The Benefits of Adding Roadside Assistance to Your Car Insurance Policy

When you’re on the road, you never know when you might encounter a problem with your vehicle. Whether it is a flat tire, a dead battery, or a lockout, you need someone to help you get back on track.

That’s why many drivers add roadside assistance to their car insurance. Roadside assistance is a service that provides gas or oil delivery, emergency jumpstarts, towing, or other automotive support in case of a breakdown or emergency.

We know how frustrating and scary it can be to face a vehicle problem during a trip, especially when you have other people depending on you. You don’t want to waste time and money on unreliable or expensive services that may not even be available when you need them.

You want peace of mind and confidence that you can handle any situation that comes your way.

With roadside assistance coverage, you can be the hero of your trip. Whether traveling with family, friends, or colleagues, you can rest assured that you’ll always keep moving, no matter what happens on the road.

Driving can be unpredictable, and finding yourself in need of roadside assistance can happen to anyone. It’s essential to have a reliable solution in place to help you when you’re stranded.

But how do you get roadside assistance? And is it worth adding it to your car insurance policy?

In this article, we’ll answer these questions and more. We’ll explain what roadside assistance is, how it works, and what benefits it offers. We’ll also compare two common ways to get roadside assistance: using AAA or adding it to your car insurance.

As an agency with years of experience providing Roadside Assistance coverage, we understand the stress and uncertainty that comes with a vehicle breakdown. That’s why we offer a reliable solution through our qualified insurance partners.

After reading to the end, you’ll have a better idea of whether roadside assistance is right for you and how to choose the best option for your needs.

AAA and Insurance Carrier Roadside Assistance: Understanding Your Options

There are two main types of roadside assistance: AAA and insurance carrier roadside assistance.

AAA Roadside Assistance

AAA roadside assistance is a service offered by the American Automobile Association to its members. It provides travel planning and a range of emergency services for drivers who experience issues with their vehicles while on the road.

These services, which are available 24/7, may include

• battery jump-starts
• flat tire changes
• towing to a nearby repair facility
• vehicle lockout assistance, and
• fuel delivery in case of an empty tank

The purpose of AAA roadside assistance is to help drivers get back on the road as quickly and safely as possible.

Overall, it’s a valuable service that can save you a lot of time and money if you ever need it. AAA membership costs vary depending on the level of service you choose, but it’s typically a good investment for most drivers.

Insurance Carrier Roadside Assistance

Alternatively, many people choose to add roadside assistance coverage to their car insurance policies. Insurance carrier roadside assistance is a service provided by some auto insurance carriers as part of their insurance policies or as an optional add-on.

This service provides assistance to policyholders in case of a roadside emergency or vehicle breakdown, similar to AAA. Some of the common coverage provided under insurance carrier roadside assistance include

• towing
• flat tire repair
• jump-starting a dead battery
• fuel delivery
• lockout assistance, and
• minor mechanical repairs

Roadside assistance provided by insurance carriers may save you money, as you won’t need to pay for a separate roadside assistance membership or individual services. Furthermore, it often works in conjunction with your insurance, which simplifies the claims process if an accident or damage occurs during a roadside event. Some plans include emergency medical assistance.

By opting for roadside assistance as part of your car insurance plan, you gain access to valuable support when needed. But it’s important to note that this coverage doesn’t cover the cost of repairs or parts but focuses on providing assistance.

Below are five common situations and how this coverage can be beneficial. We include a few issues to be cautious of.

1. You Drained Your Battery

Looks like your car battery is drained from an inside light or headlights being on too long. No worries, though. Roadside assistance can jump-start it and get you going again.

Caution: Just remember, they only cover the jump-start, not a new battery if you need one.

2. You Run Out of Gas

Bummer, it looks like you’ve run out of gas. Maybe your gas gauge is acting up. No worries, though. Roadside assistance can swing by and bring you enough fuel to make it to the nearest gas station.

Caution: Just remember, insurance probably won’t cover the gas cost, but no biggie, you’d have to pay for it anyway if you didn’t run out. Keep on cruisin’!

3. You Get a Flat Tire

Oh no! Looks like you’ve got a flat tire this time. Maybe even from a sneaky nail. You need help with your flat. Good news: if you have a spare, roadside assistance can send someone to swap it out, and you’ll be back on the road in no time.

Caution: Just a heads up, the cost of a new tire or fixing the damaged one isn’t included. But hey, at least you’ll be up and running again!

4. Your Keys Are Locked in the Car

Even if your car doesn’t have an app to unlock the doors or a feature that prevents locking with the key inside, don’t worry. You’re not out of options! That sinking feeling of seeing your keys just out of reach can be frustrating, but help is available. Roadside assistance can typically send a locksmith to your location to get you back on track.

Caution: While they won’t cover the cost of a new key fob or lock change, they may cover the locksmith’s visit. Hang in there!

5. You Need a Tow

So, your car isn’t starting, and it doesn’t seem to be the battery, gas, flat tires, or locked doors. Looks like you need a tow to get it fixed. No worries, roadside assistance can send a tow truck to take your car to a repair shop.

Caution: Just keep in mind that your insurance company has a limit on how far they’ll cover the towing costs. It could be 15, 50, or some other number of miles. If you need the tow truck to go beyond that limit, you’ll have to cover the extra cost yourself!

How to Use Roadside Assistance Wisely and Save Money

Adding roadside assistance to your car insurance policy can be a smart and affordable choice. It can give you peace of mind when you face a problem with your vehicle on the road, such as the five issues we highlighted above. However, you should also be aware of the possible consequences of using this coverage too often.

Every time you use your roadside assistance coverage, you’re effectively making a claim on your insurance policy. Making one or two claims is not a big deal, but making several claims in a short period can raise red flags for your carrier. They may see you as a high-risk customer and increase your rates or even cancel your policy.

To avoid this situation, we recommend that you have another option for roadside assistance, such as AAA or a similar service. That way, you can use them for minor issues and save your insurance coverage for emergencies. This will help you keep your insurance costs low and avoid any problems with your policy.

We often advise our clients to consider this strategy when shopping for insurance.

Enhance Your Auto Policy with Roadside Assistance

If you choose to forego roadside assistance coverage, you may be exposed to various risks and inconveniences when encountering a vehicle problem on the road. You could lose time and money struggling to find help, adding unneeded stress and frustration to the mix.

We certainly don’t want you to experience that situation. That’s why we recommend making the wise choice of adding roadside assistance coverage to your car insurance plan.

That way, you can benefit from a reliable and convenient support system during emergencies. From jump-starting a dead battery to towing your vehicle when breakdowns occur, having roadside assistance can save you from unnecessary stress and costs.

Moreover, combining roadside assistance with a service such as AAA enables you to effectively manage your coverage usage and minimize claims on your insurance policy, thereby keeping your insurance costs low and avoiding policy cancelation risks.

You deserve to feel calm and secure on the road, not stressed and stranded. You need a dependable and affordable service that can help you with any vehicle issue, anytime, anywhere.

Ultimately, adding roadside assistance can offer peace of mind and prove to be a valuable investment for you. And your fellow travelers will thank you for keeping things moving.

Enhancing your auto policy with roadside assistance is a simple process. Just reach out to us by phone at 315-635-2095 or fill out our contact form. We’ll guide you through adding it to your coverage.

Please note that you need comprehensive coverage for the vehicle to be eligible for roadside assistance. This is applicable to any car you want to add this service to.

If you’re not yet a car insurance client, we’d be happy to talk about your options. Simply click the Get a Quote button below, and one of our insurance specialists will be in touch with you!

If you want to learn more about obtaining a proper auto policy, read our auto insurance overview.