General roadside assistance?

[lewellen]

Hi, folks,

Thinking about roadside assistance plans ...

Is there a plan that offers good service for cars and bikes, including emergency medical transport?

Cali AAA, for instance, offers up to $25k in emergency medical transportation, but doesn't offer motorcycle towing.

Paragon covers bikes as well as cars for towing, but the ambulance reimbursement is limited to $100 according to their website.

While this is something I hope I would never have to use ... it pays to think ahead of time.

Thoughts / comments / suggestions?

Good roads,

- Lewellen

[enderw88]

Check with Cali AAA for the "RV" membership. It is more expensive but offers RV towing and they consider motorcycles to be RVs. I haven't had to use it for my bike, but it saved my bacon in my SuperStalker a few months ago...

Craig
2008 BruntonSuperStalker
1989 BMW K75
Tucson, AZ

[lewellen]

Hi, Craig,

The main problem with AAA is that they're actually a state-by-state, rather than truly national organization, so the coverage can vary tremendously.

For instance, in California, motorcycles are definitely not covered, no-way, no-how (from the website); but they have a pretty high level of coverage for emergency transport from an accident scene, if you get their premium policy.

In Illinois, if you get the RV addendum, as you noted, it covers motorcycles; but there's little to be found on the accident transport, etc.

In my case, I spend a lot of time in CA but am still "officially" an IL resident, so that's the one I went with.

Good roads,

- Lewellen

[USMCDad]

The main problem with AAA is that they're actually a state-by-state, rather than truly national organization, so the coverage can vary tremendously.

For instance, in California, motorcycles are definitely not covered, no-way, no-how (from the website); but they have a pretty high level of coverage for emergency transport from an accident scene, if you get their premium policy.

Your post got me concerned that I don't have the coverage I think I do (I have the "RV" roadside assistance option on my AAA membership). This (below) is what I get from AAA's web site: Yes, motorcycles are covered, and yes, coverage is for all of US and Canada. As I recall, upgrading to "RV" coverage didn't cost much ... around $27/yr or something like that.

Did you find something indicating differently? Pls advise.

Thanks. Dad

From the AAA web site:
"Applies to RVs, recreational trailers or motorcycles you own, borrow or rent.
Benefits extend across the U.S. and Canada."

http://www.aaa-calif.com/auto/maintain/rvtow.aspx

[lewellen]

This is what I found on the site under the emergency roadside assistance tab:

http://www.csaa.com/portal/site/CSAA/me ... 72a8c0RCRD

• Motor homes, cab-over campers, tent trailers, recreational trailers and trailers transporting a boat, jet ski(s) or snowmobile(s) are eligible for ERS, including towing up to $200 provided that they can be serviced safely and legally with the equipment available.
• Motorcycles and scooters are not eligible for towing or battery jumps.

Since towing and battery jumps are two of the top three things I'd worry about....

So ... I don't know. I can't find the text you quoted (or anything about the RV extra coverage, for that matter) on the CaliAA website.

For the moment, I decided to go with the Illinois coverage (in large part because I have a truck there) and am still covered by BMW's roadside assistance for another couple of years.

Good roads,

- Lewellen

[USMCDad]

This is what I found on the site under the emergency roadside assistance tab:

http://www.csaa.com/portal/site/CSAA/me ... 72a8c0RCRD

• Motor homes, cab-over campers, tent trailers, recreational trailers and trailers transporting a boat, jet ski(s) or snowmobile(s) are eligible for ERS, including towing up to $200 provided that they can be serviced safely and legally with the equipment available.
• Motorcycles and scooters are not eligible for towing or battery jumps.

Since towing and battery jumps are two of the top three things I'd worry about....

So ... I don't know. I can't find the text you quoted (or anything about the RV extra coverage, for that matter) on the CaliAA website.

Interesting. Your url is for the "California State Automobile Association(CSAA)" which covers No Cal, Nevada, and Utah. Looking around their web site, I found that the No Cal and Nevada members don't have a motorcycle roadside assistance membership option, but the Utah members do ... same club, different states. At the higher levels of membership in the No Cal and Nevada regions, you can get RV roadside assistance but not motorcycle roadside assistance for any level of membership. The url I gave is for the So Cal AAA (I live in San Diego), which also has a RV/motorcycle roadside assistance membership option. As you pointed out in your previous post, the national AAA is a group of regional clubs. I didn't realize the regional clubs were so independent and offered different membership packages, even within the same club for different states. Good to know. Thanks. Dad

[Dan-A]

Hi, folks,

Thinking about roadside assistance plans ...

Is there a plan that offers good service for cars and bikes, including emergency medical transport?

Cali AAA, for instance, offers up to $25k in emergency medical transportation, but doesn't offer motorcycle towing.

Paragon covers bikes as well as cars for towing, but the ambulance reimbursement is limited to $100 according to their website.

While this is something I hope I would never have to use ... it pays to think ahead of time.

Thoughts / comments / suggestions?

Good roads,

- Lewellen

I had a pretty bad experience with AAA. I cannot say if this is typical or not. I broke down in death valley with my truck, towing a trailer (last January's Death Valley Daze). I had to get a ride back to furnace creek to get a phone. It took 3 hours on the phone, I am not making this up, for them to finally send me a tow truck. Once they dispatched a truck, it was only 30 minutes, but they were so inept, and I was so angry, I cannot even express it.

