You're spot on about roadside assistance being outsourced anyway. Honestly, I've had both State Farm and Farm Bureau at different points—didn't notice much difference when I actually needed help. Your advice about keeping an emergency kit is solid. Learned that lesson the hard way myself after waiting two hours for a tow truck once. Now I just keep jumper cables, a tire plug kit, and a cheap compressor in the trunk. Peace of mind beats relying on insurance promises any day.
You're right about roadside assistance being pretty much the same across the board. I've worked with both companies plenty, and honestly, when you're stuck on the side of the road at 11 pm in pouring rain, it doesn't matter whose logo is on your insurance card—you're still waiting for the same local tow guy to show up. Learned that myself when my battery died after a late-night movie. Sat there for an hour and a half before some sleepy-eyed dude rolled up in a truck that looked older than me.
Keeping your own emergency gear is definitely the way to go. I always tell people: insurance is great for big stuff, but for minor roadside headaches, you're usually better off DIY-ing it. I keep jumper cables, a flashlight, and one of those cheapo tire inflators in my trunk too. Saved my bacon more times than I'd like to admit...
You're spot-on with the DIY roadside kit—honestly, how many times has a $20 inflator saved the day? More than I care to admit, too...
But here's a thought: instead of focusing too heavily on roadside assistance (since, like you said, it's pretty much the same sleepy-eyed tow guy either way), have you considered looking closer at the price points and discounts each company offers? I've found that State Farm tends to be really competitive if you're bundling home and auto. Farm Bureau can be great too, especially if you're rural or have multiple vehicles—sometimes their rates are killer in those scenarios.
Also, maybe look at claim responsiveness and customer service quality. Ever had to file a claim before? Because that's when you'll really notice the differences. I've seen people wait ages to get reimbursed after an accident, and others get their checks surprisingly quickly. It's not always about the lowest monthly premium, but how smoothly things go if something actually happens. Worth checking reviews or asking around locally—people usually aren't shy about sharing insurance horror stories, haha.
And on the practical side, do you know exactly what each policy covers for small stuff? Windshield chips, minor fender-benders, hitting a deer (been there, done that)... the little things can add up fast, and some policies handle those situations better than others.
Anyway, just throwing some extra questions out there to chew on. But yeah, definitely keep those jumper cables handy... those sleepy-eyed tow guys aren't getting any faster.
Had both at different points—State Farm when I lived in the city, Farm Bureau now that I'm out rural. Honestly, State Farm was solid for bundling discounts, but Farm Bureau handled my deer collision (yep, joined that club too) way smoother. Check who's quicker with luxury vehicle repairs—waiting weeks for parts is no joke... trust me on that one.
Farm Bureau definitely has a solid rep for rural claims, especially wildlife run-ins (welcome to the deer club, btw!). But luxury repairs? I'd suggest calling local dealerships or body shops directly—ask them who's quicker with claims and parts. Saves headaches later... trust me.
