Guess it’s one of those things that feels unnecessary until you actually need it... then you’re glad you have it.
That’s exactly how I felt about roadside assistance too, until I had a flat at 2am in the middle of nowhere. I used to think it was just another sneaky add-on, but after that night, I’m not messing around. Still, I get a little annoyed at how much these “extras” add up. I’m always looking for ways to trim the fat on my insurance bill, but roadside is one of the few things I can’t bring myself to cut anymore. The peace of mind is just too good.
Funny thing is, I did manage to chop my insurance bill almost in half last year by switching providers and tweaking my coverage. I dropped rental reimbursement and some of the bells and whistles, but kept roadside. It’s wild how much you can save if you’re willing to shop around and actually read the fine print (which, let’s be honest, is a pain). The only thing I regret is not doing it sooner.
I know some folks swear by AAA or similar, but my current plan just tacks it on for like $12 a year. That’s less than a couple fancy coffees. Even as someone who pinches pennies, that’s a no-brainer. The one time I tried to “save” by skipping it, I ended up paying $140 for a tow. Never again.
I get wanting to cut costs, especially with how everything’s getting more expensive lately, but roadside is one of those things that’s worth the tiny splurge. If you’re driving older cars or commuting long distances, it’s almost like insurance for your insurance. Just my two cents, but I’d rather skip the streaming subscriptions before I ditch roadside again.
I dropped rental reimbursement and some of the bells and whistles, but kept roadside.
Honestly, that’s a smart move. People get hung up on the extras, but half the time they don’t even use them. I’d just say, before dropping anything, double-check your state’s minimums and what your lender (if you have one) requires. Seen a few folks get burned by dropping comp or collision without realizing their car loan still needs it. Roadside for $12 is a steal though—can’t really argue with that math.
Cutting the Extras Only Goes So Far
I hear you on dropping the extras. I did the same thing last year—ditched rental and glass coverage, kept liability and roadside. Honestly, I haven’t missed those “nice to have” add-ons at all. The only time I regretted it was when my old Civic’s battery died in a grocery store parking lot during a snowstorm...but that $12 roadside covered me, so no complaints.
One thing I always wonder: do people actually use rental reimbursement enough to justify it? In 15 years of driving, I’ve needed a rental once after an accident, and even then, the shop had a loaner. Maybe it’s different if you’re in a one-car household or drive something fancy?
Curious if anyone’s ever gotten burned by dropping comp or collision, though. I keep thinking about just going liability-only since my car isn’t worth much anymore, but there’s always that nagging “what if.” Anyone actually take that leap?
Rental reimbursement is one of those things that sounds great on paper, but in practice, a lot of people barely use it. I’ve handled plenty of claims where folks never actually needed it—especially if their car’s drivable after a fender bender, or if the repair shop has a loaner. Unless you’re relying on a single vehicle for everything (like, you literally can’t get to work otherwise), it’s hard to justify the extra cost year after year.
Now, dropping comp and collision is a bigger leap. I see both sides: if your car’s only worth a few grand and you’ve got enough set aside to replace it if the worst happens, liability-only can make sense. But I’ve also seen people regret it after a hailstorm or a deer jumps out in front of them. Suddenly that “what if” isn’t so hypothetical anymore. It really comes down to your risk tolerance and whether you could absorb the loss without it wrecking your budget. Personally, I’d rather pay a bit more for peace of mind, but I get why people trim things down as their car ages. It’s always a bit of a gamble either way.
I get where you’re coming from. I’ve had to use rental reimbursement a couple times, but only because my driving record isn’t exactly spotless and my car’s been out of commission more than I’d like to admit. For folks with a clean record or backup options, it’s probably not worth it. Dropping comp and collision is tempting, but with my luck, I’d get hit with a big repair bill the week after. Guess it really does come down to how much risk you’re willing to take.