Questions to Ask Your Roadside Service Company
With as popular as roadside convenience services are, consumers have an abundance of possible plans and companies from which to choose. To help you decide on your service, ask these questions of your prospective roadside assistance providers.
- How much is the service per year? Make sure you get a monthly or yearly estimate on how much a roadside convenience plan will cost. Prices can vary drastically among companies. Also ask if your membership will be automatically renewed unless you cancel.
- What limits does my roadside assistance plan have? Roadside assistance services always have limits, usually on the number of miles they will tow you for free, the cost of locksmith services they will cover, and the amount of gas they will provide. Your plan may limit your free tow to 25-75 miles depending on your service. The company may also impose a cap on the cost of a locksmith if you need a new key made. A common ceiling is $100 for locksmith services. With fuel delivery services, most companies limit the amount of gas they will bring for free (e.g., five gallons' worth).
- Does the plan follow my car or me? You need to know the answer to this question before you find out the hard way that your roadside convenience service doesn't cover you in certain situations. For instance, if you drive rental cars or multiple vehicles often, you should choose a plan that follows you as a driver.
- What geographic area do your services cover? Find out where your roadside convenience services apply. For example, some companies may limit their coverage to certain areas of the U.S., while others are nationwide.
- What is your average response time? Any legitimate roadside assistance service will be able to provide you with this data. The average response time should not exceed one hour for the highest-quality service. Additionally, you may want to ask if the company guarantees a certain response time.
- How many drivers or vehicles are covered in a standard membership? Your basic roadside convenience plan may cover more than one driver or vehicle. Ask how many members are included with your service.
- Does the plan have any services for which I must pay up front and receive reimbursement? Some roadside assistance companies require their members to pay up front for certain services, such as a tow, and then request reimbursement online or through the mail. Other services only require you to sign the provider's paperwork without having to hand over a payment.
