Do You Need Emergency Road Assistance Services if Towing is Included in Auto Insurance?
When you're considering purchasing or switching auto insurance, one common question arises: if your policy includes towing and road assistance, do you still need additional services through organizations like AAA?
Understanding Your Insurance Coverage
The first step is to understand the specific limitations and coverage of your auto insurance policy. For example, some policies might only cover towing within a certain distance, such as 5 miles, as mentioned in the example. This is crucial information to have as it affects your decision-making process.
Comparing Alternative Options
Many people, like the author, have been members of AAA since long before the internet age, and find the benefits to be invaluable. AAA membership often includes not only towing but also other emergency services such as jump-starts, lockouts, and even travel services. The basic membership often covers up to 250 miles of towing, as highlighted in another answer. This unlimited coverage means that even long-distance breakdown situations are covered without additional charges.
Risks of Using Insurance Coverage
Using emergency roadside services through your auto insurance can have its drawbacks. Each time a claim is made, it is recorded as an insurance claim, which can affect future premium rates. For instance, in the example provided, there were six claims in a year due to mechanical issues. The insurance company, despite knowing the cause, did not hold this against the insured, but it still impacted premiums the following year. The key takeaway here is that using roadside services from your insurance provider can lead to higher premiums down the line.
Other Benefits of AAA Membership
However, AAA membership extends beyond just towing. It offers a plethora of additional services such as insurance services, travel agent services, and automobile repair advice. Therefore, even if towing is covered by your auto insurance, AAA can provide broader and more comprehensive support during travel or in emergency situations.
When to Consider AAA
The decision to join AAA or not largely depends on how much you value these additional services. If the primary benefit of AAA is towing, and your auto insurance covers that sufficiently, there might not be a need to pay for AAA membership. However, if you frequently drive long distances, travel internationally, or require myriad other services, AAA membership could be a worthwhile investment.
Conclusion
In conclusion, whether you need separate emergency road assistance services like AAA depends on the specific details of your auto insurance policy, the additional value each service provides, and your personal travel and driving habits. Balancing insurance coverage and additional services is key to making an informed decision.
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