Has anyone actually had roadside save them a ton of money, or is it mostly just for convenience?
I’ve had roadside for years and, honestly, the only time it “saved” me was when my ‘72 Chevy decided to impersonate a lawn ornament on the side of I-70. The tow was covered, but after adding up the premiums, I’m not sure I came out ahead. Dropping extras barely made a dent in my rate after 65, though—seems like the tickets and age combo is the real wallet-buster. Has anyone tried those pay-per-mile policies? I keep hearing about them but not sure if they’re worth the hassle.
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from—roadside can feel like a sunk cost, especially if you rarely use it. But I’ve seen too many folks get hit with a $300+ tow bill out of nowhere, and that’s just for a short haul. If you’re driving older cars (like that ‘72 Chevy), the odds of needing a tow or jump go up, and those one-off emergencies can sting way more than the annual premium. It’s less about “saving money” every year and more about not getting blindsided when something goes sideways.
About pay-per-mile policies: they sound great if you barely drive, but in Kansas, with everything so spread out, most people rack up more miles than they think. Plus, some of those programs track your driving habits, which can get a little Big Brother-ish for my taste. If you’re a low-mileage driver and don’t mind the tracking, maybe it’s worth a look, but I’d run the numbers first. Sometimes the savings aren’t as big as they advertise once you factor in all the fees and base rates.
I get the logic behind paying for roadside, but honestly, I’ve had AAA for years and used it maybe twice. That’s a lot of cash down the drain if you’re not breaking down often.
Fair, but if you keep your car in decent shape and have a backup plan (like a local tow guy’s number), you might be better off just setting aside a “tow fund.” As for pay-per-mile, I actually did the math last year—ended up cheaper for me, even with all the Kansas highway miles. The tracking is weird, but I just toss the dongle in the glove box and forget about it.“It’s less about ‘saving money’ every year and more about not getting blindsided when something goes sideways.”
I hear you on the AAA thing. I’ve had it for decades, and honestly, I’ve only called them out a handful of times—usually for a dead battery or a flat when I was too far from home to deal with it myself. Still, I get what you’re saying here:
“It’s less about ‘saving money’ every year and more about not getting blindsided when something goes sideways.”
That’s pretty much how I justify it to myself. With older cars, even well-maintained ones, there’s always that little voice in the back of my head reminding me that something weird could go wrong at the worst possible moment. But yeah, if you’ve got a reliable local tow guy and you’re comfortable with a “tow fund,” that’s a solid approach too. I know a few folks who do exactly that and haven’t looked back.
As for pay-per-mile insurance, I’ve been curious about it but never pulled the trigger. The tracking thing feels a bit Big Brother-ish, but if it saves you money, hard to argue. I might have to crunch the numbers myself, especially since my classic only comes out on weekends and sunny days...
I totally get the hesitation with pay-per-mile insurance. The idea of being tracked makes me a bit uneasy too, even if I know my car isn’t exactly racking up the miles these days. I did a trial with one of those devices for a month—honestly, it was weird seeing my driving habits charted out, but the savings were real. Have you looked into any classic car-specific policies? Some of those limit your annual mileage and can be surprisingly affordable, especially if your ride mostly sees blue skies and car shows. Just curious—do you keep your AAA for all your cars, or just the classic?
