AMA Roadside Assistance

[squeezer]

Has anyone confirmed that the new offer with automatic renewal is Motow? Or is it something else.

Yes, it's the same thing. Or, more accurately, Motow is this program now. I don't know if Motow had a different benefit package before this year because I didn't have it before, but if you sign up and pay separately for Motow now, this is the benefit package you'll get.

So, free is cool.

By the way, I had already paid my AMA dues for this year, but zipped them an email and was assured that if I signed up for future automatic renewals, I'd get the Roadside Assistance for free now.

I like the new regime at AMA and the way they're trying to take the organization.

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

On March 3 I sent the following email to AMA:

"Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2009 10:29:30 -0500

To: Membership <[email protected]>

Subject: Re: Contact Form: AMA Membership

Thank you Angie,

I was talking with another AMA member, and we are confused about details of the towing plan. He seems to think it covers cars, RV's of member and family as well as our motorcycles. This sounds too generous to me. Also he says he has a toll-free number for towing on the back of his membership card, but newly issued card does not. What number would I use? We both looked through the members website but it was confusing or we couldn't find details about the plan, who does the towing, if it would be motorcycle specialized towing, what benefits are exactly offered, etc. Can you point us to a webpage? Maybe mail a brochure? I know I'm asking a lot but I have tried to figure things out without bothering you. Thank you for answering my initial question.

regards,

Michael"

Today I received the following answer:

"No, the new plan covers motorcycles, cars, trucks, motorcycle trailors, rv’s and motor homes. It covers your spouse and any dependant children under the age of 24 still living at home or is away at college. The newly issued membership cards now have the roadside assistance phone # on the front of the membership card. We don’t have a brochure that can be mailed right now, but you can log on to our Members Area and under the Benefits section look under the Roadside Assistance benefit. If there is anything else I can help you with, please let me know.

Thank You,

Angie Davis

Membership Services Representative

American Motorcyclist Association"

 

[Fred W]

Geeze Shiney... Did you think I was lying? :blink:

No seriously, that's pretty much what we knew already from their (AMA) web site. I guess this program is so new they really don't have anything to show the details of the benefit other than the loose descriptions on their site.

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

Geeze Shiney... Did you think I was lying? :blink:
No seriously, that's pretty much what we knew already from their (AMA) web site. I guess this program is so new they really don't have anything to show the details of the benefit other than the loose descriptions on their site.

Nah, I just don't trust the internet . And my original email was prior to finding the website description of services.

Just sharing... besides I am a typical internet user and got bored, didn't read every post and reposted information --

you Nazi

I finally looked at my card and triple checked: No phone number on my new card. So I don't think they have their act together.

 

[Fred W]

Geeze Shiney... Did you think I was lying? :blink:
No seriously, that's pretty much what we knew already from their (AMA) web site. I guess this program is so new they really don't have anything to show the details of the benefit other than the loose descriptions on their site.

Nah, I just don't trust the internet . And my original email was prior to finding the website description of services.

Just sharing... besides I am a typical internet user and got bored, didn't read every post and reposted information --

you Nazi

I finally looked at my card and triple checked: No phone number on my new card. So I don't think they have their act together.

Oh no... You may have invoked Godwin's law !!

To get the free roadside assistance, you have to have signed up for a "Champion" membership, which means you gace them a credit card number and consented to automatic renewals.

Your card will then say "AMA Champion" under your name and "AMA Roadside 1-877-AMA-4-911" under that.

But if you just paid your regular $39 dues you get a regular membership and no free roadside assistance.

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

Oh no... You may have invoked Godwin's law !!
To get the free roadside assistance, you have to have signed up for a "Champion" membership, which means you gace them a credit card number and consented to automatic renewals.

Your card will then say "AMA Champion" under your name and "AMA Roadside 1-877-AMA-4-911" under that.

But if you just paid your regular $39 dues you get a regular membership and no free roadside assistance.

Who the fook is Godwin?

My card says "Extra Mile Member" which either means I gave an extra $10 for government lobbying on behalf of motorcyclists, or they talked to my ex-girlfriends....

