I am a member of Verizon’s Influencer Team – #VZWBuzz and I receive phones and other accessories from time to time to review. This post has not been monetarily compensated. Please note that, as always, any personal opinions reflected in this post are my own.
Back in the day my Dad was a mechanic. For years he made any repairs that were necessary to my car. And, if it was something big he couldn’t fix at home he had the tools to diagnose what was wrong and tell me where and how to go about getting it fixed. Things like the check engine light coming on, he had a tool to tell him what the codes were and what they meant. I always trusted what my Dad told me, whether it was about him doing work or telling me where and how to get work done. Those days are gone.
Dad isn’t a mechanic anymore and it just isn’t so easy for him to physically work on cars anymore.I have issues now, when car problems arise. There have been numerous times I have encountered so-called automotive professionals that take advantage of the fact that I’m a woman dealing with them alone. I hate that feeling, where I am sure I’m being taken advantage of. For a while I thought maybe we couold use Dad’s old tool to figure things out before determining how to progress when a problem arose. I didn’t know that like people, even tools have their limitations. Older check engine code readers, for example, may not have information for newer vehicles. Thanks to technology making a service such as Verizon Vehicle possible, folks like me won’t have to wonder and worry about how to get that information for much longer.
Verizon Vehicle is being described as “innovative roadside assistance.” It’s far more then just roadside assistance. Verizon Vehicle is a monthly subscription service that offers the ability for a driver understand the health of their vehicle, get emergency information and roadside assistance, access to certified and trained mechanics through a dedicated hotline, maintenance reminders, stolen vehicle assistance and even help finding your parked vehicle. (Oh come on, you’ve never misplaced your car in a parking lot?) Outside of the car subscribers will receive discounts on service and travel related expenses.
Verizon Vehicle will be priced at $14.99/month, with additional vehicles priced at $12.99/month each. The service will include the equipment needed to make it work, which is valued at $120. That equipment includes an OBD Diagnostic reader and a bluetooth speaker. The OBD reader is the very same gadget my Dad had back in the day. They’re not cheap. That plugs into your cars on-board diagnostic port. The bluetooth speaker is so that you can use the system hands-free if you need help. Verizon Vehicle is not manufacturer or model specific, it is compatible with most vehicles built since 1996.
Once Verizon Vehicle is in your car what you do do? Well, you can download the Verizon Vehicle app onto your iOS or Android smartphone. Then all of the information will come directly to your phone. You can receive system maintenance alerts via text message or push notification on your smartphone, and you can also get notifications sent by email.
For a girl like me who doesn’t trust most auto shops (based on experience where they see the dumb woman coming) I love the idea of Verizon Vehicle. I love the idea of having certified mechanics helping me figure out what might be wrong with the car and what I should expect to spend on repairs. All of the stuff my Dad used to tell me. I trust Verizon Wireless to always keep me connected when I need to be, whether it be with my son’s school, doctors or family. Their signal has never let me down. Knowing they are behind this innovative service makes me feel good.
Here’s a brief video that demonstrates the service.
In case you’re wondering, Verizon Vehicle can help if you’ve broken down as well. Here at the Jersey shore we were forecast to be hit by a blizzard earlier this week. I took my son’s car out to get gas, so that if he had to warm it up or anything he’d have the fuel to do so. I ran out of gas on the way to the gas station. Whenever you call AAA around here they never seem to be able to find you quickly. Verizon Vehicle can help you if you run out of gas, need your battery jumped, get locked out of the car and more. The GPS technology built into Verizon Vehicle means that if you need assistance they will know exactly where to find you.
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I have AAA, so I call them if I need them. I actually had them come jump my car a few weeks ago when my battery died because I left my lights on by accident.
I call my husband. If he’s not around then it would AAA.
I like AAA myself. I like that you can use them, regardless of if it’s your car or someone else’s in trouble. As long as you are there, they will come.
That’s a great tool. We have AAA and my bil is a mechanic, thank goodness!
I always worry about emergency situations when traveling alone with my son. Having this type of service would definitely give me peace of mind during road trips!
This could definitely get you out of some tight spots. It’s so useful having a safety net.
That sounds very convenient. What a good idea.
It’s definitely important to have a service to help you if there is ever an emergency.
I have never personally used roadside assistance, but I have always had AAA! Great read–Thanks for sharing 🙂
I usually call my husband and then call road side assistance. But, this is a great tool!
Es kommt darein–handle it myself if possible, call AAA, call hubby, call someone.
we have aaa so we call them, but they do take awhile. i’m going to tell my husband about this new service, maybe we will switch!
Wow, that would make me feel so much better. I have to look into it. I want one for hubby’s car.