vB Easy Archive - Cost of Towing

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Cost of Towing
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Posted by: SuperCM

Anyone here a tow truck driver or knows a tow truck driver? I'm trying to figure out on average how much it is to tow a car 1 kilometre. Right now I'm trying to decide if I should stay with Bell Mobility Roadside Assistance, which works out to $69 per year or if I should join the Canadian Automobile Association. There's already someone in the household with a primary membership, so my secondary one would only cost $35.31 per year.

Now, the big differences I'm able to see between the two is as follows...

CAA - 4 Calls Per Year
Bell - 5 Calls Per Year

CAA - Gas Delivery
Bell - Gas and Delivery

CAA - 10km of towing
Bell - $50 of towing

...so the question I have first is how much is towing per kilometre? Is 10km more, equal, or less than $50 worth of towing? Also, with CAA it says in their brochure:

"Primary and Associate Members are entitled to four (4) Emergency Road Service calls during a Membership year."

Meaning EACH member gets 4 calls each or the whole account gets 4 calls ALTOGETHER?

What do some of you use? CAA (or AAA for you Yanks) or whatever your wireless provider has or none at all?

Posted by: The Rex

i use none

but, w/ wireless, i believe the phone has to be there, whereas w/ caa it has to be the vehicle you've got listed w/ them -ie, you could be out in your friend's car and your wireless RSA plan would still be good

Posted by: B0000rt

The CAA regular membership sucks, 10kms? Thta's like nothing, you gotta get the CAA Plus, 200km tows. You get membership discounts when you pump at Sunoco too, 5% goes towards reducing membership costs.

Posted by: OCZ

CAA+Bell Sucks...I have GM Roadside Assistance!

Posted by: SuperCM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B0000rt

The CAA regular membership sucks, 10kms? Thta's like nothing, you gotta get the CAA Plus, 200km tows. You get membership discounts when you pump at Sunoco too, 5% goes towards reducing membership costs.

CAA Plus also costs $99.51 for the Primary and $70.52 for Secondary though.

Posted by: SuperCM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cellphonefreak

CAA+Bell Sucks...I have GM Roadside Assistance!

What are their prices and specs?

Posted by: SuperCM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Rex

i use none

but, w/ wireless, i believe the phone has to be there, whereas w/ caa it has to be the vehicle you've got listed w/ them -ie, you could be out in your friend's car and your wireless RSA plan would still be good

They've changed it around, coverage now follows the card - i.e. you.

Posted by: chrix

With CAA, it's mostly contractors who will tow you. If say you are the CAA member and your parents need a tow, you can just call in the tow for them... When the contractors get there.. they won't even ask for the card

If you got a big family with many cars, you can't go wrong with CAA Plus. Just 1 50KM tow will break even for you... and you get 3 (or is it 4?)

Posted by: SuperCM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrix

If you got a big family with many cars, you can't go wrong with CAA Plus. Just 1 50KM tow will break even for you... and you get 3 (or is it 4?)

If you're saying one 50km tow will break-even, then you're saying it's about $2/km to tow?
Therefore, if I get $50, then I get 25km worth.

Posted by: hotch

AAA Plus and I love it!!!

Posted by: chrix

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperCM

If you're saying one 50km tow will break-even, then you're saying it's about $2/km to tow?
Therefore, if I get $50, then I get 25km worth.

ok it's usually $50 for first 10KM then $1.5-$2 for each KM extra

Posted by: Craigger

I had my moms car towed to the shop once. it was free for the first 10 km and 4.25 or somthing like that after.

CAA btw

Posted by: chrix

woha $4.25..

Posted by: OCZ

GM Roadside is ONLY available if u OWN a GM car being BRAND NEW or Optimum used!

Posted by: B0000rt

Canadian Tire also has their own, I believe.

Posted by: OCZ

Wal-Mart does have one as well...go into their auto centre and grab the brochure!

Posted by: chrix

Quote:

Originally Posted by cellphonefreak

CAA+Bell Sucks...I have GM Roadside Assistance!

what's so good about GM roadside assistance? may I ask?

Posted by: OCZ

nothing...u get it free with a new car if u choose it!

Posted by: chrix

yes thats why I was having problem understanding why CAA+Bell sucks...

I mean...if you compare manufacturer roadside assistance programs.. GM is way down there.

Posted by: OCZ

no it dosent...if u get into an accident...you get free towing...it is $45 if u let the cop call a police authorized partner...

free gas delivery, free jump start, free tire delivery but u pay for the tire! duh!, free oil change but u pay for the oil...

and it is everywhere in Canada and USA..so if u buy a car in Toronto and u drive it to LA, you will be covered! and vice versa!

Posted by: rip

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperCM

What are their prices and specs?

