Best Roadside Service is an auto club with all calls answered in the US. Get the best service at the best price with Best Roadside Service, serving consumer and commercial needs in the US and Canada since 1985!

Credit Card Companies Drop Roadside Assistance Coverage

December 15, 2015 by Best Roadside Service

Many people do not know that their credit card companies may provide additional services beyond loaning money for purchases.

In fact, several credit card companies offer services through third party providers for things such as identity theft, travel planning and even roadside assistance. These services are not always marketed to credit card customers very well, and J.D. Power & Associates reports that only about 2/3 of people are even aware of their benefits, and even fewer people are using their credit cards to their full advantage. For this reason, many credit card companies are dropping extra benefits from their cardholder agreements.

In August 2015, Discover issued a new cardholder agreement that stated they intend to “simplify the suite of cardmember benefits that it provides by eliminating certain benefits in order to provide a better customer experience.” What this really means is that they are eliminating benefits to save themselves money. With recent laws in effect that restrict credit card companies on the kind of late fees and interest rates they can charge, many lenders are looking at cutting cardholder benefits and other services to save money and help their bottom line.

In fact, Sears MasterCard recently dropped its rental car collision coverage, travel assistance and roadside assistance benefits, and Bank of America is discontinuing its roadside and travel assistance benefits for its MasterCard Better Balance Rewards cardholders as well. With these heavy hitters leading the pack, it’s a logical assumption that other credit card companies will be following their lead and dropping third party services for their cardholders as well. So whether or not you have one of these cards listed above, you should start looking around for another provider for these services.

Even if you do plan to continue using your credit card company’s services, keep in mind that most credit card companies still charge their cardholders a fee to use their roadside assistance and these fees can run up to $70 per call. At that price, you should consider going with Best Roadside Service’s roadside assistance plan. In fact, a year of roadside assistance with Best Roadside Service, which includes up to 6 calls per year, only costs between $65-$80 depending on the plan chosen. Additionally, Best Roadside Service offers travel assistance, travel concierge services, travel discounts, coupons, a 24-hour emergency hotline, discounts at national automotive maintenance shops and more. Your discounts from these partners might just pay for your annual membership! You don’t have to have a particular credit card to have these services and you don’t have to pay a crazy interest rate to earn them. Individual plans are less than $80/year and vehicle plans are just $65 annually.

Why Choose Best Roadside Service

Going with a company that specializes in roadside assistance is also the only way to ensure you get the best and fastest service. Credit card companies are essentially playing the middle man to their cardholders – creating an additional step and costing the customer more time when they do need help on the side of the road. Best Roadside Service, on the other hand, has an average response time of just 34 minutes. And their service providers respond to over 70,000 calls per month. In the last 50 years, Best Roadside Service has unlocked over 170,000 doors, changed over 340,000 flat tires, towed over 6.8 million miles and delivered over 60,000 gallons of fuel!

But not all roadside assistance plans and providers are created equal. Whether you want to purchase a plan for a particular vehicle, no matter who is driving it, or a plan for an individual, no matter what vehicle they are driving – you’ll want to compare plans, and go with a Better Business Bureau A+ rated company that has been providing roadside service for over 50 years to consumers just like you.

The bottom line is that your credit card company is more concerned with their bottom line than customer perks and benefits. Ditch the middle man, and purchase an independent roadside assistance plan for you and your family from Best Roadside Service!

The Top Five Tips for Traveling With Pets

September 23, 2015 by Best Roadside Service

At Best Roadside Service, we pride ourselves on being a pet-friendly business.

We cover the vehicles and fleets of many pet rescue organizations and so we are always mindful of keeping you as well as your furry friends safe – especially when they’re in your car.

Some pets love car rides, while others have anxiety just at the site of an open car door. It’s easy to understand why – half the time they get into a car, there’s a vet waiting on the other end! But no matter how short or long the ride, it’s critical that you take certain safety precautions to protect both your pet as well as yourself while driving. So whether your pet loves to ride shotgun or prefers to be safely crated in the back, here are a few tips for how to ride safely with your pet.

