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#1
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Roadside assistance insurance
I've heard from several sources that auto insurance companies tend to
increase their charges if claims are made. As I see it, the most likely claim would be a flat tire change if the policy covered such. Mine charges $7 a year for this, towing, etc. Should I buy AAA or AARP roadside assistence insurance - ~$55 a year - and drop the coverage on the auto policy? I suspect an insurance rate increase is going to be much more than the $55. Or am I wrong and such a claim or claims will not cause an increase - nor windshield cracks - only accidents, or whatever, caused by the policy owner's driving errors? TIA -- You know it's time to clean the refrigerator when something closes the door from the inside. |
#2
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Roadside assistance insurance
On 2014-12-22, KenK wrote:
Or am I wrong and such a claim or claims will not cause an increase..... Can't disprove it by me! I've had auto insurance with the same company for 5 yrs. Same price for 4 yrs. The only time I've made a claim is when the fuel pump failed in my driveway. I called the insurance company to get my "roadside assistance". The company support operator claimed my policy didn't include roadside assist. I went in house, got full copy of policy, and told operator on which page of my policy indicated I DO have r/a. She said, "I don't have a copy of your policy", like that was an excuse. Long story short, I paid to have my vehicle towed and the insurance company re-imbursed me. Three months later, my new policy came due. They upped the fee by $75 yr. nb |
#3
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Roadside assistance insurance
On 12/22/2014 12:10 PM, KenK wrote:
I've heard from several sources that auto insurance companies tend to increase their charges if claims are made. As I see it, the most likely claim would be a flat tire change if the policy covered such. Mine charges $7 a year for this, towing, etc. Should I buy AAA or AARP roadside assistence insurance - ~$55 a year - and drop the coverage on the auto policy? I suspect an insurance rate increase is going to be much more than the $55. Or am I wrong and such a claim or claims will not cause an increase - nor windshield cracks - only accidents, or whatever, caused by the policy owner's driving errors? It takes 7 yr w/o a claim to break even on the additional 1 yr cost--doesn't look like a good deal to me... I've used the windshield coverage several times (once on each of several vehicles, not multiple on one) and seen no indication of getting "dinged" (so to speak) for it by Farm Bureau (not State Farm nor Farmers or one of the multitude of others with "Farm" in their name). I'd make no claim on a commercial carrier rather than a mutual company. My best guess would be it'll be carrier-dependent and also frequency and cost of any claims dependent rather than a generic rule, however. That is, you get stranded somewhere in the middle of the AZ, UT, NV desert country 250 mi from anywhere and it'll cost a whole lot more for 'em to come and get you than if you're in the 'burbs somewhere 10 minutes from a service center. -- |
#4
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Roadside assistance insurance
On 12/22/2014 1:10 PM, KenK wrote:
I've heard from several sources that auto insurance companies tend to increase their charges if claims are made. As I see it, the most likely claim would be a flat tire change if the policy covered such. Mine charges $7 a year for this, towing, etc. Should I buy AAA or AARP roadside assistence insurance - ~$55 a year - and drop the coverage on the auto policy? I suspect an insurance rate increase is going to be much more than the $55. Or am I wrong and such a claim or claims will not cause an increase - nor windshield cracks - only accidents, or whatever, caused by the policy owner's driving errors? TIA Not quite sure but believe insurance will increase if claims are above a certain dollar value. Don't think a few dollars matters. Wife has both AAA and on insurance. Car recently towed by AAA but $15 over their range limit and insurance company paid the $15. AAA seems pricey and I don't get it myself. Want to save money on insurance? Take a defensive driving course. AARP's on line a couple of years ago cost about $15 but saves me about $75 in insurance for three years. |
#5
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Roadside assistance insurance
On Mon, 22 Dec 2014 12:38:03 -0600, dpb wrote:
On 12/22/2014 12:10 PM, KenK wrote: I've heard from several sources that auto insurance companies tend to increase their charges if claims are made. As I see it, the most likely claim would be a flat tire change if the policy covered such. Mine charges $7 a year for this, towing, etc. Should I buy AAA or AARP roadside assistence insurance - ~$55 a year - and drop the coverage on the auto policy? I suspect an insurance rate increase is going to be much more than the $55. Or am I wrong and such a claim or claims will not cause an increase - nor windshield cracks - only accidents, or whatever, caused by the policy owner's driving errors? It takes 7 yr w/o a claim to break even on the additional 1 yr cost--doesn't look like a good deal to me... I've used the windshield coverage several times (once on each of several vehicles, not multiple on one) and seen no indication of getting "dinged" (so to speak) for it by Farm Bureau (not State Farm nor Farmers or one of the multitude of others with "Farm" in their name). I'd make I never thought about it before wrt insurance but it's farmers who put bread on our tables and support the backbone of America. It's no surprise they sell good insurance. OTOH, isn't the State Farm a place they put criminals and have them do farming tasks during work hours? I'm not sure I want to criminals to see my credit card number no claim on a commercial carrier rather than a mutual company. My best guess would be it'll be carrier-dependent and also frequency and cost of any claims dependent rather than a generic rule, however. That is, you get stranded somewhere in the middle of the AZ, UT, NV desert country 250 mi from anywhere and it'll cost a whole lot more for 'em to come and get you than if you're in the 'burbs somewhere 10 minutes from a service center. |
#6
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Roadside assistance insurance
On 12/22/2014 1:10 PM, KenK wrote:
Should I buy AAA or AARP roadside assistence insurance - ~$55 a year - and drop the coverage on the auto policy? I have been driving for 40 years and never once called a tow truck. So $55 x 40 years = $2200 wasted How many years have you been driving? How many times have you actually needed a tow truck? FWIW, the best insurance is to hang up the cell phone and keep your eyes on the road. |
#7
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Roadside assistance insurance
On 12/22/2014 1:53 PM, micky wrote:
OTOH, isn't the State Farm a place they put criminals and have them do farming tasks during work hours? I'm not sure I want to criminals to see my credit card number You're confusing an insurance company with a bunch of criminals. Oh, wait, they are the same. Carry on. |
#8
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Roadside assistance insurance
On 12/22/2014 12:53 PM, Philbert wrote:
On 12/22/2014 1:10 PM, KenK wrote: Should I buy AAA or AARP roadside assistence insurance - ~$55 a year - and drop the coverage on the auto policy? I have been driving for 40 years and never once called a tow truck. So $55 x 40 years = $2200 wasted How many years have you been driving? How many times have you actually needed a tow truck? FWIW, the best insurance is to hang up the cell phone and keep your eyes on the road. Good thinking. I've never had such insurance either. In all the years I've been driving the only time I really would have needed some help was when I got a flat tire. I was not totally healed from knee surgery and I did not want to risk messing up my knee or dealing with changing a tire on a busy street. I just drove slowly to a car repair outfit that was walking distance from my house. They said the tire was shot and put a new one on while I went home to relax. The whole thing cost me $100. |
#9
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Roadside assistance insurance
On 12/22/2014 1:53 PM, Philbert wrote:
On 12/22/2014 1:10 PM, KenK wrote: Should I buy AAA or AARP roadside assistence insurance - ~$55 a year - and drop the coverage on the auto policy? I have been driving for 40 years and never once called a tow truck. So $55 x 40 years = $2200 wasted How many years have you been driving? How many times have you actually needed a tow truck? I've had two tows in 53 years. In addition, I had a flat tire in my driveway at home. GM provided roadside assistance so they sent the dealer to repair the tire and put it back on. I'm still way ahead. |
#10
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Roadside assistance insurance
On 12/22/2014 1:53 PM, micky wrote:
OTOH, isn't the State Farm a place they put criminals and have them do farming tasks during work hours? I'm not sure I want to criminals to see my credit card number http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2010/06...at-center.html |
#11
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Roadside assistance insurance
my 2014 Toyota comes with 2 years of service of some sort
not sure what i will do after that marc |
#12
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Roadside assistance insurance
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#13
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Roadside assistance insurance
Philbert writes:
On 12/22/2014 1:10 PM, KenK wrote: Should I buy AAA or AARP roadside assistence insurance - ~$55 a year - and drop the coverage on the auto policy? I have been driving for 40 years and never once called a tow truck. So $55 x 40 years = $2200 wasted Good for you. No wife and no kids leaving the headlights on all night? |
#14
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Roadside assistance insurance
Philbert wrote:
On 12/22/2014 1:10 PM, KenK wrote: Should I buy AAA or AARP roadside assistence insurance - ~$55 a year - and drop the coverage on the auto policy? I have been driving for 40 years and never once called a tow truck. So $55 x 40 years = $2200 wasted How many years have you been driving? How many times have you actually needed a tow truck? I had AAA for many years and only used them once for a jump. Much money wasted. In recent years I've joined a free Allstate service and never had to use them. Much money saved. https://goodhandsroadside.allstate.c...1.14192847 40 (I don't have Allstate auto insurance so no rate increase worry though with a paid service you wouldn't think that would be a problem.) |
#15
