What standard auto insurance does and does not cover
Standard auto insurance — liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage — does not include lockout service. These coverages address accidents, vehicle damage, and theft. Being locked out of your car is not a covered event under any of these standard policy types.\n\nLockout service is available as an optional add-on through most major auto insurers in the form of a roadside assistance rider. This rider must be explicitly added to your policy — it is not included automatically even on comprehensive policies.\n\nIf you are not sure whether your policy includes a roadside rider, check your policy declarations page — the summary page that lists all your coverages and premiums. Roadside assistance or emergency road service will appear as a line item if it is included. If it is not listed, you do not have it.
How roadside assistance riders work for lockouts
A roadside assistance rider on your auto insurance policy provides lockout service as a covered benefit. When you are locked out, you call the roadside assistance number on your insurance card, they dispatch a technician, and the service is covered with no out-of-pocket cost beyond your annual rider premium.\n\nRiders typically cover one or more of the following in addition to lockout service: towing, battery jump start, fuel delivery, and flat tire assistance. The specific covered services and any per-incident or annual limits are detailed in the rider terms.\n\nImportant limitation: most insurance roadside riders limit the number of covered service calls per year — typically three to five incidents. After reaching the limit, additional service calls are either not covered or require out-of-pocket payment. Check your specific rider terms for the annual limit.
Does filing a lockout insurance claim affect your rates
Using a roadside assistance rider for a lockout service call does not typically affect your auto insurance rates. Roadside assistance riders are designed for frequent small service events and are generally not treated as claims that trigger rate reviews.\n\nThis is different from filing a collision or comprehensive claim, which is tracked and can affect renewal pricing. A lockout service call under a roadside rider is more similar to a membership service benefit than a traditional insurance claim.\n\nHowever, some insurers track roadside service call frequency and may flag policies with unusually high service call volume. Checking your specific insurer policy on this is worth a quick call if you anticipate needing frequent roadside service.
How to add lockout coverage to your existing policy
Adding a roadside assistance rider to an existing auto insurance policy is straightforward and takes about five minutes.\n\nCall your insurance agent or log in to your insurer online account. Request to add roadside assistance or emergency road service to your policy. The coverage typically takes effect immediately or at the next billing cycle depending on your insurer.\n\nCost is $15-30 per year for most major insurers on a standard passenger vehicle. This is one of the best value insurance add-ons available — a single lockout service call without coverage costs $50-100, meaning the rider pays for itself on the first use. See what lockout service costs without coverage to put the rider value in perspective. See the best roadside programs for lockout coverage. See the complete car lockout service guide.