Saturday, February 8th
2025 Roadside Assistance Company Reviews
Auto Road Service
- Prices from $10.99 per month to $589 for 7 years
- Towing, battery help, locksmith services, and fuel delivery
- Coverage in across the US
- Coverage in Canada
- Coverage in Mexico
- 30-day cancellation policy
- "A+” rating from the BBB
Operating from New York since 1979, Auto Road Service has been a longstanding provider of roadside assistance. Offering standard roadside assistance as well as extended automotive warranty coverage for drivers looking for extra protection, Auto Road Service initially seems to be a solid option.
Does it really?
The company claims to handle 4 million roadside assistance calls annually, but given the lack of review presence, we question the validity of that claim. Along with that, the site feels extremely old-fashioned, so if you're looking for something modern that feels up-to-date, this may not impress you as well as some of our higher-rated companies.
Three country coverage
Auto Road Service is owned by Auto Advantage Inc. Through its parent company, Auto Roadside Service offers coverage for everyone within the United States, Canada, or Mexico. This is impressive since most companies in our review offer coverage in just the US and Canada, so the third country of coverage allows you to feel safer with several international road trips if you're planning one.
A confusing array of plans
Auto Road Service presents two Roadside Assistance plans, although the website's cluttered design makes it challenging to extract clear details. There are two main plan "types” along with a series of what appear to be pre-paid options to check out. Plans from Auto Road Service include 3 roadside assistance membership claims per year, with a 72-hour processing period after membership signup. While pricing details are buried in lengths of scrolling text, we were able to dig out the following details:
- Month-To-Month: $10.99 each month
- Premier Long Distance Month-To-Month: $13.99 each month
- Year-To-Year: $89.99 each year
- Premier Long Distance Year-To-Year: $135.99 each year
- 3 years: $257.99
- 5 Years: $425.99
- 7 Years: $589.99
The 1-7-year options appear to be single payments for that period of time. However, we would love to see more detailed descriptions of these plans to have more clarity.
No discounts available
We looked through the site for discounts like the ones we found at competitors. However, slogging through the dense material on the site was a struggle. And in the end, we found no details about extra discounts like hotels or reimbursements, which was a little disappointing. Though the prices are better on a month-to-month basis, some extras would have made Auto Road Service far more competitive.
Up to 30 days to cancel
In cases where Auto Road Service cannot reach you in your geographical area, the membership program offers a $100 reimbursement. Cancellation policies vary, but you can expect to be able to cancel within 72 hours for a full refund for memberships shorter than a year. Annual or longer memberships are canceled within 30 days, but after the 72-hour period, you'll receive a refund minus one month's membership.
No buzz for Auto Road Service
Despite a website that may convey security concerns, the parent company holds an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau. However, according to the reviews on the BBB page, customers have rated Auto Road Service a concerning 1 out of 5-star rating. Further, there are no reviews on third-party sites to support any of the claims on the site, which was somewhat troubling. Given that most of the other companies in our review have more than a handful of ratings to their name, the general absence of any buzz for Auto Road Service raised some questions about its trustworthiness.
Seems like no one is using it
Considering the organizational challenges of the website alone, Auto Road Service doesn't stand out among the competitors. Their roadside assistance plans are somewhat complex with different year lengths seeming to be single purchases while others are offered as ongoing memberships. Considering the lack of buzz from reviews, Auto Road Services raises a lot of questions regarding how popular this service is with customers. Without decent feedback from members, we're hesitant to recommend this service.
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Who Provides the Best Roadside Assistance?
Whether you're just cruising around town running errands, or embarking on an exciting family road trip, the last thing you want is for your car to unexpectedly break down. It's not only a major inconvenience but can also pose challenges to your safety, or totally throw off your perfectly planned timeline. This is where a dependable Roadside Assistance plan comes to the rescue.
These services promise swift support and expert guidance to help you navigate the unexpected twists and turns of a car breakdown. Whether you're worried about a blown tire, accidentally run out of fuel, or just need an emergency tow, being a member of a roadside assistance company can help soothe any worries and keep a roadside emergency from being a costly setback.
Roadside Assistance Company FAQ
Continued from above...
Often, we don't give much thought to unfortunate events like a sudden car breakdown until they catch us off guard, leaving us with limited options: expensive tow trucks or worse, waving down a stranger to jump your car in the Walmart parking lot. That's why proactive planning by joining a Roadside Assistance plan can be crucial to your peace of mind and your wallet.
Roadside Assistance plans go well behind the basics of mechanical concerns. You'll find assistance with an array of services such as towing, jump-starts, fuel delivery, theft protection, lockouts, tire changes, and more.
As an added layer of convenience, many Roadside Assistance programs allow you to customize your plan with additional add-ons. For instance, you can opt for trip interruption coverage or even financial assistance to cover legal defense in case of a speeding ticket. The flexibility in choosing the plan that suits your lifestyle comes with varying costs so that you have options that align with your budget. Plus, for those of us with a large family with multiple drivers and vehicles to worry about, many plans allow you to extend coverage to any car you drive, regardless of ownership, making it a family-friendly choice.
Beyond the basic services, many Roadside Assistance programs offer a range of fun perks unrelated to car trouble like discounted hotel stays, discounts on regular car maintenance, and discounts at major retailers or even pharmacies. So, on top of being covered in a roadside emergency, you can count on extra benefits to make your travels even better.
But with so many different companies on the market offering Roadside Assistance plans, it can be hard to know where to start. So, as you explore the packages offered by various providers, keep these key considerations in mind:
- Coverage details. There are tons of differences between most Roadside Assistance plans. Carefully read the details including things like tow distance or reimbursement limits. Those details can help you find the best fit for your car and your lifestyle.
- Price. How much does each plan cost? Are you okay with basic coverage or do you need more extensive tow distances to cover your trips? How affordable are the extras you're looking for? Many of these companies charge per year, so make sure you pick one that fits your budget without compromising your safety.
- Provider's reputation. What do customers have to say about their experience? What about the company's reputation on the BBB? Knowing how each service stacks up against competitors can help you make a more informed decision.
To make your next road trip a breeze, Top Consumer Reviews researched and analyzed the top Roadside Assistance plans available today: we bring you the lowdown on which ones stand up to really assist you when your car goes haywire. Because, let's face it, when you're stranded with a flat tire or a bad battery, you want help and you want it fast. We hope our analysis helps you make the best decision so you can rest easy whether you're hopping to the store or driving cross-country. Happy motoring!
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