Totally get what you mean about the “within 60 minutes” thing being more of a suggestion than a guarantee, especially out in the sticks. I’ve had a couple of those marathon waits too, and it’s always some guy rolling up from 40 miles away. Kind of makes you wonder if they just have one truck covering half the state or what.
- In bigger cities, I’ve noticed roadside help is way faster. Like, once in Denver I had a flat and someone showed up in 15 minutes. But then again, I’ve also had times where it took forever because they were slammed with calls. So maybe it’s just hit or miss no matter where you are?
- The peace of mind thing is real though. Even if it takes two hours, at least I know someone’s eventually coming. Beats flipping through Google trying to find a local tow company that’s even open.
- One thing I’m skeptical about is whether these insurance add-ons actually use decent contractors everywhere. Sometimes it seems like they just grab whoever’s available, and quality varies a lot.
- I’ve heard horror stories about people getting stuck with surprise charges too—like the insurance covers the tow, but not the “extra mileage” or whatever. Ever run into that?
I keep wondering if it’d be smarter to just pay for AAA or something separate, but then again, that’s another subscription fee... Hard to say if it’d really be better service or just more of the same.
Ever had a situation where roadside totally dropped the ball? Or is it usually just slow but reliable?
Honestly, the “within 60 minutes” thing cracks me up sometimes—like, sure, if you’re parked outside a major intersection. Out in the boonies, you’re lucky if they even answer the phone right away. I’ve seen it both ways: once in a city, I had a jump in 20 minutes, but another time in rural Nebraska, it was closer to three hours. I think a lot of it comes down to how many contractors they’ve got on call in your area, and yeah, sometimes it feels like they’re just calling whoever’s awake.
About those surprise charges—yeah, that’s a real thing. Most insurance roadside plans have a set mileage limit (like 10 or 15 miles), and anything over that is on you. Same goes for stuff like winching or if you need a tow from a ditch. The fine print is where they get you. AAA’s a bit clearer about what’s covered, but you’re right, it’s another fee and not always faster.
I haven’t had them totally drop the ball, but I’ve definitely had “slow but steady” more often than “wow, that was fast.” At the end of the day, it’s peace of mind, but it’s not magic.
Yeah, the “60 minutes or less” thing is hilarious—unless you’re stranded in the middle of nowhere, then it’s just wishful thinking. I had a flat tire outside of town once and it took almost two hours for someone to show up. Not exactly speedy. The fine print is sneaky too... I got hit with an extra charge because I was like two miles over their “free” limit. Still, I’d rather pay a little than be stuck changing a tire on the side of the highway at midnight. Peace of mind, but definitely not magic.
I get what you mean about the fine print—those “free” miles are never quite enough. But honestly, I’ve had better luck with the roadside help through my insurance than with the big-name clubs.
That’s rough, but at least you got help eventually. I do wonder sometimes if it’s just luck of the draw who shows up and how fast. I’ve had them come out in 30 minutes once, but another time it was almost three hours... Maybe it depends on where you break down? Still beats trying to wrestle a tire off in the dark, though.“I got hit with an extra charge because I was like two miles over their ‘free’ limit.”
Yeah, the “free” miles thing is such a classic gotcha—like, who breaks down right next to their house? I swear, it’s always in the middle of nowhere. I’ve had insurance roadside show up faster than pizza delivery, but then once I waited so long I could’ve learned to change my own tire. Does anyone actually read those coverage details before they need ‘em, or is it just me who finds out the hard way?