 

[HYCLE]

I first signed up for MOTOW before NAFO last year, $25 if I remember correctly.

Then found out I could add towing to my Geico insurance for $10, so I did that too.

That should cover me, but wait. AMA says I can sign up for automatic renewal and get towing included.

I just renewed with AMA in December.

So now I signed up for the Champion AMA membership with the roadside assistance for $39.

I get my new AMA Champion card, with the roadside number on the front, and the card is good until Jan, 2011.

They just extended my membership for another year on top of the one I just paid for in Dec.

I hope I never have to use this service.

 

[FJR Flyer]

I'm still trying to figure this out. The web-site says just signing up for automatic renewal gets you the free roadside assistance. There was a check box for it when I signed up. It didn't say I had to go for the 'champion' membership. Or does that happen automatically. I didn't select the champion membership, but I did check the box.

I have to call them again, today, as I'm still trying to straighten out my MOTOW membership, which they billed me for but don't have me on record for. I will cancel it and get a refund.

 

[Fred W]

Oh no... You may have invoked Godwin's law !!
To get the free roadside assistance, you have to have signed up for a "Champion" membership, which means you gace them a credit card number and consented to automatic renewals.

Your card will then say "AMA Champion" under your name and "AMA Roadside 1-877-AMA-4-911" under that.

But if you just paid your regular $39 dues you get a regular membership and no free roadside assistance.

Who the fook is Godwin?

My card says "Extra Mile Member" which either means I gave an extra $10 for government lobbying on behalf of motorcyclists, or they talked to my ex-girlfriends....

Godwin's Law

"Extra Mile" isn't even an option anymore, but I think it is the equivalent of what is now called "Defender" and is eligible for Roadside assistance. Here are the current membership levels: Link to AMA web site I'm sure you could convert your present "extra mile" to a "Defender" if you contacted them.

And yes, checking the box for automatic renewal should get you the "AMA Champion" status.

 

[squeezer]

I'm still trying to figure this out. The web-site says just signing up for automatic renewal gets you the free roadside assistance. There was a check box for it when I signed up. It didn't say I had to go for the 'champion' membership. Or does that happen automatically. I didn't select the champion membership, but I did check the box.
I have to call them again, today, as I'm still trying to straighten out my MOTOW membership, which they billed me for but don't have me on record for. I will cancel it and get a refund.

If you signed up for automatic renewal, you are a "Champion Member." That's all "Champion Member" means.

 

[rogdeb]

I've used MoTow once - to have the bike taken from home to the dealership for repair (20 miles), they sent out a guy with a flatbed from somewhere local -- worked out really good.

 

[racer]

Progressive Insurance is advertising the same benefit for less than a dollar per month. You have to be insured with them to get it, though.

 

[lonerider]

Just renewed my membership online without the automatic renewals. No one gets carte blanche to dig into my bank account and take what they want whenever they want, not my insurance agent, not my cell provider, and not the AMA. Some might view the automatic renewals as a convenience; I don't. Guess what- if you go with the one year renewal + roadside assistance without the auto renewal, it's $74, a $9 increase over the exact same membership cost last year ($65)!! I realize everything is going up in cost, but that's getting pretty close to too much, IMHO. Makes me wonder whether the folks that opted for auto renewal this year might be getting an unpleasant surprise next year when they look at their bank accounts. Just my 2 cents.

 

[FJR Flyer]

I think I paid $39 for the annual renewal with the roadside assistance. Why did they want to charge you $74? I generally prefer NOT to have any company do automatic anything, but dumping the $100+ AAA membership for me and my wife was worth it this time, IMO.

 

[CHRIS_D]

Just renewed my membership online without the automatic renewals. No one gets carte blanche to dig into my bank account and take what they want whenever they want, not my insurance agent, not my cell provider, and not the AMA. Some might view the automatic renewals as a convenience; I don't. Guess what- if you go with the one year renewal + roadside assistance without the auto renewal, it's $74, a $9 increase over the exact same membership cost last year ($65)!! I realize everything is going up in cost, but that's getting pretty close to too much, IMHO. Makes me wonder whether the folks that opted for auto renewal this year might be getting an unpleasant surprise next year when they look at their bank accounts. Just my 2 cents.

