Save Money On Your Roadside Assistance Plan
Having a roadside assistance plan is a smart move for any RVer. If you find yourself broken down on the side of the road, all you need is to make a quick phone call and help will be on the way! But how can you save money on roadside assistance plans?
While they aren’t the most expensive things in the world, a roadside assistance plan can still cost over $100 a year. If you’re the thrifty type, you’ve likely wondered how you can get the same great roadside service, while saving money at the same time.
Good news! In this article, we detail great ways you can save money on a roadside assistance plan.
Go through your insurance
One of the best ways to save money on roadside assistance plans is to go through your auto insurance.
Many auto insurance plans will offer roadside assistance plans as a low-cost add-on to your policy. For example, Geico offers roadside assistance plans starting at only $14 a month. In other cases, roadside assistance may even be included as a free benefit with your policy.
Check to see if your RV insurance provider can bundle roadside assistance into your package to save on costs.
Take advantage of special discounts
There are a variety of special discounts that you might be able to take advantage of to save money on a roadside assistance plan. In 2019, AAA launched a special military membership that provides discounts and a ton of extra perks!
If you’re a teacher, you can likely get discounted roadside assistance plans as well. These discounts can either be accessed directly from the roadside assistance company or through your school district or union.
Senior RVers can also save through AARP. Among the many AARP member benefits is an up to 20% discount on Allstate roadside assistance. That means you can get a year of roadside assistance for as little as $66!
Of course, you don’t have to be a part of a particular group to get special discounts. Plenty of roadside assistance plans offer discounts throughout the year that anyone can take advantage of. AAA frequently offers discounts like 50% off membership or a buy one get one free membership.
Get roadside assistance through a membership program or package deal
Another great way to save money on a roadside assistance plan is by getting through a membership or as part of a package deal.
One of the most common memberships that offer discounted roadside assistance are those from wholesale retailers like Sam’s Club. Depending on your membership level, you can receive this as well as a variety of other perks. Keep in mind that you may need a credit card from the retailer or fulfill some other prerequisite. For example, Sam’s Club members who have tires installed there receive three years of emergency roadside assistance.
Another option is through your credit card. A variety of cards, like cards from Chase, offer roadside assistance as a perk. Typically the plan is included with the cost of your annual fee, but you may have to take the extra step of activating it yourself.
Lastly, check with your cell phone carrier. AT&T provides roadside assistance to its customers for only a few dollars a month. Or, you can go with T-Mobile and get a free year of AAA with your contract. If you’re in the market for a new cellphone or mobile hotspot, this could be a bonus added!
Check if roadside assistance is included with your RV warranty
In some cases, you don’t even need to pay for a roadside plan because it’s included with your RV’s warranty!
Many vehicles, including RVs, will include roadside assistance at no extra cost for a period of years after your purchase. So if you’ve purchased an RV new within the last few years, there’s a good chance you’re covered right now.
However, in some cases, you’ll need to spring for the extended RV warranty to get the roadside assistance plan. When purchasing your RV, it’s smart to ask about how you can ensure you get a discounted assistance plan. If you’ve already made the purchase and aren’t sure, you can always check your vehicle’s warranty info to find out.
Be your own roadside assistance plan
If you’re the handy type and have the right tools and supplies, you can save a ton of money by being your own roadside assistance plan.
While RVs aren’t always the easiest to work on on the side of the road, they do have plenty of space for tools and supplies you may need. By keeping these supplies on hand and knowing how to fix a variety of issues in your RV, you can essentially replace an assistance plan and fill the need yourself.
Of course, there can arise issues that you won’t be able to fix single-handedly on the side of the road. In cases like this, have a friend you can call to come help or have the number of a local tow company. Another option is to combine this money-saving tip with the next one on our list.
Get an on-demand roadside assistance plan
While most assistance plans work like a subscription that you pay for monthly or annually, you might not know that they aren’t all this way. In fact, there are a variety of on-demand roadside assistance plans available as well, such as Allstate’s pay-per-use plan.
These plans have the advantage of low upfront costs and no subscription, instead charging you a fee anytime you need roadside assistance. This means that if you’re handy and know you won’t need assistance for every breakdown, you can reduce your overall costs for roadside assistance by only calling when you really need it.
However, there is a caveat to this money-saving tip. If you use your plan frequently, costs will quickly go higher than a subscription. So if you go with an on-demand plan, keep in mind that it’s only for emergencies.
Conclusion
There are plenty of ways to save on a roadside assistance plan:
- Going through your insurance
- Taking advantage of special discounts
- Getting roadside assistance as a perk on your credit card
These are just a few examples! Whatever route you choose, rest easy that if anything goes wrong on the road, you’re covered without breaking the bank.
Get tips from other RVers
One of the best parts about RVing is engaging with the community of traveling enthusiasts. iRV2 forums allow folks to chat with other RVers online, and get other perspectives on everything RVing, including products, destinations, RV mods, and more.
Before planning to use the roadside assistance plan of your auto insurer or somebody like Sam’s Club, make sure it covers RVs. You don’t want to get into a scrape and then hear, “We don’t cover towables.” Likewise, you don’t want to need to get a trailer transported after an accident that makes it untowable and learn that your provider has no idea how to do that.
If you make a claim on your RV insurance it will go on your CLUE report as an “at-fault” claim and may result in your premium going up.
I didn’t see a section concerning the importance of understanding the limitations of Roadside plans. One very important factor is towing distance and towing to a qualified service facility. Finding a “qualified” repair facility that works on RVs is much more difficult than finding a car repair facility.
Having a plan that limits tow distance, or fails to understand the specialized towing requirements for RVs is money wasted and pure frustration. Also I didnt see any mention of the RV club associated plans or the manufacturers that provide coverage for new buyers.