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Roadside assistance insurance
In article ,
Frank wrote: On Wife has both AAA and on insurance. Car recently towed by AAA but $15 over their range limit and insurance company paid the $15. AAA seems pricey and I don't get it myself. We get back a couple of times over the costs of a AAA membership with things like their discount with my cell carrier and the savings at Holiday Inns. -- ³Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital.² ‹ Aaron Levenstein |
#16
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Roadside assistance insurance
Philbert wrote in
eb.com: On 12/22/2014 1:10 PM, KenK wrote: Should I buy AAA or AARP roadside assistence insurance - ~$55 a year - and drop the coverage on the auto policy? I have been driving for 40 years and never once called a tow truck. So $55 x 40 years = $2200 wasted How many years have you been driving? How many times have you actually needed a tow truck? Twice. I'm more concerned about flat tire change, Much more likely. Over past few years have had one twice. At 80 I don't want to attempt it unless it's a dire emergency with no help possible. FWIW, the best insurance is to hang up the cell phone and keep your eyes on the road. -- You know it's time to clean the refrigerator when something closes the door from the inside. |
#17
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Roadside assistance insurance
Philbert wrote in
eb.com: On 12/22/2014 1:10 PM, KenK wrote: Should I buy AAA or AARP roadside assistence insurance - ~$55 a year - and drop the coverage on the auto policy? I have been driving for 40 years and never once called a tow truck. So $55 x 40 years = $2200 wasted How many years have you been driving? How many times have you actually needed a tow truck? FWIW, the best insurance is to hang up the cell phone and keep your eyes on the road. I never turn on my cell phone while driving - only extremely rarely if I'm parked off the road. Otherwise my cell is turned off. -- You know it's time to clean the refrigerator when something closes the door from the inside. |
#18
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Roadside assistance insurance
On 12/23/2014 8:29 AM, KenK wrote:
.... I'm more concerned about flat tire change, Much more likely. Over past few years have had one twice. At 80 I don't want to attempt it unless it's a dire emergency with no help possible. .... Might consider going with one of the self-sealing or "run flat" self-supporting tires, then. At least reasonable chance of being able to get to service as long as don't hit something so large with the self-sealing they can't seal. The run-flats have an internal mostly mechanical supporting structure that lets you get 50-60 miles at least. Put the self-sealing Uniroyals on the car for mother years ago -- we're on rural dirt roads and flats are routine. She at least never got stranded. I understand Uniroyal has quite making theirs but I believe Continental and perhaps a few others still do... -- |
#19
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Roadside assistance insurance
dpb wrote:
Might consider going with one of the self-sealing or "run flat" self-supporting tires, then. Several years back I bought a new Honda that came with run-flat tires. It seemed a good selling point at the time but I found that it took special equipment and training to change the tire and the vast majority of tire shops couldn't do it. In my area the only place that could change them was the Honda dealerships. If on a trip and you had a flat (an air-out), and no authorized tire shop within the run flat driving range, you drove to a tire shop and they removed the whole tire/wheel assembly and a new tire/wheel was FedExed in by the next day (hopefully). In the meantime you had to get a motel for the night. Honest, that was Honda's solution. When I found out those details I got the dealership to change our my run-flats for regular tires though I had to sign my life away to do it. Something about the suspension being designed for the run-flats. I kept the car for 3 years and never had a flat so perhaps I wasted my time with that move. Hopefully things are better with run-flats now. |
#20
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Roadside assistance insurance
dpb wrote in :
On 12/23/2014 8:29 AM, KenK wrote: ... I'm more concerned about flat tire change, Much more likely. Over past few years have had one twice. At 80 I don't want to attempt it unless it's a dire emergency with no help possible. ... Might consider going with one of the self-sealing or "run flat" self-supporting tires, then. At least reasonable chance of being able to get to service as long as don't hit something so large with the self-sealing they can't seal. The run-flats have an internal mostly mechanical supporting structure that lets you get 50-60 miles at least. Put the self-sealing Uniroyals on the car for mother years ago -- we're on rural dirt roads and flats are routine. She at least never got stranded. I understand Uniroyal has quite making theirs but I believe Continental and perhaps a few others still do... -- Thank you! I'll look into that. I didn't know they were still being made; hadn't heard them mentioned for decades. I suspect they're very expensive. Wonder how long thay last - like regular tires? -- You know it's time to clean the refrigerator when something closes the door from the inside. |
#21
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Roadside assistance insurance
