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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!

Potential Costs of Not Having Roadside Assistance

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Potential Costs of Not Having Roadside Assistance

roadside assistance

Sooner or later it happens to everyone; a flat tire, dead battery, or other vehicle breakdown. When your vehicle becomes disabled due to mechanical or electrical failure your entire day is disrupted. It can make you late for work, leave you stranded while traveling, or cause you to miss important moments with your family. Vehicle repairs can be expensive, and unexpected car problems can bust your monthly budget and empty your wallet.

Imagine driving to work; all the sudden you hear a loud “POP” and feel a tug on the steering wheel. You have a flat tire, on the side of busy highway, and you either do not know how to change a tire, or the cars speeding by make it too dangerous for you to change a tire. You need to call for help.

Calling a local tow company or automotive service center can be expensive. The cost for towing your car will vary based on where you live, what type of car you drive, and how far you need to have it towed; however, many consumers can expect to pay $100 or more for a single tow. What’s not included? Any of the costs associated for actually replacing the tire. You can eliminate the cost of the tow by investing in emergency roadside assistance.

Emergency roadside assistance plans don’t just eliminate the expense of costly tows. Lost keys or lockouts, running out of gas, and dead batteries can all leave you needing high-priced assistance and no time to comparison shop. Purchasing a plan through Best Roadside Service includes benefits such as fluid top offs, fuel delivery, flat tire service, and lost key and lockout service. In addition, national chains including Meineke, Aamco, and Jiffy Lube offer discounts to Best Roadside Service customers for car repairs and maintenance.

Wasted money is not the only cost of failing to have emergency roadside assistance. Unexpected car problems result in lost time at work, missed meetings, and time devoted to fixing your car problems instead of spending time with your family. Instead of spending hours calling for services and waiting for assistance to arrive, one call to Best Roadside Service will have help on the way. The average response time for emergency services through Best Roadside Service is just 34 minutes, getting you back to your life as quickly as possible. They even offer travel concierge benefits. You can save time and money planning road trips allowing you more time to spend with family and friends.

Having emergency roadside assistance won’t eliminate unexpected car problems but it can make them less expensive and easier to deal with. Best Roadside Service offer plans for less than $80 a year, about the average cost of a single tow. Benefits include towing, fuel service, lost key and lockout services, jump-start service, concierge travel service, and a 24 hour toll-free direct emergency number that can even give directions in case you get lost.

Don’t let unexpected car problems bust your budget, empty your wallet, and drain your time. Protect yourself with emergency roadside assistance from Best Roadside Service.

What to Do With The Money You’re Saving on Gas

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Lower gas prices will fuel more travel

Hand holding fuel pump and refilling car at petrol station

 

In December, CNN reported that with the decline of gas prices over the past year, Americans saved an average of $540 per driver in 2015. That means households with two drivers saved an average of $1,100. That’s a lot of money! On top of that, AAA is reporting that based on current projections, gas prices will remain low in 2016, with the average price per gallon hovering between $2.25 and $2.45. That’s nearly a dollar less than the average price in 2014 and the second lowest price in the past decade.

 

That savings is essentially giving consumers 130 billion dollars to spend in other ways. So what are people doing with this extra money? Many people are eating out at restaurants more often – an industry that took a huge hit during the economic recession, but was up 8% last year compared to 2014. Others are buying new cars, and bigger cars since the gas they have to put in them is so cheap. But CNN also reports that more people are traveling, thanks in part to this savings on gas.

 

Last year Americans drove 2.4 trillion miles by September of 2015, which was up 3% from that time in 2014. And while airline travel is up as well, many people will choose to hit the road instead, thanks to the lower price at the pump. In fact, Americans are driving more than ever, and that’s having a great impact on the economy as it also means people are eating out more, staying in hotels, going to movies and, of course, buying gas along the way.

 

So how will you spend that money you’re saving on gas? If you’re considering putting it towards a fun road trip or vacation, you might also consider throwing in a roadside assistance plan. An emergency roadside assistance plan is an affordable way to ensure that you’re never left on the side of the road during a trip. It is also a great way to get exclusive discounts and coupons towards travel, hotels, car rentals, amusement parks, and more.

 

Best Roadside Service, an emergency roadside assistance company servicing the US and Canada, offers members travel related discounts at hundreds of hotels around the world;  including a 10% discount at all 1,100+ pet friendly Motel 6 locations. They also offer discounts for Enterprise, National, and Thrifty car rental services as well as Cruise America RV Rentals and Sales. Additionally, members have access to special Six Flag tickets and reservations through their website.