Buckle Up!
The most important piece of advice we can give you is to always keep your pet restrained in some way while riding in a vehicle. A loose pet is a dangerous pet in a car. Whether they are blocking your view, or getting under your feet, letting them have free range can result in serious consequences.

You probably wear your seatbelt when you’re in your car, and certainly if you have kids, you ensure that they are safely belted or in a car seat or carrier. Do the same thing for your pet. There are lots of products on the market now that safely and comfortably restrain pets. These products often will still allow your pet to see outside, move around within reason and enjoy their ride. Dogs who wear harnesses can use doggie seatbelt devices, which strap directly into your car’s seatbelt system. Dogs who have a lot of anxiety when in the car may prefer to be inside their crate. This is particularly true for dogs who have been crate trained and who view their crate as their private den and retreat.

Keep cats in cat carriers and, if possible, strap the carrier into your vehicle’s seatbelt system for added security. A small cat carrier can become a dangerous projectile in an accident.
Keep arms, legs and head inside the moving vehicle at all times.
What’s true for roller coasters is pretty much true for your pet and your car. Although your furry friend may love to hang his head out the window while you cruise down the road, there are a variety of ways they can become injured from this. Debris, dirt and even insects can become embedded in their eyes or skin, their head could hit a roadside object, and they could even fall out of the window if not properly restrained. As fun as this is for them (and for passers-by), roll up the window and opt for AC instead.
Keep them in the cab.
Putting dogs in the bed of a truck may be convenient, but it can also be extremely dangerous. Not only could your dog fall or jump out of the bed of a truck and be hurt or killed, they may also become a distraction to other drivers, possibly causing a collision. According to the American Humane Society, at least 100,000 dogs die in accidents each year because they were riding in the back of a pickup truck. Additionally, if you have to run in somewhere, don’t leave your dog leashed in the bed of a truck. The heat of the truck bed floor can cause burns on paws, plus pets are exposed to the weather – whether it’s heat, cold, rain or other scenarios.
Never, EVER leave them inside a hot car.
This should go without saying at this point, but every summer you see news stories about someone who has left their dog inside a car to run into the store “for just a few minutes.” Sometimes these dogs are rescued by good samaritans, but many times they are not, and they suffer and often die from heat stroke. A car heats up incredibly fast! Don’t believe it? Watch this video where Kars4Kids challenged adults to sit in a hot car for 10 minutes and they would receive $100. Not one person could do it! Their message (not to leave your kids in the car, even for ten minutes!) applies to animals as well. And don’t forget, your pets are wearing a heavy fur coat, making that heat even more extreme.

If you have an errand to run and have your pet with you, either take them inside with you, or if that’s not permitted – come back later without them. There simply isn’t a safe option for leaving an animal in a car. Even with your windows cracked, a car can still become unbearably hot, even on a pleasant day. And rolling your windows all the way down leaves your pet exposed and vulnerable to pet-napping.
Make sure they’re tagged.
Just like you make sure your vehicle’s registration is up to date, make sure your furry friend has a current tag/ID on their collar, and if possible – a microchip in case their collar is lost or removed. Pet-napping is becoming a big market for criminals. Thieves steal dogs and cats to re-sell them, and often dogs are stolen from vehicles where they’ve been left unattended. A microchip is the definitive, irremovable way to prove your ownership, and if your pet just happens to get loose and run off, visible tags can help aid in a speedy return home.

Taking a roadtrip with your best furry friend can be a great experience if you follow these tips for a safe, enjoyable, tail-wagging ride. And to keep yourself and your vehicle safe on the road, consider a Best Roadside Service plan, so that you and your pet are never stranded on the side of the road.

Top 10 Reasons for Purchasing Roadside Assistance

April 25, 2015 by Best Roadside Service

Nothing says “Bad Day” quite like getting a flat tire or being stuck stranded on the side of the road. Getting your car jacked up, the flat tire off, and the spare on – it can be quite the ordeal. When something unexpected happens with your vehicle, you want nothing more than to get back on the road as quickly and easily as possible. Whether it is a flat tire, an empty gas tank, a dead battery or lost keys, having roadside assistance can help get the problem resolved quickly and get your wheels turning again.

