Honestly, I used to think roadside was just another way for insurance companies to nickel and dime you, but after my battery died in a random parking lot at 11pm, I changed my mind real quick. The tow alone would’ve cost more than a year of coverage.
A few things I noticed:
- Some plans only cover the car, not the driver. If you’re borrowing a friend’s ride or in a rental, you might be out of luck.
- Wait times can be all over the place. My friend with AAA got help in 30 minutes, but my insurance roadside took almost two hours once. Not ideal if you’re stuck somewhere sketchy.
- If you have a newer car with warranty, sometimes roadside is already included. No sense doubling up.
I’m curious—has anyone actually compared the response times between insurance roadside and something like AAA or even those credit card perks? I keep hearing mixed stories, but haven’t seen any real numbers.
Wait times can be all over the place. My friend with AAA got help in 30 minutes, but my insurance roadside took almost two hours once.
Honestly, I’ve seen the same thing—AAA usually wins on speed, but it’s not always a slam dunk. Insurance roadside is cheaper, but you’re at the mercy of their network, which can be hit or miss depending on where you break down. One thing I’d add: some credit card perks cap the number of calls or miles per tow, so if you’re on a budget, double-check those limits before relying on them. Sometimes paying a bit more for AAA or a standalone plan is worth it if you drive older cars or do a lot of road trips.
I get the argument for AAA, but honestly, insurance roadside has worked out fine for us. We’ve got three kids and a minivan that’s not exactly new, so I was worried about breakdowns. But in the last year, we used our insurance roadside twice—once for a dead battery at a soccer field and once for a flat tire at the grocery store. Both times, help showed up in under an hour. Maybe it’s luck or maybe it depends on where you are, but I haven’t seen a huge difference compared to when we had AAA.
Also, AAA’s annual fee adds up if you’re not using all their perks. For us, insurance roadside is bundled in and just simpler to manage. If you’re not driving cross-country or into remote areas much, I’m not sure paying extra is always worth it. Just my two cents...
Bundling roadside through your insurance really does make things easier, especially if you’re already juggling a bunch of family stuff. I’ve seen plenty of folks happy with it—like you said, if you’re not making long trips into the middle of nowhere, the coverage is usually solid. AAA has some perks, sure, but if you’re not using hotel discounts or travel planning, that annual fee can feel like overkill. Sounds like you’ve found what works for your crew.
AAA has some perks, sure, but if you’re not using hotel discounts or travel planning, that annual fee can feel like overkill.
That’s been my experience too. Used to have AAA for years, mostly out of habit, but I realized I never took advantage of the extras. Switched to insurance roadside and honestly haven’t missed a thing. Had a flat on my old ‘72 Chevy wagon last fall—called the number on my card, tow truck showed up in 40 minutes, no hassle. For what I actually need, it’s plenty. If I ever start road tripping cross-country again, maybe I’ll rethink it... but for now, saving a bit just makes sense.
