Roadside Assistance

By Author: Way Auto
Total Articles: 11
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Have you ever found yourself stuck on the highway having run out of gas or a flat tire? Roadside assistance is going to get you out of all these conditions with ease! Roadside assistance helps drivers when they can't get their cars back on the road. If you've lost your car key, run out of gas, or need your car towed to the nearest service station, getting a roadside assistance package along with your car insurance policy will get you out of an emergency.

Roadside programs vary depending on the insurance provider you select, but most commonly include:

Towing/tow-truck services

Flat-tire changes

Fuel delivery services

Locksmith services

Battery jump-start services

Winch truck service

There is no option for free roadside assistance for policyholders. Usually, you pay a monthly or annual coverage fee for a roadside assistance plan. This gives you access to the services mentioned above at no extra charge. Another choice you have is to pay for roadside compensation per incident, i.e., instead of paying for service every month, you'll pay when (and if) ...
... you're ever in need of assistance.

How to choose your roadside assistance?

You can make use of roadside assistance facilities by:

Your car insurance company

Your AAA Membership or similar association

Your phone services provider

Your car manufacturer

Some of the choices made available to you may be more costly than others, but we recommend that you do not base your decision solely on the price. Not all roadside assistance programs are the same, so be sure to ask the following questions when shopping:

Cost determination of roadside assistance

Some of the best car insurance companies in the country offer roadside assistance. Roadside assistance can cost anything from $5 to more than $100 a year — often, it can come as a free service from your credit card company or a new car manufacturer. You could be charged extra charges over and above this base price for these facilities. For example, your plan will cover fuel delivery, but you will have to pay for gas. Some programs also limit the number of manual labor hours, or how many miles a vehicle can be towed, after which you pay an extra fee.

Number of roadside assistance you can make in a year

A few policies would allow unlimited calls, but a few will cover just four claims per year. After that, you're usually only going to get help by adding an extra fee. But if you have too many claims, certain companies can not offer roadside assistance in the future.

Roadside assistance for not your vehicle

While insurance providers and automotive suppliers generally provide car-based services, roadside assistance may also be offered to the consumer by being a member of the AAA. This means that you can call for help if your friend's car breaks down when you're on a trip.

Range of coverage

Membership associations usually allow you to apply additional fees to members of your household. Other plans provided by cell phone carriers offer coverage based on who has a registered device/mobile. For example, if your friend borrows your mobile phone and needs roadside assistance, the incident will be covered even if you are not physically present.

Impact of multiple claims for roadside assistance

If you buy roadside insurance policies from your auto insurance company, excess claims will affect your rates. As long as you use the package only for occasional emergencies, your prices are unlikely to increase. However, companies such as State Farm remember that many emergency road claims could be classified as a danger that could cause a rate increase.

If you want to buy a roadside assistance package, think carefully about where you want to buy it. We've identified a range of options below to help you determine which strategy is best for you.

Auto insurers typically offer roadside assistance as an optional coverage, but you will only be covered if you also receive comprehensive and accident insurance from them. Some organizations like State Farm have unlimited service coverage, while others can pay for four incidents a year. While not all insurers offer roadside assistance, the following ones offer roadside insurance :

Farmers: Coverage costs for Farmers vary from state to state, without a set limit on the number of service calls. Any of the advantages include towing facilities up to $150.

GEICO: Roadside assistance with GEICO starts at $15 a year per car while locking services can cost you up to $100 a year.

Erie: Roadside assistance coverage with Erie costs about $5 a year per car and is only available if you have Erie's comprehensive insurance or accident insurance policy in place. Some of Erie's advantages include towing to the nearest garage station, plus an extra 20 miles.

Allstate: You will be able to apply roadside assistance to your insurance policy starting at the cost of $25 per vehicle per year. If you do not have an Allstate policy or prefer membership that includes additional benefits, there are two options to choose from-$80 to $140 a year. Depending on the form of membership you select, the agreement can include three to five service calls a year. If you don't want to enter into a deal, Allstate has a pay-for-use option that starts at $120 per tow.

State Farm: State Farm Roadside assistance costs about $10 a year per vehicle and has no limitations on the number of emergency service calls. State Farm also provides pay-per-incident compensation.

Progressive: Roadside assistance involves facilities such as towing services anywhere within 15 miles or to the nearest repair facility.

AAA and other related organizations: Membership organizations like AAA can be more costly than other roadside assistance options, but they have the benefit that you won't typically find with other roadside assistance offerings. With organizations like AAA or Better World Club, you can get emergency road benefits plus travel assistance and discounts on hotels, car rentals, and movie tickets.

Both the AAA and the Better World Club offer different types of membership. Better World Club, which focuses on environmentally sustainable values, costs less than $60 a year for a standard package and less than $100 for the premium plan. AAA subscription rates differ depending on the amount and region, but they can range from about $50 to more than $165 a year. These plans usually cover four service calls a year but can vary depending on the company and the level of membership chosen. What's more, these companies allow you to add people who live in your household to your package for an extra cost.

AAA and Better World Club are not the only member groups to provide roadside assistance. For example, if you own a recreation vehicle and are more interested in camping discounts than travel, the Good Sam Club, which caters to RV owners, might be better suited to you. Good Sam offers auto-only coverage of less than $50 a year, with auto and RV bundles varying from $65 to $120.

Before you finalize your policy it is better to compare car insurance. While your personal car insurance company might offer a roadside program, third-party vendors may provide better service and coverage options.