Warranties/Insurance
Emergency Road Service - Get the right plan
By by Jerry (RiverGuy) Brown
May 2, 2006, 19:40

Like any insurance plan, Emergency Road Service is an investment that you hope you'll never need. But if you spend much time on the road, sooner or later you'll have a breakdown. 

In my case, it happened on a steep mountain grade a hundred miles from the nearest service. A hose blew on the transmission cooler of my tow vehicle. After a couple of hours wait, a big tow truck hooked up my truck and towed it with the fifth wheel trailer still attached. I was glad I had extended coverage on my road service plan.

I was relieved to find out the next day that there was no damage to the transmission, so the repair bill was modest. The bad news: my road service plan covered my truck, but not my trailer. I owed $400 for that! I have since upgraded my emergency service to full RV coverage, but it was an expensive lesson.

Take the time to think about your needs and ensure that your emergency service plan will meet them. Here are a few questions to think about:
* Does your plan cover all vehicles that you normally travel with: motorhome, toad, trailer?
* Does it include a lodging allowance if you aren't able to stay in your RV?
* Are you covered in Canada or Mexico? Or if you are from Canada, are you covered in the US?
* Are you going to be on short trips near home or crossing the country?
* Does your plan have an upper limit? A deductible?
* What hoops do you have to jump through to get reimbursed if you have to pay cash for service?

Shop around. Match your plan to your needs and your budget, then drive with peace of mind.