"Last time I waited almost two hours, and the guy was nice enough—but still, two hours?"
Two hours? Yikes, that's enough time to rethink your life choices...twice. Had a similar experience recently—AAA used to be my go-to, but lately it's like paying premium prices for dial-up internet speeds. Switched to my insurance company's roadside add-on; cheaper and they've been pretty solid so far. Not perfect, but at least I don't age visibly waiting for a tow truck anymore.
Two hours sounds rough, but honestly, I'm not convinced switching to insurance-based roadside is always better. I've had both AAA and my insurance's roadside add-on, and each has its quirks:
- AAA might have gotten slower lately, but their coverage has been consistently broader for me—especially on longer trips. I once broke down in the middle of nowhere in Montana, and AAA found someone within an hour. Not lightning fast, but considering the location...pretty decent.
- My insurance company's roadside assistance was cheaper, sure, but when I actually needed a tow beyond 10 miles (which is pretty common if you're traveling), the extra charges stacked up real quick.
- Also noticed that insurance-based roadside services often contract out to the exact same local towing companies AAA uses anyway. So sometimes it's just luck of the draw.
Not saying AAA hasn't slipped a bit lately (they definitely have), just that cheaper isn't always better if you travel frequently or hit remote areas. Guess it really depends on your driving habits and where you tend to go.
Yeah, totally agree about AAA's coverage being better for longer trips. Had a similar experience last summer—got a flat tire on a rural road in Colorado, and AAA had someone out in about 45 mins. My insurance roadside was cheaper, but the fine print got me when I needed a longer tow...ended up costing way more. Definitely worth thinking about your usual driving routes before switching.
"Definitely worth thinking about your usual driving routes before switching."
Yeah, learned this the hard way too. Used to think AAA was overpriced until my cheap roadside service left me stranded for hours on my commute home. Now I keep AAA just for peace of mind—budget-friendly isn't always stress-friendly, lol.
"budget-friendly isn't always stress-friendly, lol."
Haha, exactly... I remember my first flat tire on a busy highway—total nightmare. AAA took a while, but honestly, knowing they'd eventually show up kept me from completely panicking. Sometimes peace of mind beats saving a few bucks.
