Hagerty Roadside Assistance

Jim Staruk

Jim Staruk

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Has anyone ever used the Hagerty Roadside Assistance program? I'm wondering if it's worth $50 for:
Guaranteed flatbed with soft straps (no hooks or chains) 50 mile max
Dispatch operators who understand and care about classic cars
24 hours a day, 7 days a week coverage in U.S. and Canada
Dispatch for lockouts, battery jumps, tire changes & emergency fuel delivery

Jim
 
Jim Staruk said:
Has anyone ever used the Hagerty Roadside Assistance program? I'm wondering if it's worth $50 for:
Guaranteed flatbed with soft straps (no hooks or chains) 50 mile max
Dispatch operators who understand and care about classic cars
24 hours a day, 7 days a week coverage in U.S. and Canada
Dispatch for lockouts, battery jumps, tire changes & emergency fuel delivery

Jim
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I am a subscriber of this service. Knock on wood I haven't needed it. But the piece of mind is nice.
 
I have it. The nice thing is it covers your non-classic cars. I used when our Expedition conked out in the boonies. No hassle and prompt service even in the middle of nowhere on a Sunday.

Jon
 
I am a subscriber to this service, and sadly I have had to use it, not just once but several times. Well worth the money. In fact, I pay extra for the top tier of their roadside service plan. They do make a point of only sending out flatbed trucks, but don't believe the claim that they only send out operators who know and care about antique cars. When you call and state your location, they just go thru their computerized phone book and send out whoever is local. I can completely understand and I'm not objecting, but they don't send out a specialty service like they make it sound.
 
Patrick J. Martin said:
They do make a point of only sending out flatbed trucks, but don't believe the claim that they only send out operators who know and care about antique cars. When you call and state your location, they just go thru their computerized phone book and send out whoever is local. I can completely understand and I'm not objecting, but they don't send out a specialty service like they make it sound.
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I would agree with that part of Patrick's comment. I had Hagerty and used them once for the Lotus. Joe Anybody showed up with his flatbed and towed it to the shop. They did use chains and hooks, except where it attached to the car. A week later I picked it up, and it had its first ever, and still only, paint chip on the body. The shop blamed the tower, and the tower blamed the shop. Given the location of the chip and experience with the shop specializing in classic British cars, I'm thinking it was the tower.
 
As someone who is in the towing business and deals extensively in high end cars, may I offer some advice? BEFORE the tow operator loads the car, do a walk around the car with him noting any pre-existing damage if any. If at all possible, be at the destination and do a walk around again. This protects you, the tow operator and the repair shop. Ive seen too many times where there is existing damage and just because the car was on a tow truck, it had to have been the tow drivers fault. Im not saying we are all perfect, "stuff" happens, and if my company is responsible for damage, we take care of it, but we arent going to pay for something that was already there. Its just best to point things out BEFORE you load the car on the truck.
 
Rick, around here, towers require it. At least those sent out to me by Hagerty and AAA do. They have a form we both sign marking any issues. And you do bring up a good point I learned the hard way - "be at the destination and do a walk around again." If I ever need a tow in the future, I am definitely going to!
 
I have been with Hagerty and have their Roadside Assistance for years. I have been very pleased with everything. I've used the roadside assistance a few times, even with a procar, NO PROBLEMS at all! I highly recommend Hagerty and the Roadside Assistance.
 
Pleased

When I first had this feature, it was lousy. Getting an answer on a Saturday was tough. That was over 10 yrs ago. Since, they've been very good to me. Luckily the last few problems were solved before they got on-scene and I cancelled them. I must comment since we're on this topic: Last fall I blew a tire on my trailer (4 wheels) while my 35 Chevy Fire Engine was on the trailer. Luckily I had ordered a spare when I had the trailer built. Since it was the trailer and not the truck, I called AAA. No, I didn't feel like changing it myself since the truck was strapped down. They told me that they would respond if I had RV coverage on my AAA policy. They said that there is a waiting period of 2 days between buying it and using it - but since I had been a member since 1976 they would enact it right away. So it's a few more bucks on my AAA membership and I got a spiffy new AAA card. I wasn't aware that Hagerty would respond to daily drivers (Dr. Jon???) Other lesson learned, or things no one tells you: Don't buy a trailer with D load tires if you're going to be carrying vehicles; get E.
 
Kevin Lynch said:
I wasn't aware that Hagerty would respond to daily drivers (Dr. Jon???)
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Hagerty will only respond to your daily drivers if you pay extra for the High Octane program. It's $125 per year. I have had it for years and we have actually only ever used it on our daily drivers. The only time that we ever had an issue with it was once a regular tow truck came to tow one of our cars instead of a flatbed.

Here's more info on the program:
http://www.hagerty.com/Insurance/Hagerty-Plus-Roadside-Service-and-Benefits
 
I also have the top tier Hagerty Roadside assistance. So far Ive used it twice, both times on pro cars (that's all I own), but both times it was for cars not on the policy. Once was a tow home when the coach stopped running. The other just last week, was when I locked the keys in the car. I was right there both times to supervise the drivers, and they took great care of my cars. I am very pleased with the service. I know when I used it for the tow it paid for itself, and then some. I would hate to see what the 50 some mile tow would of cost out of pocket.
 
