Do you have a car? Have you ever thought about what you should do when you find yourself far from home with your car broken down? You should always be prepared for unexpected things that can happen on the road and for that you should get auto insurance.
Aside from auto insurance, roadside assistance coverage is also available as an add on. The question here is if you should get your roadside assistance coverage together with your car insurance or not.
What is the roadside assistance coverage?
Roadside assistance coverage can help you at times when your car unexpectedly breaks down. There are many services they offer like gas delivery services, car lockout services, jumpstarting services, towing, and many others.
Many companies offer roadside assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All you have to do is to call them up and they will quickly send someone to help you out no matter where you are.
This add-on coverage is available as an add on for most of the auto insurance providers. Not all people know about it but it is worth asking your insurance providers. However, there are some car insurers who will require you to first have collision insurance or comprehensive insurance to get this add on.
Why should I get roadside assistance with my car insurer?
Your car insurance provider may offer a plan that includes roadside assistance. Some might say they don’t need it because they are careful drivers, but how about the other drivers on the street. If you’re already getting car insurance, roadside assistance is a good add-on to consider for the following reasons:
- Convenience Or Your Peace Of Mind – When faced in a helpless situation, it can put a whole lot of stress on you. Let’s say you had a flat tire on a narrow road on a snowy night. Sure, most people know how to change their tires but that’s not the only problem. In the middle of the night, you might not be very visible. Also, because of the season, the roads might be slippery and cars are more difficult to control. You wouldn’t want to place yourself at risk and calling roadside assistance will be a better option.
- Affordability – Most of the time, the effect of adding roadside assistance on your premium isn’t that much. It will only cost cheaper than getting roadside assistance coverage separately from your insurance.
Other Ways To Get Roadside Assistance Coverage
In case you don’t have insurance or if you do and you don’t want to add roadside assistance to the specific insurer, you may still avail of it through other means such as the following:
- Through car clubs – Another way to get roadside assistance coverage without your insurer is through car clubs. Through this route, you need to become a member of the club first. Memberships have dues but there are also many perks of becoming a member.
- Through the car manufacturer – For those who are getting newer cars, it is possible to extend the warranties on the new car and take advantage of their roadside assistance service program. Although this kind of roadside assistance coverage is available, it is usually limited to only one car.
- Through your credit card or buyer’s club – Premium credit card holders or those who have premium level membership to buyer clubs like Costco may offer roadside assistance programs. Usually, this kind of coverage will allow you to add cars or drivers in the cover at a small cost.
