When your car breaks down, repairing it is quite expensive, but so is towing it to the mechanic. Here’s how to get out of trouble cheaply the next time your car is in a bind.
I have a junk. It drinks gasoline and makes strange noises. A couple of weeks ago I got in the car, turned the key and No made no noise. After an hour of trying and cursing, I gave up. Another hour later, I was riding a tow truck, looking at my disabled car in the rearview mirror.
Two hours of car trouble was bad enough, but then the tow truck driver told me it would take longer to cross county lines. It was also going to cost more since my problem «It was probably related to the key«, whatever that means. In the end, I paid $100 to have my car towed 8 miles home.
I paid too much because I didn’t plan ahead. Only later did I learn that cheap roadside assistance exists. In fact, you may already have it.
Some auto insurance companies, credit card providers, and auto manufacturers offer the service (basically) free to their clients. If you don’t have it, you can add it to another service or pay for a separate car club. This is what I have learned…
1. Car manufacturers
Some new and used cars come with a warranty that covers roadside assistance. Coverage varies, but you can usually use it if you get locked out of your car, run out of gas, or need a tow. Edmunds.com has a list of roadside assistance coverage by manufacturer . There is one caveat: they can only tow your car to the nearest dealership.
2. Credit card companies
Some credit card companies (such as Bank of America ) offer free roadside assistance. There may be a limit on the number of towing miles or other exclusions, so call and ask before using the service.
3. Car insurance providers
If you have comprehensive auto and collision insurance, you can add roadside assistance and towing to your plan. While the cost varies depending on your location and the type of car you drive, these are the estimates I got:
- Progressive – $3 per month
- Geico : $1.83 per month
- State Farm : $4.10 per month
We recommend using The Zebra to compare prices, reduce the total cost of insurance, and then add this benefit if it makes sense.
4. Wireless Service Providers
While my wireless carrier (T-Mobile) does not offer roadside assistance, most major carriers do. You get towing (distance limits may apply), locksmith assistance, tire changes, and gas service. Here are the costs:
- AT&T : $2.99 per month
- Verizon Wireless : $3 per month
- Sprint – $4 per month
5. Car clubs
These independent services require a membership. Here are the rates:
- AAA : The granddaddy of car clubs, the American Automobile Association, has three levels of membership. Basic membership gets towing on the highway and short distances. As a AAA Plus member, you can tow up to 100 miles and receive lockout assistance. Premier members get up to 200 miles of free towing and 24-hour concierge service. The cost of each plan varies depending on where you live, but they range from less than $50 to more than $130.
- Better World Club : The BWC is a car club with an environmentally friendly concept: you can purchase roadside assistance for your bike and get discounts for renting hybrids, but you’ll have to pay more if you have a big gas guzzler like a Hummer. Basic membership costs $55.95 per year. Premium membership costs $89.95.
- Good Hands Roadside Assistance : It’s not really a car club, but the Allstate program is open to everyone. There are no annual fees, but you will pay per use. Towing is $75 for the first 10 miles and $3 per mile after that. If you need other service (like a tire change), costs $50.
Find the best plan
Roadside assistance programs come with restrictions, and sometimes the cheapest plans don’t justify the limitations. Before registering, ask these questions:
- Does the plan cover the car or the driver? If your spouse or a teen driver takes your car, you need them to be covered by the roadside assistance plan. Making sure your car is covered no matter who is driving is the easiest way to do it.
- Am I covered on other vehicles? If you rent a car or borrow a friend’s car, you’ll want to know you’re covered when your tire blows out.
- What are the registration fees? Most car clubs have them. For example, the Better World Club charges a one-time registration fee of $12.
- How many trailers are allowed per year? If you only get a trailer, it may be cheaper to pay for it outright and skip the membership.
- How far can I tow? This is the biggest restriction I found. For example, with a basic AAA membership, you can tow your car a maximum of 3 miles. More and you will pay more. Personally, I have never been lucky enough to have a breakdown within 3 miles of my house or my mechanic.
In the end, I added roadside assistance to my Geico insurance policy and signed up for Allstate’s Good Hands program as a backup. (Hey, it’s free). I pay $29.96 a year for the service, but that’s $70.04 cheaper than my recent tow. If I end up needing four trailers in the next two years (most likely given my junk), I will save $340.08. That’s a nice chunk of change to put toward a new car.