I have the top tier Hagerty program and have been nothing but pleased with it. They even rescued me when my trailer lost a wheel bearing carrying a 67 Fleetwood in Florida on a Sunday afternoon. 8 hours, a new bearing, and a straightened axle later i was on my way and only out of pocket the $100 deductible for roadside repairs. You won't find a bigger Hagerty supporter than me.
 
John Royark JR said:
I also have the top tier Hagerty Roadside assistance. So far Ive used it twice, both times on pro cars (that's all I own), but both times it was for cars not on the policy. Once was a tow home when the coach stopped running. The other just last week, was when I locked the keys in the car. I was right there both times to supervise the drivers, and they took great care of my cars. I am very pleased with the service. I know when I used it for the tow it paid for itself, and then some. I would hate to see what the 50 some mile tow would of cost out of pocket.
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it cost me 600 to go from 30 miles west of Waterloo Ia to Sterling Il on a flat bed. around 2 bucks a mile. now none of the services would pay this only to the closes place for service or the 50 mile radius. that was my election. but then I have state farm at some were around a buck . but they keep dropping the older cars every time it's automatically renewed. it's decent piece of mind at the 120 a years especial if it covers all your stuff. a better value may be a $2000 credit card with no fee that you only use for this kind of emergency. but hay that's up to you
 
lowest bidder

many towing offers from your company of choice are actually provided by the lowest bidder and dispatched by a very few (compared to policy holders) company's. they in turn negotiate with towers in the area and pay a fee plus mileage and extras. i did thousands of these calls in the towing and recovery buisness. problem was getting paid at first and having to drive 30 miles to respond to a call and the customer gets it running or gets tired of waiting and they are gone when you get there and contact nowone to let somebody know and not getting paid for it.it wouldnt be so bad except at 4 pm to 8 pm houston is gridlock. more time more fuel more labor etc...i had to hold cars to get paid in the end. if it was me, aaa is the best deal as a flatbed is a flatbed and straps are a required tool.look around your car if you dont know what your damage is take note as ive had too many people claim damage for old damage. i promise you the towing operator is taking note. finally if im out of town and break down it sure is nice to get a local tower who can guide me to a repair place and knows who is open and who isnt and can tell me who can repair my 66 caddy. :my2cents:
 
John ED Renstrom said:
it cost me 600 to go from 30 miles west of Waterloo Ia to Sterling Il on a flat bed. around 2 bucks a mile. now none of the services would pay this only to the closes place for service or the 50 mile radius. that was my election. but then I have state farm at some were around a buck . but they keep dropping the older cars every time it's automatically renewed. it's decent piece of mind at the 120 a years especial if it covers all your stuff. a better value may be a $2000 credit card with no fee that you only use for this kind of emergency. but hay that's up to you
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My Hagerty policy will allow you to take your car wherever you want it towed, not just to the next shop. They cover the first 125 miles, after that it comes out of your pocket.
 
Patrick J. Martin said:
I am a subscriber to this service, and sadly I have had to use it, not just once but several times. Well worth the money. In fact, I pay extra for the top tier of their roadside service plan. They do make a point of only sending out flatbed trucks, but don't believe the claim that they only send out operators who know and care about antique cars. When you call and state your location, they just go thru their computerized phone book and send out whoever is local. I can completely understand and I'm not objecting, but they don't send out a specialty service like they make it sound.
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I had the same experience once. Lowered sports car, local towing company shows up, not ramp extensions or anything like that. Just a bunch of old chunks of wood that we had to make transition ramps to get the car on the flat bed. As for checking the car over, of course I was a ways out of town and by the time the tow truck showed it was dark, I wasn't about to check the car that closely in the dark. Hagerty though, aside from being more $$$ than the other classic companies, is great to deal with. I'd recommend them easily.
 
It have it, and it has saved my skin a couple times. The drivers were always professional and cared that the job was done right. The only problem I had most recently was that the driver was dispatched to the wrong location. When you are talking with the telephone representative be SURE that she has the breakdown location 100% correct.
 
While we're on this topic, has anyone in this circle ever used the AAA Plus or Platinum Programs to arrange a flatbed for their pro-cars? My classics and daily drivers are all standard-wheelbase vehicles, so I'm specifically wondering if they won't serve something bigger as I'm a AAA NY Platinum member already. One inducement of the Platinum-versus-Plus is that the radius of rescue for a free tow doubles to 200 miles.
 
Towing

While we're on this topic, has anyone in this circle ever used the AAA Plus or Platinum Programs to arrange a flatbed for their pro-cars? My classics and daily drivers are all standard-wheelbase vehicles, so I'm specifically wondering if they won't serve something bigger as I'm a AAA NY Platinum member already. One inducement of the Platinum-versus-Plus is that the radius of rescue for a free tow doubles to 200 miles.
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I have the AAA plus and had the 63 Flxible brought home from Burbank and the 69 S&S from Palmdale both where just within the 100 mile radius with no problem. I have heard the AAA will not tow a CC anything but so far I have had no problem.
 
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