Recently, my insurance carrier, Geico General Auto Insurance removed my towing coverage due to excessive tows in a 12 month period. This was a foolish move by Geico, which almost lost a customer that pays nearly $10,000 a year for insurance coverage. We needed some emergency road service, so we called up the supposed leader in emergency roadside assistance, AAA, The Automobile Association of America.

While Geico offered towing free as long as we were policy holders, that free towing was limited to 3 tows per year. After the 3 tows, Geico could choose to drop your towing coverage, or force you to pay $200 more to cover another 3 tows. $200 is a ridiculous fee, so we opted to look elsewhere. AAA offered 3 tows at a much more reasonable price. 3 tows within 12 months, for only $89.95, for up to 4 different vehicles.

When I used Geico towing, the phone representatives seemed clueless when it came to general knowledge about cars. Most people could not even answer a simple question that may have prevented getting towed, and saving a tow for a more needed time. All in all, it was probably Geico's incompetency that cost me my towing priveleges.

I got no further help with AAA representatives. I explained to one woman on the phone that I did not need a tow truck dispatched, I just needed a spare tire, and I was willing to pay for it. She told me a guy would be on his way in 30-45 minutes with a new tire and rim for me. When the guy arrived from AAA, he came in a Flatbed tow truck, and was not informed that all I needed was a new tire and rim. That call cost me my 2nd tow, at the time.

My final free tow for my 12 months with AAA came just recently. My car broke down in what's known as a really bad neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. I was equipped with my cellular phone, and instantly called AAA for assistance. I'm not sure how AAA runs their emergency call center, but they seem not to realize the obvious. THIS CALL IS AN EMERGENCY". My call was of the utmost importance, but instead I waited almost 20 minutes to speak to someone, before a tow truck was dispatched.

With AAA, you may pay the price, for paying a lesser price. Although Geico phone representatives are mindless, you can reach them instantly, and a tow truck can be at your disposal in about 15 minutes less than that of an AAA tow. There is no excuse for waiting for your emergency to be handled.


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