 

Best Roadside Service doesn’t just save you money on your next vacation or business trip. If you plan on purchasing a new car with your savings, you will want to make sure you care for your purchase by maintaining it properly. Best Roadside Service members receive discounts at many national automotive chains such as Meineke, Aamco, Jiffy Lube, and more.

 

Roadside Assistance plans are an affordable way to save even more money than you’ve already saved in the past year on gas. For less than $80 a year, you can keep yourself safe on the road, ensure you’re never stranded while driving, and enjoy discounts and benefits all over the country while you travel.

 

Why Southern Drivers Should Have Roadside Assistance This Winter

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Be prepared for more snow and ice this winter.

El Nino

In early January of this year, The Weather Channel released their three month outlook for winter weather. The outlook shows that El Nino, a weather pattern that is influenced by ocean temperatures, will be in effect over North America for the remainder of the winter weather months. What this means is that areas in the southern states of America that don’t usually get a lot of snow or precipitation during the winter will likely see more snow, ice and sleet, while their northern and western counterparts will see somewhat less snow and slightly warmer temperatures than normal. This prediction is already turning out to be true as winter storm Jonas sweeps across the southern and eastern  portions of the United States this month.

 

Perhaps nothing is quite so affected by inclement weather as our ability to travel. Driving can become treacherous and sometimes impossible during snow storms, while air travel and some train travel is completely grounded or canceled. For many people, flight and train cancellations means they must take a chance and drive in bad weather to get where they need to be. While we don’t recommend that anyone drive a car in a situation that isn’t safe, we do know that sometimes you simply don’t have a choice but to get behind the wheel.

 

In these cases, and for anyone who regularly deals with inclement weather while driving, a roadside assistance plan is an absolute must. And for those who live in areas that are normally not affected by winter weather, consider adding a roadside assistance plan to your vehicle or to an individual driver in your family as El Nino continues to threaten the south with cold, snowy weather.

 

Roadside assistance companies provide emergency assistance when your vehicle experiences issues. Whether you get a flat tire, run out of gas or other fluids, lock your keys in your car or even if you skid off the road and into a ditch – a roadside service company can provide mechanical help or a tow truck to get you and your vehicle to a safe place. Most roadside service companies have providers across their areas of coverage so that a tow truck, mechanic or locksmith can get to you quickly. But of course, some companies provide better coverage and quicker responses than others. Best Roadside Service, for instance, has over 45,000 service providers across America and Canada. This kind of dense coverage gives them an average response time of just 34 minutes. And when you’re sitting on the side of the road in the cold and the snow – that response time becomes critical.

 

Of course, it’s always good to be prepared, even if you do have a roadside assistance plan, in case something does happen. While you’re waiting for a service provider to come and help you, you’ll want to make sure your vehicle is stocked with water, an ice scraper, extra blankets, maybe even disposable hand and feet warmers, basic tools, a spare tire, and a flashlight. Additional cold weather vehicle preparation tips can be found on this blog: Cold Weather Auto Maintenance Tips.

 

So this winter, be prepared and don’t rely on your normally warm and sunny location to keep you safe. Winter weather can hit at any time, and thanks to El Nino, in any place in the country. A roadside assistance plan can help keep you, your family safe and warm this winter.

Electric Cars Need Roadside Assistance Too

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Just because your car doesn’t rely on traditional petroleum gasoline, doesn’t mean it won’t ever leave you stranded on the side of the road.

Hybrid and electric cars are becoming more and more popular in America as the technology advances, prices lower and concern for the environment increases. According to HybridCars.com, in 2013 nearly half a million hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) were purchased in the United States. The Toyota Prius still lead the pack in sales, but other car manufacturers are quickly catching up including Ford and Lexus.

‹Electric Cars need Roadside Assistance Too

Despite the growth in popularity, less than 200,000 of the total HEV sales in 2015 were for fully electric cars. The hybrid vehicle still dominates the market, with its minimal, but still existent, dependence on gasoline. Infrastructure is partly to blame for this fact. The United States still lags behind other countries in terms of electric car charging stations. Not to mention, the average American commuter is driving further each day than their European counterparts, for example, making battery life a bigger issue than it is elsewhere.

Researchers at Edmunds point out that owners of hybrid vehicles should know that “the gasoline engine in a hybrid vehicle requires the same maintenance that it would if it were the only power source driving the vehicle. That means regular tune-ups and oil changes every 5,000-10,000 miles, depending on the vehicle and driving conditions.” That also means that hybrid vehicles are susceptible to the same kind of issues, breakdowns, and vulnerabilities as a standard gas-powered car. And fully electric cars are susceptible to their own array of mechanical and technological issues that could leave you stranded by the side of the road.

