Auto-club roadside memberships have been the default for decades. The pitch is simple: pay a yearly fee, get unlimited (or near-unlimited) roadside calls. The math used to make sense when service was scarce and overpriced per-call. It doesn't anymore.
Membership cost: $80–$120 per year for basic tier. Higher tiers run $120–$200+.
Typical usage: industry data suggests the average member uses their roadside benefit 0.4 times per year. More than half of members pay for a year of service they never touch.
Even when members do call, they hit limits — 3-4 free calls per year, capped tow distances, service exclusions for motorcycles or commercial vehicles.
For a typical driver who needs roadside help once every two years: auto club costs $200 over those two years. Pay-as-you-go costs $100 (one call). Pay-as-you-go saves money for the majority of drivers.