If you have ever asked yourself “Is roadside assistance really worth it?” here are the Top 10 Reasons for Roadside Assistance.

Running Out of Gas- Nothing will stop your trip quicker than an empty gas tank. We live busy lives, always on the go. Sometimes in the whirlwind that is our daily lives, things slip through the cracks. Things like remembering to get gas. If your vehicle runs out of gas, the only way to get it moving again is to fill it up. Rather than have to walk to a gas station, who knows how far away, roadside assistance can bring you a can of gas to get you on the road again, quickly and easily.

Flat Tire- Changing a flat isn’t easy. We don’t always have the tools, the strength or even a spare. But you can’t get rolling again until it is changed. Roadside assistance can be there in a flash to get your flat off, a spare tire on, and get you going again.

Dead Battery- We all know that sound. You turn the ignition and nothing. You accidentally left the lights on or a door open and now you have a dead battery. There may not always be someone nearby to give you a jump, and that’s if you even have jumper cables. Roadside assistance will provide you with a jump in the case of a dead battery, so you can keep on moving.

Locksmith Services- It’s time to leave, you reach for your keys, but wait. Where are they? Missing, stolen, sitting on your driver’s seat with the doors locked, no matter where they are, you need a locksmith. Paying to have a locksmith come and let you into your vehicle can cost a pretty penny. Roadside assistance typically includes locksmith services, there to let you in when you’re locked out.

Towing- If things really go wrong, your car might not make it from point A to point B on its own. In that case, you need a tow. To get your car to the repair shop or wherever it needs to go, you might need a tow truck. Finding a towing company and getting your vehicle towed can get very pricey. Roadside assistance includes towing, designed to get your car off the side of the road and on the way to driving again.

Minor Repairs- Sometimes something small can cause a big problem. Low oil pressure, water for a radiator, a clogged filter, these are a few of the minor issues that can quickly and easily be resolved by roadside assistance, so you can get back on the road towards your destination safely.

Peace of Mind- Simply knowing that someone is just a phone call away, 24 hours a day, if something should go wrong when you are out on the road gives you a great sense of security. You can rest easy knowing that roadside assistance will be there to help if you end up with a flat tire, out of gas or a dead battery.

Saves You Money- Roadside assistance programs range in price, but are always less than the cost of a single tow, locksmith service or minor repair. The yearly cost of roadside assistance is well below the cost to get assistance spur of the moment.

Protect Yourself- You protect yourself with health insurance, life insurance, homeowners insurance, even travel insurance. Why not protect yourself from unexpected costs due to car problems? Roadside assistance is there to protect you when the unexpected happens to your vehicle.

Expect the Unexpected- Whether you drive a brand-new luxury sports car or an old beat up truck, you can’t predict a flat tire. And a car with a flat can’t drive. No one plans on a dead battery or locking their keys in the car, but if and when it happens, roadside assistance can keep it from turning into a long ordeal. Just a quick call will resolve your unexpected car problem, and get you back on the road quickly and easily.

If you want the peace of mind of knowing help is just a phone call away, consider getting roadside assistance. Best Roadside Assistance offers a range of roadside assistance programs, customizable and designed to best suit your individual needs.

We pride ourselves on providing our customers with prompt and efficient roadside assistance, with the utmost levels of quality and customer service. Reach out to the team at Best Roadside Assistance to design the perfect, affordable roadside service plan, individually suited for you needs. Check out our blog for more tips on ways to keep your wheels turning. We’ll get you back on the road in no time.

What is the Actual Cost of Roadside Assistance?

April 21, 2015 by Best Roadside Service

You’re just driving along, when boom, you hear the pop and feel the pull of the wheel. A flat tire! It doesn’t matter if you are driving a brand-new sports car, a beat up old truck or your mom’s minivan, flat tires just happen. Despite your good driving record and attempts to always be careful, sometimes things are just out of your control. Flat tires, keys locked in the car and dead batteries are just a few situations that can be quickly and easily resolved with the help of roadside assistance.