This information is important for anyone who may be considering purchasing an HEV to keep in mind. Even if you plan to ditch your old gas-guzzler, don’t make the mistake of tossing out your roadside assistance plan with it. Most roadside assistance plans cover HEVs the same way they do traditional cars. Companies such as Best Roadside Service offer travelers emergency roadside help if their hybrid or electric vehicle breaks down, runs out of battery life (or gas in the case of a hybrid), needs additional fluids, gets a flat tire or many other common issues. Best Roadside Service even includes gas delivery in their membership rates, in case your battery and gas tank run out and leave you stranded.

These plans also include discounts to major national car maintenance shops such as Aamco, Jiffy Lube, Meineke and more. This is important, as Edmunds reminds us, because HEVs need the same kind of regular maintenance as a traditional car. Getting oil changes, tune ups and fluids topped off will keep your HEV investment running well, and a roadside assistance plan will help you save money maintaining your car.

All that savings on gas and maintenance may also give you the funds to take a road trip or vacation. Best Roadside Service offers its members discounts on travel including discounts to theme parks, hotels, and other attractions as well as coupons to places all over the US. And if you need help navigating, they also offer members customized map routing as well as access to a 24-hour emergency hotline you can call for turn by turn directions or roadside assistance, in case you get lost or break down.

If you’re considering purchasing a hybrid or electric vehicle, you’ve probably done a lot of research and consider yourself a conscientious consumer. We recommend you do your research on roadside assistance plans as well to see what companies are offering the best services and benefits for the money. Just remember that regardless of which HEV you decide to get behind the wheel of, don’t drive it off that lot without covering yourself or your vehicle with a roadside assistance plan.

Credit Card Companies Drop Roadside Assistance Coverage

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

Credit Card Companies are Dropping Member Benefits

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!  

 

Don’t Get Lost – Get Roadside Assistance

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Going “down the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house” this holiday season?

DON'T GET LOST, Get Roadside Assistance

Car travel during the holidays is increasingly common. In fact, AAA reports that nearly 91% of people will celebrate the holidays with a road trip of some length. And with gas prices staying relatively low, that number could increase.

Car travel during the holidays can be a stressful or pleasant activity, depending on how well you’re prepared and the resources you have at your disposal. When traveling to more remote destinations (such as Grandmother’s house or that Ski Resort you’ve been wanting to try), getting lost along the way can ruin a fun, family roadtrip.

Although GPS and cell phones have greatly increased our ability to navigate to new and remote places, there are times when cell phone and satellite reception simply don’t work. We’ve all been there – so close to our destination – when our GPS blips “lost satellite reception.” And if you’re in an unknown area or if the weather is cold or snowy, this can go from a frustrating situation to a dangerous situation quickly.

While it’s good to keep a charged up cell phone and GPS in the car with you while traveling, it’s even better to have an old-school, analog backup system: the old fashioned map! However, generic atlas and maps from the gas station can be awkward and difficult to place yourself and use for navigation. Those back roads you’re traveling may be so tiny on a large map that you can barely see them and unless you have a skilled navigator riding shotgun, you’re likely to get even more lost.

What is the best option?

The best option for getting to your holiday destination without taking an unnecessary scenic route or ending up at some other family’s potluck, is to get customized map routing for your trip from a roadside assistance company such as Best Roadside Service. Members of our emergency roadside service plans receive complimentary trip planning and routing. The maps we provide will correspond to the exact areas you will be traveling, so you don’t have to unfold a map the size of your vehicle to try and find exactly where you are. The customized mapping also gives you turn by turn directions to keep it simple.

If for any reason you still get lost, our members can also use our 24-hour emergency hotline. This complimentary service includes turn by turn navigation and one of our U.S. based customer service representatives will help you get back on track and reach your destination. Individual plans cover a person no matter what car they are in, so even if you’re traveling in another family member or friend’s vehicle, you’ll still have access to all of your benefits.

Best Roadside Service plans also make a great gift, and at less than $6 a month, it’s an affordable way to make sure your loved ones are safe, no matter where they travel. Not to mention, our plans come with many more benefits including travel discounts, coupons, discounts at national car maintenance companies as well as the roadside services we provide such as delivering gas, fluids, changing flat tires, towing services and more.

So this holiday season, don’t get lost. Get to grandma’s house on time and without the frustration of getting lost with Best Roadside Service’s customized trip routing and planning service. Happy Holidays!

