Don’t let car troubles derail your journey! Roadside assistance plans are your ultimate saviors when you face a flat tire, lockout, gas depletion, dead battery, or require a tow. But worry not, we’ve meticulously evaluated a plethora of options to uncover the most cheapest roadside assistance plans that will save your wallet while providing top-notch service.
Erie Roadside Assistance:
- Blueprint Rating: 5 stars
- Lowest Cost Plan: $5 per year
- Service Calls: Unlimited
- Minor Mechanical Service: Yes
Erie offers the cheapest roadside assistance plan at just $5 per vehicle per year. It excels in all categories, including cost, towing mileage, and the number of service calls included. With Erie’s plan, you benefit from assistance with car lockouts, breakdowns, flat tires, dead batteries, and running out of gas. The coverage also includes car towing to the nearest garage, up to 20 miles, and winching within 10 feet from the highway. However, it’s important to note that Erie’s plan does not cover other family members or provide trip interruption coverage. Coverage limits may vary in North Carolina.
Geico Roadside Assistance:
- Blueprint Rating: 4.5 stars
- Lowest Cost Plan: $14 per year
- Service Calls: Unlimited
- Minor Mechanical Service: No
Geico offers the second cheapest plan at $14 per year per car. Similar to Erie, it provides unlimited service calls and a towing limit of 20 miles. However, Geico’s plan does not include coverage for minor mechanical services. The Geico mobile app allows you to request assistance and track the arrival of help through GPS location.
Good Sam Roadside Assistance:
- Blueprint Rating: 4.5 stars
- Lowest Cost Plan: $49.95 per year
- Service Calls: Unlimited
- Minor Mechanical Service: No
Good Sam stands out with its unlimited towing limit, ensuring you never have to pay out of pocket for coverage outside of your plan’s tow zone. It offers unlimited service calls and covers family members, similar to Nationwide. Good Sam’s platinum auto roadside assistance plan includes service for flat tires, lost keys, battery jumps, emergency fuel replacement, winching, and even animal transportation in the event of a breakdown. However, it is relatively more expensive, priced at around $50 per year, and does not include coverage for minor mechanical services.
Nationwide Roadside Assistance:
- Blueprint Rating: 4.5 stars
- Lowest Cost Plan: $22 per year
- Service Calls: Unlimited
- Minor Mechanical Service: No
Nationwide offers unlimited service calls and covers additional family members, setting it apart from other plans. The plan includes towing up to 15 miles and winching. While it does not provide coverage for minor mechanical breakdowns or trip interruption, Nationwide’s roadside assistance insurance remains more affordable than other top-scoring companies.
Comparing the Best Roadside Assistance Plans of 2023:
- Erie: 5 stars, $5
- Geico: 4.5 stars, $14
- Good Sam: 4.5 stars, $50
- Nationwide: 4.5 stars, $22
- AAA: 3 stars, $59
- Allstate: 3 stars, $79
- Better World Club: 3 stars, $62
- AARP: 2.5 stars, $66
Additional Cheapest Roadside Assistance
AAA
Founded in 1902, AAA is a well-established roadside assistance provider that offers emergency services such as towing, lockouts, winching, tire changes, battery replacement, and more. AAA has a network of contracted local towing companies to handle these services.
They offer three membership tiers: Classic, Plus, and Premier. The cost of joining AAA varies depending on the membership tier and any additional services you choose.
Progressive
Progressive’s 24/7 Roadside Assistance services are provided by Agero, a trusted provider used by millions of drivers nationwide. Their services include towing, winching, jump-starts, fuel delivery, vehicle lockout, and tire changes. The cost of adding Progressive roadside assistance to your policy is typically less than $2 per month for passenger cars and trucks, and even lower for motorcycles.
MCA Motor Club
Motor Club of America offers comprehensive coverage, including roadside assistance, personal accidental coverage, emergency room benefits, and discounts on prescription drugs, dental care, and vision care. Their Total Security plan, priced at $19.95 per month, provides up to 100 miles of towing per service call and allows you to choose the destination for towing.
