Had a client once who called both AAA and their insurance roadside at the same time—didn’t realize it until two trucks rolled up, both trying to claim the job. The drivers actually started arguing over who got to tow the car. Meanwhile, my client’s just standing there in the rain, clutching a bag of pretzels like it’s a lifeline.
Honestly, I’ve seen both sides drop the ball. AAA’s usually faster, but I’ve had insurance roadside come through in weird places where AAA just couldn’t find us. It’s kind of a toss-up. I always tell people: whichever one picks up first, go with them and cancel the other. Otherwise you end up with a tow truck standoff and a lot of awkward small talk.
Snacks are non-negotiable though. If you’re waiting on hold for 40 minutes, you need something to keep your spirits up.
That pretzel detail cracked me up—totally get it. I’ve actually wondered, do most people even know which roadside they’re calling in the moment? I’ve seen folks swear they called AAA, but it was their insurance all along. Do you think the difference comes down to location or just luck of the draw? I’m with you on snacks, though. Waiting for a tow is basically a test of patience and snack preparedness.
Waiting for a tow is basically a test of patience and snack preparedness.
Right? I’ve definitely had those “wait, who did I just call?” moments. I think half the time it’s just who you remember in the stress. I once called my insurance, thinking it was AAA, and the rep sounded just as confused as I was. Honestly, as long as someone shows up before my granola bars run out, I’m happy.
I get the snack-preparedness thing—nothing like rationing that last pack of crackers while you watch the tow truck ETA creep up by another 20 minutes. But honestly, I’d argue insurance roadside help doesn’t always get enough credit. People tend to default to AAA because it’s familiar, but a lot of insurance companies actually contract with the same towing services. It’s not like AAA has a magical fleet of tow trucks hiding around every corner.
I’ve seen more than a few clients surprised when their insurance roadside assistance got them out of a jam just as quickly (sometimes even faster) than AAA. Plus, it’s usually baked into the policy for a few bucks a year, which means one less membership to track. Granted, calling the wrong number in a panic is its own rite of passage... but at least you’re not alone there.
At the end of the day, I just want someone to show up before my phone battery dies and my patience does too.
I get where you’re coming from—insurance roadside is definitely underrated, and I’ve seen it work out great for folks. But I’ll admit, there’s a little more to it sometimes. Not every insurance company handles roadside claims the same way, and I’ve had a couple clients run into headaches with coverage limits or weird exclusions. Like, one guy thought he was covered for a tow, but it turned out his policy only paid for the first five miles... after that, he was on the hook for the rest. He wasn’t thrilled.
AAA isn’t perfect either (and yeah, they use the same local tow companies half the time), but their process is usually pretty streamlined. You call one number, they know exactly what to do, and you don’t have to dig through your glovebox for your policy number while you’re stressed out on the side of the road. I guess it comes down to how much you want to juggle in a pinch. For some people, that extra peace of mind is worth the extra card in their wallet.