I used to roll my eyes at roadside assistance too, but after my battery died in a sketchy parking lot at midnight, I was real glad I had it. Rental reimbursement, though... unless your car is your lifeline, I’d probably skip it. Peace of mind is nice, but my wallet likes peace too.
I get what you mean about roadside assistance—never really seems worth it until you’re stuck somewhere weird and your phone’s at 10%. I’ve had that “why did I even bother?” feeling about rental reimbursement too, but then I started thinking about what would happen if my car was in the shop for a week. I don’t *need* my car for work, but public transit here is a mess, and rideshares add up fast.
Curious, have you ever actually used rental reimbursement? I keep going back and forth on whether it’s just another “nice to have” or if it’s one of those things you regret not having when you need it most. I’m always worried that if I drop it, that’ll be the year I get rear-ended and my car’s out of commission for days.
Also, with premiums jumping, do you think dropping stuff like rental or even roadside is worth the risk? Or is it better to just trim coverage somewhere else? I’m always second-guessing what’s actually necessary and what’s just padding the bill.
And out of curiosity, has anyone had their rates go up after using roadside assistance? I’ve heard mixed things—some say it counts as a claim, others say it doesn’t. Would hate to save a few bucks on coverage only to get dinged later for actually using it.
Rental reimbursement is one of those things that feels like a waste—until you’re the one stuck without a car for a week and suddenly Uber is eating your lunch money. I’ve seen people go years without using it, then get rear-ended and wish they’d kept it. If you can swing the extra few bucks, it’s a nice safety net, especially if public transit isn’t really an option.
On dropping coverage:
- Rental and roadside are usually pretty cheap compared to the rest of your policy. Trimming them might save you a coffee or two per month, but if you ever need them, you’ll probably wish you hadn’t.
- If you’re looking to cut costs, sometimes raising your deductible on comp/collision makes a bigger dent without gutting your coverage.
About roadside assistance “counting” as a claim—depends on the company. Some carriers treat it like a claim if you use it a lot (think: multiple tows in a year), but most don’t ding you for the occasional lockout or jump. Still, if you’re worried, you could always use AAA or a credit card perk instead.
Premiums are up everywhere right now, not just GEICO. Parts, labor, even rental cars themselves are pricier. It’s not just you.
I hear you on the rental reimbursement thing. I used to shrug it off, but after my S-Class got rear-ended and sat in the shop for two weeks (waiting on a part from Germany, of course), I was pretty grateful I’d kept it. The cost of a halfway-decent rental these days is just... ridiculous. And let’s be honest, if you’re used to driving something nice, being stuck in a base model econobox for a week is already punishment enough without having to pay out of pocket for it.
I’m actually a little skeptical about how much value some of these add-ons bring, but like you said, they’re cheap compared to the rest of the bill. Roadside assistance is one I go back and forth on, though. My car came with it from the manufacturer for a few years, and now I’ve got it through my credit card. But I’ve heard stories about insurance companies counting frequent roadside calls as claims, which seems a bit unfair if you ask me. Has anyone actually had their premium go up because of that? Or is it mostly just an urban legend?
The premium hikes are wild lately. Mine jumped almost 20% this renewal and I haven’t had a ticket or claim in years. I get that parts and labor are up, but it feels like luxury models get hit even harder. Maybe it’s the cost to repair all the sensors and tech? Or maybe the insurers just assume we’ll pay whatever they ask... hard to say.
Curious if anyone’s actually tried shopping around lately and found anything better? Or is every company playing the same game right now?
Rental reimbursement is one of those things you don’t really appreciate until you’re stuck without it. I’ve seen people get burned by that more than once—especially with luxury cars, since the repair times are always longer and the rental costs are way higher. It’s a small add-on, but it can save a lot of headache.
- Roadside assistance and claims: This one’s a bit murky. Technically, most insurers don’t count a single roadside call as a claim, but if you’re calling them every few months for lockouts or tows, it can start to look like a pattern. Some companies might use that as a reason to bump your premium, but it’s not universal. I’ve seen it happen, but it’s rare unless it’s excessive. Credit card or manufacturer roadside is usually “off the record,” so if you’re worried, that’s the safer bet.
- Premium hikes: You’re not imagining things—luxury models are getting hit harder. The cost to repair all those sensors, cameras, and specialty parts is through the roof right now. Even minor fender benders can turn into multi-thousand dollar repairs. Insurers are definitely factoring that in, and yeah, there’s probably some “if you can afford the car, you can afford the insurance” logic baked in too.
- Shopping around: It’s rough out there. Most carriers are raising rates across the board, but I have seen people get better deals by switching—especially if they bundle home/auto or have a clean record. Sometimes just calling your current company and asking about discounts or higher deductibles can help too. It’s annoying, but worth a shot.
- Anecdotally, I’ve noticed some companies are less aggressive with increases if you’ve been with them a long time, but others seem to hike everyone regardless. No real rhyme or reason.
It’s frustrating when you do everything right and still get hit with a big jump. The market’s just weird right now—supply chain issues, labor shortages, more expensive tech in cars... all of it adds up. Hang in there; you’re definitely not alone in this mess.
