Apple’s iPhone satellite system has a new option for roadside assistance

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Apple already offered satellite roadside assistance through AAA, and now it works with Verizon roadside assistance, too.

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Photo showing a user is successfully connected to a satellite in range.

Photo by Victoria Song / The Verge

If you have an iPhone 14 or iPhone 15, you can now use satellite connectivity to access Verizon’s roadside assistance service. In a support page spotted by MacRumors, Apple now says you can take advantage of the capability with devices running iOS 17.2 (or higher) and a Verizon SIM card.

Verizon’s roadside assistance program is run by the Allstate-owned Signature Motor Club and offers help when you’re having car trouble, even if you’re in a friend’s car or a rental. It includes vehicle towing up to 10 miles in any direction, winching, fuel delivery, jump starts, tire service, and more. While Verizon offers a $4.99 per line monthly subscription, it also offers flat fees for Verizon customers who use the service without a subscription.

Apple already introduced a satellite roadside assistance service in partnership with AAA, allowing users to get help in an area with no mobile connectivity. The company bundles two years of free service plus its Emergency SOS feature when buying and activating a new iPhone 14 or iPhone 15 (and recently extended existing iPhone 14 owners for an additional year), but you’ll still have to foot the bill for whatever roadside service you need if you’re not a member of AAA. The addition of Verizon’s roadside assistance program could add more service options if you’re stuck in a remote area or just don’t have AAA.

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