 

Why Your Business Fleet Needs Roadside Assistance

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If your business uses a fleet of vehicles, then you know how difficult it can be to keep all of them up and running at once.

Business Fleet

In fact, about 20% of typical fleets experience mechanical disablement every day.
Perhaps one or more of your employees or drivers have had issues with breakdowns or flat tires while driving one of your vehicles. This can cause a lapse in service, a loss in revenue and can cause your customers to lose trust in your business. Not to mention, this can be a dangerous situation for your employees. Even if your employee is skilled at car maintenance, changing tires, and the like, it can become a liability for your business if they were to be injured while working on your business vehicle on the side of the road.

Businesses who maintain a fleet of vehicles, whether it’s a credit union with sales people driving company cars or a college with 10 vehicles or a car rental agency or any other business that owns or leases multiple vehicles, benefit greatly from a roadside assistance plan. Whether you maintain hundreds of vehicles or just a few, plans such as the commercial fleet plan with Best Roadside Service can give a business owner peace of mind and keep their employees safe while helping them maintain their investment.

Services and Benefits to Fleet Coverage

Best Roadside Service offers business owners fleet coverage for their vehicles that comes with a wide range of services and benefits. The primary benefit, of course, is the safety and assurance it brings to you and your employees. If they’re ever stranded on the side of the road, our 24 hour emergency line will be there to assist them. Our average call response time is just 34 minutes, so they will be back on the road and back to business as quickly as possible, meaning you don’t lose income or your customer’s trust.

We are able to provide such fast service due to our state-of-the-art software, which allows us to use your cell phone to locate you while our service providers remain on the phone with you, your employees or drivers. We handle over 70,000 calls every month while maintaining a high level of service and customer satisfaction. Our service providers will change a flat tire, replace fluids, deliver gasoline, or tow a car if necessary.

Even if your business experiences lots of turnover or you have different drivers in different cars on a daily basis, our commercial roadside assistance plans can still help. Our plans cover the vehicles in your fleet – not the specific drivers. So no matter who is behind the wheel, you’ll still receive service. And no matter what type of vehicle your drivers and employees use – from compact cars to box trucks – we cover them and provide the same quality service.

Commercial clients receive the same benefits and services our individual customers receive including travel discounts and coupons, discounted rates at national hotel chains, cruise lines, amusement parks and more. Your business will also receive discounted rates at national maintenance and repair chains such as Maaco, Meineke, Jiffy Lube, Aamco and more, so you can keep your fleet up and running for less money.

We customize each plan to a specific company’s needs, so you never pay for something you don’t need and you get the exact coverage you want. To get a free quote for your fleet, email us at info@bestroadside.com. Feel free to send us a list of your fleet vehicles you’d like covered to expedite the quote process.

We have covered all kinds of company fleets including hospitals, city and state entities, insurance agencies, rental car companies, food banks, tour companies, moving companies, animal rescue services and more. Nearly any business with company vehicles can benefit from an emergency roadside plan.

Keep your business investments and your employees safe by covering your fleet vehicles with Best Roadside Service.

Why Your Sunday Driver Needs Roadside Assistance

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The weather has finally cooled down and the leaves are starting to change. This is the time of year that many people start to take weekend drives to enjoy the scenery and cooler temperatures.

Your Sunday Driver Still Needs Roadside Assistance

Many people may even have a pleasure car that they only drive when the weather is nice or on the weekends or for special occasions. These so called “Sunday Drivers” usually don’t see a lot of miles – they may be antique or vintage cars or they might be sports cars that just aren’t efficient or practical  enough to drive every day. Whatever the case may be, many people choose not to purchase roadside assistance plans for these vehicles since they aren’t driven as often as their everyday car. But this oversight can lead to costly and aggravating headaches were something to happen during a beautiful afternoon drive through the country.

Here are just a few reasons why you should consider an emergency roadside plan for your Sunday Driver.

    1. The car is an older antique or vintage model.
      You love the fact that your car represents another place and time in automotive history, but its age also means that it may be more prone to breaking down or having mechanical issues. Nothing can ruin a Sunday Drive more than being stranded on a back road. With a company like Best Roadside Service, which has an average response time of 34 minutes, you’ll be back to cruising the open road as quickly as possible.

 

    1. You take your pleasure car for road trips.
      Many people use their pleasure car exclusively for road trips and travel. This can be a fun way to get from point A to point B, but being on the road for long periods of time can also make you more likely to experience roadside issues. Best Roadside Service plans provide 24-hour emergency roadside assistance whether you have a flat tire, run out of gas or experience a total breakdown.

