Most
people skimp on car insurance because they believe that the lower the price,
the better. The reality of it is that this is one area you don’t want to be
cheap in. Road-side assistance can mean the difference between being stranded
on the side of the road and having a reliable way to get out of harm’s way when
you really need to. Here’s how
to choose a good roadside assistance program.
Check With Your Insurer
Most
insurance companies offer some type of roadside assistance program. Towing
companies, like SC Pro Tow - towing service in Fort Worth, typically work with
insurers to help people get their car off the road and into a nearby garage.
These services are an add-on (rider) to base policies, where they typically don’t cost a lot of money.
Of
course, you don’t have to go with your insurer. Organizations, like AAA, offer
stand-alone service options that are sometimes superior to what insurers offer
but at a higher price-point.
How Many Miles Do They Tow?
Almost
all roadside assistance programs place strict towing limits on the coverage.
For example, your insurance company might offer towing, but may only cover the
first 10 or 20 miles. Beyond that, you have to pay whatever the towing company
charges. Check this before you sign up, as it can impact the service you get.
If
you live out in the country (or you break down out in the country) for example,
a small towing limit might not be enough to get you to any nearby shop.
Check Service Call Limits
Many
types of assistance programs limit the number of service calls you can make
under the plan. In other words, you’re not allowed to have your vehicle towed
more than a specific number of times. If you exceed the allowable service calls
in a given year, you’ll have to pay for assistance out of pocket.
Check Service Availability And Shop Rules
Some
insurance companies, and even third-party providers, limit what shops they will
tow you to. Insurers, especially, want you to use their own preferred shops,
and may offer free towing to them. However, if you want to tow the vehicle to
your own shop, and it’s outside of the towing (mileage) limits under your
service plan, you’ll have to pay to have the vehicle towed.
Check Vehicle Eligibility
All plans
cover regular passenger vehicles. But, not all plans cover commercial vehicles,
so check this before you sign up for coverage. Some pickup trucks are also
considered commercial vehicles, so don’t overlook this or you might be buying a
useless assistance program.
Check Multi-Driver Coverage
Unbelievably,
some plans do not cover all drivers in the household, so make sure that yours
does. This is often overlooked because it’s assumed that the policy is on the
vehicle. Some companies will automatically cover other drivers, but only if
they’re living in the home with you. Others will cover all drivers, and still
other plans only cover you.
John Stolle is a retired
automotive mechanic and father of five. When he's not tinkering on one of his
antique cars, he's writing about them. Look for his informative articles on
many automotive blogs and websites on the web.
Image credits:wikimedia.org
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