How do I choose the right roadside assistance?

The ANWB's Roadside Assistance was the only one for a long time and is still the largest roadside assistance service in the Netherlands. But in recent years, various competitors have joined: including Allianz, Blij dat ik Rij, Centraal Beheer and Route Mobiel. How do you choose the right roadside assistance?

It is not easy to compete with the ANWB Roadside Assistance, which has built up a rock-solid reputation over the years and stands for reliability. New players on the market can only do one thing: compete on price. But do these price fighters offer the same service and quality as the old trusted Roadside Assistance?

Most competitors are cheaper than Roadside Assistance, but can you expect the same service for that price? We investigated this for you and looked exclusively at roadside assistance in the Netherlands, not Europe.

ANWB

(€58 or €98 per year)

First of all, the ANWB's own Roadside Assistance. For the entry fee of €58 per year, you do not get roadside assistance in your own place of residence and no replacement transport. You pay €98 per year for that.

With the ANWB, you are not insured by license plate, but by person. If you drive another car, you can simply call on the Roadside Assistance. A second car within your family, for example that of your partner, is insured as standard.

At ANWB you can call on the Roadside Assistance four times a year free of charge. After that you pay per breakdown. The premium you pay is independent of the age of your vehicle.

The coverage starts two days after the contract is concluded and can be cancelled on a monthly basis after the initial contract period, just like with all other roadside assistance services.

Allianz Global Assistance

(€29,95 or €54,95 per year)

At €29,95 per year (excluding roadside assistance in your place of residence, €54,95 inclusive), Allianz Global Assistance offers an affordable alternative to roadside assistance.

Just like with the Roadside Assistance, you can count on replacement transport with Allianz. The big difference is that with Allianz you are insured by license plate and not by person, like with the ANWB. Also, no second car is co-insured. So if you drive a car other than the insured vehicle, for example that of your partner, then you are in principle not insured. However, you can change the license plate of the insured vehicle three times a year.

Where you can call on the Roadside Assistance for free four times a year for roadside assistance, you can do this seven times with Allianz. That is a possible advantage if you drive a lot or drive a car that is prone to breakdowns. But even then, the question is whether there is a real chance that you will end up with a breakdown on the side of the road that often.

At Roadside Assistance, your premium does not depend on the age of your vehicle. At Allianz, on the other hand, your premium increases if your car is older than three years.

Good to know that with Allianz you can only call on roadside assistance after five days after signing up, while the Roadside Assistance is ready for you after two (working) days. Both with Allianz and ANWB you can cancel on a daily basis after the first contract period has expired.

Glad I'm Driving

(€19,95 per year + €60 per breakdown)

At Blij dat ik Rij you only pay €19,95 per year, with the important note that you pay €60 deductible per breakdown. Unlike ANWB and Allianz, replacement transport is not included and towing costs are also not covered. That can quickly add up.

At Blij dat ik Rij, all family members are insured for roadside assistance, regardless of the car they drive. So you are not insured by person or license plate.

You can call on the roadside assistance unlimitedly, but as mentioned you will pay €60 out of your own pocket per breakdown. The premium is independent of the age of the vehicle and the coverage starts seven days after signing up. After the first contract period, your subscription can be cancelled monthly.

Bij dat ik Rij is particularly interesting for those who want roadside assistance insurance for a low premium, but are prepared to take a significant deductible.

Central management

(€38,72 per year)

Centraal Beheer offers you a very attractive alternative to the ANWB Roadside Assistance for €38,72 per year, including roadside assistance in your own place of residence and replacement transport.

Just like with Allianz, you are insured by license plate and, unlike with Roadside Assistance, no second vehicle is co-insured. You can change the license plate of the insured vehicle an unlimited number of times.

You can call on Centraal Beheer's roadside assistance as often as you like, free of charge, without any deductible. Is your vehicle five years or older? Then your premium will increase.

Coverage starts one day after purchase and your subscription can be cancelled on a daily basis from then on.

Route Mobile

(€68,30 per year)

Last but not least: Route Mobiel. At €68,30 more expensive than the cheapest subscription to the ANWB Roadside Assistance, but for that you are assured of roadside assistance in your place of residence and of replacement transport.

At Route Mobiel you are insured by license plate, just like at Allianz and Centraal Beheer. Another difference with the ANWB is that a second vehicle is not insured as standard. However, you do get a €20 discount on your annual premium if you insure a second vehicle. You are allowed to change the license plate twice a year.

Just like with the ANWB, you can call on the roadside assistance of Route Mobiel four times a year free of charge. The premium depends on the age of your car and you pay more premium if your car is four years or older. The coverage starts seven days after conclusion and can be canceled monthly after the first contract term.

Closing comments

We do not want to pass judgement or advise roadside assistance. Based on the above comparison, you can draw your own conclusions.