I have both CAA PLus and GM Roadside free with length of warranty plus OnStar. CAA pays for itself through partnership with Sunoco.

http://www.competitionchev.ab.ca/ro...d_benefits.html

Benefits
Even high-quality design and engineering can't prevent occasional problems. That's why we created GM Roadside Assistance.

GM Roadside Assistance is an important added benefit of ownership. It's complimentary for the full term of your new vehicle limited warranty. But when your Total Warranty expires, so does your link to help in case you need it.

To make sure you stay protected - night and day, year round - sign up for GM Roadside Assistance today.

Roadside Assistance includes:

Emergency Towing
Lockout Service
Flat Tire Change
Jump-Start Service
Emergency Fuel Service
Trip Interruption Expense Assistance
Trip Routing Service
Alternate Service
Towing and Road Service Exclusions
Emergency Towing

If your vehicle is disabled for any reason, including an accident, Roadside Assistance will provide complimentary towing to the nearest authorized GM dealership, to a maximum of 50 kilometres. If there is no authorized GM dealership within 50 kilometres, your advisor may provide alternative arrangements. For security reasons, we cannot provide towing service for unattended vehicles.

Lockout Service

If you're locked out, Roadside Assistance will help get you back in your vehicle and back on the road. If you can't get into or start your vehicle because your key is lost, broken or locked inside your vehicle, Roadside Assistance will dispatch assistance or arrange to have the vehicle taken to the nearest authorized GM dealership. Or, if you first call Roadside Assistance for authorization, we'll reimburse you for locksmith services.

Maximum coverage for lockout services is $100. An original receipt is required for reimbursement. To ensure security, the driver must present the vehicle registration and personal identification before lockout service is provided.

Flat Tire Change

Flat tire? If you can supply an inflated spare in good condition, Roadside Assistance will send someone to change it for you.

Jump-Start Service

Dead battery? Whatever the reason, your Roadside Assistance coverage means that someone will be on hand to give you a jump-start.

Emergency Fuel Service

Miles from anywhere and out of gas? We'll arrive with enough to get you on your way (approximately 10 litres). Both service and gas are complimentary.

Trip Interruption Expense Assistance

If your vehicle is disabled, the problem is warranty related and you are over 250 kilometres from your point of departure, you may qualify for trip interruption expense assistance. Expense assistance covers reimbursement for meals (maximum of $50 per day), lodging (maximum of $100 per night) and alternate transportation (maximum of $40 per day). There is a $500 maximum per occurrence. Trip interruption expense assistance is intended to help you meet some of the unplanned expenses that you may incur while you are waiting for your vehicle to be repaired.

To claim trip interruption expenses, you must first call Roadside Assistance for pre-authorization, and you must submit original detailed receipts. Your Roadside Assistance advisor will help you make any necessary arrangements and explain how to claim trip interruption expenses.

This Roadside Assistance benefit covers the vehicle operator, regardless of ownership, and is in effect for the duration of the new vehicle limited warranty. (Commencing with 1993 models, Roadside Assistance coverage applies to light trucks [1500 through 3500 series] and passenger vehicles sold in Canada (except where other Roadside programs already exists). A person driving the vehicle without the consent of the owner is not eligible for coverage. The Roadside Assistance Centre reserves the right to limit services or reimbursements to an owner or driver when, in the advisor's judgement, the claims become excessive in frequency or type.

Trip Routing Service

If you're planning a road trip, call Roadside Assistance. We'll send you detailed, computer-personalized maps highlighting your choice of either the most direct route or the most scenic route to a destination anywhere in North America. We'll also send any helpful travel information we may have pertaining to your trip.

To request this service, please call us toll free at 1-800-268-6800. We'll make every attempt to send your materials as quickly as possible, but it's best to allow three weeks before your planned departure date. Trip routing requests are limited to six per calendar year.

Alternate Service

Your Roadside Assistance service call is on us. However, if we cannot provide timely assistance (for instance, because of extreme weather conditions), your advisor may authorize you to secure local emergency road service, and you will be reimbursed up to $100 when you submit the original receipt to GM Roadside service.

Towing and Road Service Exclusions

Specifically excluded from Roadside Assistance coverage are towing or services for vehicles operated off-road, fines, impound towing caused by violation of local, municipal, provincial or federal law and mounting, dismounting or changing of snow tires, chains or other traction devices.

GM Roadside Assistance

24-Hour Toll-Free GM Roadside Assistance Hotline

Overview | Benefits | Hotline

Posted by: chrix

Quote:

Originally Posted by cellphonefreak

no it dosent...if u get into an accident...you get free towing...it is $45 if u let the cop call a police authorized partner...

free gas delivery, free jump start, free tire delivery but u pay for the tire! duh!, free oil change but u pay for the oil...

and it is everywhere in Canada and USA..so if u buy a car in Toronto and u drive it to LA, you will be covered! and vice versa!

