Apple Announces New Roadside Assistance via Satellite Feature for iPhone 14 and iPhone 15

At today's iPhone 15 event, Apple introduced an add-on feature to Emergency SOS via Satellite called Roadside Assistance via Satellite. The feature is similar to Emergency SOS, but it allows iPhone users to contact roadside assistance if they have car trouble in an area without cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity.

apple roadside assistance
Roadside Assistance via Satellite is available for the ‌iPhone 15‌ models, but it is also a feature that is retroactively available for the ‌iPhone‌ 14 lineup. Available in the United States, roadside assistance is being offered through a partnership with AAA.

The functionality is included in an AAA membership, but Apple said that ‌iPhone‌ users can also get access separately. The company did not provide details on what it would cost without an AAA membership, but AAA is priced starting at $65 per year.

As with Emergency SOS via Satellite, you can text roadside assistance and choose what you need help with. Options demonstrated at the event included flat tire, no fuel, locked out, vehicle stuck, and vehicle does not start.

Apple includes two years of Emergency SOS via Satellite and Roadside Assistance via Satellite connectivity for free with the purchase of an ‌iPhone‌ 14 or ‌iPhone 15‌. Note that in the case of Roadside Assistance, you need the satellite connectivity and to pay the additional fee to AAA.

Related Roundup: iPhone 15
Related Forum: iPhone

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Top Rated Comments

LlamaLarry Avatar
20 months ago

The only time I didn't have cellular connection in the past 10 years happened in the US. Sorry, it just doesn't happen in Europe, at least not on roads. Here in Switzerland where I live, not even on mountain peaks.
Well considering that the US is 27,723% larger than Switzerland that really isn't surprising that you don't understand how much area we have to cover.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheColtr Avatar
20 months ago
I have had AAA roadside since I started driving, and my parents and grandparents have had it for decades. I love AAA and I am so happy Apple partnered with them on this.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zach-coleman Avatar
20 months ago
I wonder how they’ll fit a ”Apple saved me when my car broke down” into next year‘s keynote without it seeming silly in comparison to the ones who almost died.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
t0rqx Avatar
20 months ago

I wonder how they’ll fit a ”Apple saved me when my car broke down” into next year‘s keynote without it seeming silly in comparison to the ones who almost died.
I saw the playbooks already for next year. Here's a glimpse. They already have some stories lined up. For example:

1. a soon to be father whos driving the soon to be mother to the hospital ready to welcome a baby on time due to this new feature.

2. Student driving to University to attend exams, but car broke down. Due to her Apple Watch she was able to arrive on time and graduated with honours.

3. Self-Employed delivery guy who specialises in certain goods with a contract for delivering certain products on time, whol almost came late, but luckily just bought the new iPhone 15 Pro.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LlamaLarry Avatar
20 months ago

I’d rather not pay AAA just so I don’t have to pay out of pocket once a decade or less.
Man, my daughter in law uses my son's AAA sub account for car lockout so often we had to figure out the max number of times she could and when the period reset. I've never met a person in my life that is locked out of her car as often as her. She's got a master's degree, she's brilliant, but dude - she loves slamming that door with the keys in the cup holder like it's in her job description.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
75Batt Avatar
20 months ago

The only time I didn't have cellular connection in the past 10 years happened in the US. Sorry, it just doesn't happen in Europe, at least not on roads. Here in Switzerland where I live, not even on mountain peaks.
From Europe here. You have named one country. And I can say personally it has happened to me quite a few times in more than on European country. Apple didn’t make it available in Switzerland anyway so what is your issue?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)