The issue was that DV is between Northern and Southern CA, two separate organizations, so they kept passing the buck. I also suspect they might have owed money to contract tow companys in the area, maybe they were paying slowly, so had trouble getting one to respond.

Once that CF was over, then came the bad news. My "plus" towing package would cover 100 miles, and it was 133 miles to Ridgecrest. The 33 additional miles could be had for $5.50 per mile. Wait, there's more. The trailer is not covered unless you have the RV package (something I should have known). This was not well explained by the driver so you can imagine my surprise when I was asked for $5.50 per mile from point of origin for the trailer, and another $5.50 per mile for the 33 mile overage for the truck.

I told the driver he could park my trailer back at Furnace Creek and I would pick it up there before I would pay $731.00 for towing it. The tow company does not care that they were making the trip anyway. The compromise was $11.00 per mile for the 33 mile overage.

I do not blame AAA for the extra 2 days in Ridgecrest. I blame that one on myself for being dumb enough to buy a Ford, especially one with a 6.0 litre diesel. Fortunately the truck was just barely still under warranty so the fuel pump and 3 injectors it killed when it failed were only $100.00, and the Ford dealer in RIdgecrest deserves kudos for getting me out of there quickly and fairly.

Progressive Insurance offers motorcycle towing with their insurance as AAA does not tow motorcycles. It is cheap, but I have not yet tried to use it (thankfully).

I think BMW's are covered for towing while under warranty.

Moral of the story, if you get AAA, get plus if you travel, and RV coverage if you tow, or something else better if it exists.

I hope this helps.

Besides that, I actually had a great trip!


more pics at: http://gallery.me.com/dan.albertson#100268

[NeilS]

The problem with AAA is that most of their business is with cars, so chances are the contractor who shows up has never handled a motorcycle before. I'd really rather not have him learn on my bike.

The roadside assistance service previously run by the Honda club got good marks in that regard. But they would only service Hondas, which doesn't do this group much good. And they don't offer it anymore anyway.

Right now I have the MoTow service offered as an "upgrade" to my AMA membership. They will provide service to all your bikes anywhere in the USA. I haven't had the need to use them, however, so I can't rate their services. AMA membership is $39 a year and the MoTow service adds another $25.

[deilenberger]

I sort of used MoTow..

Had a blowout on the NJ Turnpike. Called MoTow from the side of the road after unclenching my ass from the seat. An immediate problem - common with all towing - the lookup for a tow service is done by town. On the NJ Turnpike - you have no clue of the town - just the mile marker. Finally using my GPS - narrowed it down to a town within about 5 miles of my location. A secondary problem popped up - the NJTP has closed towing. Meaning certain tow companies have an exclusive contract to do towing on the highway - and no other company can come on. (Think NJ - think payoffs - I think you have the idea..)

So - they couldn't call me a tow, but they said have the tow done, and then call this number for paying the bill, and they gave me a phone number and a case number. I finally called 911 - got the NJ State Police to send out the "designated" tow truck.. who had no clue how to handle a bike, I had to teach him. Turns out the designated tow will ONLY take you to their yard. No options like a dealer, or garage - in this case they dumped me in a wrecking yard with the tow company running out of a trailer in the back of the yard.

When I got there - they wanted payment. I gave them the case # and the MoTow phone number - and MoTow paid the tow via a credit card. Worked very nicely. I then called a friend with a shop and he drove down and picked me and the bike up (about 75 miles or so.. figure 150 round trip.) The next day (a Monday) I called MoTow about reimbursing my friend. They said if I had a bill, they could pay it. I asked my friend to bill me - $1.50/mile, he did, they sent him a check.

So - they paid out just fine, no complaints. Given that experience, I've reupped the coverage every year since then - even when I have BMW's Roadside Assistance. Better safe than sorry.

[Bill Stevenson]

When my battery failed, I called the BMW assistance people and was well taken care of. During the ride in the truck, the driver said that the best roadside assistance insurance in Florida is provided by Allstate. AAA is the worst according to him. Slow pay, don't pay the full invoice, poor communication etc. I have had AAA for cars since 1973 and have rarely needed it, but they have never let me down. They do not cover motorcycles here in Florida though. Based on my one experience with the BMW plan it will be renewed when the time comes.

Bill

[awagnon]

The KOA roadside assistance has a good plan according to a number of posts on other forums. I have them for my cars, motorcycles and popup camper, but have not actually used their service yet. ( Knocking on wood. )

[famousperson]

There is a nationwide outfit called Good Sam Club that covers RVs + ANY other vehicles you may own, including motorcycles. http://www.goodsamers.com/benefits.cfm First year = 79.95, subsequently $109.95./year.

[daveyator]

I have Progressive. The Harley I had needed to be towed twice and for the same thing no less. Once was over 80mi to the nearest dealer. Thats the only wrinkle. They'll tow it any distance but it has to be to an authorized dealer...and they have to be open. Since it was a monday most harley dealers were closed except one. Relatively cheap insurance for me anyhow. Hadn't considered the medical thing though.