Traveling around USA, need a Cell phone for emergencies only

jambo101

jambo101

Full time employment: Posting here.
Joined
Oct 3, 2007
Messages
940
Location
Montreal
I dont have a cell phone but was thinking of acquiring one for an upcoming trip around the USA, something that could be used to call AAA/CAA if the car breaks down.
What would be the cheapest way to go and avoid roaming charges if i did need to use it.
Thanks
 
I like prepaid, that's all I use. I have a grandfathered plan with Virgin Mobile that costs me only $5 per month most months, with money that doesn't expire. Most of the new plans are a bit different now and will cost more. Still, not a bad idea.

HOWEVER -- this is important -- check your coverage map. I like Virgin Mobile, but hate the coverage. They use Sprint's network. There is ZERO coverage in most of South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and other places. For an "emergency phone", this is not good. Some of the other guys have much better coverage, at least at a minimum they are covered on the interstate corridors out West.
 
I have a cell phone almost solely for emergencies (i.e. - I almost never use it). Several years back I switched to the AT&T Go-phone. It carries a $1 per day fee for any day that you use it, plus $0.10 per minute. Preloaded money is good for 3 months. However, if you load $25 every 3 months, any remainder rolls over. So, for $8.33 per month you're covered for emergencies.

Of course, my old flip phone does nothing but make and receive calls. If you need to text or take and send pictures or surf the web on a fancy smart phone, it may not be the plan for you.
 
JoeWras said:
I like prepaid, that's all I use. I have a grandfathered plan with Virgin Mobile that costs me only $5 per month most months, with money that doesn't expire. Most of the new plans are a bit different now and will cost more. Still, not a bad idea.

HOWEVER -- this is important -- check your coverage map. I like Virgin Mobile, but hate the coverage. They use Sprint's network. There is ZERO coverage in most of South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and other places. For an "emergency phone", this is not good. Some of the other guys have much better coverage, at least at a minimum they are covered on the interstate corridors out West.
Click to expand...

I would NOT recommend Virgin at all.... now the costs are higher and as mentioned the coverage sucks...

I have been using Virgin for many years and bought one for my DW... the three times she was in NEED of a phone she did not have any coverage...

She is now on Tracfone and only had coverage trouble once (in a remote state park, but is she climbed the big hill she did have coverage)....

Son has TMobile and so far it seems to be using the same system as Tracfone (I believe Verizon)....
 
Texas Proud said:
I would NOT recommend Virgin at all.... now the costs are higher and as mentioned the coverage sucks...

I have been using Virgin for many years and bought one for my DW... the three times she was in NEED of a phone she did not have any coverage...

She is now on Tracfone and only had coverage trouble once (in a remote state park, but is she climbed the big hill she did have coverage)....

Son has TMobile and so far it seems to be using the same system as Tracfone (I believe Verizon)....
Click to expand...

I have to agree, about Virgin coverage, though I am pleased with the $30 monthly price for everything it offers,and it is my only phone. But for traveling, yep, not so much. Even within my own coverage areas, go just a few miles on the back roads, and you better have a long string on that tin can to communicate as the phone isn't going to do you any good.
 
JoeWras said:
I like prepaid, that's all I use. I have a grandfathered plan with Virgin Mobile that costs me only $5 per month .........
Click to expand...

I got rid of that exorbitant $5 a month Virgin. Now I have Page Plus which is $2.50 a month and uses the Verizon network. Plus I can use a smart phone with this plan, though I leave the 3 G turned off.

You just need to pick up a used Verizon non-prepaid phone off eBay or similar to use. PagePlus also sells phones, but they are not a good deal.
 
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You mention calling AAA, but if you only need it for calling 911 you don't even need to have a phone that is on a plan or has prepurchased minutes.

Repurpose an Old Cellphone as an Emergency Phone for your Car, Other Strategic Locations

and

9-1-1 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In the U.S., Federal Communications Commission rules require every telephone that can access the network to be able to dial 9-1-1, regardless of any reason that normal service may have been disconnected (including non-payment) (This only applies to states with a Do Not Disconnect policy in place. Those states must provide a "soft" or "warm" dial tone service, details can be found at FCC On wired (land line) phones, this usually is accomplished by a "soft" dial tone, which sounds normal but will allow only emergency calls. Often, an unused and unpublished phone number will be issued to the line so that it will work properly. With regard to mobile phones, the rules require carriers to connect 9-1-1 calls from any mobile phone, regardless of whether that phone is currently active. The same rules for inactive telephones apply in Canada.​
 
Go Phone has good coverage.

Yes, 911 is available without a plan, but you need to get a phone that works, i.e. NOT Sprint/Virgin Mobile in Wyoming.

The Sprint/VM coverage is kind of a bite in the rear for someone wanting to travel the USA. Want to see Mt. Rushmore, Devil's Tower, Yellowstone, Glacier? Leave your Sprint/VM cell phone home 'cause it ain't gonna work.
 
Another reason not to use Virgin Mobile. I'm on the paylo/pay by the minute plan. Phone needed to be topped up by 2/21 and we had a balance of $280 on it. They used to give you a grace period of 6 months to keep your balance and number. Now, it's only 1 day before they drain your remaining balance to zero! I had to call in a ticket to try to recover my balance. We're trying to use up the balance before we move to another service.
 
