Connect to On-Road Roadside Assistance via Satellite with iPhone 14 or Later with Partner Auto Clubs @ Apple

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Connect to On-Road Roadside Assistance via Satellite with iPhone 14 or Later with Partner Auto Clubs @ Apple
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just-human on 15/09/2025 - 02:28 support.apple.com (1478 clicks)
Last edited 15/09/2025 - 11:22 by 1 other user

Roadside Assistance is only available to vehicles located on or near a public road. Off-road recovery is not provided. Motoring club members receive benefits according to their membership, while non-members can access support on a pay-per-use basis. An active SIM is required.

Not sure if this counts as a deal, but I haven't seen many people talk about this, so I wanted to put it here in case it helps someone out.

Starting September 15 2025, various roadside assistance providers are launching Roadside Assist via Satellite for users with iPhone 14 and above. This is great for someone who goes into the outback and doesn't want to buy or can't afford a satellite phone to call for help.

Apple says it's free for two years after activation of an iPhone, but so far, it's been much longer without any mention of pricing. With so many areas in Australia without mobile coverage, this should be useful to those who want to go on a road trip.

According to RACV here's how it works:

When a user has car trouble and cellular and WiFi are not available, they will be guided through a short questionnaire to capture key details of their situation. They will then be guided to connect to a satellite, to transmit this information to RACV, message a roadside assistance agent and receive updates on their request.

List of Roadside Assist Providers Announcements:
RACV
NRMA
RAA
RAC

Automotive Roadside Assistance

Related Stores

Apple
Apple
AANT
AANT
NRMA Insurance
NRMA Insurance
RAA (Royal Automobile Association of South Australia)
RAA (Royal Automobile Association of South Australia)

Comments

  • MerlinKlendatu on 15/09/2025 - 04:57
    +1

    Great reminder but instructions unclear: What number do I message? How would I connect to the questionnaire mentioned?

    • just-human on 15/09/2025 - 11:21

      I think it should come up when you’re connected via satellite. The instructions are linked in the deal.

  • Dollar on 15/09/2025 - 05:56

    Looks like you are prompted once you connect to satellite, as per screenshot in step 2.

    • MerlinKlendatu on 15/09/2025 - 06:14
      -6

      What screenshot, where?

      • unco on 15/09/2025 - 06:24
        +44

        I think it’s best you just stay close to civilisation if you can’t click the deal link and read.

        • BatmanAU on 15/09/2025 - 09:17

          Comment of the month LOL

  • Mr Mrrtn on 15/09/2025 - 07:22
    +1

    I wonder if this could be useful when hiking out bush in case of an emergency?

    "Sorry, I seem to have lost my car, but thanks for saving me after a snake bit me!"

    • drodgers on 15/09/2025 - 08:08
      +7

      I mean, there are actual emergency services for that, also reachable over satellite

      • kumquat on 15/09/2025 - 10:12
        +2

        Here let me put some coolant on that snake bite

    • just-human on 15/09/2025 - 11:22
      +1

      Emergency SOS via Satellite has existed for a while but now they’ve added roadside assist.

  • hambogan on 15/09/2025 - 08:08
    +1

    AANT supports iPhone satellite too https://www.aant.com.au/news/roadside-assistance-satellite

    • GordonD on 15/09/2025 - 09:05
      -8

      Had to laugh at the things the app asks you whether you want assistance with. Locked out. No fuel or charge. Flat tyre. Vehicle does not start. Vehicle stuck. If you are in so remote an area that there isn't any phone reception, you're going to be out of range of roadside assistance too. How exactly could they help you with any of those things? Every one of them would require a roadside mechanic or a tow truck to deal with them.

      Of course there are a lot of things you might need assistance with that they could help with. Just not the sort of things a person in a city would need assistance with, like those.

      • askbargain on 15/09/2025 - 11:48

        Had to laugh

        hee haw

      • slipperypete on 15/09/2025 - 12:17
        +1

        I work in an Alpine area. Perfectly good roads but often an hours drive between reception. This is perfect.

        Actually, come to think of it, as long as you are on officially recognised public roads (this includes a lot of gravel roads) then they will come. It may mean a call out fee for example, driving up the NW of WA or the Nullarbor

  • bluegumflat on 15/09/2025 - 13:34

    I have had problems with reception on dedicated sat devices (SPOT) - once needed to walk up a big hill to get good enough reception to text a wellness checkin. That was 3 or so years ago. Can you rely on an Iphone connection to a satellite in an emergency?

    • thatsnasty on 15/09/2025 - 14:41

      If you have an iPhone you can test it for yourself as part of the setup

      • bluegumflat on 15/09/2025 - 15:20

        Ahhhh - https://support.apple.com/en-au/105097 - thanks. Sure, next I am in a treed valley I will give it a go and share the experience. But as the link suggests, you "may" need to have the horizon visible and clear view of the sky. A one off test in a difficult location is… a one off. It may work perfectly, then in an emergency, not so much. Wondering if anyone has regular experience using/testing it.

  • cloudmonk on 15/09/2025 - 14:40

    No RACQ

  • Bobioso on 15/09/2025 - 16:04
    -1

    Why not iPhone 13/Pro/Mini?
    Apple recently extended satellite support to those with iOS 18.5:

    https://au.pcmag.com/mobile-phones/110968/iphone-13-catches-…

    I have an satellite option in the Mobile network but seems to work for SMS only with select Telstra postpaid plans. This should work for all.

    • just-human on 15/09/2025 - 16:05
      +2

      Because Apple only added the satellite connectivity hardware to iPhone 14 and above. I would assume the Telstra satellite works by using standard cellular bands

  • Randxyz123 on 15/09/2025 - 16:17

    Does anyone know how this works in a practical sense so I can get non tech minded family members set up?

    Do I just get them to install the RACV app?

    • just-human on 15/09/2025 - 16:53

      No app needed. It says on the deal link - it’s in the control centre and you can try the demo with them.

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