When something unexpected goes wrong with your vehicle, you want and need nothing more than to get the wheels rolling and get back on the road. You know that having roadside assistance would come in handy in these types of scenarios, but what is the real price? What is the actual cost of roadside assistance?

There is a wide range of choices and options when it comes to roadside assistance, depending on what types of services you are looking for. Since price depends on the amount of coverage or levels of service provided, it can be difficult to pin point exactly what is the actual cost of roadside assistance?

Drivers can select what roadside options are best for them or they feel are most necessary, increasing or decreasing the cost of their coverage. Roadside assistance plans typically include 24 hour service, towing within a certain distance, locksmith services, battery charging and fuel refilling. More advanced services include minor mechanical repair, towing a further distance, and additional vehicle towing, such as trailers, motorcycles or RV’s. Some companies offer discounts or group rates for roadside assistance to commercial and fleet vehicles.

In considering what is the actual cost of roadside assistance you have to think of the cost of getting help for your vehicle if you do not have roadside assistance coverage. Towing a broken-down vehicle without roadside assistance coverage can cost hundreds of dollars for just a short trip to a repair shop. Paying a locksmith to come unlock your car after locking your keys inside, will cost a pretty penny.

Typically, using your roadside service only 1 time every few years is worth the yearly cost. Some of the costs can’t even be quantified with a monetary value. Think of the time and inconvenience it could cost you to walk a few miles to a gas station after running out of gas on the side of the road. Imagine yourself having to change a tire on a rainy day in your business suit. You can’t put a price on much of the value of having the security of roadside assistance.

We encourage you to do your own research on all the types of roadside assistance that are available. Consider which programs and services are most important you. Some newer vehicles come with some level of manufacturer roadside assistance. Depending the type, age and condition of your vehicle, different levels of roadside assistance might work best for you.

At Best Roadside Assistance, we offer a wide range of roadside assistance plans. Our plans are customized to each driver’s individual needs. We pride ourselves on providing our customers with the highest levels of customer service, value and prompt, efficient assistance. It is our goal to give drivers peace of mind in knowing that Best Roadside Assistance will be there to help, should any unexpected event come up when you are in your vehicle or on the road. Look to Best Roadside Assistance for your customized roadside assistance plan. When you need help, we will be there.

The Pros and Cons of Switching Roadside Assistance Providers

March 23, 2015 by Best Roadside Service

One of the first steps you should take after purchasing a new car is to secure roadside assistance services. The benefits to having roadside assistance are numerous, but two of the most commonly mentioned benefits are the peace of mind that roadside assistance affords you as a driver, and the cost effectiveness. Often, using your roadside assistance benefits even just once can pay for your membership.

Having roadside assistance services with Best Roadside Service also extends several unique benefits to its members, including 24 hour emergency personal assistance, 24 hour trip and routing services, 24 hour concierge service, and automotive savings, as well as travel savings, hotel reservations, and theme park discounts.

If you are like most people, you may often find yourself hesitant or reluctant to change. In general, we tend to have a love/hate relationship with change. Yet, the changes we may be scared of can often be the ones that are good for us.

If you own your own business and you are considering changing the roadside assistance services provider for your fleet of vehicles, then there are several questions that you should ask yourself:

Will changing our service provider make a positive impact on our return on investment? Carefully examine the new services you are considering, and take a look at how they impact your company’s return on investment. If switching services helps your company see more of a return, and you trust the company and its services, then you can rest assured that it is likely a good decision.

Will the new service provider be flexible and willing to work with us when and where necessary? This is particularly important during the early stages of the transition, where flexibility can make or break your experience.

How will changing service providers impact that experience of our customers? At the end of the day, you need to also consider how this change will affect your customers. If it negatively impacts their experience, they are likely to take their business elsewhere — so proceed with caution.
Will changing service providers be disruptive to our day to day business operations? Again, it is important that you do all that you can to not disrupt the day to day flow of your business.