Onstar
Onstar provides roadside assistance services for stranded drivers, including lockout service, emergency towing, flat tire change, battery jump-start, and emergency fuel delivery. These services are offered at no charge to existing Onstar subscribers. While the basic plan is free for 5 years, additional guidance services are available at a cost of $34.
AARP
AARP’s motor club offers supplementary roadside assistance coverage to supplement your auto insurance. Their services include towing, emergency roadside service, lockout service, and more. A unique benefit of AARP’s Roadside Assistance program is the availability of trip planning maps. Membership fees start as low as $40.
Better World Club
Better World Club is the nation’s only green auto club, offering 24/7 nationwide roadside assistance for cars, RVs, and motorcycles. Their Basic Auto plan costs approximately $59 per year, with a $15 sign-up fee. Better World Club is committed to providing high-quality and environmentally responsible products and services.
Blink Roadside Assist
Blink Roadside Assist is an award-winning roadside assistance service with a large network of service providers. They offer a mobile app, technologically driven dispatch process, and various services. Instead of charging outright fees, Blink has incidental costs for roadside assistance, starting at $39, ensuring customers only pay when they require help.
Good Sam Roadside Assistance
Good Sam is well-known for its roadside assistance services for RVs, boat trailers, motorcycles, and passenger vehicles. They offer unlimited towing miles, automatic family coverage, and member discounts. Membership rates vary depending on the term, with options such as a three-year membership for $79, a two-year membership for $50, and a one-year membership for $29.
Hessco Roadside Assistance
Hessco Roadside Assistance is a local company serving Jacksonville, Florida, providing reliable and immediate service. Their basic membership plan costs $99 and ensures prompt assistance to prevent long waiting times. Hessco focuses on delivering quality roadside assistance specifically to Jacksonville residents.
Paragon Motor Club
Paragon Motor Club has been offering 24/7 emergency roadside assistance for over 25 years, catering to both personal and commercial vehicles. They provide services such as towing within a 100-mile radius, flat tire assistance, battery service, lockout service, and fluid delivery. Membership options include monthly or annual payment plans, with the basic Classic Roadside plan costing $69.95 annually.
Remember to compare the services and benefits offered by each roadside assistance plan to choose the one that best suits your needs and budget.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
What does a typical roadside assistance plan cover?
Roadside assistance plans typically cover situations such as flat tires, breakdowns on public roads, towing to a repair shop, lockouts or lost keys, running out of gas, and dead batteries.
What should I consider when choosing a roadside assistance plan?
Cost is an important factor, but consider your specific needs. Look for coverage that includes family members if they use your car. If you frequently take road trips, consider plans with trip interruption coverage. Unlimited service calls can provide peace of mind.
How much does roadside assistance cost?
The average cost of the most affordable roadside assistance plans among the companies analyzed is $45 per year. However, prices can vary, ranging from a few dollars to hundreds per year. Remember to prioritize finding a plan that suits your lifestyle rather than solely focusing on price.
Where can I get a roadside assistance plan?
Most auto insurance companies offer roadside assistance for an additional fee. You can also inquire about roadside dispatch programs and extended warranties when purchasing a new car. Some credit card companies, such as Visa and Chase, provide roadside assistance plans. Auto clubs like AAA and Better World Club may offer more comprehensive coverage. Other options include AARP, Verizon Wireless, and the Honk app.
Conclusion:
By considering the pros and cons of different roadside assistance plans, you can make an informed decision about the most cost-effective option for your needs. Whether it’s Erie’s affordable plan, Geico’s convenient app-based assistance, Good Sam’s comprehensive coverage, or Nationwide’s family-friendly options, there are options available to ensure you have reliable assistance whenever you need it. Remember to choose a plan that provides the necessary coverage and peace of mind for your specific situation.