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Saturday, February 15th
Everybody is familiar with the cute little lizard who sells you car insurance from Geico. What you may not have known is that Geico also offers a roadside assistance program. However, there's a significant drawback.
Low cost, but you need their insurance
The cost is pretty low compared to other services, but you can't use Geico unless you're already paying for car insurance (or another kind of policy) through their services. So, if you're not a Geico member already, keep on scrolling. But if you do have a Geico policy or you're planning to shortly, the roadside assistance program might be a great add-on for extra safety.
Covered across the US
The nice thing about coverage through Geico is that if you can get coverage through one of their policies, you'll qualify for the roadside assistance program. The actual locations served by Geico aren't listed on the roadside assistance page, but Geico insurance covers all 50 US states.
Around $14 for the add-on
There's only one "plan” or package that covers roadside assistance, but before you can buy that, you'll need to have a Geico policy first. The roadside assistance package comes as an add-on. You can get the roadside assistance option for just around $14 annually per car, although the exact cost may vary based on your state and vehicle. This includes 24/7 service with coverage for towing, winching, jump-starts, and fuel delivery. Further, Geico's roadside assistance is designed to come to the rescue when you need immediate help, but it typically doesn't cover the costs of fixing underlying issues like a malfunctioning engine or an aging battery. The specific number of incidents covered by a Geico roadside assistance plan can vary depending on your policy.
No special discounts or bonuses
As for discounts, the roadside assistance plan from Geico doesn't offer its own discounts or bonuses the way many motor club-style competitors do. The benefits that come with the program are just those related to the actual assistance like:
No-fee cancellation
While there isn't a refund or cancellation policy for the assistance program specifically, Geico's own policy will likely apply here (though it may be worth your time to check out the specifics or call customer service to be sure). Geico offers a no-fee anytime cancellation policy for their insurance, which would be highly beneficial if it also applies to roadside assistance. However, there was no mention of refunds that we could find.
Mixed reputation
While Geico's reputation is fairly solid, the reviews show a different story. Let's start with the good stuff first. At the Better Business Bureau, Geico holds a solid "A+” rating. However, once we move away from the BBB, the ratings for the roadside assistance program specifically get a little shaky. There's only one site that has verified third-party reviews and from there we discerned that Geico's roadside assistance program has an average rating of 2.4 stars out of 5. Customers complained about the quality of service from the providers sent by Geico to solve a variety of roadside issues, and then many customers were further frustrated when Geico didn't take responsibility when things went wrong during the service.
Not reliable enough even for Geico customers
Geico was already behind the pack by only offering its roadside assistance program to those who are already paying for an insurance policy. This means a lot of customers can't access these services at all, for any price. With that in mind, it was only about mid-tier. However, after checking out the customer reviews and the myriad of frustrations that pop up throughout, we're forced to reconsider. At the end of the day, even Geico customers aren't happy with their roadside assistance, so we can't recommend it either.
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.
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:
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!
Select any 2 Roadside Assistance Companies to compare them head to head