Does CarMax MaxCare Cover Towing? Limits and How to Request

Yes, CarMax MaxCare does cover towing, but only as part of its emergency roadside assistance benefit and only when the breakdown is a “covered failure” under the service contract. Reimbursement is capped at $100 per incident, service runs 24 hours a day across the United States and Canada, and the program is administered by Cross Country Motor Club.1Cross Country Motor Club. Roadside Service Contract

What the Towing Benefit Actually Pays

The tow itself is reimbursed up to $100 per incident. If the bill runs higher, you pay the difference, and that overage is not reimbursable.1Cross Country Motor Club. Roadside Service Contract

There are also frequency limits. Cross Country Motor Club allows only one service call for the same cause within any seven-day period, and all roadside services combined are capped at four incidents per contract year, measured in 12-month anniversary periods.1Cross Country Motor Club. Roadside Service Contract

The same roadside package also covers jump-starts, flat tire assistance (removing the flat or mounting your spare, not replacing the tire), and fuel delivery, though you pay for the fuel itself.2CarMax. MaxCare Explained

When a Tow Is Covered and When It Isn’t

Towing is not a blanket benefit. It applies only when the reason you’re stranded is a failure MaxCare covers. The plan works on a named-exclusion basis: every part and system is covered unless it appears on a specific exclusion list.3CarMax. What Isn’t Covered by MaxCare A failure of the engine, transmission, drivetrain, steering, suspension, cooling system, electrical system, or climate control that leaves you stuck should trigger covered towing.2CarMax. MaxCare Explained

If the cause falls on the exclusion list, the tow is on you. Major excluded categories include:

  • Routine maintenance parts: batteries, filters, spark plugs, lubricants, fluids, coolant, and most hoses and belts.
  • Wear items: brake pads, rotors, drums, shock absorbers, tires, wheels, exhaust components, catalytic converters, and clutch components.
  • Cosmetic and body parts: glass, paint, sheet metal, bumpers, trim, moldings, upholstery, and structural body panels.
  • Aftermarket equipment installed after the vehicle purchase date, such as audio systems, lift kits, or anti-theft devices.
  • Breakdowns caused by owner abuse, neglect, or misuse, including overheating from abuse.
  • Repairs done solely to meet government emission standards.

Corrosion is also excluded as a cause of loss, and the full exclusion list lives in the contract itself.3CarMax. What Isn’t Covered by MaxCare4CarMax. Extended Car Service Plans From CarMax

How to Request a Tow

When the car won’t move, you have two ways to reach MaxCare roadside assistance:

Where the Vehicle Can Go

You don’t have to be towed to a CarMax store. Any licensed service facility in the U.S. or Canada works, as long as that facility offers a warranty on parts and labor.7CarMax. Can I Take My Vehicle Anywhere to Be Repaired There’s one financial nudge toward CarMax service centers and RepairPal Certified shops: using either reduces your repair deductible by $50.6CarMax. MaxCare Service Plans

If You Arranged the Tow Yourself

If you called your own tow company instead of the MaxCare roadside line, you can still seek reimbursement. CarMax runs a dedicated portal at carmax.roadsidereimbursement.com where you upload the invoice and supporting documents; invoices can also be mailed to CarMax Insurance at PO Box 9145, Medford, MA 02155. You’ll get an email when the claim is processed, and the portal lets you track status on an open request.8CarMax. CarMax Roadside Reimbursements

Towing Is Not Part of the Standard CarMax Warranty

The 30-day or 4,000-mile limited warranty that comes with every CarMax purchase does not include towing or roadside assistance. That benefit exists only under the optional MaxCare and MaxCare Plus plans.5CarMax. I’m Having an Issue With My Car — What Do I Do If you break down during the limited warranty window without MaxCare, you arrange and pay for the tow yourself, then bring the car in for a warranty repair.

Does MaxCare Plus Change the Towing Coverage?

No. The roadside assistance and towing benefits are the same under MaxCare and MaxCare Plus, including the $100-per-incident cap and 24/7 availability. MaxCare Plus adds tire, wheel, and dent-and-ding protection with a $0 deductible on those specific repairs. The practical difference for a tire incident is scope rather than towing: MaxCare Plus covers repair or replacement of a tire damaged by a road hazard, while the standard MaxCare roadside benefit for a flat only covers removing the flat and mounting your spare.2CarMax. MaxCare Explained