Roadside Assistance in Emergency Situations
For many of us, we will eventually face a problem that requires calling for help while driving. Of course, the best option often is to have a friend or family member come to our aid. However, it may also happen that we are far from home, or it is the middle of the night. Or it may be dangerous enough that we need professional assistance.
There is nothing worse than being stranded somewhere and struggling to figure out who can come to help. Many companies are unavailable after business hours, on weekends, or in the middle of the night.
Some insurance companies may allow you to add or request roadside assistance in an emergency. This can be an expensive option, but it may help you, especially if you are stuck in a bad situation in the middle of the night and do not know whom to call.
Note: One company that offers roadside assistance is Allstate. You don’t even need to have a policy there, thanks to Allstate’s “Good Hands” pay-per-use program.
How Can Roadside Assistance Help You?
When purchasing your car insurance policy, ask if they can offer roadside assistance. Your insurance company may let you choose a roadside assistance program or an additional endorsement to add to your policy. You may have different options to choose from, with multiple levels of coverage.
Here are some common coverages for emergency roadside assistance that you can inquire about:
– Flat Tire Change: Do you have a flat tire? All you have to do is call the toll-free number 24/7. A roadside assistance representative will send someone to change the tire on-site.
– Emergency Towing: If they cannot fix the tire on-site, or if another mechanical issue arises and the car needs towing to a repair shop, towing may also be covered.
– Dead Battery, Lockout, or Lost Keys: Left your lights on? Now the battery is dead and the car won’t start. The assistance will come out and handle that as well. Furthermore, if your keys are lost or locked in the car, the company will send a locksmith to get into the vehicle or will make new keys.
– Out of Fuel: The company may send someone with fuel to help you get back on the road.
– Mechanical Breakdown: Roadside assistance may help you in case of a mechanical breakdown and need to tow the car to the nearest service station. However, the breakdown itself may not be covered. It may only be covered if you have mechanical breakdown insurance coverage.
Fees and Discounts
Many emergency roadside assistance companies offer most services at no charge at the time of service. This means, for example, if a repair technician sent by an external roadside service company needs to come to change a flat tire or assist with another covered repair, there will be no charge at the time of service.
After the repair, the customer simply signs a form and gets back on the road. So, if you do not want to pay any out-of-pocket fees for roadside assistance, make sure to choose a company that does not impose any fees or discounts at the time of service.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does roadside assistance cost?
Basic roadside assistance plans cost about $40 to $60 a year and cover basic services such as flat tire repairs and towing. Some car manufacturers offer more comprehensive plans that can cost much more than that.
How much
Can roadside assistance tow the car?
Basic roadside assistance plans typically have towing limits ranging from about 5 to 25 miles. Many insurance companies offer optional policy upgrades that can extend the towing limits to 100 or 200 miles.
How can I contact roadside assistance?
Many insurance companies now allow you to start a roadside assistance claim directly through their mobile app or website. Your insurance card should also have a number you can call for roadside assistance. If you can’t find that number, contact your agent’s office for more information.
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Sources
The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts in our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we verify facts and maintain the accuracy, reliability, and quality of our content.
Allstate Insurance Company. “Roadside Assistance Pay-Per-Use.”
State Farm. “Emergency Road Service Coverage.”
State Farm. “24 Hour Emergency Roadside Service.”
Consumer Reports. “What to Consider When Buying a Roadside Assistance Plan.”
Car Insurance
Emergency roadside services – common coverages
Can you add roadside assistance to your car insurance?
By: Mila Araujo
Updated on July 30, 2022
Reviewed by: Anthony Battel
In this article
Emergency roadside assistance can be incredibly helpful in emergencies, such as a flat tire or breakdown. Learn how to get help in these types of situations with roadside assistance.
Emergency Roadside Assistance
For many of us, we will eventually face a problem that requires calling for help while driving. Of course, the best option is often for a friend or family member to come assist us. But it may also happen that we are far from home or it is the middle of the night. Or it could be dangerous enough that we need professional help.
There’s nothing worse than being stuck somewhere and struggling to figure out who can come help. Many companies are unavailable after business hours or on weekends or in the middle of the night.
Some insurance companies may allow you to add or request roadside assistance in an emergency. This can be a costly option, but it can help you, especially if you’re stuck in a bad situation in the middle of the night and don’t know who to call.
Note: One company offering roadside assistance services is Allstate. You don’t even have to have a policy there, thanks to Allstate’s “Good Hands” pay-per-use program.
A tire could blow out in the middle of the night during a long road trip. But the decision to get roadside assistance from your insurance company or another source can make the whole situation less stressful.
How can roadside assistance help you?
When purchasing your car insurance policy, ask if they can provide roadside assistance. Your insurance company may allow you to choose a roadside assistance program or an add-on to include in your policy. You may have different options to choose from, with many levels of coverage.
Here are some common emergency roadside assistance coverages you can inquire about:
– Flat tire change: Do you have a flat tire? All you need to do is call the 24-hour toll-free number. A roadside assistance service representative will send someone to change the tire on-site.
–
Emergency vehicle towing: If he is unable to fix the tire on-site, or if a different mechanical issue arises and the vehicle needs to be towed to a repair shop, the towing process may also be covered.
– Dead battery, locked or lost keys: Left the lights on. Now the battery is dead, and the car won’t start. Roadside assistance will come out and handle that as well. Additionally, if the keys are lost or locked in the car, the company will send a locksmith to get into the car or will make new keys.
– Out of fuel: The company may send someone with fuel to help you get back on the road.
– Mechanical breakdown: Roadside assistance may help you in the event of a mechanical breakdown and you need to tow the car to the nearest service station. However, the breakdown itself may not be covered. That may only be covered if you have mechanical breakdown insurance coverage.
Fees and Discounts
Many emergency roadside assistance companies offer most services at no charge at the time of service. This means, for example, if a repair technician sent by the roadside assistance company needs to come out to change a flat tire or assist with another covered repair, there will be no cost at the time of service.
After the repair, the customer simply signs a form and gets back on the road. So, if you do not want to pay any fees out of pocket for roadside assistance, make sure to choose a company that does not charge any fees or deductibles at the time of service.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does roadside assistance cost?
Basic roadside assistance plans cost about $40 to $60 per year and cover essential services such as flat tire repairs and towing. Some automobile manufacturers offer more comprehensive plans that can cost significantly more.
How far can roadside assistance tow a vehicle?
Basic roadside assistance plans have towing limits ranging from approximately 5 to 25 miles. Many insurance companies offer optional policy upgrades, which can extend towing limits to 100 or 200 miles.
How can I contact roadside assistance?
Many insurance companies now allow you to initiate a roadside assistance claim directly through their mobile app or website. Your insurance card should also have a number you can call to request roadside assistance. If you can’t find this number, contact your agent’s office for more information.
Was this page helpful?
Thank you for your feedback! Let us know why! Other
Sources
The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts in our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we verify facts and maintain the accuracy, reliability, and quality of our content.
Allstate Insurance Company. “Roadside Assistance Pay-Per-Use.”
State Farm. “Emergency Road Service Coverage.”
State Farm. “24 Hour Emergency Roadside Service.”
Consumer Reports. “What to Consider When Buying a Roadside Assistance Plan.”
Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/emergency-roadside-services-common-coverages-2645838
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