Is Emergency Roadside Assistance Worth the Money – Yes
The debate about the value of emergency roadside assistance cannot truly be covered with a yes or a no. The true response for each person resides with answers to questions only they know.
For example:
Is your car older, prone to breakdowns, and unreliable? If so, roadside assistance may be able to provide a tow to a nearby shop.
Do you periodically run out of gas? Roadside assistance may be able to provide gas to get you to the nearest fueling point.
Do you have large volumes of cash (typically meant that you always carry approximately $100 of cash not earmarked for payment of a debt, purchasing of goods, etc)? If not, possibly having roadside assistance may help save the cost of an unexpected tow, be it from breakdown or a possible traffic incident that renders your car inoperable.
Roadside assistance is available in a variety of ways. The ever-popular AAA Auto Service allows an annual membership for an upfront fee. However, there are limitations to this service. You may only be entitled to a certain amount of "free" towing before you will lose that coverage for the year.
There are certain "limitations" on towing from AAA. In some locations, (Virginia, for example) cars on the interstate must be moved quickly. For example, if you are broke down in or around a city/town, but your vehicle is not on an interstate or shoulder of an interstate, you may be forced to wait for an extended period of time as cars stranded on interstates take precedence in towing.
An empty gas tank requiring the delivery of up to one gallon of gas may work for once or twice, but if you constantly run out of gas because you only put $5-$10 in at a time, this may also result in suspension of this benefit if used too frequently. At no time will they furnish you with a full tank of gas. Some roadside assistance services may charge additional for the gas when delivered.
A typical tow debt can run upwards of $75 - $100 easily, much more if the tow distance is greater than 25 miles. If you do not have access to that amount of cash, it is possible you should consider some sort of roadside assistance for those unplanned uses.
However, bear in mind that roadside assistance services are not a good substitute for properly maintaining your vehicle and keeping adequate gas in the tank to allow you to reach your destination.
Some roadside assistance companies offer "extras." Among these can be trip planning and discounts for certain goods/services (such as hotel rooms, etc).
If you do not normally use these services, the cost of membership for one year may not provide a good return on your annual investment fee.
Alternatives to commercial roadside assistance companies can be found closer than you think. Most insurance companies that offer vehicle coverage also offer a type of roadside/towing assistance coverage for far less in annual costs than the memberships to automobile clubs.
Before purchasing from your insurance company or a commercial company, ensure you fully understand the benefits, limitations on these benefits (i.e. including maximum number of tows, etc in a period of time) before signing for the service.
If you properly maintain your car, keep your fuel gage in a safe range, the insurance company add-on may be your best bet. You must call your insurance company in the event of a vehicle incident anyhow . . . they can also tow your vehicle.
As with anything you intend to spend money on, always take the time to research which option is best for your situation. However, give serious consideration to purchasing from your insurance carrier over a company solely dedicated to helping motorists. It is in your insurance company's best interests to get your car off roads quicker than it is for a roadside assistance company.
