Emergency Road Service

If you do any traveling, especially with an RV, you will appreciate the benefits of Emergency Road Service.   Sometimes it is an option on your vehicle insurance policy or you can buy it from an auto club or RV club.  We've used both AAA and Good Sam Emergency Road service programs over the years and found both to be excellent.

Benefits of Emergency Road Service include changing a flat tire, dealing with a dead battery, out of fuel, and towing for disabled vehicles.  The service you purchase for your car will probably not cover your RV (motorhome or trailer) unless you get an upgrade for RV coverage.   Good Sam Emergency Road Service covers your RVs and all your other vehicles.  Be sure to read the covered services so you don't get surprised by exclusions or additional charges.  Most emergency road service plans cover tire changing, jump starts, and delivery of up to 5 gallons of fuel but other repair services or extra fuel are usually not covered.  Towing of disabled vehicles may be have specific limits.  Sometimes there may be a mileage limit, sometimes they must be towed to the nearest repair facility.  For the best protection, look for a plan with unlimited towing to the facility of your choice.   Emergency Road Service is particularly helpful for large RVs. I  can change a tire on my car or my truck/camper myself if I have to, but I don't have the equipment or the strength to handle the tires on my 40' Class A motorhome.  I've even seen the time when a tow truck operator with special tools couldn't loosen the lug nuts on my motorhome without getting it back the shop where he had a 3/4" drive air impact wrench.  Big motorhomes require something like a 10 ton jack to lift a wheel high enough to be changed.  And big RV tires weigh about 100 lbs or so each so they're not easy to move.  You should be able to call your service using an 800 number and they'll send out a contracted service provider to take care of you.  If they don't have any contractors in your area, they may locate a non-contracted provider.   If that happens, you will probably have to pay for service at the time rendered and submit a claim for for reimbursement.

Costs of Emergency Road Service vary from provider to provider so it may pay to shop around. Introductory rates of around $79.95 are often available but normal annual fees are typically around $120.   That is pretty reasonable. I've seen the cost of having a tire changed in a remote recreational area run $350 because of travel time and distance so ERS is very cost effective.

Service limits may apply.  Many tow services will not service off-road locations or may charge extra if they leave the pavement.   If you're going to be camping in remote areas, make sure your Emergency Road Service policy covers the locations you'll be going to.  Some limit towing distance and will only cover towing to the nearest authorized repair facility.  Some have flat mileage limits and will charge extra if you exceed the limits.   But there are policies that offer unlimited towing, which is nice if you break down 200 miles from home and want your vehicle towed to your favorite, trusted mechanic.   On-the-road repairs can be expensive and you might not trust unknown technicians.  I have to say that I did have a VERY pleasant experience in Midland, Texas a few years ago.  The transmission went out in my 23' Class C motorhome and we were about 1200 miles from home.  We were put in touch with an older gentleman who said he could get us back on the road the next day.  I was somewhat skeptical when the tow truck brought us down a dusty dirt road to an ordinary garage next to a residence but my fears were definitely unfounded.  This gentlemen his two friends pulled out our damaged transmission, rebuilt it, and had it ready to roll again in about 3 hours! He stuck to his original cost estimate even when he discovered there were "hard parts" inside the transmission that had to be replaced -- and even apologized for using used parts instead of new ones (which would have been very expensive).  He had some old transmissions around from which he was able to scavenge the necessary parts.  We never had any problems with that transmission after that. On the other hand, there is enough evidence of unscrupulous repair facilities that you do need to be leery.  Readers Digest once sent a mature couple on a drive from New York to Florida in a brand new car with the goal of testing how well travelers were treated by local service facilities.   They were told to accept any reasonable seeming repair "suggestions" along the way.  As a result, they had the tires, shock absorbers, and radiator hoses replaced multiple times -- all on a brand new car!  They found mechanics who sprayed oil on shocks to make them seem like they were leaking and one guy who had a ring with a spike on it that he used to puncture good radiator hoses when he "tested" them.  So there are scams and shysters out there.  If you have to get repairs on the road seek recommendations from locals you can trust.   And look for recognized certifications to be sure their technicians are qualified to work on your vehicle.  If you don't know anyone in the area, try checking with gas station attendants or local law enforcement for suggestions.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure is more than just an old saw.   Even with Emergency Road Service your trip timing will be altered because it will take time to contact them, for them to send out a technician, and for the technician to get you back on the road.  To avoid the inconvenience and delays, keep your vehicle in good condition.   Perform required maintenance religiously and check your tires, belts, and hoses before every trip.  Keep an eye on your fuel consumption to avoid running out of gas and watch your 12-volt power usage to avoid running your batteries down.   With nominal attention to these details you can avoid many of the situations that might otherwise result in an ERS call.   Your ERS provider may limit the number of calls in a policy period.  Poor maintenance can result in frequent outages and you may find your service suspended if it appears that you are abusing it.  Or, more likely, they may refuse to offer renewals if you make too many calls in one policy year.  After all, you purchase a full year of service with your initial premium so they're obligated to take care of you but there is no promise of renewal.  You may want to use your ERS only as a last resort, for things you can't take care of yourself, so you'll always have them when you really need them.

Renewals are usually more or less automatic, but be sure to watch for and pay the renewal notice on time.   You may even need to follow up to make sure the payment was received.   If you don't receive a new card within a few weeks, look into it.   I had AAA coverage for decades, then one year, my online banking screwed up my payment and AAA never received it.   I didn't realize my coverage had lapsed until my wife needed road service and was denied.   By then I found the reinstatement costs were excessive and I switched to Good Sam Emergency Road Service, taking advantage of an "introductory price".

Keep on truckin'!