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Standard fully covered auto insurance covers vehicle damage caused by collisions, animal incidents, vandalism, and bad weather. But what it usually doesn’t cover is an equally stressful (and expensive) moment when your car simply breaks down. Adding roadside assistance to your car insurance can help offset the costs of these incidents, but you can also consider purchasing roadside assistance from another service provider.
What is roadside assistance?
Roadside Assistance is a service provided to physically and financially assist drivers in the event of a vehicle breakdown. This service or membership is usually offered at a rate as a supplement to car insurance provided by an insurance company or as a standalone membership provided by a roadside assistance provider.
It offers two main advantages:
- Policyholders will receive emergency roadside service in the event of a vehicle collapse. Services include fuel delivery, flat tire replacement, or towing to a service center if the issue cannot be resolved immediately.
- Roadside assistance can help reduce the costs of unexpected breakdowns. Just like with car insurance, roadside support policyholders pay a fee (or premium) to their service provider. In the event of a breakdown, the driver will generally not have to pay from pocket for the emergency services he receives, as long as it is within policy limits.
To put that in perspective, if your vehicle breaks down and you need to tow and your road support plan covers the towing, you can save some tidy money. According to JD Power, the average cost of towing is around $109, or between $2.50 and $7 per mile. The reporting company also says it can pay additional fees if there is a towing outside of business hours, a heavy truck or other heavy vehicle. Roadside assistance can also help you avoid these fees.
What does roadside aid cover?
If you choose roadside assistance, you can include the following coverage:
- Towing (up to the specific limit specified in the contract)
- Transportation assistance for stuck drivers and passengers
- Battery jump start
- Gas delivery
- Lockout service
- Tire replacement
- Winch to pull a stuck vehicle
This is not an exhaustive list. Services vary by company. For example, some insurance companies’ roadside assistance plans include travel disruption benefits that help offset the costs of accommodation, food and alternative transport (such as taxis and Uber) that may be required by a breakdown.
Why is road support different from other coverage?
Roadside assistance differs from other types of coverage that can be obtained from car insurance or manufacturer guarantees. Basic auto insurance usually covers only the customer’s liability, the cost of repairing damages caused by accidents and certain medical expenses, but usually does not include the cost of street service. The warranty repairs or replaces malfunctioning parts on new vehicles, but with the exception of some rare cases, flat tires and empty gas tanks are not covered.
Please note that roadside assistance plans can be purchased from insurance providers or vehicle manufacturers as an add-on to your current service. Make sure to shop before you make a plan to see if you’re getting the best prices and service.
learn more: Compare car insurance rates
Who should get roadside assistance?
Everyone should consider roadside assistance, but the service may not be worth the extra cost for everyone. Roadside support may be a particularly valuable investment when it falls into one of the following categories:
- If you are not confident in your ability to change tires or jump, start the car
- If your vehicle is old and has a tendency to break down unexpectedly
- If your teen drives a vehicle you own regularly
- If you travel frequently by car in an unfamiliar area
In other words, drivers with a high probability of vehicle breakdowns and drivers with less reliable in the event of a breakdown may benefit most from adding road support to car insurance coverage.
Where can I get roadside assistance?
There are several places to get roadside assistance:
- Auto insurance company: One of the easiest ways to get roadside assistance is through an auto insurance company. You can add it to your monthly or annual premiums. Some airlines may also include roadside assistance as part of their fully covered auto insurance package.
- Member organization: Organizations such as AAA and Good Sam specialize in roadside assistance. The AAA alone has over 65 million members, making up the majority of American drivers. Memberships include perks such as travel discounts and other exclusive offers.
- Automaker: If you plan to purchase a new or certified used car, you can get free roadside assistance due to the warranty period. For example, Honda’s roadside assistance lasts three years or 36,000 miles on most vehicles. Kia will last three years from the date of sale.
