Abstract: Roadside assistance memberships are sold and activated by offering membership as a retail product. A roadside assistance package is offered as a retail item at a store. The customer pays for the membership at the retail vendor and activates at a later time. One method for activating the roadside assistance memberships is by a customer purchase of a member card for a roadside assistance membership associated with the membership at a retail vendor. The retail vendor then provides an indication of the purchase to a service vendor. The service vendor sets the purchased roadside assistance membership to a state from which it can be activated. The service vendor receives a roadside assistance membership number from a customer. When the roadside assistance membership number is indicated to be ready for activation, as indicated by the retail vendor, the service vendor activates the membership.