I own a clunker. It guzzles gas and makes strange noises. A couple of weeks ago, I got into the car, turned the key, and it made no noise. After an hour of trying and cursing, I gave up. Another hour later, I was riding shotgun in a tow truck, glaring at my broken car in the rearview mirror.Two hours of car trouble was bad enough, but then the tow truck driver told me it would cost extra to cross county lines. It was also going to cost extra since my problem was “probably related to the key” – whatever that means. In the end, I paid $100 to have my car towed 8 miles home.I paid too much because I didn’t plan ahead. Only later did I learn that cheap roadside assistance is available. In fact, you may already have it. Some auto insurance companies, credit card providers, and auto manufacturers offer the service (basically) free to their customers. If you don’t have it, you can add it onto another service or pay for a standalone car club. Here’s what I’ve learned…1. AutomakersSome new and used cars come with a warranty that covers roadside assistance.

The coverage varies, but you can typically use it if you lock yourself out of the car, run out of gas, or need a tow. has a list of roadside assistance coverage by manufacturer. There is one caveat – they may only tow your car to the nearest dealership.2. Credit card companiesSome credit card companies (like Bank of America) offer roadside assistance free. There may be a limit on the number of towing miles or other exclusions, so call and ask before you use the service.3. Auto insurance providersIf you have comprehensive and collision auto insurance, you can add roadside and towing assistance to your plan. While the cost varies depending on your location and the type of car you drive, these are the estimates I got: Progressive – $3 per month Geico – $1.83 per month State Farm – $4.10 per month 4. Wireless service providersWhile my wireless provider (T-Mobile) doesn’t offer roadside assistance, most of the major carriers do. You get towing (distance limits may apply), locksmith assistance, tire changes, and gas service.

Here are the costs: AT&T – $2.99 per month Verizon Wireless – $3 per month Sprint – $4 per month 5. Auto clubsThese standalone services require a membership. Here are the rates: AAA – The granddaddy of auto clubs, the American Automobile Association has three membership tiers. Basic membership gets roadside and short-distance towing. As an AAA Plus member, you can tow up to 100 miles and receive lock-out assistance. Premier members get up to 200 miles of free towing and 24-hour concierge service. Replacement Seat Cover For Baby SwingThe cost of each plan varies depending on where you live, but they range from under $50 to more than $130.White Sheer Curtain Ideas Better World Club – The BWC is an auto club with an environmentally friendly concept: You can purchase roadside assistance for your bicycle and get discounts for renting hybrids – but you’ll have to pay more if you own a gas guzzler like a Hummer. Hardwood Flooring Standard Size

Basic membership costs $55.95 per year. Premium membership costs $89.95. Good Hands Roadside Assistance – Not really an auto club, but Allstate’s program is open to everyone. There are no annual fees, but you’ll pay per use. Towing costs $75 for the first 10 miles and $3 per mile after that. If you need another service (like a tire change), it costs $50. Finding the best planRoadside assistance programs come with restrictions, and sometimes the cheapest plans aren’t worth the limitations. Before you sign up, ask these questions: Does the plan cover the car or the driver? If your spouse or teenage driver takes your car, you need them to be covered under the roadside assistance plan. Making sure the car is covered no matter who is driving is the easiest way to do this. Am I covered in other vehicles? If you have a rental or borrow a friend’s car, you want to know you’re covered when the tire blows. What are the signup fees? Most auto clubs have them.

For example, the Better World Club charges a one-time $12 signup fee. How many tows are allowed per year? If you only get one tow, it may be cheaper just to pay for it outright and skip the membership. How far can I tow? This is the biggest restriction I found. For example, with a basic AAA membership, you can have your car towed 3 miles max. Any further and you’ll pay extra. Personally, I’ve never been lucky enough to break down within 3 miles of my house or my mechanic. In the end, I added roadside assistance to my Geico insurance policy and signed up for Allstate’s Good Hands program as a backup. I’m paying $29.96 a year for the service, but that’s $70.04 cheaper than my recent tow. If I end up needing four tows in the next two years – pretty likely given my clunker – I’ll save $340.08. That’s a good chunk of change to put toward a new car.Angela Colley is a writer for Money Talks News, a consumer/personal finance TV news feature that airs in about 80 cities as well as around the Web.

This column first appeared in Money Talks News. The state regulates some aspects of towing. The county regulates the price of non-consent tows, payment methods, times tow yards must be open, how authorization must be given to tow a vehicle, and what information must be included on the tow manifest/slip/invoice/receipt. An owner or lessee of real property or any person authorized by the owner or lessee may authorize the tow of a vehicle parked on the property without permission if a sign is posted. The authorization must be made in writing. A rebate from the towing company to the property owner or agent is prohibited.The sign must have the name, address, Broward County permit number and telephone number of the towing company printed on the driver and passenger sides of the tow truck. The tow yard must be open and staffed from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays. At other times, it must open within one hour after the vehicle owner requests the release of his/her vehicle.

The owner has the right to inspect and note damages to the vehicle before accepting its return and a release or waiver of any kind is prohibited which would release the towing company from liability for damages noted at the time of the release. The maximum charge is $120 for a vehicle with a gross weight of less than 10,000 lbs. The maximum charge for the tow of a vehicle weighing less than 10,000 lbs. from private property is still $120. The maximum charge is $60 for a vehicle with a gross weight of less than 10,000 lbs. The maximum storage rate is $24 per day for a vehicle with a gross weight of less than 10,000 lbs.  Storage fees may only be charged after the vehicle has been at the storage yard for 6 hours. This fee is only applicable when the towing company must actually perform research to determine ownership of the towed vehicle for notification to the owner, lienholders or insurance companies. What is an administrative fee?A one-time administrative fee of $30 may be charged if the vehicle owners arrives after 24 hours of possession by the tow company.

If the tow is directed by a law enforcement or municipal agency, or if the vehicle weighs 10,000 lbs. or more. If an overcharge occurred in Broward County, a complaint should be filed with us. A written complaint must be submitted with the following information and documentation  included: Photocopy of tow receipt‎; If payment was made by credit card‎, ‎a photocopy of credit card statement ‎(‎if you have filed a dispute with your credit card company‎, ‎advise the results of that dispute‎); Date‎, ‎time and location from which the vehicle was towed;‎ Date‎, ‎time and location at which you recovered the vehicle from the tow company; Photocopy of the vehicle registration ‎(‎reflecting the “VIN” number‎, ‎license tag ‎number‎, ‎and the make‎, ‎year and cof the vehicle‎)‎; and The vehicle model name ‎(‎e‎.‎g‎.‎, ‎“Camry”‎)‎. ‎ You should also contact the police department of the city where your vehicle was towed and obtain the date and time the tow ‎comp