I get where you’re coming from. I had a similar thing happen when I used my insurance’s roadside for a dead battery. Didn’t think much of it at the time, but when I got my renewal quote, my rate had crept up a bit. Not a huge jump, but enough to make me wonder if it was connected. Hard to say for sure, but it left a bad taste.
AAA costs a bit more upfront, but I like that it’s totally separate. Plus, they’ve actually been faster for me than the insurance roadside ever was. I’m all about saving money, but sometimes paying a little extra is worth not having to worry about your rates sneaking up over something minor. Guess it depends on how much peace of mind is worth to you.
I swear, insurance companies will find any excuse to nudge your rate up a few bucks. Used roadside? “Oh, must be a risk now!” Next thing you know, you’re paying more for the privilege of being locked out of your car at 2am. Been there, done that.
AAA has bailed me out more than once, and yeah, it’s not the cheapest thing ever, but at least I know my insurance folks aren’t lurking in the background taking notes every time I need a jumpstart. That said, I’ve got a buddy who swears by his insurance’s roadside—he says they’ve always been quick and he hasn’t seen a rate hike yet. Maybe it depends on the company, or maybe he just has better luck than I do.
Ever had AAA leave you hanging, though? I’ve heard stories about long waits in the middle of nowhere. Wonder if that’s just the exception or if I’ve just been lucky so far...
“Next thing you know, you’re paying more for the privilege of being locked out of your car at 2am. Been there, done that.”
Yeah, I’ve had insurance roadside ding me on rates after a couple calls. Not worth it. Here’s how I roll now: 1) Keep AAA for emergencies, 2) Only call if I’m truly stuck, 3) Don’t mention it to insurance unless I have to. AAA did leave me waiting almost three hours once, but at least my rates didn’t jump. Pick your poison, I guess.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually had better luck with my insurance’s roadside than AAA, weirdly enough. Maybe it’s just my area, but AAA left me hanging for ages a couple times, and the insurance folks showed up faster. I do worry about the rate hikes, though—has anyone actually seen a big jump just from a couple of tows? I’ve always wondered if it’s as bad as people say or if it depends on the company.
I do worry about the rate hikes, though—has anyone actually seen a big jump just from a couple of tows?
- From what I’ve seen, insurance roadside can be faster, but there’s always that nagging concern about rates creeping up.
- I’ve had two tows in one year and my premium didn’t budge, but I’ve heard stories where even a single call triggered a review.
- It probably depends on the insurer and maybe even your state’s rules.
- AAA’s slow response is frustrating, but at least it doesn’t touch your insurance record.
Has anyone tried both in the same year and noticed a difference in service or costs? Curious if it’s just luck or something more systematic.