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Roadside assistance FAQs

Find answers to frequently asked questions about Emergency Roadside Assistance

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If you're an Emergency Roadside Assistance member, you can transfer your membership by contacting our interstate partners. We have partnerships with royal auto clubs in each state and territory: 

  • RACQ in QLD
  • NRMA in NSW 
  • RACT in TAS
  • RAA in SA
  • RAC in WA
  • AANT in NT.

To transfer your membership, simply contact the relevant auto club. Make sure you do this before cancelling your RACV membership. 

If you’ve moved to Victoria and are a member with one of our partner clubs, we can transfer your membership to RACV. This means you don’t lose your loyalty benefits. 

Call us on 13 72 28 or visit one of our retail stores. You’ll need to have the details of your affiliate club membership on hand. 

Yes, you can change your plan at any time. To discuss your options, call 13 72 28.

Things to keep in mind:

  • You'll need to pay any difference in cost between plans.
  • We can only process a change once any outstanding payments have cleared.

There's a 24-hour waiting period before you can access the benefits of your new plan. Some restrictions apply. For more information, read the roadside assistance terms and conditions.

We’re sorry to see you go. Keep in mind, if you’ve recently purchased a new car, there’s no need to cancel your plan, just update your vehicle details.

To cancel your roadside assistance online: 

  1. Open the RACV App or log into your online account.
  2. Click on view details under your products.
  3. Click on the ‘cancel plan’ button.

If you prefer to have one of our team cancel your plan, call us on 13 72 28 or visit a retail store.

If you cancel your plan before the end of the 12-month period, and have not had a callout, you may be eligible for a pro-rata refund in some cases. 

For more information, read the roadside assistance terms and conditions. To discuss your options, call us on 13 72 28.

You can edit your vehicle details online anytime, such as updating a car registration.

  1. Open the RACV App or log into your online account.
  2. Click on view details under your products.
  3. Click on edit vehicles and then update vehicle.

You can also call us 13 72 28 or visit one of our retail stores. 

How to join

If you're broken down now and need help, call 13 11 11.

If you don't have Emergency Roadside Assistance, don't stress - we can sign you up on the spot. You'll need to pay a non-refundable one or 2 year plan fee before we can provide assistance. 

For more information, read the roadside assistance terms and conditions.

Yes, you can buy Emergency Roadside Assistance as a gift for a friend or family member.

You'll need to buy the product using your account and nominate their vehicle. Anyone driving the vehicle will be able to access roadside assistance.

You can also add up to 6 drivers to your plan at no extra cost, making it as easy as possible to call for assistance when they’re in a listed vehicle – plus, they’ll get a complimentary RACV Membership.

If you want to buy the product using their account, we will need their consent, unless you're listed as an authorised representative. 

What's included

If you’ve got a flat battery, we can get you back on the road with roadside assistance.

Call us on 13 11 11.

If you need a replacement battery, we can help. With RACV Batteries, you can choose a suitable battery for your vehicle and we’ll even come to you to install it.

If you’re an RACV Member, you’ll save $15 off the recommended retail price of the batteries we supply.

Find out more about mobile battery replacement.

With roadside assistance, we'll help if you're locked out of your vehicle. If we can't unlock your vehicle, we’ll contribute the amount for a professional locksmith to get the job done. 

The benefit limit depends on your plan: 

  • Total Care: up to $350 
  • Extra Care: up to $300 
  • Roadside Care: up to $200. 

If you're locked out and need help, call 13 11 11.

With roadside assistance, we'll provide up to 5 litres of free fuel anywhere in Victoria if you run out. 

If you've run out of fuel and need help, call 13 11 11

We contribute $33 towards the cost of some minor parts (like fan belts and globes) for repairs if you have:

  • Extra Care
  • Total Care.

It does not include consumables, such as oil. We don't contribute to the cost for minor repair parts for Roadside Care. 

For more information, read the roadside assistance terms and conditions.

If you break down within 100km from home, you may receive the following benefits per incident: 

  • Roadside Care: up to $80
  • Extra Care: up to $240
  • Total Care: up to $300.

This amount can be used on alternative transport and taxi trips. 

If you break down more than 100km from home, you may receive the following benefits per incident: 

  • Roadside Care: up to $750
  • Extra Care: up to $1,400
  • Total Care: up to $2,400.

This amount can be used on accommodation, rental vehicles, alternative transport, and taxis.

Yes, all levels of RACV Emergency Roadside Assistance include towing.  

Your kilometre limit depends on which plan you have:

Roadside Care

  • Metro: 20km limit
  • Regional: we’ll tow you to the nearest attending RACV service centre.

Extra Care

  • Metro: 60km limit, or to the nearest attending RACV service centre.
  • Regional: 60km limit, or to the nearest attending RACV service centre.

