This immediately gives you an additional option for roadside assistance if you have trouble at no extra cost. Depending on the type of company that provides the coverage, you might have to pay for a service up front and submit receipts for reimbursement. This can be the case if you have roadside assistance through an extended car warranty or even through your auto insurance policy. This is usually not the case if you have roadside assistance from a specialty company like AAA. Many insurance providers allow you to add roadside assistance coverage as an add-on or rider to your existing policy.
If you’re broken down in the middle of a busy intersection, you’re going to get help a lot faster than if you get a flat tire down a winding country road miles out of town. Generally, roadside assistance provides coverage to get your car back to driving condition. Here are some of the types of services covered and some information about each of them. The Road Rangers Service Patrol is a free service of the Florida Department of Transportation.
Retrieving keys locked inside a car
Part of that is just the fact that nobody has to contact roadside assistance if they aren’t already in a jam or having some kind of problem with their car. This makes most contact with roadside assistance stressful by default.
Some plans include a mobile charging service for electric vehicle owners who run out of juice on the road. Breakdown coverage usually includes towing, lockout assistance, battery jump-starts, spare tire installation and fuel delivery. It can also include winching, trip interruption coverage or battery replacement depending on the company. Now that we’ve answered questions like how long does roadside assistance take, it’s time to add roadside assistance to your auto insurance policy. This feature provides you with peace of mind that would be impossible to have otherwise. Not only that, but a car insurance policy adds value to your vehicle. When reviewing roadside assistance coverage, pay close attention to what’s included in the policy—and what exclusions may apply.
Budget Direct has a national network of more than 2,000 service providers, who you can access around the clock for just $89.95 a year – less than $1.75 per week. That is to say, if your vehicle breaks down, you can call your provider for assistance and, if necessary, they’ll dispatch a roadside contractor or tow truck to help you.
Keep in mind that within most policies, a loan vehicle is USUALLY only provided for a maximum of 2 weeks. If the repair time will take longer than this there might be some additional costs to make sure you have a loan car.
Roadside assistance is a car insurance add-on that connects policyholders to the right professionals when their vehicle breaks down, runs out of gasoline, figures in an accident, or needs minor repairs. As roadside services can be expensive, roadside assistance coverage can help pay for these costs. Without roadside assistance coverage, you may want to try to fix your car troubles, like a flat tire or needed jump-start, on your own to save money. But this option only works for people with the knowledge required to complete various vehicle repairs. Plus, if you call a professional for assistance, you may end up paying more without roadside assistance coverage. When you have your roadside assistance plan through your car insurance company, the service will only be available to use on the car that coverage is listed. However, when you choose expert towing services, they may allow you to utilize it no matter whose car you’re driving.
There are other companies that may also provide roadside assistance either free of charge with their other services or as a membership option. You also might be able to get roadside coverage through an extended warranty on your car. Keep in mind, since your coverage is often tied to the vehicle, you will lose warranty coverage if you sell the car. If the cost of repair is over a certain amount, no work can actually be done until an independent assessor has checked it out. This can take longer because there aren’t as many assessors as there are vehicles. If this happens, and it is covered by your policy you will be given access to a loan vehicle.
To understand how roadside assistance works, you need to make sure that you have access to roadside assistance in the first place. The last thing you want to have to do when you’ve just had a breakdown or a flat tire is figure out where your roadside assistance will be coming from. This situation is complicated even further if you’re in a remote area.
