| It can be frustrating to have your car break down on | | | | company to company, but towing service can often |
| the highway. Few people will stop to offer help to | | | | be had for as little as $10 per year. |
| disabled drivers. You may not have a cell phone with | | | | AAA - The American Automobile Association includes |
| you, so you'll have to walk to find help. And even if you | | | | roadside assistance as part of their basic annual |
| do have a phone with you, how likely are you to know | | | | membership. The cost varies, but typically runs |
| the number of a nearby towing service? All of these | | | | between $40 and $80 per year. The services they |
| things combine to make a bad situation worse. A good | | | | offer are not limited to towing; gasoline, repair of flat |
| solution, particularly if you spend a lot of time driving, is | | | | tires and even locksmith services are available should |
| to pay for a roadside assistance plan. | | | | you lock yourself out of your car or run out of gas. |
| A roadside assistance plan is a form of insurance. You | | | | AARP - The American Association of Retired |
| pay for the service from a variety of sources; you | | | | Persons offers a roadside assistance plan for |
| might even buy it from your car insurance company. | | | | members. The cost is similar to that of an AAA |
| The annual fee that generally costs less than the cost | | | | membership, and you must be at least 50 years of |
| of a single tow can be quite a bargain should you be | | | | age to join. |
| unlucky enough to have a breakdown as the cost of | | | | If you spend enough time driving, you will eventually |
| towing a car even a short distance can easily amount | | | | have a breakdown while on the road. It isn't just the |
| to $100 or more. If you live in a rural area where | | | | province of defective auto lemons; it eventually |
| services are not readily available, roadside assistance | | | | happens to all cars. It would be nice if everyone could |
| could save you several hundred dollars on just a single | | | | plan when and where to have a breakdown, but that |
| breakdown. | | | | just isn't possible. It is, however, possible to be prepared |
| Here are a few sources you might consider for buying | | | | for those types of emergencies. A roadside |
| a roadside assistance plan: | | | | assistance plan is an inexpensive way to make sure |
| Your car insurance company - Most provide basic | | | | that you and your car can be towed to safety in case |
| towing services for a small annual fee added to the | | | | of a roadside emergency. |
| cost of your regular premium. Rates vary from | | | | |