On the other hand, perhaps you are considering a switch in roadside assistance service providers for your own personal vehicle. If this sounds like you, then there are plenty of questions that you should ask including the following:

Does this new service provider offer a coverage area for the areas that you most often travel, or even coast to coast nationwide coverage? If you stay close home, then you may be able to get by with using a smaller or local company. However,if you enjoy traveling, look for a company that offers coast to coast nationwide service.

Does the new service provider offer a better value to you and your family? Value is about more than just hard costs. Take a look at the value that the new service provider is bringing to you and your family.

Does the new service provider offer plans and services that fit your unique needs? Make sure that the new service provider offers the services that you want and need — and that you aren’t paying for services that you will never use.

Does the new service provider offer better quality and service that you can trust? In order to give you peace of mind, it is important that you work with a company you can trust. Check into their service, read reviews, and ask your friends and family members for recommendations.

If you can comfortably answer “yes” to most or all of the questions above, then it is safe to say that you are likely making a sound decision in switching service providers for your roadside assistance needs.

Needing roadside assistance is one of the most unpredictable things in life. The truth is, almost all drivers will find themselves in the need of roadside assistance at one time or another. The time to be sure of your roadside assistance and provider is now — before you need to call them and it is too late.

If you have any questions about roadside assistance services, or to talk to a member of our team about switching your services, then you have come to the right place. Best Roadside Assistance offers the very best in services and features to their customers — and at a great value. We also offer plenty of additional services, including hotel reservations, 24 hour concierge service, travel discounts, and theme park discounts. To find out more, give us a call or connect with us online today!

Why Choose Roadside Assistance

February 18, 2015 by Best Roadside Service

If you have ever purchased a car, you know that you must also purchase insurance for your car. There are many benefits to the mandatory requirement of purchasing and carrying auto insurance. It all comes down to economic security, accident responsibility, and the added peace of mind that it provides for drivers. Auto insurance provides an economic safety net, of sorts, for drivers. With many people living paycheck-to-paycheck, there often isn’t a lot of funds available in the event of an emergency situation that costs a lot of money. Unfortunately, when it comes to your car, there are quite often bumps in the road that come along.

But what if that bump in the road… really is a bump in the road? And what if that bump in the road leaves you with a flat tire on your way to work, in the middle of rush hour traffic? Often times, this is when many drivers find out that their emergency roadside assistance needs are NOT covered by their insurance.

Fortunately, Best Roadside Service has you covered. There are several benefits to adding roadside assistance to your vehicle. Drivers who have roadside assistance enjoy the following benefits:

24 hour emergency towing service. Any plan you choose with Best Roadside Service includes 24 hour emergency towing service, whether your vehicle breaks down or you are stranded on the side of the road due to a mechanical failure. Our towing service will tow your vehicle to the nearest repair facility, up to 75 miles away.
24 hour flat tire repair service. If you find yourself stranded roadside with a flat tire or a blow out, we have you covered here, as well. We will send a qualified technician to install your drivable spare onto your car, getting you back on your way as quickly as possible.
24 hour battery jump start assistance. If you come out to your car only to find out that your battery has died, we will send a technician out to jump start your car for you, 24 hours a day.
24 hour fuel delivery. If you run out of gas and find yourself stranded on the side of the road, we will send a technician out to you with three gallons of gas to refill your tank, at no charge.
24 hour lockout service. If you find yourself locked out of your car, we will also send a technician out to your car, with manufacturer-approved equipment, to get you back into your car in no time.

Best Roadside Service

There are also other basic benefits that our members enjoy, including 24 hour winching/extraction services, 24 hour lost key service, and an emergency toll free phone number, 24 hour emergency personal assistance, 24 hour oil/fluid/water delivery service, 24 hour concierge service, and more.

However, our members’ benefits don’t stop there. We also offer additional roadside assistance benefits, including:

24 hour trip and routing service. We offer trip planning and routing services, customized to where you want to go and also how you would like to get there. If you ever find yourself lost on a trip, just give us a call and we’ll help get you back on the right track.
VIP discounts for travel, car rentals, and hotels. Our members enjoy access to exclusive discounts on travel arrangements and trips. We offer discount programs and extremely competitive discounts on travel to our members.
Theme park discounts. Your Best Roadside Service membership also gives you exclusive discounts on admission to various theme parks, including Sea World, Busch Gardens, and water parks.
Additional discounts on travel related services and goods, including hotel reservations, pet travel, relocation, automotive services and rentals, coupons, and so much more.

