Not fancy, but it’s already saved me once.
Totally relate to the “cheap jump starter in my trunk” move. I always tell folks, bundling can be convenient, but if roadside is a priority, sometimes standalone plans like AAA just do it better. Curious—has anyone actually had a good USAA roadside experience, or is it always a long wait?
I get where you’re coming from. I’ve had USAA roadside for years, and honestly, it’s been hit or miss. One time my battery died at a grocery store parking lot—middle of the afternoon, not exactly rush hour or anything. Called USAA, and it took close to two hours for someone to show up. The guy was nice enough, but at that point I could’ve probably flagged down a stranger and gotten a jump faster.
But then again, a couple months later I got a flat on the highway. Figured I was in for another long wait, but the tow truck showed up in about 30 minutes. Maybe just luck of the draw, or depends on where you are and who’s contracted in the area.
I will say, the one time I used AAA (borrowed a friend’s card), their response was super fast. But you pay for it, and for me, bundling with USAA is just easier to keep track of... even if it’s not always the fastest.
Guess it comes down to what you value more—speed or convenience. I keep a jump starter in the trunk now too, just in case. Not gonna rely on any roadside service for the quick stuff anymore.
Guess it comes down to what you value more—speed or convenience. I keep a jump starter in the trunk now too, just in case. Not gonna rely on any roadside service for the quick stuff anymore.
Man, I hear you on that. I’ve got an old ‘72 Chevelle and if I waited around for roadside every time she acted up, I’d probably have a beard down to my knees by now. Honestly, these services are like rolling the dice—sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you’re just stuck watching clouds.
I’ve had USAA for years too. They’re fine for insurance stuff, but roadside? Meh. Last time I needed a tow, it took so long I started wondering if they were sending someone from another state. But then again, when my buddy’s Mustang broke down in the middle of nowhere, USAA actually beat AAA by a good 20 minutes. Go figure.
I keep a jump box and a basic toolkit in the trunk now. If you drive anything older than 2010, that’s just survival gear at this point. Roadside is nice as a backup, but I wouldn’t bet my lunch on it getting there fast.
If you drive anything older than 2010, that’s just survival gear at this point.
Couldn’t agree more. I keep a tire inflator and a flashlight in the trunk too—never know when you’ll need ‘em. Roadside is fine as a backup, but I’d rather be prepared to handle the basics myself. Funny how “convenience” sometimes means doing it yourself, right?
I get wanting to be prepared, but honestly, I’ve had better luck just calling roadside than trying to mess with a flat on the shoulder. Maybe it’s just me, but half the time my “emergency kit” ends up buried under groceries or random junk anyway. I guess it depends where you drive—if you’re out in the sticks, sure, but in town? I’ll take the convenience and let someone else get their hands dirty.
