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.