I currently have the AAA membership with motorcycle towing and it's around $140 a year!!! :dribble: I'm sorry but that's expensive!! For only $39/year you can't beat this deal. Also don't use a debit card, instead use a CC and if AMA starts taking out more than they have stated all you have to do is dispute it.

 

[tcfjr]

For many years I had AAA with motorcycle coverage. I have regular AAA coverage for my wife and kids, and the motorcycle coverage is about $30 more per year. A few months ago I had two separate punctures at the same time in my rear tire, and in the course of finding and plugging the second hole my compressor gave up the ghost. Of course this happened on a lonely stretch of I-40 between Barstow and Needles in California, 20 miles from the nearest off-ramp. All I really needed was a working compressor, but AAA sent out a flat-bed in case I needed a tow. The plugs held fine once the tire was inflated.

Recently, my motorcycle insurance added a free towing package, but I've never used it.

A few weeks ago the SPOT people announced an optional road side assistance package. Since I had a summer of riding planned for areas with little or no cell coverage, I took the plunge and signed up. It's $29 per year, and they pro-rate it so that it's on the same cycle as your regular SPOT package.

With SPOT Assist, you can either call an 800 number, or press the HELP button on your SPOT unit. You get up to 5 incidents per year; towing up to 50 miles to either your home or a service provider; plus the other usual features. Service is provided by Nation Safe Drivers (NSD), and covers all 50 states and the provinces of Canada (but not the territories).

I haven't had a need to use SPOT Assist yet, but if you spend a lot of time riding in areas with iffy cell service, it might be something to look into.

 

[lonerider]

I think I paid $39 for the annual renewal with the roadside assistance. Why did they want to charge you $74? I generally prefer NOT to have any company do automatic anything, but dumping the $100+ AAA membership for me and my wife was worth it this time, IMO.

$74 is what you're going to pay for a 1 year renewal + roadside assistance, if you opt out of the auto renewal. I pay a lot more for AAA+RV coverage for the whole family. The AAA covers my children also (all of whom are over 24 years old), so, if I drop anything, it will be the AMA coverage.

 

[dsmack]

Bunker mentality aside, the AMA automatic renewal which provided the roadside assistance at no extra charge is a good deal.

Carte Blanche entry into my accounts? I think not. I have fraud protection on any and all credit cards I have in my name; I would hope you would as well...

I had also just renewed my membership shortly before the announcement of this new program. I had just received my new membership card when I read of the program in the AMA magazine, so I gave them a call. They were happy to take my CC information and change my membership designation. Within a week or two I received my new card in the mail, complete with the roadside assistance number and "AMA Champion" designation.

Ride Safe... and protected!

Don

 

[Fred W]

Also, for anyone paranoid about "big brother" getting access to their accounts, you can just renew for three years (no auto renew) and you will also get the roadside assistance for free.

That would almost be the same amount that lonerider paid for one.

 

[mr.paul]

Probably not the norm, but

Last summer, when the dreaded Gen II ignition switch bit me in the arse, I called motow. I thought "great, I can finally use this". I was actually at my work, that is 34.5 miles from my home by freeway (25 miles across county roads). They couldn't find anyone to tow my bike! The guy finally just said "sorry dude". Seriously! The guy kept me on the phone for a half hour to just say sorry. I had to call around on my own, which wasn't much luck either as the guy that does the majority of towing in a metro area of almost 4 million people (in easy reach), had a breakdown of his rig. Now I know any company would haul me onto a flatbed and bring me anywhere my credit card can reach, but at that time I just chose to get my own trailer and do it myself. Motow let me down. Surprised me the guy didn't even offer an alternative. There are many, many towing companies in the metro. I hope, and fully expect, it is better next time I need it.

paul from Minnesota