Man, I feel this so much. The first time I had to call for a tow, I was convinced it’d be like $40, tops. Spoiler: it was not $40. I still don’t know how they calculated that bill—maybe there’s a secret “student driver” surcharge for looking extra confused on the side of the road?
I totally agree about the reviews thing. I started doing that too after my first “adventure.” It’s wild how some companies have glowing reviews and others are just... horror stories. But even with the “good” ones, you never really know what you’re gonna get until you’re stuck at 2am in a snowstorm, right? Feels like a weird lottery.
The insurance thing drives me nuts too. Why can’t they just say, “Here’s $100, go wild”? Instead it’s like, “You must use our guy, who may or may not show up before you freeze solid.” I get that they want to keep costs down, but sometimes it feels like they’re just making it harder for no reason.
Anyway, you’re definitely not alone in this. I’ve started keeping a little “emergency” folder in my glovebox with numbers and a granola bar, just in case. Not sure if the granola bar helps with tow bills, but at least I won’t starve while waiting. Maybe next time I’ll try negotiating with snacks—“Will tow for trail mix?” Worth a shot, right?
Trail mix as currency—honestly, might work better than my insurance sometimes. I’ve had Progressive’s roadside “help” leave me hanging for hours, and the operator sounded more lost than I was. I keep a list of local tow numbers too, just in case. The reviews are wild—one guy’s a hero, next review says he ghosted them. At this point, my emergency kit is mostly snacks and charger cables. If only snacks paid the bill...
At this point, my emergency kit is mostly snacks and charger cables. If only snacks paid the bill...
Honestly, keeping your own tow numbers handy is smart. The inconsistency in reviews is tough—sometimes it’s a great experience, sometimes not. Did you ever try using the Progressive app instead of calling? I’ve heard mixed things about response times depending on the method.
I’ve actually had better luck just calling the roadside number, to be honest. The app’s fine in theory, but I swear every time I’ve tried it, the GPS gets weird or it glitches out halfway through. Maybe it’s just my phone, but I ended up waiting longer than when I called in. Sometimes old-school works best, even if it means sitting through their hold music...
Yeah, I’ve noticed the same thing with the app acting up. Here’s what’s worked for me: I’ll try the app first, just in case it decides to cooperate, but if it starts spinning or can’t find my location, I bail and call the number right away. One time, the app said help was on the way, but nobody showed for over an hour—turned out it never actually sent my request. Calling might take longer upfront, but at least you know you’re talking to a real person. Maybe the tech will get better, but for now, I’m sticking with the phone too.