On Mon, 22 Dec 2014 14:52:53 -0500, Paul wrote:
On 12/22/2014 1:53 PM, micky wrote: OTOH, isn't the State Farm a place they put criminals and have them do farming tasks during work hours? I'm not sure I want to criminals to see my credit card number http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2010/06...at-center.html "At the end of her shift Goodwin, 38, will head back to her cell block at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Perryville, 25 miles west of Phoenix. She’s almost done serving her five-year sentence for fraud." But now she'll be better at it than ever. The "IRS" has called me four times in the last 8 days telling me I'd better not ignore the call and to call them back. Same recording every time, but friends have gotten a different voice. I knew it was a fraud but I googled the phone number she left anyhow. |
#22
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Roadside assistance insurance
On Wed, 24 Dec 2014 00:14:12 -0500, micky
wrote: On Mon, 22 Dec 2014 14:52:53 -0500, Paul wrote: On 12/22/2014 1:53 PM, micky wrote: OTOH, isn't the State Farm a place they put criminals and have them do farming tasks during work hours? I'm not sure I want to criminals to see my credit card number http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2010/06...at-center.html "At the end of her shift Goodwin, 38, will head back to her cell block at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Perryville, 25 miles west of Phoenix. She’s almost done serving her five-year sentence for fraud." But now she'll be better at it than ever. I was a little flip here, probably because the "IRS" fraudster have been annoying me. The first one sounded actually repentant, at least for what she did to herself, and if she stays away from drugs, she might do well. There are other good anecdotes too. I'd rate it based on percentages, which he says are good too. Might be. I don't know anyone from Arizona, except my brother's step-daughter, and she's never been in prison, so I'll never know for sure. I wish them well. The "IRS" has called me four times in the last 8 days telling me I'd better not ignore the call and to call them back. Same recording every time, but friends have gotten a different voice. I knew it was a fraud but I googled the phone number she left anyhow. |
#23
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Roadside assistance insurance
I have had AAA for 40 years. I am OLD Got it when I got my drivers license.
Its been a good deal I have the AAA plus, and have been towed 100 miles on more than one occasion Keys broke off in locks, all sorts of bad days I service machines for a living, am on the road constantly and for a time was driving near 50,000 miles a year. Made decent money till the price of gasolie went so high. I have never bought a brand new vehicle. Just didnt care. driving around 30 thousand a year these days and making near nothing. our govenor corbetter just lost his run for re election He had balanced the state budget on the back of education and got what he deserved If someone buys a brand new vehicle every 2 or 3 years, and drives under the national average of 15,000 miles a year, rarely will you need a tow Your still paying for the tow, in the cost of the new vehicle I prefer to have 2 vehicles, one as a back up and for heavy hauling. |
#24
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Roadside assistance insurance
On 12/24/2014 7:20 AM, bob haller wrote:
I service machines for a living, am on the road constantly and for a time was driving near 50,000 miles a year. Made decent money till the price of gasolie went so high. I have never bought a brand new vehicle. Just didnt care. driving around 30 thousand a year these days and making near nothing. our govenor corbetter just lost his run for re election He had balanced the state budget on the back of education and got what he deserved If someone buys a brand new vehicle every 2 or 3 years, and drives under the national average of 15,000 miles a year, rarely will you need a tow Your still paying for the tow, in the cost of the new vehicle Chances are, you also have "free" roadside assistance as a part of the deal. I think i have five years. I used it for the first time last night by calling the 800 number on the window decal. Had a flat tire in the dark and drizzle. The voice on the other end asked me a couple of questions and I gave her some of the numbers on the VIN. She also used my cell phone to pinpoint my location. Took about 45 minutes for help to arrive. He quickly change the tire and got me on my way. No cost, but I did tip him. If it was a sunny April day I may have changed it myself, but on rainy December night, I'd rather wait for help. |
#25
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Roadside assistance insurance
bob haller wrote:
If someone buys a brand new vehicle every 2 or 3 years, and drives under the national average of 15,000 miles a year, rarely will you need a tow New car owners likely still need roadside assistance coverage since even new vehicles get flats, lockouts, gas-outs, dead batteries, etc. Your still paying for the tow, in the cost of the new vehicle If one still needs to have roadside assistance with a new car then he's saved nothing in that regard by buying a new car. Course some new cars come with a few years of roadside assistance (Buick) and some don't (Honda). |
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