Two summers ago, we purchased a new (to us) SUV to accommodate our growing family. Our car is still kicking after 9 years, but we have since acquired children, car seats, bikes, and other gear… and a desire to go on the occasional road trip comfortably. The time spent saving, researching, and building up to this purchase seemed like an eternity. The hours spent at home waiting for Greg to return home from the dealership sloooowly crept by. When he drove up with our truck, pristine at that, it was like Christmas. Not like the Christmas of today as an adult, but those of childhood past.
We enjoyed months with our new truck and then weird things started happening one by one. We discovered that our particular model is susceptible to a slew of issues in which we’ve had to pour thousands of dollars in repairs and continue to standby for more. Guard up. Sigh… it’s not perfect, but it’s ours.
Given our history with our vehicle, we try to stay prepared the best we can and remain present when driving. Not only is the SUV our family vehicle, but it is also Greg’s work vehicle. As a courier serving the Chicagoland area, it’s increasingly important to be vigilant when it comes to caring for our truck. One of the things we have done is subscribe to a roadside assistance service. We received an AutoVantage membership through my relationship with Walmart and we are currently giving it a go. AutoVantage can be compared to AAA Plus, but you get more bang for less buck. As a budget-conscious family, we appreciate the affordability for such an extensive service.
At $69.88/year, AutoVantage offers:
- 24/7 Emergency Roadside Assistance for the whole family including all vehicles
- Lockout Assistance for vehicles and home/apt
- Towing up to 150 miles with a network of over 22,000 local towing providers
- Travel discounts on hotel and car rentals
For over 25 years, AutoVantage has been providing roadside assistance to members and their families, offering peace of mind on the road at an affordable price. You can find AutoVantage memberships at Walmart in the automotive aisle or at the tire and lube express desk.
As a participant in the Walmart Moms Program, I’ve received samples and compensation for my time and efforts in creating this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 
Jenn
Saturday 15th of November 2014
Roadside assistance services are SO important when you have a finicky car (check!), or an older car (check!), or a family (check!). I've never heard of AutoVantage prior to reading your post, so I'm definitely going to go check them out now. :)