximately $90-$150 Jump Start | Free | Unlimited visits | Some providers supply an emergency battery Towing | Free (within 50 km) | 5 times per year, max 1 times on the same day | Excess mileage charged at $8-$12 per km Stuck Vehicle Recovery | Free | Included in 5 rescues | Crane rental fees may apply
Data Source: Official insurance policy terms and public test drive experiences (based on the latest policy terms from 2026 years).
Differences in rescue benefits across insurance providers
Ordinary family
Pick with confidence
Ping An, PICC, and CPIC all offer 5 free roadside assistance calls per year, free towing within 50 km, nationwide coverage, and fast response—ideal for most drivers.
New Energy Vehicle Owner
Proceed with caution
Benefit confirmation required — Some new energy vehicle insurance special terms allow only 2 claim(s) per year and do not include mobile charging service; towing to a charging station is required. Please review your electronic policy in advance.
High-Risk Driving
Note
Reset call count — Rescue calls reset at the end of each policy year and do not carry over. Multiple calls on the same day are fully out-of-pocket. If you frequently travel long distances, be sure to track your remaining calls.
03 Jiangsu Expressway Rescue Free: The First "Double-Free" Province Nationwide
On 2025, 9, 30, the revised "Jiangsu Expressway Regulations" were passed, explicitly stating that expressway operators must provide towing, pulling, and lifting services free of charge when performing rescue operations. Jiangsu became the first province in China to implement a "double-free" policy for highway rescue fees. Note: This is free service provided by the expressway operator, not the insurance company, and covers all social vehicles that break down on Jiangsu's highways.
Prior to this, towing and crane fees accounted for over 7 percent of total vehicle rescue costs, with highway towing often ranging from 800 to 2000 yuan. In its first week alone, the new policy benefited more than 3400 rescued vehicles, delivering real savings on towing fees. However, it is important to clarify:
Free coverage — Towing and crane fees are waived; labor services like spare tire replacement or fuel delivery may incur charges. Applicable within Jiangsu Province — Other provinces have not yet adopted this policy. Non-Jiangsu vehicle owners experiencing breakdowns on local highways in other regions must cover costs themselves. Towing destination — Vehicles will be towed to the nearest exit or service area based on the owner's preference. Accident vehicles will be transported to a designated location.
In judicial practice, courts typically support reasonable rescue costs incurred after a highway accident, requiring insurers to pay these amounts separately from the policy limit. This means that even if you hire a commercial tow truck, as long as the cost is reasonable, your insurance may cover it.
💡 Key Takeaway from the Editorial: Free roadside assistance is a no-cost added benefit—it won't count as a claim or raise your premium. But you must follow the right sequence: "Get off the highway first, then contact your insurer." Skipping this step means forfeiting your free coverage and paying unnecessarily. Drivers in Jiangsu are the luckiest nationwide—highway towing is already free there.
Non-critical: The number of free rescue service calls varies only slightly across insurers (2-7 per year); the key factors are mileage limits and response time. When purchasing insurance, review the "Roadside Assistance Service Rider," note your call allowance and mileage cap, and plan accordingly when a breakdown occurs.
Worry-free car owners: Ping An, PICC
Extensive service network, fast response. One-tap calling via app—perfect for beginners who want simplicity.
Value-conscious car owners: Pacific / Earth
Similar benefits, but premiums could be 10-15% lower—ideal for experienced drivers.
Special Provisions for New Energy Vehicle Owners
Confirm the number of rescue calls and towing coverage. Some plans are limited to 2 times per year, so use them wisely.
04 FAQs
Can I call my insurance company to change the spare tire on a highway?
No. Towing rescue vehicles cannot access closed highway sections. You must first call 12122 to tow the vehicle off the highway (free in Jiangsu; fees may apply in other provinces), then request a free tire change from your insurance provider. Do not attempt to change the spare tire on the shoulder yourself. Move to safety behind the guardrail and wait for the recovery truck.
Is the insurance roadside assistance fuel delivery free? Why am I being charged for fuel?
Free delivery service; you pay only for the fuel. For example, if your car runs out of gas, the insurance provider will send 10 liters to you. You'll just cover the fuel cost (approximately 90-150), with no call-out or towing fees. This saves you money compared to calling a tow truck to exit the highway (starting at 800).
How many free roadside assistance calls are included per year? What is the cost after using them up?
Typically, you get 5 free roadside assistance calls per year. For new energy vehicles, the limit is 2 call(s)/year, with a maximum of 1 calls per day. Once your quota is used up, towing charges apply at market rates (approximately $150-$300 for distances within 3 km, and $10-$15 per km beyond that). Remember to check your remaining annual calls before long trips.
Last updated: 2026-10-19
Generated by AI
