Stop Overpaying For Roadside Assistance With These 5 Money Saving Tips

When you are stranded on the roadside because your vehicle has broken down, you want to know that help is on the way. You also want to know that you won’t have to sign away your life savings to pay for the tow truck. The best way to make sure you are covered is to have an annual plan with a roadside assistance service, one that covers either you personally or your vehicle.

There are a lot of companies roadside assistance these days and the plans available differ significantly. To help you find the right service provider and plan here’s a helpful list of the things you need to consider.

What coverage does a roadside assistance company offer across the States?

If you regularly take road trips across America you definitely need to look for companies that offer a nationwide service. There are several big name companies out there that fit this bill and they even offer coverage for Canada too.

Is it better to have cover for a particular vehicle or a person?

There is no question that a plan that offers cover for a person (or people) is better than a plan that restricts you to one vehicle. There are plans available that cover you for any vehicle that you drive including rentals, RVs and motorcycles.

Can I get coverage for multiple people?

Good plans will usually cover you and your spouse. There are plans available where there is no charge for your spouse but others will make a smallish charge for an additional person.

How many times a year can I use the service?

This will vary according to the plan you choose and the roadside service provider you select. If you drive long distances on a regular basis (over the 11,000 average mileage that an American clocks up for example) you should look for a plan that provides you with the highest amount of calls a year.

What kind of roadside assistance should a good plan cover?

Aside from multiple call outs you should look for cover that includes 24/7 call-outs, assistance if you lock yourself out of your vehicle, towing (check what distance ‘free’ towing applies), tire-change services, battery service (in case your battery dies) and gas refuelling service (in case you run out of gas on the highway).

Should everyone get roadside assistance?

Make sure that you do not already have cover with your auto manufacturer or a credit card provider. An auto manufacturer will provide a new car with free road assistance for up to 3 years, so check out the terms of your warranty to find out when your cover extends to.