Allstate Roadside Services Data Shows Most Vehicle Breakdowns Require a Tow to a Repair Shop
Northbrook, Ill. - The bags are packed; the car is too. Millions of people across the country will be hitting the road this week traveling to see family and friends over the holidays. Along with mapping the route, Allstate recommends prepping the car so travelers don't end up stranded on the side of the road.
New data1 from Allstate Roadside Services shows more than half (55 percent) of all calls to its call center are from people who have mechanical problems and require a tow to a repair shop. The remaining 45 percent of the calls are non-tow related. The majority of those non-tow incidences are requests for help changing a tire, unlocking a locked vehicle, getting gas delivered or jumpstarting a dead battery. Here's the breakdown of non-tow related incidences:
3.6 percent of all non-tow dispatch events are from drivers who have run out of gas and need fuel delivered to their vehicle.
14.4 percent of all non-tow dispatches are for tire changes.
14 percent of all dispatches are for lockouts.
13 percent of all dispatches are for jumpstarts.
"The holidays are a busy time for families. As they run here and there to shop and prepare their homes, they may forget about preparing the car before traveling," said Anthony Royer, president, Allstate Roadside Services. "Allstate Roadside Services is one of the nation's leading providers of roadside assistance. We're here to help when people have problems on the road."
More calls come in to Allstate Roadside representatives during the week than on the weekend, with the highest level of dispatches happening on Mondays.
More Industry

Kia Closes Out Summer With a Bang
Its U.S. subsidiary broke multiple records in August, in part due to a surge of demand for hybrids models.
Read More →
Indiana Dealership Changes Hands
A 30-year-old Ford dealership in Indiana has a new owner and will soon be undergoing renovations to meet manufacturer requirements.
Read More →
Texas Dealership No Longer in the Family
The Ford store, a longtime cornerstone of the Houston market, is now part of one of the fastest-growing U.S. auto groups.
Read More →
Genesis Grows California Presence
The Cardinale Automotive Group opened its third Genesis rooftop in the Golden State, Genesis of San Bruno, a stand-alone dealership serving the San Francisco Bay Area.
Read More →
August Auto Sales a Mixed Bag
An early forecast shows strong business despite consumer hurdles, and hybrids are a big piece of their affordability coping strategy.
Read More →
EV Market Humming Along
July sales show steady growth as the segment stabilizes from last year’s artificial surge following pullback of federal support.
Read More →
Auto Loan Delinquency Rates Stabilize
Auto loans are a main driver of nonmortgage consumer debt, but delinquency rates stabilized in the second quarter across all credit risk tiers.
Read More →
EV Sales Recover in Q2
The EV sales roller coaster continues as numbers show improvement, but industry experts predict a year-over-year third-quarter decline and fourth-quarter jump.
Read More →
The Cheapest Hybrids to Fuel
The powertrain is increasing in popularity, in no small part due to its fuel economy. A new report lists the most efficient hybrids on the market.
Read More →
Hybrids and SUVs Gaining Ground
The most recent Kelley Blue Book Brand Watch found that only two nonluxury brands increased in shopper consideration, buoyed by their hybrid and SUV offerings.
Read More →