Millions of Americans will get behind the wheel forroad trips this summer.
Thats where a roadside assistance plan comes in.
If you already have roadside assistance, youre paying to stay safe on the road.
But how do you know if your plan is the right one for you?
Though most companies offer the same basic services, theres a wide variety of details and prices to consider.
Heres alook at the top roadside assistance companies.
We compare the costs and what they offer so you might pack peace of mind on your trips.
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What Is Roadside Assistance?
The fee that you pay covers most of the basic help provided.
There is an important difference between roadside assistance coverage and roadside dispatch.
Coverage does just that covers the basic costs.
Roadside dispatch sends help, but you pay for the majority or all of it.
What Is Covered by Roadside Assistance?
Some limit the number of times you could get assistance or will only pay for five miles of towing.
What Companies Offer Roadside Assistance Plans?
There is a wide range of companies and organizations that offer roadside assistance plans.
Cell phone companies, membership clubs like Costco and auto manufacturers all have roadside assistance plans.
Credit card companies and banks also typically offer pay-per-use roadside dispatch services.
These plans are not free for stranded motorists but can still come in handy.
For example, Bank of Americas Visa offers roadside assistance for a flat $60 fee per incident.
Auto Clubs
The best-known roadside assistance organization isAAA, formerly known as the American Automobile Association.
AAA memberships cost $66 to $132 annually, and members get four service calls per year.
AAA offers all of the usual roadside assistance plus discounts.
AAA also provides trip maps as it has grown far beyond helping stranded motorists.
Another roadside assistance club is theBetter World Club.
Its tagline is Americas only 100% carbon neutral roadside assistance club for cars and bicycles.
Their membership costs about $63 a year and, like AAA, also covers four service calls.
Looking for a deal?
The Better World Club waives its signup fee if you are switching from AAA.
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Good Samcovers both automobiles and recreational vehicles like RVs and travel trailers.
Its plans range from $65 the frequent sale price up to $240 per year.
The latter includes emergency medical assistance.
Good Sam offers unlimited towing and family coverage for member-owned vehicles, pet transport assistance and trip interruption assistance.
Your Auto Insurer
Car insurance companiesoffer roadside assistance as an add-on to insurance policies.
The cost varies, ranging from $10 to $40 annually.
Check with your current insurance company about roadside assistance.
Auto Manufacturers
Your new car probably came with a roadside assistance plan.
All major manufacturers offer this assistance.
General Motors usesOnStarplans, which include roadside assistance, along with Wi-Fi, diagnostics, remote access and more.
Hyundai and GM have the most generous plans out of the manufacturers we surveyed.
Tesla also offers assistance for the first four years.
Member Organizations
Some member organizations offer roadside assistance.
TheAARPhas auto club benefits starting at $66 a year if you are a member.
Costcooffers roadside assistance as an add-on to their credit card or insurance benefits for $64.
AT&T still offers roadside assistance to current customers, but not to new ones.
Specialty Roadside Assistance Companies
There are a lot of specialized insurance companies for vehicles as well.
For instance,McGraw Powersportsoffers insurance for motorcycles, jet skis and off-road vehicles.
Which pop in of Roadside Assistance Should You Get?
Deciding which roadside assistance plan is right for you comes down to personal preference.
If you use them, great!
The cheapest option is to add roadside coverage to your vehicles existing insurance plan.
It will end up costing about $40 less annually than most of the other options.
Ready to hit the road?
Every program we looked at has a waiting period before benefits kick in.
You brew coffee at home, you dont walk into Target and you refuse to order avocado toast.
(Can you sense my millennial sarcasm there?)
You know which ones were talking about: rent, utilities, cell phone bill, insurance, groceries…
The Penny Hoarder contributor JoEllen Schilke writes on lifestyle and culture topics.
