What roadside assistance covers

Yes – Budget Direct Roadside Assistance is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

It will depend on a number of factors, including your location and road conditions.

If possible, we’ll SMS you a link to a map showing the real-time location of your Budget Direct roadside contractor as they approach the breakdown area; and their estimated time of arrival (ETA).

This tracking service is available in selected areas only: If it’s not available in your area the contractor (or tow-truck operator) will instead call to let you know they’re on their way and, if necessary, update you on their ETA.

Our goal is to get you back on the road as soon as possible.

Yes – Budget Direct will assist you whether you’re stranded at home or on the road.

If you get a flat battery, Budget Direct Roadside Assistance can jump-start your vehicle; or, if necessary, replace the battery at your cost.

No – if your vehicle is undriveable as a result of an accident, you’ll need to ask your car insurer to arrange a tow for you.

If you’re a Budget Direct car insurance policyholder, call us on 1300 139 591 and we’ll arrange for your vehicle to be towed to a safe location for a damage assessment.

Note that residents of Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula, Geelong and Adelaide are required by law to call an ‘allocation centre’ or ‘centralised operator’, who can arrange the tow on their behalf.

If you get a flat tyre, we’ll replace it with the spare tyre supplied with your vehicle.

In the unlikely event we cannot change the tyre, we’ll – within service limits – tow the vehicle to the nearest tyre repairer.

Yes – if you run out of fuel, we’ll bring you up to $15 of emergency fuel (at no cost to you) so you can drive to a service station to fill up.

If, for whatever reason, we’re unable to deliver fuel to you, we’ll arrange for your vehicle to be towed – within service limits – to the nearest fuel outlet; you’ll be required to pay for the fuel.

If your vehicle runs on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), we’ll – within service limits – tow your vehicle to the nearest LPG refuelling station; you’ll have to cover the cost of the gas.

Yes – if you lock your keys in your vehicle or lose them, Budget Direct Roadside Assistance can help you regain entry to your vehicle; or arrange a taxi or courier to fetch a spare set – up to $125.

Our roadside contractors can make minor repairs to your vehicle (e.g. to fuses, hoses and drive belts) – up to $20.

If your vehicle requires major repairs, we can – within service limits – tow it to a nearby motor vehicle workshop. These repairs will be at your cost.

No – however if your car is immobilised and you need a taxi or hire car, we can arrange one on your behalf. All transportation charges will be at your cost.

If you’re more than 100 kilometres from home and can’t make it back by a reasonable hour, we can arrange accommodation on your behalf. All accommodation charges will be at your cost.

Budget Direct Roadside Assistance members are entitled to an unlimited number of callouts within 12 months, subject to our fair use policy.

Among other things, the policy requires us to ensure customers are not using roadside assistance as a substitute for proper mechanical maintenance; or regularly requesting help for the same recurring problems.

For more details, please read Section 4 of our terms and conditions.

Yes – if you manage to get yourself going again, you can cancel a callout even if our roadside contractor is en route to your requested location.

Please think carefully before cancelling a callout, as any subsequent request for assistance for the same event will be at your cost.

Yes – however, our service limit is a 50km round trip from the nearest roadside contractor’s base or accredited service provider (e.g. mechanic).

If we have to travel farther to rescue you, you’ll be required to pay the extra cost, which we’ll let you know about beforehand.

Note that we can only provide assistance in areas accessible by a two-wheel-drive recovery vehicle.

If you spend a lot of time driving in rural and remote areas, you might want to consider getting cover from a provider with larger service limits.

Our ‘service area’ is the area in which we provide roadside assistance.

This is an area in mainland Australia, Tasmania and Phillip Island that is trafficable by two-wheel-drive recovery vehicle; or an island that is accessible by a two-wheel-drive-vehicular bridge (excluding ferries).

Note that our service area is different to our service limits.

When you call us for assistance, we’ll log your request and SMS a link to your smartphone.

Click on the link (there’s no need for you to download an app): A map will appear showing the live location of your roadside contractor as they make their way towards your broken-down vehicle; and their estimated time of arrival (ETA).

After you’ve been rescued, you’ll be able to rate your experience. 

This tracking service is available in selected areas only: If it’s not available in your area, the contractor (or tow-truck operator) will instead call to let you know they’re on their way and, if necessary, update you on their ETA.