- Credit card company: There are credit cards that have been supported by roadsides, but exactly what you get varies from card to card. For example, some cards may only provide roadside dispatches in place of roadside assistance. This usually means you’ll be sent to someone by calling a special hotline, but you may need to pay for the exact roadside service.
Tips for using roadside assistance
If you are in a situation where you need to take advantage of roadside assistance, there are best practices that will help you stay safe. Consider these tips for performing roadside services.
- Keep your policy information on your vehicle. Keep it in a convenient location like a roadside support company’s phone and policy number, a glove box or wallet. If your provider has it, you can also download the provider’s mobile app.
- If possible, please go down the road. If it is safe, pilot it towards the side of the road, even if it means crossing traffic (use danger to warn other drivers). If you can’t get away from busy traffic, you may need to call 911 in place of roadside assistance.
- Identify the exact location. Your tow truck or other aid vehicle needs to know your exact location. Before seeking assistance, use a GPS map to determine the nearest highway exit or intersection. If you’re using Google Maps by texting a roadside support company, you can also tap on the blue dot to view the location and scroll through “Code” to get a map code that shows the exact coordinates. This can be pasted into a text application.
- Stay in your car. Your temptation is to leave your car and assess your flat tires and other damage to your car, but it is often safer to stay in your car. If you have to go out to check your car, you will return to your car as you wait for help to avoid being attacked by passing cars.
- It’s visible. Make sure your car is visible as much as possible. Turn on the headlights and hazard lights. If an emergency occurs, consider placing blink lights on a traffic cone or truck at the back of your car.
What if I don’t have roadside assistance?
If you don’t have roadside assistance and are in the way of traffic, it’s a good idea to call 911. If you are in the car park or are safely pulled to the side, you can call the tow truck or other services directly. Some states, such as California, have roadside call boxes on highways that call 511 and get help by saying “roadside assistance.”
How to determine which roadside assistance program is best for you
With so many roadside assistance programs available, you may be torn apart. Cost is an important factor, but that’s not all you need to consider. The Roadside Assistance Program offers a variety of levels of coverage and additional features with merit.
- Look at towing and calling restrictions: Not all roadside support plans are unlimited. The provider may limit the number of times the service can be used or the distance that can tow the vehicle before additional charges apply.
- See if the plan follows the driver or the car. Some roadside support plans continue to the vehicle. This means that anyone driving the vehicle can use the plan. Other roadside support packages follow the driver. This means that the driver planning can be used to assist the vehicle travelling.
- Consider other perks: Some roadside support plans may come with numerous perks and discounts, as provided through the AAA. While AAA roadside assistance could be more expensive than other plans, some members have found that the additional benefits make the cost valuable.
- Look for a break in your trip: If your car is suffering from a major breakdown far from home, you may need to stay in the hotel overnight. Travel disruption coverage helps cover accommodation and meal costs while waiting for the car to be locked down.
- Check if coverage can be expanded. Even if you are a passenger, the roadside support package may apply. Alternatively, you may be able to extend coverage to your family.
- Please check if there is a key exchange. Roadside assistance is almost always helpful when you lock the key to your car, but what if you place it completely wrong? In that case, a key exchange may be helpful, but you may need to pay for a new set.
Many drivers purchase roadside assistance through car insurance companies. This is useful, but it is important to know that using roadside assistance can be counted as technically filing a claim. This could increase your car insurance costs. Not all insurance companies increase their fees in response to roadside assistance claims, so it’s worth examining insurance company practices.
What are the roadside assistance not included?
Roadside assistance is no substitute for a serious medical emergency. If you are involved in an accident, immediately dial the 911. Furthermore, roadside assistance coverage is not the same as car insurance.
It is important to understand where your interests end before committing to roadside assistance policies. Some roadside support plans involve towing vehicles up to a certain number of miles. Roadside assistance also does not cover major repairs. Depending on the car insurance coverage you carry and the cause of damage, you may end up paying for repairs yourself.
