I’ve handled roadside assistance calls for multiple companies and one thing I’ve noticed and learned is that with Progressive you have to specifically request to have it added on to your policy. I’ve had I don’t know how many calls with people finding out at the worst possible time that they don’t have Roadside for their vehicle.
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Just checked my policy. It’s $5 for a six-month policy. Seems like an easy option for less than $1/month. Not sure it it’s more expensive for newer/more expensive cars, though.
Think it’s 6 tows a year, (dead battery, or any non actual towing counts toward the 6), towed 15 miles or less at the price you listed, as I’ve had this service for the last 10 years.
Clark Howard recommends not using roadside assistance from your insurance company. He says that each use is an occurrence. You don’t want to give your insurance company an excuse (too many occurrences) to raise your rate.
Insurance agent here: you have to ask for it with most all companies unless your agent goes ahead and quotes you with it on there. This is the danger of doing quotes online yourself without using an independent agent
This is true with every company, not just Progressive. Another thing that’s good to know is that towing and labor coverage is not the same thing as roadside assistance. Be sure you know what you’re getting if you get your policy online, or talk to an independent agent.
I need to give kudos to GEICO. About 15 years ago my daughter was driving from OR to CA and locked her keys in the car at the Mt Shasta rest stop. Others tried to help, but no luck. In tears, she calls me at work in WA and I told her I’d call the insurance company to get her help.
Called GEICO, but come to find out she did not have roadside assistance! I’m now in tears because I know she’s on the edge of collapsing emotionally* and the customer service agent said he would get someone there for me.
In less then 30 mins a service truck showed up and my daughter continued her drive south.
I NEVER received a bill. Not sure how he swung it, but he was our hero in this extremely emotional situation!
*around two week earlier, her ex-boyfriend was killed in a tragic accident and his mother asked her to do a eulogy at the memorial service the day before.
I recently removed my roadside assistance since I have AAA. Felt like I shouldn’t pay for both.
Just pay for AAA.
Then your insurance company won’t raise your rates when you call for Roadside assistance.
Better Pro Tip, get AAA rather than your auto insurance’s road side assistance!
Each time you use road side assistance from your auto insurance is considered a claim!
The auto insurance will make it back by raising your rates more than their usual raises!
I’ve had Progressive before, and honestly, I’d say this goes for almost any insurance company, so it’s smart advice for everyone. When I got my first car, I thought all the basics were included in the policy, but double-checking saved me from potential headaches. Sometimes, they add stuff you might not need, and they leave out things like roadside that you’d think are standard. So yeah, definitely go through your policy when you first set it up and maybe again when you renew. It’s like when you assume a hotel has free breakfast, but you get hit with a charge for a muffin, you know? Plus, some credit card companies also offer roadside assistance if it’s not part of your insurance. Just takes a call to confirm…
Do not use roadside assistance through your insurance. It can cause your rates to increase as they are considered occasions. Get AAA instead
I just call the number on my Visa card and the set you up for a good price.
LPT for every person and every insirance company is to actually look at a thorough breakdown of all your coverages and amounts, not just your premium. Even seemingly identical coverages will cut things out to lower the premium and convince plenty of people to switch.
I got in an accident when I had geico, had rental coverage before I switched to them, I was under 25 and couldn’t rent a car while mine was being fixed/totaled out. Enterprise would allow it if my insurance was paying for the rental so I called to confirm my rental was being covered, they assured me it was, gave enterprise my information, took the car and 15 days later enterprise informed me my insurance did not cover the rental and only covered damages to a rental. They were kind enough to let me keep the car as long as I needed but that was a $1400 rental that came out of my pocket in the end.
It actually took me two calls to ensure that my roadside coverage was on there. I deliver pizza on Northern Maine, so I really need that option in the event of an emergency.
Definitely call them and verify before you need it
Progressive roadside is BS. No option for calling, you have to text, which is ridiculous. Skip that and get AAA
The amount of times I’ve called for help on the side of the road, in 10 years of driving and riding with people.. I can count with 3 fingers. it’s not worth it to me to pay for roadside assistance.
No. Remove that option. On your insurance, ask them what you can use it for and what the limitation is. For some, you’re stuck with authorized garage, for other, distance of where you are to where you need to go, and for the rest, what it covers.
I have AAA, paid for AAA Roadside Assistance and took off roadside assistance on my insurance. For the SW USA, my area on my auto insurance only cover the first 8 miles, the. The rest is out of pocket, and only in an emergency.
AAA Roadside Assistance package I paid for, covers 100 miles, usage of 4 time per year, gives 1x a gallon of gas to the gas station, lockout (it counts against the 4 assist) and offers discount.
Check with your insurance, and remember, ask what the limits are. They also may have you pay out-of-pocket, then reimburse you, but ask what the limit is. They may only reimburse 3/4 or less of the expenses.