I use consumercellular.com - they have a variety of plans and are reliable. It's fairly cheap. I chose to get a smartphone about a year ago and pay about $27 a month (there are much cheaper plans). I did have to pay for the phone. They also give an AARP discount of 5%.
 
mpeirce said:
You mention calling AAA, but if you only need it for calling 911 you don't even need to have a phone that is on a plan or has prepurchased minutes.
Click to expand...

One minor catch......... The 911 dispatcher is not obligated to call your preferred auto service provider. For example, you lock your keys in the car at a remote campground. You call 911. You wind up with a trooper on scene taking and filing a report and some service provider who is on the state police current preferred "list." Whether AAA will honor and reimburse you for the service call provided by this other service, I'm not sure.

A "no-plan" phone isn't a bad idea if you can't afford a cheapie pre-paid situation. When your car is stalled on the railroad tracks and the next train is due in 15 mins, it's good to have someone to call for help! Just don't expect the 911 dispatcher to do anything custom for you to solve routine automotive breakdowns, lost keys, itinerary changes, etc.
 
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I use pre-paid Verizon. A $100 deposit doesn't expire for a year. They charge $1.00 each day that I use it plus $0.10 per minute. The phone cost $20 at WalMart. It works fine for occasional use.
 
been using Tracfone for years. takes a while to time your usage with the 3-month time frame that comes with each minutes purchase. if you getone, make sure to get the "double minutes for life" feature/option
 
Independent said:
I use pre-paid Verizon. A $100 deposit doesn't expire for a year. They charge $1.00 each day that I use it plus $0.10 per minute. The phone cost $20 at WalMart. It works fine for occasional use.
Click to expand...

Can you transfer an existing phone number to such plans? This might be a good option for DH's next phone, when his dinosaur finally gives it up.
 
youbet said:
One minor catch......... The 911 dispatcher is not obligated to call your preferred auto service provider. For example, you lock your keys in the car at a remote campground. You call 911. You wind up with a trooper on scene taking and filing a report and some service provider who is on the state police current preferred "list." Whether AAA will honor and reimburse you for the service call provided by this other service, I'm not sure.

A "no-plan" phone isn't a bad idea if you can't afford a cheapie pre-paid situation. When your car is stalled on the railroad tracks and the next train is due in 15 mins, it's good to have someone to call for help! Just don't expect the 911 dispatcher to do anything custom for you to solve routine automotive breakdowns, lost keys, itinerary changes, etc.
Click to expand...
Yes, in many states they have "the list" and simply go to the next in rotation, by law. You have little choice unless you do it yourself. Friend had a medium scale accident and let the trooper handle it and "the list" guy was in a horrible neighborhood, etc. He easily could have called AAA himself but didn't even realize he had that option. So, he ended up paying for tow that was expensive, in a bad neighborhood, and on the other side of town from his preferred body shop.
 
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You can get a tracfone for $20 from their website. It will come with 2 months service and 20 minutes talk time. They probably have a deal where you get an extra 3 months service and 60 minutes talk time free with the $20 phone. And they used to have free shipping on these $20 phones. And there are often coupon codes online to knock another $3 or so off the $20 phone. So you could have a phone, 5 months service, and 80+ minutes of talk time for $17-20.

We used tracfone for years but recently switched to T-mobile.
 
I've been using an AT&T Go-phone for more than 5 years now. (Still have the same original flip phone which was given out "free" at the time). As others have said, it carries a $1 per day useage fee for any day that you use it, plus $0.10 per minute charge. No other charges. I add $100 per year to my account which is good for a full year and rolls over any unused dollars. I use it an average of 2 or 3 times a month and have found the coverage to be as good as you can expect for most cell phone.
 
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T-mobile prepaid (you can use any unlocked GSM phone instrument) and just get a free SIM from t-mobile store or online. It comes loaded with a some 10-15 minutes. You can charge for as little as $10 and it will be good for 90 days. On days when you expect to make or receive a lot of calls you can convert to Pay-by-the-day plan. Or just get deducted the minutes. Check tmobile prepaid website for details. I have used it for years, no roaming charges, etc. Overall prepaid SIMs and plans by any carrier are relative inexpensive, so you can use generously without breaking your bank while traveling. Comes handy checking hotel availability, restaurant and museum hours, etc. $30 per month gives 1500 talk and text. In fact if you have a smartphone GSM unlocked, you can get for $30 per month, unlimited 4G data, text and 100 mins voice. No contract in prepaid.
StraightTalk and several other prepaid carriers have similar plans.
 
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We both have Tracfones and love them. I think we had a problem only once and we are around a lot. Very cheap. We bought the phones on clearance at Walgreens. Target also has them. I would not buy from the website, you have to pay shipping.
 
If you are traveling in the desert or mountain West, Verizon has the best coverage. Maybe there are other carriers that use Verizon's network. Since it is not GSM, there is no SIM card.
 
I use my phone all the time, so I opted for unlimited Talk, Text and Data for $49 a month, then I worked to get that to the point where it now pays me. More than one way to skin a cat and I love having the Internet at my finger tips, sharing photos of my travel with family back home instantly, staying in touch with text messages and more.
 
The OP could look at Consumer Cellular offerings, no contracts. Their coverage looks exactly like Verizon cellular.
 
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