I totally get what you mean about the “roll of the dice” feeling. I’ve only had to use roadside assistance once, but it was a weird mix of relief and low-key anxiety. Like, I was glad someone was coming, but then I started wondering—who are these people actually sending? Is there any kind of standard for tow trucks or drivers, or is it just whoever’s closest? The guy who showed up for me seemed legit, but his truck looked like it had seen better days. Made me wonder if the insurance company actually checks out their contractors or just picks from a list.
I keep thinking about whether it’s better to have the insurance add-on or just go with something like AAA. Does anyone know if those third-party services are more reliable? Or is it all basically the same pool of local tow companies anyway? I guess at least with insurance, you’re not paying out of pocket in the moment, which is a huge plus when you’re already stressed.
One thing that bugs me is how long it can take for help to arrive. My friend waited almost two hours last summer when her car overheated on the highway. She said she kept getting texts saying “help is on the way,” but nobody could tell her exactly when. Is that normal? Or did she just get unlucky?
I’m still new to driving so maybe I’m overthinking it, but I feel like having some kind of backup is better than nothing—even if it’s not perfect. Still, I wish there was a way to know ahead of time if you’re getting a decent tow truck or one that’s barely holding together with zip ties and hope...
I wish there was a way to know ahead of time if you’re getting a decent tow truck or one that’s barely holding together with zip ties and hope...
Honestly, I’ve wondered the same thing. It feels like there should be some kind of rating system for tow companies, like how rideshare apps let you see driver reviews. I’ve had both good and sketchy experiences—one time the guy who showed up was super professional, another time the truck looked like it might fall apart before it got my car home.
I’m curious, has anyone actually compared the response times between insurance roadside and AAA? I’ve only used my insurance once, and it took about an hour, but I’ve heard AAA can be faster (or slower, depending on where you are). Maybe it just depends on how busy things are in your area?
one time the guy who showed up was super professional, another time the truck looked like it might fall apart before it got my car home.
That’s exactly it—sometimes you get the tow truck version of a superhero, other times you’re just hoping the truck doesn’t need a tow itself. I’ve used both AAA and insurance roadside. Honestly, both took about an hour for me, but AAA sent updates on my phone, which was nice. I think it’s just luck of the draw and how busy things are. Wouldn’t mind a Yelp for tow trucks, though...
I get what you mean about the “luck of the draw.” Still, I’ve had mixed results with insurance roadside—sometimes they contract out to whoever’s closest, and that’s not always ideal for higher-end vehicles. Once, the driver didn’t even have proper wheel lifts for low-clearance cars. AAA at least seems to vet their providers a bit more, or maybe I’ve just been lucky.
Wouldn’t mind a Yelp for tow trucks, though...
Honestly, that would be a game changer. Until then, I’m sticking with AAA for peace of mind, even if it costs a bit more.
- Totally agree, AAA’s been way more consistent for my cars.
- Had a “budget” tow once through insurance—guy showed up in a truck older than my dad’s jokes.
- Low-clearance? He just shrugged and said, “We’ll see what happens.”
- Yelp for tow trucks would save so much stress... until then, I’m paying extra for AAA and sleeping better.