If you have any questions about our roadside assistance plans or why you should choose to carry roadside assistance on your vehicle, please feel free to contact a member of our team directly. We would love the opportunity to tell you our plans, which include options for individual coverage (no matter what car you are driving) and vehicle coverage (no matter who is driving the car), as well as commercial and fleet coverage. We also offer motorcycle roadside assistance. Learn about our plans here and then give us a call or connect online to get started today!

Cold Weather Auto Maintenance Tips

January 26, 2015 by Best Roadside Service

As anyone will tell you, cold weather can be rough on your vehicle. For this reason, winterizing your car is a great idea, and it allows you to have peace of mind when you’re on the road. Below are some of our favorite cold weather auto maintenance tips:

Have your car’s battery and charging system checked thoroughly before the temperature drops. Cold weather can be especially tough on your battery.
Clean, flush, and put new antifreeze in the cooling system. A good rule to remember is that this step should be done every two years.
Make sure all of your heating equipment, such as heaters, defrosters, and windshield wipers, are working properly. Be sure to check your tire pressure weekly, and also consider special tires with grips, if your area is particularly snowy or icy.
Check your tire treads. An easy way to check the tread on your tires is to hold a penny in the tread of one of your tires. If you can see Lincoln’s face and head, then the tread on your tires is too low and they need to be replaced.
Be diligent about having your oil changed and keep your routine maintenance appointments scheduled. Particularly in the winter, dirty oil can lead to big problems.
If you are due for a tune up, then be sure to have it done before winter sets in. Cold and blustery winter weather tends to aggravate and acerbate problems such as hard starts, pinging, and rough idling.
Have your brakes checked. We can’t stress this one enough. The braking system is, hands down, the most important safety feature in your vehicle.
Have the exhaust system checked for any leaks, and check to see that all of the vehicle lights are aimed working properly.
Be diligent about changing the oil and filter at recommended intervals. So called “dirty oil” can really wreak havoc on a car’s engine, particularly in the winter.
You should always keep the gas tank at least half full at all times, in order to help prevent moisture forming in the gas lines and then freezing.
Build and stock an emergency preparedness kit to keep in your car, including an ice scraper, snowbrush, jumper cables, flashlights, blankets, and bottled water.
Don’t forget about your pets! If you are stranded in the cold, don’t forget about your furry family members. Be sure you have water stocked for your pets, as well as a supply of food.

How to Keep Your Car Safe This Winter

As Rich White, the executive director of Car Care Council, wisely said, “The last thing any driver needs is a vehicle that breaks down in cold, harsh winter weather. A vehicle check before the temperatures drop is a sensible way to avoid the inconvenience of being stranded out in the cold and with the unexpected expense of emergency repairs.” If you do find yourself stranded out in the cold, however, rest assured that our team at Best Roadside Service is standing by to give you the help that you need. And with an average 34-minute response time nationwide, you can trust that help will be arriving quickly.

Best Roadside Services is an American owned and operated company, and we operate on the vision of providing our members with the very best emergency roadside assistance – and at competitive prices. Our service administrator has been in business for over 50 years, and has tended to the needs of over 15 million members.

We cover individual vehicles, individual drivers, and a variety of vehicle types, including motorcycles. We can also cover entire fleets of commercial vehicles or trucks. At Best Roadside Service, we pride ourselves on a few principals: fast response time, customer satisfaction and service, and offering benefits and services that are relevant to our members.

To learn more about cold weather auto maintenance tips or our list of services, or to sign up to become a member, please feel free to contact a member of our team directly. We are here to help and answer any of your questions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All of our calls are answered right here in America, and you’ll never get a voicemail recording. Browse through our website and be sure to check out our blog. We look forward to hearing from you!