Honestly, I’ve had my car towed three times in one year and my insurer started giving me the side-eye. They didn’t raise my rates, but I got a warning letter. Anyone actually know if there’s a hard cutoff before they just drop you?
- Been there, kinda—my car broke down twice in six months and I used the roadside help both times. Didn’t get a warning letter, but my renewal paperwork had a little “reminder” about “excessive usage.”
- I’ve heard from a buddy who works in claims that there isn’t a strict number, but if you’re using it more than 2-3 times a year, it definitely gets flagged. Apparently, they look at patterns over time, not just a single bad year.
- I get why they do it, but it’s annoying. Like, I’m not trying to scam anyone, my car’s just old and stubborn.
- I did notice my premium crept up a bit after the second tow. Not a ton, but enough to make me wonder if it was related.
- Honestly, I still think it’s worth it for peace of mind, but I’m starting to think about switching to AAA or something separate from my insurance just in case they get twitchy about it.
- Anyone else feel like these “included” roadside plans are almost too good to be true? There’s always a catch...
I’ve seen a lot of folks get tripped up by the “unlimited” vibe these roadside plans give off. Truth is, most insurers treat them like a courtesy, not a core service—think of it like the free coffee in the waiting room, not the main event. I had a client who used it four times in a year (old Volvo, enough said) and his renewal came with a premium bump and a polite nudge to “review usage.” It’s not personal, just their way of keeping costs in check. If your car’s a bit unpredictable, splitting off to AAA or a standalone plan isn’t a bad move. Keeps your main policy squeaky clean.
Roadside help is one of those things that sounds like a superhero cape for your car, but in reality, it’s more like a really friendly neighbor who’ll help you out—just not every single time you lock your keys in the trunk. I’ve seen folks get burned thinking it’s a magic “get out of trouble free” card, then get side-eyed by their insurer when they use it more than a couple times. I mean, can you blame them? If my cousin called me to jump his battery four times in a year, I’d start screening his calls too.
It’s funny—people always ask if it’s “worth it,” and honestly, it depends on how much faith you’ve got in your ride. If you’re rolling around in something with more warning lights than a Christmas tree, yeah, maybe don’t lean too hard on the insurance version. Those plans are great for the occasional flat or dead battery, but if you’re on a first-name basis with the tow truck guy... might be time to look at AAA or another standalone service.
One thing people don’t always realize: even though roadside isn’t technically a “claim,” insurers still keep tabs on usage. Too many calls and suddenly your “good driver” halo gets a little tarnished. Saw someone get dinged for three tows in six months—nothing crazy, just bad luck with an old Honda—and their premium crept up at renewal. Not the end of the world, but definitely not what they expected.
I guess my take is: roadside through your insurance is handy for peace of mind—like carrying an umbrella for surprise rain—but if you know you’ll need it often, better to keep it separate. That way your main policy stays nice and boring (which is exactly how insurance likes it), and you still get help when your car decides to throw a tantrum on the highway.
Honestly, I’ve always been a little wary of tacking roadside onto my insurance. The peace of mind is nice, but I’ve seen too many stories—like you said—where people get a nasty surprise at renewal time. My neighbor got bumped up for just a couple of calls, and he drives like a grandma. I’d rather keep my insurance record squeaky clean and pay for a separate roadside plan. It’s like keeping your eggs in different baskets… just in case your car decides to scramble one.
