Your Tesla Model 3 ran the pack down on I-15 south of Blue Diamond. You opened the Tesla app and tapped Roadside. The screen said “help is on the way.” You wondered whether that meant free or whether a bill would land in your inbox. The answer depends on what Tesla covers under your policy, what you ran out of, and whether the matched help is a Tesla contractor or a local operator.
What Tesla’s roadside program covers, in general terms
Tesla publishes a roadside policy. The policy sets what Tesla will dispatch, what Tesla will pay for, and what falls outside the program. The exact coverage varies by model year, by region, and by the terms in force at the time of the call. Tesla updates its policy. Always read the current Tesla roadside policy in your Tesla account, not a cached copy.
The general shape: Tesla covers certain types of disablement for a certain period, with mileage or call limits. Coverage can include towing to a Tesla service center, a jump start for a dead 12V, a flat tire change, and lockout help. Coverage for an out-of-charge event has historically been limited and is policy-dependent. The current Tesla roadside policy is the source for any specific Tesla-owned car.
Tesla roadside also has a separate “extended” or “premium” offering that drivers can purchase or that comes with financing or leasing. Confirm the current terms in your Tesla account before you call.
Why “free” is the wrong word for an EV stall
Three reasons to think about it carefully.
Tesla’s roadside policy is a Tesla question. The Las Vegas Valley does not set Tesla’s coverage. NDOT Freeway Service Patrol covers the busiest valley freeways from 5:00am to 8:30pm, free to motorists, but the patrol does not advertise EV charging.
Local operators still quote their own work on any valley stall. If you call Charge Pro LV at (702) 935-4699, the matched operator quotes the job before starting and bills you directly. Charge Pro LV does not set a price or waive a fee. The operator sets their own tariff.
A tow is a tow. NRS 706 sets Nevada tow rules, and NAC 706.408 sets non-consent tow rates as operator-filed tariffs. There is no single statewide cap. The matched operator and the tow partner both follow the same statute.
What Tesla tends to cover vs. what falls outside
Inside Tesla’s published policy, a dead 12V is often a covered event. A flat tire is often covered. A lockout is often covered. A tow to the nearest Tesla service center is often covered within a mileage cap. A charge delivered to the car is policy-dependent and has changed over time.
Outside Tesla’s policy, an out-of-charge tow on a flatbed to a non-Tesla charger is typically the driver’s cost. A third-party mobile EV rescue dispatched at the driver’s request is typically the driver’s cost. A 12V swap done by anyone other than Tesla’s contractor is typically the driver’s cost.
Always confirm the current Tesla policy before assuming coverage. Tesla’s terms change, and the cached answer in a forum is not the current policy.
When to call Tesla first, and when to call Charge Pro LV
Call Tesla first if your car is under Tesla’s roadside program, the failure is a covered event, and you want Tesla’s contractor. Tesla’s contractor will arrive in a Tesla-branded truck or a partner’s truck and follow Tesla’s procedure. That is a real, valid path. The Tesla app is the right place to start.
Call Charge Pro LV at (702) 935-4699 when any of these is true. You do not drive a Tesla. You drive a Tesla but Tesla’s contractor cannot reach you for a while. The stall is at a Strip resort garage, an apartment lot, or a private property that Tesla’s flatbed will not enter. The failure is a charge-delivered event and you want a Level 2 session at the stall. You want a 12V jump or 12V swap on site, and you do not want to wait for Tesla’s contractor.
The matched operator quotes the job before starting and bills you directly. A typical Level 2 session adds 10 to 20 miles of range in 15 to 30 minutes of charging time. That is charging time, not a clock on arrival.
How the two paths work together in this valley
Some drivers call both. They open the Tesla app and start a Tesla roadside request. They call Charge Pro LV at the same time. The first one that reaches them gets the job. The second one is cancelled.
That is a reasonable approach when the stall is urgent and the dash is dim. The matched operator through Charge Pro LV is an independent local mobile rescue. Tesla’s contractor is a Tesla-dispatched partner. They are not the same truck, and they do not bill the same way.
If you do drive a Tesla and Tesla’s contractor arrives first, cancel the Charge Pro LV match. If Tesla’s contractor cannot reach you and the matched operator can, the matched operator handles the stall. The two systems are independent.
What NDOT Freeway Service Patrol covers on a freeway shoulder
NDOT Freeway Service Patrol covers the most-traveled Las Vegas Valley freeways, operated by Quality Towing and sponsored by GEICO. Hours are 5:00am to 8:30pm, seven days a week. The patrol is free to motorists. Services include tire changes, jump starts, fuel, minor fire suppression, and traffic control.
NDOT’s published patrol materials do not mention EV charging or EV-specific service. An EV stall on a freeway shoulder is still a candidate for NDOT FSP help if the failure is a 12V or a tire. An EV stall that needs a charge delivered to the car is not. Charge Pro LV matches you with an operator who carries Level 2.
NDOT FSP will not enter a parking lot. The patrol works the shoulder, not the garage or the apartment complex. For a parking-lot stall, call Charge Pro LV.
What the matched operator can do that Tesla’s contractor cannot always do
Reach a tight garage. Strip resort garages and apartment complexes often restrict flatbed access. A mobile EV rescue truck with a Level 2 source and a 12V kit can fit where a flatbed cannot.
Bring the right adapter for a non-Tesla. If the call is for a friend’s EV on the same lot, the matched operator carries CCS1 and J1772 as well as NACS.
Quote a charge at the stall. Tesla’s contractor may tow to a working charger. The matched operator through Charge Pro LV often adds range at the stall instead.
Both paths are valid. The choice depends on what your car needs, where it is sitting, and how long you can wait.
How to call
Call Charge Pro LV at (702) 935-4699. Tell the line what you drive, what the dash is doing, and where the car is sitting. The matched operator quotes the job before starting and bills you directly. A typical Level 2 session adds 10 to 20 miles of range in 15 to 30 minutes of charging time.
For the broader policy question, read Tesla roadside assistance coverage in the valley and Tesla roadside policy 2026 for valley drivers.
Frequently asked questions
Does Tesla roadside charge my car for free?
It depends on Tesla’s current policy. Tesla roadside covers certain events and may not cover a charge delivered to the car. Confirm the current Tesla roadside policy in your Tesla account. A third-party mobile EV rescue is typically the driver’s cost.
Will Tesla tow my car for free if I run out of charge?
Tesla’s policy may cover a tow to the nearest Tesla service center within a mileage cap. A tow to a non-Tesla charger is typically the driver’s cost. Always read the current Tesla policy before assuming coverage.
Can I use both Tesla roadside and Charge Pro LV?
Yes. Some drivers open a Tesla roadside request and call Charge Pro LV at the same time. The first one that reaches them gets the job. The second one is cancelled.
What does NDOT Freeway Service Patrol cover for free?
NDOT FSP covers tire changes, jump starts, fuel, minor fire suppression, and traffic control on the busiest valley freeways, from 5:00am to 8:30pm, seven days a week. NDOT’s published patrol materials do not mention EV charging.
What does a local EV rescue operator charge?
The matched operator sets their own tariff. Charge Pro LV does not set a price or waive a fee. The operator quotes the job before starting and bills you directly. NAC 706.408 sets non-consent tow rates as operator-filed tariffs.