Does MetLife have free towing?

Yes. MetLife offers rental car insurance. MetLife rental car insurance is usually included in a driver’s personal car insurance policy if the driver carries liability, comprehensive, or collision coverage and is driving in the U.S. Each policy is unique, though, and there may be certain exclusions based on your specific situation. It’s very important to confirm the details of your policy by calling customer service at 1 (800) 638-5433 before declining additional coverage at the rental counter.… read full answer

MetLife also offers rental car reimbursement, which helps pay for the cost of a rental car while your personal vehicle is being repaired for a covered claim. If you add rental reimbursement to your policy, your insurance company will pay a fixed amount per day toward the cost of your rental, up to a maximum per-claim limit. You select specific rental car reimbursement limits when you purchase the add-on. For example, if you choose $30 per day/$600 per loss as your rental reimbursement limits, MetLife will pay up to $30 per day, but no more than $600 per claim for your rental. MetLife's coverage also helps pay for rental income loss, claim handling expenses, and other costs imposed by the rental car company. Rental reimbursement coverage costs between $2 and $15 per month, on average, but you’ll need to call customer service to get a personalized quote and add this coverage to your policy.

MetLife Rental Car Insurance Coverage Limits

The same MetLife coverage limits that apply to your personal vehicle will also apply to a rental car. If you only carry liability insurance, MetLife will pay for the other driver’s injuries and property damage after an at-fault accident—but not physical damage to the rental. You need a full-coverage policy to have damage to the rental car covered by your insurer.

If you rent a car similar in value to your personal vehicle, you probably have enough insurance. But if your personal vehicle is a 15-year-old sedan and you decide to rent a 2021 luxury car, you should look into extra coverage. That’s because the limits you’ve chosen for your personal policy may not be sufficient to cover damage to a more expensive rental car.

One option to make up for insufficient coverage when renting a car is to get a collision damage waiver (CDW) from the rental counter, which leaves the rental company responsible if the car is damaged, vandalized, or stolen. In addition to a CDW, rental car companies offer a few other types of insurance if you don’t have enough coverage with your MetLife policy. These include supplemental liability protection, personal accident insurance, and personal effects coverage.

The insurance offered by the rental company often duplicates coverage drivers already have through health, life, and auto insurance. You may also have rental insurance from your credit card company, which is nullified if you purchase the rental company’s coverage.

Car insurance does not cover towing if you have a liability-only policy, but it might if you have full coverage. Many full coverage car insurance policies will reimburse drivers for towing that results from a collision, but won’t cover towing due to a mechanical issue or breakdown.

Some full coverage policies only cover towing if you pay extra for … read full answerroadside assistance, though. Sometimes called towing and labor coverage, roadside assistance is usually an easy and affordable add-on. You can add it to your policy for around $5 to $15 per car, per month.

Because towing coverage varies so much from policy to policy, it’s important to know exactly what is covered by speaking to your insurer directly. When purchased as an add-on, towing coverage typically includes:

• Towing (up to a certain distance, in most cases)
• Flat-tire changes
• Jumpstarts and battery replacements
• Fuel delivery if you run out of gas
• Locksmith services

If you don’t have towing and labor coverage as part of your car insurance, you could also consider purchasing roadside assistance from a third-party, like AAA. Third-party providers offer the same roadside services you would get by adding on to your insurance policy, but some have extra perks. AAA, for example, offers free trip-planning tools, identity theft monitoring, and thousands of shopping, entertainment, and dining discounts.

AAA roadside assistance is worth it if a driver has multiple cars, an older car, or a car with frequent mechanical problems. AAA roadside assistance might also be worth it if a driver plans to make frequent use of AAA discounts or wants extensive roadside coverage.

AAA ranked 14th out of 22 companies in WalletHub’s analysis of 2021’s … read full answerBest Roadside Assistance. The biggest drawback is that AAA received an F from the Better Business Bureau due to a large number of unresolved customer complaints. However, AAA does offer above-average protection for a reasonable price.

Drivers can choose between three different levels of AAA roadside assistance, but they all include the same base services.

AAA Roadside Assistance Benefits

• Towing
• Locksmith services
• Tire changes
• Battery changes and jump starts
• Stuck vehicle services
• Fuel assistance
• Bicycle coverage

Other AAA benefits include trip planning services like maps and guides. AAA also provides miscellaneous discounts and perks, including hotel and rental car discounts, free or discounted passport photos, legal defense insurance, and identity theft monitoring.

The details of AAA’s services depend on the level of coverage that you choose. Prices also vary by location, just like with car insurance premiums, and some regions have a one-time enrollment fee of around $10-$15. Drivers can add family members to their plan for an additional fee, often ranging from $30 to $65 per year.

AAA Roadside Assistance Plans

AAA Basic and Plus members who are in a collision up to 100 miles from home qualify for the trip interruption benefit, while Premier members can receive the benefit for a wider variety of reasons. Basic and Plus memberships also include daily credit monitoring, lost wallet assistance, and bicycle assistance up to the plan’s towing limits. Premier members receive these perks, too, as well as $10,000 in identity theft insurance and coverage for motorcycles, RVs, and trailers.

Alternatives to AAA Roadside Assistance

The top alternatives to AAA roadside assistance are your car insurance provider, your cell phone company, and competitor auto clubs.

Car Insurance Provider

Adding roadside assistance to your car insurance policy is usually cheaper than purchasing a AAA plan. However, using it – especially more than once or twice a year – might cause your premium to increase, since it can be treated as a claim. That makes AAA a good option if you can’t afford for your premium to rise.

Cell Phone Company

Cell phone companies like Verizon and AT&T offer cheap roadside assistance for their customers. In general, these plans cost $3 a month and cover four incidents per year. Verizon and AT&T roadside assistance plans cover towing, fuel delivery, flat tire changes, lockout services, and dead batteries. Verizon also includes winching. If the coverage options are enough for you, these plans can be a good value.

Credit Card

Many rewards credit cards offer roadside assistance benefits, but they usually involve a flat fee for each service call rather than a subscription model like AAA.

AAA Competitors

AAA competitors like Allstate Motor Club and Good Sam sell similar roadside assistance subscription services.

It’s worth noting that some providers, including AAA, might charge a small one-time enrollment fee in addition to the annual price. However, these fees vary by state and are sometimes waived.

New-Car Roadside Assistance Plans

Drivers with newer cars might not need AAA if their car warranty includes roadside assistance. If roadside assistance is not included, drivers might be able to purchase it separately at the dealership. Most plans will cover the car for 2-5 years or up to a certain mileage limit.

Bottom Line: Is AAA Roadside Assistance Worth It

Yes, AAA roadside assistance is worth it for the average driver. Whether AAA roadside assistance is worth it for you depends on how much coverage you need and how much it costs in your state. The added perks and discounts are worth considering, too, though these bonuses will not cover the cost of membership for every driver. You can join AAA by applying online on their website or in person by visiting your local AAA branch.