Lindsey Desmet
Car rental agencies offer roadside assistance services, which you can use if you get a flat tire during the rental period.[1]
With certain protection plans and insurance coverage, roadside assistance is free; however, you can incur fees if you don’t have coverage or the rental agency holds you responsible for the flat tire.[2][3]
Below, we detail who pays and what to do in the event of a flat tire — plus each major rental agency’s flat tire policy.
What to Do If Your Rental Car Has a Flat Tire
If you get a flat tire while driving, you should first find a safe area to wait for assistance. Slow down and pull over to the side of the road or into a parking lot, out of the way of moving traffic.[4][5][6]
If you notice that a tire is low or flat while you’re already parked, stay where you are.
Driving on a flat tire can be dangerous and cause further damage.[7]
Once you’re in a safe spot, call your rental agency’s roadside assistance hotline. (We list the phone number for each major rental agency under “Flat Tire Policies by Company” below.)
Roadside assistance will either change the flat tire out for a spare tire or arrange a tow if there is no inflated spare available.[4][5][6]
Who Pays?
You may have to pay for the repair or a full tire replacement in the event of a flat.
Your financial responsibility varies depending on several factors, including:
- The rental company’s flat tire policy
- Whether your rental includes a protection plan
- Whether your credit card or personal automobile insurance covers rental cars
- Which repairs and damages your available insurance or protection plans cover
- The extent of the damage[1][4]
In general, if you don’t purchase a protection plan from the rental company, you’ll be responsible for at least some of the charges associated with the tire repair.
Charges can include towing fees, administrative fees, tire patching, spare mounting, tire replacement, or repairs for further vehicle damage.[3][8][9]
Even with a protection plan, some rental agencies will hold you responsible for part of the repair cost.
For example, Fox Rent A Car’s Roadside Service Assistance plan will only cover up to $400 in tire repair costs,[10] and SIXT’s Roadside Assistance Protection covers tire repairs, but not full replacements.[11]
Flat Tire Policies by Company
We list each rental company’s policy on who pays for a flat tire below, along with the roadside assistance contact details.
Whether or not you’re responsible for paying for the flat tire, you’ll need to contact the rental agency to report the incident.
We gathered this information by viewing policy documentation online and contacting customer service representatives for each rental agency.
ACE Rent a Car
- Policy: Roadside assistance plans usually cover tire damage and spare mounting services as long as the damage isn’t a result of the renter violating their rental agreement. Otherwise, the renter is responsible for the tires during the rental period.[12][2]
- Fees: Up to the full cost of the repair/replacement if there is additional damage to the car (beyond what the roadside assistance plan covers) or you don’t have a protection plan[12]
- Contact: Call the individual rental location.
Alamo Rent a Car
- Policy: Roadside assistance will provide spare mounting or towing (if no usable spare is available). Roadside Plus and Roadside Assistance Protection plans cover the cost of spare mounting and towing, but not replacements. Without a protection plan, you’ll be responsible for the repair costs.[13][4][14]
- Fees: Up to the full cost of a replacement tire and any additional damage[13][4]
- Contact: (800) 803-4444
Avis Rent a Car
- Policy: The renter is responsible for tire damage unless they have Avis LDW coverage.[15]
- Fees: Up to the full cost to repair or replace the tire, plus the cost of towing if you don’t have coverage[8]
- Contact: (800) 354-2847
Budget
- Policy: Extended Roadside Assistance covers spare mounting or towing, but may not cover the repair or replacement cost, depending on the details of the incident. Without a protection plan, the renter is responsible for the tires.[16][17]
- Fees: Up to the full cost to repair or replace the tire[17]
- Contact: (800) 354-2847
Dollar Car Rental
- Policy: Premium Emergency Roadside Service includes spare tire mounting for some rentals. Otherwise, the renter is responsible for tire repairs and replacements.[18]
- Fees: Up to the full cost of repair or replacement, towing, and other damages[18][19]
- Contact: (800) 235-9393
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
- Policy: Roadside assistance is available for all rentals, with or without a protection plan, but you’ll be responsible for the cost of the flat tire if you don’t have a protection plan.[1]
- Fees: Up to the full repair or replacement cost and any associated damage or services; waived if you have a Roadside Assistance Protection plan[1][9][20]
- Contact: (800) 307-6666
Fox Rent A Car
- Policy: If the car is drivable, you should drive it to a safe place and change the tire, then report the incident to the rental location. If it isn’t drivable, contact the rental location or toll-free roadside assistance hotline for towing or spare mounting.[21]
- Fees: Vary by the location and incident details; if you purchase Roadside Service Assistance, Fox Rent A Car will cover up to $400 of the repair and assistance costs.[10]
- Contact: (323) 593-7490 or call the individual rental location
Getaround
- Policy: If a spare tire is available, you should change the tire and contact the car’s owner as soon as possible. If there’s no spare and the car isn’t drivable, Getaround’s roadside assistance will tow the car.[22]
- Fees: Vary depending on your protection plan; up to $3,000, plus the cost of roadside assistance[23]
- Contact: Select “Help” and then “Contact Getaround Support” in the Getaround app.
Hertz
- Policy: All rentals include basic Emergency Roadside Service, but the renter is responsible for the cost of repairs, replacements, and towing charges, as well as any damage that results from driving on a flat tire.[24][25]
- Fees: Up to the full cost of the repair or replacement (including any towing or labor fees, which are usually up to $250 per rental)[24][3]
- Contact: (800) 654-5060
National Car Rental
- Policy: Roadside assistance is available with or without a protection plan, and will mount a spare tire (if an inflated spare is available) or tow the vehicle.[26]
- Fees: Up to the full cost of a replacement tire; Roadside Plus plans cover roadside assistance services, but not the replacement itself.[26]
- Contact: (800) 803-4444
Payless Car Rental
- Policy: Roadside assistance offers spare mounting services (or towing, if a spare tire isn’t available).[27]
- Fees: Up to the full cost of the repair or replacement, plus the cost of roadside assistance; Roadside Service Plans cover spare mounting or towing, but not the tire repair or replacement.[27][28]
- Contact: Call the individual rental location.
SIXT
- Policy: The renter is responsible for tire damage during the rental period. However, SIXT does offer roadside assistance, so you won’t need to contact a third-party towing company.[11]
- Fees: Up to the full cost of the repair or replacement; note that Roadside Assistance Protection plans cover repairs, but not replacements.[11]
- Contact: (888) 749-8227
Thrifty Car Rental
- Policy: Spare tire mounting is available for some rentals with Premium Emergency Roadside Service. Without this add-on, you can contact the roadside assistance helpline to arrange a repair or tow, but you’ll be responsible for the cost.[29]
- Fees: Up to the full cost to repair or replace the tire, unless your protection plan covers it[30]
- Contact: (877) 283-0898
Turo
- Policy: The guest is generally responsible for the vehicle, including flat tires, during the rental period. However, if the tire is old, worn, or has pre-existing damage, the host will be responsible for the repair. If you pay for a repair and Turo finds that the host should have been responsible, Turo will reimburse you.[31]
- Fees: The full cost to repair or replace the tire, unless you have a Premier plan or the host is responsible for the tire damage[31]
- Contact: (415) 965-4525
William Lipovsky