 

    1. You like to stay active when you travel.
      If you’re traveling in your pleasure car, a roadside assistance plan can also give you access to travel coupons and discounts. At Best Roadside Service they even offer their members custom map routing and turn by turn directions through their 24 hour hotline. That way you’ll never get lost, and you’ll be able to afford and enjoy more when you get to your destination.

 

    1. You have other cars that need coverage.
      With Best Roadside Service, we give you two kinds of coverage options. You can purchase a plan that covers your vehicle, no matter who is driving it, or you can purchase a plan that covers you as an individual – no matter what vehicle you are driving. If you own a pleasure vehicle, an individual policy may be the best choice because you will still receive roadside assistance and all the benefits of the plan whether you’re driving your day-to-day car or your Sunday Driver. Individual plans are just $79.95 a year if you sign up online today!

 

  1. Your Sunday Driver needs frequent maintenance.
    If your Sunday Driver is an antique or older vehicle, it may need more maintenance than a newer vehicle. With Best Roadside Service, we offer discounted prices at national automotive repair shops including Jiffy Lube, Meineke, Maaco,  Aamco and more. These discounts can save you a lot of money on vehicles that need frequent repair or maintenance and can keep your pleasure car driving for many miles to come.

Having a pleasure car can be a fun way to spend weekends, vacations, and enjoy beautiful fall weather, but to truly enjoy your pleasure vehicle, make sure it’s covered with a roadside assistance plan that provides all these benefits and services so that you’re never left on the side of the road. Contact Best Roadside Service to order your plan today! 

 

The Top Five Tips for Traveling With Pets

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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.

5 tips for traveling with pets

 

  1. 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.
  2. 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.  
  3. 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.  
  4. 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.  
  5. 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. 

Give the Gift of Roadside Safety This Grandparent’s Day

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Give the Gift of Roadside Assistance this Grandparent's DayGrandparent’s Day became nationally recognized in 1979 when President Jimmy Carter signed a Presidential Proclamation to observe the Sunday after Labor Day as Grandparent’s Day.  On this day people are encouraged to celebrate their grandparents by spending time together, giving gifts and including grandparents in school or church activities. The goal of this special day is to help children appreciate their grandparents, to learn from them, to hear their stories and become closer. This year, Grandparent’s Day falls on Sunday, September 13th, 2015.

Grandparent’s Day Special

 

At Best Roadside Service, we’d like to help you celebrate Grandparent’s Day by offering a $10 or $15 discount on a gift membership for the grandparents in your life. If you sign up online today, you can save $10 on a vehicle coverage gift membership. This plan will cover a vehicle, no matter who is driving it and costs just $65 with the discount. This is a great gift for a grandmother and grandfather who often ride together or drive the same vehicle. You can also save $15 off an individual coverage plan, which covers an individual no matter what vehicle they are driving, which is great for the grandparent who often drives more than one vehicle. The discounted price for this plan is just $79.95.

An emergency roadside assistance plan makes a great gift for grandparents, and it’s something they will enjoy the benefit of all year long. The average age of a first-time grandparent in the United States is just 50 years old. That means grandparents are younger and more active than ever. Most are probably still driving, many are still working and commuting every day and nearly all will do some sort of vehicular travel this year.

However, as grandparents age it can become more and more difficult and dangerous for them to do some tasks, especially those related to a roadside emergency such as changing a flat tire. A Best Roadside Service plan can help in these risky situations. All of our plans come with our 24-hour emergency assistance hotline which is entirely operated in the United States. Our average response time is just 34 minutes, so we will get help to them fast and efficiently. Our plans cover flat tires, replacing fluids, up to three gallons of gas, locksmith service, towing, jump starts and more.

Nowadays, families in the US are often spread apart, and long car trips or travel may be required for grandparents to see their children and grandchildren. If the grandparent in your life travels often, a roadside assistance plan may be just what they need so you both can feel secure while they’re on the road.

And since grandparents are younger and more active than ever, many of them enjoy travel and activities, especially if they are retired. Best Roadside Service offers its members travel discounts, coupons, concierge service, custom map routing and even turn by turn directions from our emergency hotline in case they get lost. Additionally, members can enjoy benefits for auto services such as oil changes, tune ups and other mechanical services at national companies such as Jiffy Lube, Maaco, Meineke and more. So no matter where your grandparents live, they can use their benefits fully.

Grandparent’s Day is a wonderful way to celebrate the people in our lives that we care about. Show your grandparents how much you care about them and their safety by giving them the gift of Best Roadside Service so that they can continue to enjoy the travel and activities in their life with peace of mind.