I swear, insurance is like a subscription service you never actually wanted. I’ve been staring at my policy for weeks and still can’t tell if I’m covered for roadside assistance or just paying extra for “peace of mind.” Has anyone actually tried calling their agent to get a straight answer, or is it just me who gets put on hold forever?
Honestly, I relate way too much to this. I’ve seen folks pay for years thinking they’ve got every bell and whistle, only to find out “roadside assistance” was just a fancy line item—no tow truck in sight. I’ve called agents before, and half the time they sound as confused as I am reading the fine print. Once, I actually got transferred three times just to confirm if a flat tire counted as an emergency. Spoiler: depends on the tire. Insurance in Delaware really does feel like a maze sometimes...
I’ve run into the same kind of confusion, especially with the “extras” that sound good on paper but don’t actually help when you need them. The roadside assistance thing is wild—like, how can it be so vague? I remember reading my policy and thinking, “Okay, this covers towing,” but then there’s a footnote about “approved locations” and “distance limits.” Turns out, if you break down more than five miles from your house, you’re basically on your own unless you want to pay out of pocket.
I started making a checklist before calling any insurance company. Stuff like: What exactly does roadside assistance cover? Is there a cap on the number of tows per year? Do they cover flat tires or just mechanical breakdowns? It’s kind of annoying to have to interrogate them, but I’ve found that if you ask super specific questions, you get fewer surprises later. Sometimes the agents don’t even know until they look it up, which is... not super reassuring.
One thing I’m still not clear on: if you use your roadside assistance too many times in a year, does it affect your premium? I’ve heard mixed things—some people say yes, others say it’s totally separate from claims. Anyone actually had their rate go up because of too many calls for help?
Also, has anyone tried those third-party roadside services (like AAA) instead of going through their insurance? I’m wondering if it’s less hassle or just another layer of fine print. Insurance in Delaware really does feel like a maze, but maybe there’s a way to at least get a map...
Yeah, the “approved locations” thing tripped me up too. I thought I was covered for any breakdown, but nope—only if it’s within their weird little radius. I’ve actually used AAA for a couple years now and honestly, it’s been way less of a headache than dealing with my insurance company’s roadside plan. They’re not perfect, but at least you know what you’re getting. I’m still paranoid about whether using roadside too much dings your premium though... Has anyone ever had their insurance try to drop them for “excessive use” or is that just an urban legend?
Never had my insurance drop me for using roadside, and I’ve called them a handful of times over the years. Honestly, I think that’s more rumor than reality unless you’re calling every other week. What actually annoyed me was how slow AAA can be—last winter I waited almost two hours for a tow. Insurance roadside isn’t always faster, but at least it’s not another membership fee on top of everything else. Just my two cents... sometimes the “peace of mind” costs more than it’s worth.
