Roadside Assistance Program

A roadside assistance program that you get for free when you buy an insurance policy, cell phone, or extended warranty is not always as free as it is presented to be.

Some insurance companies, such as Allstate, only cover the vehicle that is insured.  A true auto road service plan does not cover the vehicle, instead it covers the person regardless of what vehicle they are driving.  Also many quality roadside assistance plans include an additional family member at no extra charge.  This is something that is always an additional charge through the so-called “free” plans.

Also, some of these no-cost plans have no frills whatsoever.  They offer only the most basic towing service available and almost always involves a portion of the tow to be paid by the member.  A quality roadside assistance plan is one that allows the member to simply sign a receipt for services rendered and drive away.

Some auto manufacturers provide their own roadside assistance coverage but when the factory warranty ends a charge a very high fee per year to continue with their coverage.  A consumer can’t always do better shopping the different plans available to them in the aftermarket.

The bottom line is a consumer should always research the services that they are provided, even if they’re not paying for them.  It will prevent the possibility of being in a very undesirable situation.

Roadside assistance components vary from towing reimbursement to sign and drive tow service offered by full-service auto clubs. An annual fee of between $49 to $100 provides towing, flat-tire service, lost-key lockout assitance, extraction of vehicles that are stuck, and fuel and  coolant delivery. Some also offer maps, directions, travel and hotel discounts, and help in locating hotels or alternative transportation when you are stranded.

Manufacturer’s high-tech services such as OnStar can also have your car call for help and reporting the your location if you break down or have a collision.

Between those extremes are the auto manufacturer plans that come with a new car for the length of the auto warranty. Many companies offer roadside assistance plans, most of them farm out the work to qualified providers nationally.

Depending on where you are and when you break down, help could take a few minutes or up to an hour. Even AAA with 50 million members has left drivers in the lurch. One customer we recently signed said that AAA took seven hours to come to his sister’s aid when her car broke down on a trip from
New York to Delaware. AAA said that it was changing towing companies and the turn over was not going well.

Reasearch the roadside assistance program you join carefully as some are better than others.

During a sustained cold spell, many roadside assistance programs warn that starting your car can be more difficult. A significant increase in roadside assistance calls are always the result of a cold spell.  Drivers need to understand the impact of sustained cold on their car’s battery. Though a weak battery may have enough power to start a car one day, it may not have enough to start it the next.  As the temperature drops so does your vehicle battery’s power. At 0 degrees your car or truck’s battery loses over 60% of its power and the engine needs about 2/3 more power to start. We recommend that if your battery is aging you should have it tested by your repair shop.

Cold weather also takes its toll on your vehicle’s belts & hoses making them more likely to break. We recommend that all of your belts & hoses be inspected regularly.

You should allow your car to run for about 5 minutes in cold weather to keep it running at its best.

How would you like to have an auto mechanic who always rides in your back seat in case you ever need him?

Wouldn’t life on the road be much easier if you had a personal mechanic joining the ride every time?  The services offered by roadside assistance programs are much like having this luxury.  Auto road service doesn’t only offer access to towing, flat tire, and fuel delivery assistance; it also provides service such as minor roadside repairs.

Knowing this, it isn’t easy to dismiss the idea of joining a roadside assistance program.  If your focus is on the fee, it is nominal in comparison to the services they provide.  Remember, when you are broken down on the side of the road, money is the last thing on your mind. Without coverage at that point you will be forced to pay for expensive towing and possibly even mechanical repairs.  With roadside assistance all you need to do is dial a number and whatever you need to get your car going again will be readily available. In the long run, emergency roadside assistance can provide affordable way to get help when you really need it and give peace-of-mind to members who have their family’s safety as their first priority.

To choose a quality roadside assistance program is not always an easy task.  Many customers forget to ask some important questions when the time comes to join a road service program. Some companies claim to provide prompt service like a roadside assistance program should, but can’t back up their claim.  Make sure to check that they belong to the Better Business Bureau and other associations that set standards for business practices.

Is your auto road service program listed with an ethical organization? There checks and balances in place to insure proper coverage and benefits? If you are not sure about your provider’s affiliation with the BBB you can ask the company for their BBB rating and look it up yourself.

Everyone who owns a car would like the best auto warranty with the perfect roadside assistance program for his or her vehicle. However, you have to be careful when choosing a policy with a road service program. It should not just lure the customers, but should also be one that provides the best coverage. Some policies provide extras, like emergency roadside assistance, which includes changing a flat tire, and help with lockouts. While these add-ons may interest you, some companies might raise the premium.

That is why it is always a good idea to check with the Better Business Bureau for recommended quality roadside assistance programs.

Roadside assistance programs offer a variety of programs from being reimbursed for a tow to offering complete auto roadside services. Many auto road service providers such as AAA, for a nominal fee, offer benefits like towing, changing a flat tire, lost-key replacement, help with vehicles that are stuck in the snow, and gas delivery. A few providers even offer map services and directions. What’s more, services like OnStar also enable your car to call for help and reporting the exact location of your vehicle’s breakdown or accident.

In some cases, auto-manufacturer plans even come free with a new car for the length of its warranty, which is generally three- four years. A very good idea when buying a new or a used vehicle is to make sure that you have a quality auto warranty with and a highly rated roadside assistance program membership.

Here are some safety tips for driving in stormy conditions.

If you find yourself caught in a severe storm the following tips will help keep your family safe.

It is a good idea to make sure your windshield wipers and tires are ready for bad weather conditions if you cannot avoid being out on the road. The safest choice is not to drive at all until the bad weather passes.

If you must drive, be aware that visibility could become a problem. If needed, pull over to the side of the road as soon as it is safe.

Try to steer clear from trees that could fall on your car and keep your emergency blinkers on.

Keep your headlights on but avoid using your high beams.

Drive slowly, wet roads are slippery and more room is needed to stop your vehicle. Be sure to keep a safe distance between you and the next.

It is also a great idea to have an auto road service plan in place so that if your vehicle breaks down you can call for help. The last thing you want to do is be outside the car in poor weather conditions. Why not leave emergency roadside assistance to the pros.

Time for a road trip???

Every year when hitting the road to get to the shore, your summer home, or to go see family it means that adults will be trapped with kids of all ages in for hours on end. Though it seems easier these days with DVD players and Ipods, moms and dads know very well that there has yet to be a gadget invented that has eliminated “I’m borrrred” from a child’s vocabulary.

Here are some ideas to keeps those miles passing as happily and quickly as possible…

Car games, singing or just talking about little things can turn into drive time into quality time with your children. 

Some kids like maps so they can see where they are, were, and will be. A child’s road atlas is a good idea and has games and activities as well.

Stop frequently. Kids, after hours of being trapped need to get out! To avoid needing road serivce, along with preparing your kids for the trip remember to take some time to make sure your car roadworthy. Waiting for your roadside assistance program on the side of the road with a car full of kids is no fun.

  When your vehicle decides it has had enough and ceases to function, it’s reassuring to know that you have somebody to come to your rescue with the right equipment. 

Motor clubs such as AAA used to be a driver’s only option. Today, many businesses offer roadside assistance programs such as insurance carriers, carmakers, oil companies, credit-card issuers, even cell-phone service providers. 

The programs have many similarities.  All will give you, or reimburse you for towing but some have gaps in their coverage that can leave you stranded or stick you with an unexpected bill to pay. Most plans offered by cell-phone services for example, usually won’t cover you if you leave your cell phone at home. 

Autoroadservice.com provides its members with a complete roadside assistance program.  It is one on the most comprehensive available in the auto road service industry today. Sign up and rest assured that you and your car will be in good hands.