That five-mile limit gets people every time... it’s buried in the fine print and suddenly you’re paying out of pocket for a 12-mile tow. Here’s my two cents: always ask for the actual mileage they’ll cover, not just “local towing.” Some plans even count the distance to the nearest repair shop, not your preferred one. I’ve seen folks get burned thinking they were covered, only to find out otherwise. If you drive older cars or do long trips, it’s worth shelling out a bit more for a plan that spells everything out—no surprises when you’re stranded on the side of the highway.
Yeah, that five-mile thing is sneaky. I ran into it last winter—thought I was covered, but the tow truck driver told me anything over five miles was on me. Ended up paying more than I expected just to get my car to a shop I actually trust.
A few things I’ve learned since then:
- “Local towing” can mean almost anything. Some companies define it as within city limits, others go by straight-line distance (not actual road miles), and a few just pick the closest garage, even if it’s not where you want to go.
- If you commute or take road trips, check if they offer a plan with at least 15-20 miles included. It’s usually just a few bucks more per year, but way less hassle when you’re stuck.
- Ask about what counts as a “covered event.” Some plans only cover breakdowns, not accidents, or vice versa. That tripped up my neighbor once—he slid into a ditch and his roadside plan wouldn’t help because it was technically an accident.
- Don’t forget about wait times. Some of the cheaper add-ons use third-party dispatchers and you could be waiting hours, especially during bad weather or busy times.
Honestly, for anyone driving an older car or doing longer commutes, the extra coverage is worth it. But yeah, read every bit of fine print. The marketing makes it sound like you’re totally covered, but there’s always some catch buried in there.
One more thing—if you have AAA or something similar already, check if your insurance roadside overlaps. No sense paying twice for the same tow. Learned that one the hard way too...
That five-mile rule got me too—had my ‘76 Chevy Caprice towed last summer and the “included” tow barely got me to the next gas station, not my mechanic. Ended up paying extra, which stung. I always double-check now. Those fine print surprises are brutal.
That five-mile limit trips up a lot of folks. It’s one of those details that doesn’t jump out until you’re stranded and the tow truck driver’s doing the math. I’ve seen people get caught off guard by storage fees too if their car ends up at the wrong shop overnight. Always worth checking what’s actually covered—sometimes bumping up to the “premium” roadside plan is cheaper in the long run, especially if you drive older cars or do a lot of road trips. The fine print really does matter, unfortunately.
Yeah, that five-mile thing is sneaky. I’ve seen it surprise people who assumed “towing included” meant anywhere they wanted. Some policies only cover to the nearest repair shop, not your favorite mechanic across town.
A few things I always tell folks to double-check:
- Storage fees can rack up fast if you’re not quick about picking up your car. Not every plan covers those.
- Some roadside plans limit the number of service calls per year—easy to miss in the fine print.
- If you drive a lot at night or in rural areas, ask if there’s 24/7 coverage. Not all plans actually have it, weirdly enough.
- Watch out for exclusions on things like lockouts or fuel delivery. Some basic plans only cover towing and jump starts.
Honestly, sometimes paying a little more for the “premium” plan makes sense, especially if your car isn’t brand new. But I’ve also seen people pay for roadside through their insurance and then realize their credit card already offered similar coverage... so it’s worth checking what you already have before doubling up.
