That “up to 5 miles” thing always gets me too... seems like it’s designed for the rarest scenario. I’m pretty handy with basic repairs, and honestly, most of the time I’d rather just get my hands dirty than wait around for a tow that might not even find me. But I do wonder if it’s different when you’ve got kids in the car or you’re stuck late at night—maybe then the peace of mind is worth the extra cost, even if it feels unnecessary most of the time.
Have you ever had a breakdown with family in tow? I keep thinking about what would happen if I was stranded somewhere remote with my kids. That’s the only situation where I might see the value, but even then, I’m not sure if the service would actually come through when it matters.
I’m pretty handy with basic repairs, and honestly, most of the time I’d rather just get my hands dirty than wait around for a tow that might not even find me.
That “up to 5 miles” limit is definitely a sticking point for a lot of folks. I get where you’re coming from—if you’re handy, it can feel like overkill. But honestly, when you mentioned being stuck with kids late at night, that’s where I see the real value. Even if you can handle most fixes, sometimes it’s just not safe or practical to do it yourself, especially if you’re on a busy road or in bad weather.
In my experience, most roadside services do show up, even in less populated areas, though it can take longer. It’s not perfect, but having that backup can make a stressful situation a little less overwhelming. I’ve had clients call in after a breakdown with their family and they were just relieved someone was on the way—even if it took a bit. Peace of mind is hard to put a price on, especially when kids are involved.
That’s a good point about peace of mind, especially with kids in the car. I’m usually the “I’ll just fix it myself” type too, but there are situations where that just isn’t smart—or safe. Like you said, being on the shoulder of a highway at night or in pouring rain isn’t the time to be crawling under your car.
Even if you can handle most fixes, sometimes it’s just not safe or practical to do it yourself, especially if you’re on a busy road or in bad weather.
I’ve had a flat on a narrow two-lane road with trucks flying by, and honestly, I didn’t even want to open my door, let alone try to change a tire. That’s when having roadside help felt worth every penny. The five-mile tow limit is kind of annoying, though. If you break down in the middle of nowhere, five miles might not even get you to a real shop. I guess it’s better than nothing, but I wish more plans offered a bit more flexibility there.
One thing I’ve noticed is that response times can be all over the place. Sometimes they’re there in 20 minutes, other times it’s an hour or more. Not ideal, but like you said, just knowing someone’s coming helps take the edge off. I’d rather wait a bit than risk getting sideswiped trying to fix something myself.
I still keep a basic toolkit and jumper cables in the trunk—old habits die hard—but I don’t mind paying a little extra for backup. Especially after seeing how unpredictable things can get on the road.
Yeah, the five-mile tow thing bugs me too. I was looking at different plans and some only cover a super short distance, which seems kind of pointless if you’re out in the sticks. Do you know if any companies let you pick a longer tow range? I’m new to all this and it’s kind of overwhelming. Also, does using roadside assistance affect your insurance rates at all? I’ve heard mixed things.
Yeah, the five-mile limit feels pretty useless if you’re anywhere outside a city. I’ve seen some plans (like AAA Plus or Premier) that let you pick 100 miles or even more, but it costs extra. Some insurance companies just bundle the basic version in and don’t give you options. As for rates, I’ve asked my agent and they said using roadside doesn’t count as a claim, so it shouldn’t affect your premium—at least in most cases. But I’ve heard stories where people used it a ton and their insurer dropped them, so maybe there’s a limit before it becomes a problem? It’s kind of a gray area.
