Updated · Costs and coverage
How memberships work
A membership charges a yearly or monthly fee and covers a set list of services. Many plans limit how many calls you can make in a year, cap how far they'll tow, and offer different levels with different coverage. Some make new members wait a short period before the first call.
Read the fine print on what counts as a call and which vehicles are covered. Some plans follow the member into any car; others cover only a listed vehicle.
How pay-per-use works
With pay-per-use, there's no yearly fee and no account to keep up. You call when something goes wrong, hear the total for that job before anyone is sent, and pay for that visit only. There's no call limit and no waiting period, because there's nothing to sign up for.
Questions to ask yourself
The last question on this list surprises people. Check your policy and warranty papers before paying for the same coverage twice.
- How many times have you needed roadside help in the last few years?
- How old is your car, and what shape are its battery and tires in?
- Do you take long trips outside the metro, or drive mostly around town?
- Who else in your household drives?
- Do you already have roadside coverage through your car insurance, a new-car warranty or a credit card?
When each one makes sense
A membership can make sense for someone who drives long highway trips far from home, wants towing included, or has an older car that needs help often. Pay-per-use tends to fit drivers who rarely get stuck, drive newer cars mostly around the metro, or simply don't want another yearly bill.
Some drivers use both: a membership for road trips, and a local pay-per-use service once the yearly call limit runs out.
What to check with any provider
Whatever you choose, ask the same few questions.
For comparison, here's what we cover: jump starts, mobile battery replacement, lockouts, flat tire changes, tire repair and wheel-lock removal across Dallas–Fort Worth, 24/7. We don't tow or deliver fuel, so if those matter most to you, look for coverage that includes them.
- Which services are included, from jump starts and lockouts to tire help, towing and fuel
- Whether they serve the places you drive, day and night
- How the price is explained before help is sent
- What happens when the car needs more than roadside help