Car insurance can provide drivers with many benefits following wrecks and other hazards. Some of your benefits can even apply to the inconvenient breakdowns no one wants to face. Many insurers offer roadside assistance for policyholders. While there is an extra cost involved, it likely costs far less than the retail cost of receiving roadside assistance. Here’s why.
Auto Insurance Roadside Assistance Benefits 
You never know when a pesky flat tire or overheated engine might pop up and stop you in the middle of your trip. Your car could get stuck in your driveway, in the grocery store parking lot or on the side of a busy interstate. You’ll probably feel very frustrated and want to get on your way as soon as possible.
With the roadside assistance coverage provided by your auto insurer, you can receive these services. Your insurer can dispatch a reputable service provider to your location. That person might then be able to solve your problem at the scene and with little time lost. If the responder cannot fix your issue, then the policy will often pay to tow your vehicle to a repair service.
Some of the perks that insurers often cover under roadside assistance services include:
- Fuel delivery
- Water delivery
- Tire changes
- Jump-off services
- Battery replacement
- Lockout services
- Extrication of stuck vehicles
Additionally, your policy might pay for a rental car while your own car receives repairs. However, you will have to check your policy to see if coverage applies following roadside assistance claims.
Generally, you will pay nothing for the service provided, though at times minimal fees might apply. Still, your car insurance will include limits on how much service it will provide you. For example, it might only allow you to tow your car a certain distance under your coverage. Any further towing distance will be your responsibility to pay.
Additionally, your roadside assistance will not pay for vehicle damage from car wrecks. For that coverage, you will need to have collision coverage on your policy.
The Cost of Roadside Assistance Coverage
When you buy roadside assistance coverage, you often will see an increase in your premium. However, this is usually only a few extra dollars per month. Most insurers will approve services from roadside assistance providers they trust. Therefore, they do not assume a significant cost risk by offering you this benefit. Usually, the cost of the extra benefit is far less than the cost of paying for roadside assistance out of pocket.
To add this benefit to your policy, call one of our agents and ask them if your insurer offers this benefit. If so, it is usually simple to add the coverage to your policy.