The Roadside Assistance Ultimate Guide

| Updated on March 27, 2024

Although it’s not necessary, you should check with your insurance provider for roadside assistance. If you’ve ever been stranded on the side of the road without help, you’ll know how inconvenient it is. Because the average cost of towing a car range from $75 to $125, roadside assistance insurance can help cover it. But, where can you find the best roadside assistance insurance policy, and how much would you pay for it? The following sections on everything related to roadside assistance serve as your tell-all.

What is Roadside Assistance?

For those times when your car stops working, you will have to pull over on the shoulder of the road; roadside assistance will meet you right there, ready to solve the issue. Services such as these usually offer membership with an annual fee. Some insurance companies may provide it as an auto policy add-on for extra on your monthly premiums.

However you receive it, roadside assistance is a good thing to have because:

  • You can receive emergency assistance anytime for issues like depleted fuel, flat tire, or tow to an auto shop.
  • A portion of repair costs can be covered by the premiums or membership fees you pay for the service. It’s also possible to have insurance cover certain services like towing.

What is Covered by Roadside Assistance?

Notable services that roadside insurance includes is:

  • Tows
  • Rides for yourself and any passengers
  • Dead battery restart
  • Fuel drop off
  • Lockouts
  • Flat tires
  • Winching

How is Roadside Assistance Coverage Unique?

The majority of vehicles are insured with basic vehicle insurance, which simply covers the cost of repairing collision damage. In most situations, emergency response is not covered under basic auto insurance plans. If you have a flat tire or an empty gasoline tank, warranties will likely repair or replace faulty components in your new car, although brake problems and missing parts are excluded. You can typically get roadside assistance as an add-on to your existing plan. When you combine roadside assistance with multiple other services from the same provider, you will benefit from the convenience and potential cost savings.

Why is Roadside Assistance Important to Have?

You wouldn’t be able to change a tire on the side of the road in the dark if you didn’t have roadside assistance. With roadside assistance, though, help is only a phone call away. A professional will come to your location immediately to rescue both you and your automobile if you have roadside assistance. The most typical reasons for roadside assistance calls are dead batteries, flat tires, and lockouts. Many services will also provide other life-saving emergency services such as gasoline delivery. If your car is inaccessible to be towed due to out-of-service or other factors, a roadside assistance plan will reimburse a certain amount or all of it.

Drivers who would ideally benefit from roadside assistance are:

  • Elderly/old driver
  • Young/new drivers
  • Parents with kids
  • Drivers with a disability
  • Old cars
  • Remote location
  • People who drive more than 20 miles daily
  • Frequent travelers

Where to Get Roadside Assistance?

Roadside assistance can be obtained from the following:

  • Car insurance providers – It can be purchased as an add-on to your auto policy.
  • Organizations – AAA is the most popular one where you can pay an annual fee to be a member.
  • Carmakers – Some preowned vehicles come with roadside assistance until the warranty expires.
  • Credit card provider – Some credit card companies offer roadside assistance for a discounted service fee every time it’s used.

Which Roadside Assistance Program Do You Get?

You may be unsure which roadside assistance firm is best for you because there are so many to choose from. It’s not only about the cost; other factors should also be taken into account. Standalone roadside assistance coverage from firms such as AAA and AARP, which are more costly, comes with a slew of freebies that may be well worth the investment. Identity theft monitoring, travel discounts, vehicle inspections, and registration assistance are just a few of the services provided by AAA to its members.

Many vehicle insurance providers offer roadside assistance. When purchasing a policy, you may add emergency roadside coverage to your current insurance coverage or get it as a separate policy. Costs are low, and the majority of the time, the benefits are helpful. Take this into account while comparing auto insurance rates and inquire about roadside assistance limitations. 

The most inexpensive roadside assistance plans are those that come as part of your credit card. If you’re unsure whether any of the cards you already have qualified for free roadside assistance, it’s a good idea to double-check. Just don’t expect this to be your only source of emergency roadside coverage.

Roadside Insurance Accidents

Although roadside assistance is useful in the event of non-life-threatening car difficulties., it isn’t a substitute for auto insurance and won’t cover more significant events. If you get into an accident, notify emergency services at once. It’s important to know where your roadside assistance coverage ends. If your automobile breaks down and you need it towed, for example, most emergency roadside care will cover the tow truck fee. It is wise to set money aside to pay for repairs not covered by roadside assistance.


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