How to Choose the Best Roadside Assistance Service

Getting stranded is never a fun thing. You might be broken down, out of gas, have a flat tire, need a jump start, lost your keys, need a tow, or simply be locked out of your car. Let's face it: there are many things that can go wrong with a vehicle and you need to be prepared. In these times, it is important to have someone to call. A roadside assistance service is there to do just that. Here's how to select the best roadside assistance service for you.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A car, truck, or van.

1. Check your vehicle's warranty. If you have recently bought a new vehicle, you might already have roadside assistance coverage and don't even know it. Especially in luxury vehicles, roadside assistance is covered in the warranty. For other models, the customer only gets roadside assistance if they purchase the extended warranty.

2. Check the amount of service calls covered under the plan per year. For example, AAA only allows four service calls per year if you have been a member for under 5 years. Each plan is different so be sure to investigate.

3. Comparison shop roadside service plans according to cost. Some plans have a membership cost that is high but their benefits cover a wide variety of situations. Others have a small yearly fee but require you to pay a portion of each tow or service.

4. When shopping for roadside assistance, be sure to find out how many people are covered. Do not assume that your teenage driver will automatically have coverage just because you do. Ask some questions.

5. Ask each company what their average response time is to a service call. Sure, it may be great to have a low membership fee, but if you get stranded out in freezing temps for hours it is just not worth it. Make sure you choose a company that responds quickly.