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Is Progressive Roadside Assistance All It’s Cracked Up to Be?

Many people feel that roadside assistance is the way to go when it comes to insurance and one of the largest insurance companies that offer this is Progressive.  Progressive roadside assistance is not, however, all that it is cracked up to be and there are a few reasons for this.  There are many other insurance agencies that also offer this plan and they are much different than what is offered by Progressive.

Is it Free?

This is one of the huge downsides to Progressive; they do not offer this service as a part of their regular insurance coverage.  Anyone who wants this is required to pay more monthly for the service.  There is no deductible however but with the high cost, many feel that it is not worth extra money.  With other agencies, there may be a small fee to add this and in some cases, it is a part of the policy whether it is requested or not.

What is Covered

With this addition to your insurance policy, your vehicle will be towed if it breaks down to the nearest qualified service center.  That means if you have a normal repair person that you want to work on your car, if they are across town, you cannot use them.  You can only go to the repair shop that Progressive deems is the closest and who they consider qualified.  Your flat tires will be changed, battery can be jump started, emergency fuel and fluids will be delivered and there is also a locksmith service.  Again, you have to take what you are given rather than being able to choose where the tires or fluids come from and you are stuck with the locksmith of Progressive’s choosing.  In most states there is no charge but there are states that limit the coverage.

What Vehicles are Covered?

You can get roadside coverage for any vehicle, recreational or road, that you want it to cover and which you want to pay for.  This includes boats, motorcycles, off road and on road, off road recreational vehicles, recreational vehicles, toy haulers and any other on or off road vehicle.  Of course the price is greatly different for those that are considered off road because they can be more dangerous than on road vehicles.  Keep in mind that when you are off road and have no phone coverage you will not be able to call for this service until you have coverage.

All in all it seems that there is a huge charge for a service that may not be necessary for those who simply do normal every day driving.  The cost for those on a budget can be more than it is worth if the service is never used.  There are other insurance companies that offer the same services and yet do not charge quite as much as Progressive roadside assistance costs so they are a better option for most people.

What Progressive Roadside Assistance Doesn’t Cover

Most who are looking for roadside assistance plan in their insurance consider Progressive Roadside Assistance to be one of the better options.  This is not the case since there are many areas in which Progressive is sadly lacking.  For those who had this coverage, it was a wake-up call when they did not get the service that they needed.  If you are looking for this type of service, you should know what is not covered through Progressive.

What if My Car Catches on Fire?

If you car catches on fire through any reason such as an electrical short, you need to have it towed off the road once the fire is extinguished.  You bought the expensive addition of Progressive Roadside Assistance so you don’t have any worries, right?  Wrong!  In fact, Progressive will not offer free towing for a car that has been on fire at any time.  The only time they will tow a car is if it is completely disabled by any other means.  If your vehicle still starts, even after it has been on fire, you are out of luck.

Does it Cover Towing After an Accident?

Having an accident can be a stressful time for anyone and there may even be injuries that need to be dealt with.  Thank goodness you have Progressive Roadside Assistance to tow away your car while you’re heading to the hospital.  Wait a minute, what is in this fine print?  Progressive does not offer free towing as a part of the roadside assistance program if the vehicle was in an accident?  No, they do not offer this which is a huge downside for many people who pay extra for this assistance.  How are you supposed to get your car to the shop after an accident if Progressive refuses to pay for it?  You have to go through the police department in your area and pay them to get your car back from their impound lot.   Naples SEO

So while it may seem that Progressive Roadside Assistance is worth the extra money you pay every month, it is not what it is cracked up to be.  There are many areas that are not covered and these areas are very important to all drivers on the road.  The last thing you want to worry about when your car is on fire or when there has been an accident is the cost of towing your vehicle.  There are other insurance agencies that do include the above services/features in their roadside assistance programs and they should be considered.