Total Care

  • Metro: 100km limit, or to the nearest attending RACV service centre.
  • Regional: 100km limit, or to the nearest attending RACV service centre.

If you need to be towed further than the limits above, you’ll need to pay extra. 

Yes, any licensed driver using a nominated vehicle can access your roadside assistance plan.

You can also add up to 6 drivers to your plan at no extra cost, making it as easy as possible to call for assistance – plus, they’ll get a complimentary RACV Membership.

If you've been involved in a car accident, you'll need to make a claim through your car insurance. 

Our claims team can help arrange your car to be towed, or a hire care if needed. 

To make a claim call 13 19 03.

If you have Total Care or Extra Care, your caravan or trailer is covered when towed by your nominated vehicle. 

How it works 
If you breakdown, we'll arrange towing and offer some transport options. We take into consideration where you’ve stopped (metro or regional area), and your distance from home. 

Your level of roadside subscription will determine how far we can tow your vehicles. 

If you travel with a caravan or trailer over long distances including to regional areas, we recommend Total Care. 

If you tow a caravan or trailer more locally but still take trips out of town, we recommend Extra Care. 

Size and weight limits apply to the types of vehicles, caravans and trailers we can service. For details, refer to page 20 of our terms and conditions.

If you have Total Care, your plan includes roadside assistance for bicycles and e-bikes for you and your additional drivers.

You can add up to 6 drivers to your plan at no extra cost – plus, they’ll get a complimentary RACV Membership.

Otherwise, you can buy Bike Assist online or call 13 72 28.

How roadside assistance works

You can get Emergency Roadside Assistance 24 hours after you’ve purchased your plan.^

If you're broken down now and need immediate help, call 13 11 11.

^Some restrictions apply. For more information, read the roadside assistance terms and conditions.

How much you pay depends on what level of assistance you choose.

To see roadside assistance plan prices, go to Compare roadside assistance plans.

If you’re already an RACV Member, you may be eligible for a discount on your plan.

Usually, we’ll have someone out to help you within an hour of your call.  

However sometimes it takes longer for help to arrive. This depends on how great the demand for assistance is at any one time.  

If you're broken down now and need immediate help, call 13 11 11.

Roadside assistance provides breakdown support for mechanical issues and problems like flat batteries, punctured tyres and lockouts.

Car insurance is a separate product to roadside assistance. All types of car insurance provide cover for damage you may unintentionally cause to people’s property or vehicles during a listed incident. 

Depending on your level of cover, car insurance may also provide cover for damage caused to your vehicle during a listed event, such as collision, theft or attempted theft, vandalism, or fire.

Find out more about car insurance.

With roadside assistance you get unlimited callouts.*

Our experienced mechanics are on call, no matter how many times things don't go to plan. 

With that in mind, we want to make sure all our members can access our services when they need them. Keeping your vehicle in working condition can help us do that.

*Fair Use Policy applies. We reserve the right to limit or refuse to provide service if we feel the Fair Use Policy has been breached. For more information, read the roadside assistance terms and conditions.

If you've purchased RACV Emergency Roadside Assistance, you can get assistance from the auto club of the state you are in.  

Call the relevant phone number below and you'll be connected to the auto club for the state you're in. 

For more information, read the roadside assistance terms and conditions.

Find details of auto clubs across Australia below. 

State / territory
State / territory

Auto Club 

Victoria 

Auto Club 

Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) 

New South Wales and ACT 

Auto Club 

NRMA

Queensland 

Auto Club 

Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ) 

South Australia

Auto Club 

Royal Automobile Association of South Australia (RAA) 

Western Australia

Auto Club 

Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia (RAC) 

Tasmania

Auto Club 

Royal Automobile Club of Tasmania (RACT) 

Northern Territory

Auto Club 

Automobile Association of Northern Territory (AANT) 

You can only get assistance when driving a vehicle listed on your plan. 

Roadside Care and Extra Care plans include a single vehicle, with the option of adding a second vehicle (at an extra cost). Total Care automatically includes 2 vehicles, and you can list up to 5 (at an extra cost).

Electric vehicles

Yes, our roadside assistance plans provide services for your battery electric or hybrid vehicle at no extra cost. 

So, whether you’ve run out of charge, have a flat trye, or locked your keys in the car, you can drive with confidence knowing our patrols are available Australia-wide, 24 hours a day. 

If you've got an electric bike, you might consider getting RACV Bike Assist.

You can find electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in the 'Fuel finder' page of the RACV App, or by using Plugshare’s handy map. 

Simply search by location or EV plug type to find the right charging station for you.

You can also filter charging stations by network. We recommend Chargefox if you’re looking for a station powered by renewable energy.

If you’re an RACV Member, you could save 10% when charging at Chargefox ultra-rapid charging sites, Australia-wide. Learn more about this offer.

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