If you will take some time to compare GM's roadside assistance to say, Toyota...anyways, I just want to say CAA Plus is worth it if you have lots of cars in the family, doesn't matter if they are brand new or not, because

- with CAA, YOU choose where you tow your car to.
i.e. What's the point of towing your car to the [nearest] dealer because you got a dead starter? or because you got got into an accident? Either way you're going to pay out of your pocket, and dealers are quite good at squeezing more money out.

- with CAA, the membership benefits follows you, not the car. so when you ride in someone's car (say for a road trip) and the car happens to break down, you know you are covered. 200km is quite alot of towing.

Posted by: OCZ

I dont drive a toyota...or nissan...so I dont know....I know CAA+GM+Wal-Mart...

I also heard that Sears has a Roadside too! check them out!

Posted by: SuperCM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rip

I have both CAA PLus and GM Roadside free with length of warranty plus OnStar. CAA pays for itself through partnership with Sunoco.

Hrm... CAA, eh?

Posted by: rip

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperCM

Hrm... CAA, eh?

Might as well, if you drive from waaaaay over there to STC...it'll pay for itself and plus you get cleaner gas and don't pollute the air too much

Posted by: SuperCM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rip

Might as well, if you drive from waaaaay over there to STC...it'll pay for itself and plus you get cleaner gas and don't pollute the air too much

I already use Pioneer Gas, which also uses ethanol blended fuel.

Posted by: rip

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperCM

I already use Pioneer Gas, which also uses ethanol blended fuel.

No perks? but the Sunoco will pay for your CAA, which you or a friend may need during the winter especially with the long haul you have to do....just a foresight.

Posted by: Rev. Voodoo

AAA and CAA are reciprocal.....they will take care of ya in either country. Found out by experience. if there are no service centres in the area u can call the 1-800 # and they'll arrange a tow and reimburse. I have AAA plus or gold or whatev...mor ethan worth it.

Posted by: bembol

After getting my ride towed twice...had issues with the Charging System in my Acura RSX...paid $70 & $100 for the tows

I signed up with CAA Plus...membership need 10 days before use.

Hopefully I won't have to use it. I use Sunoco so that's a plus.

Posted by: Rev. Voodoo

CAA membership need 10 days before use? wow...AAA u can call and order it on the phone right when u need that tow! I've done that twice!

Posted by: B0000rt

Yeah, thank god I had my dad's CAA Plus card on me

Imagine you're driving home from school at 10pm, and all of a sudden steam starts coming thru your vents, you open the window, turn off the Vents and it's still coming out, you keep driving on the 401 and your whole front windshield starts to fog up in the steam, so you turn your vents back on for windshield defog.

5minutes later as your windshield is defogged, you notice your water temp slowly creep past the 1/4 mark of the dial. You go and turn the vents back on to full blast and hot, but no heat comes out, Wuh oh! Water temp keeps rising, and hits the red mark

All this happened, not to mention I had to piss really bad too. So yeah, that's my story of releaving myself on the 401 Express in the driving lane shoulder, at 10pm on a rainy fall night

CAA guy came pretty quick (in less than 10mins as the lady told me I was high risk for an accident) and got a new blockheater the next day

Posted by: chrix

Quote:

Originally Posted by bembol

After getting my ride towed twice...had issues with the Charging System in my Acura RSX...paid $70 & $100 for the tows

I signed up with CAA Plus...membership need 10 days before use.

Hopefully I won't have to use it. I use Sunoco so that's a plus.

It's 7 days, and I did sign up and call a tow right after 7 days, lol

Posted by: plastikman

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrix

With CAA, it's mostly contractors who will tow you. If say you are the CAA member and your parents need a tow, you can just call in the tow for them... When the contractors get there.. they won't even ask for the card

If you got a big family with many cars, you can't go wrong with CAA Plus. Just 1 50KM tow will break even for you... and you get 3 (or is it 4?)

most definitely...i have rarely had a contractor ask for a caa card...caa plus has always worked for me (9 years and counting...)...and its great if you're into rebuildign cars, cause CAA doesn't make a distinction between an already broken a** car and a car that just happened to break down in a freak incident...

Posted by: b_rad94

I just used my caa for the first time ever because im a dumb *** and forgot my lights on..

you need the card there when they arrive or they wont help you..
but I dunno I like caa there good stuff..

Posted by: SuperCM

I got a reply from CAA that cost of towing is $2.25/km. I dumped Bell Mobility's Roadside Assistance and joined CAA as an Associate Member - $35.21 for a year of Basic.