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What is Roadside Assistance and Do I Need It on My Car Insurance?

By October 21, 2021Insurance

If you own and drive a car in Bucks County or anywhere else in Pennsylvania, then you are required to have car insurance. When searching for the best car insurance in Bucks County or other PA towns, you might be wondering if you should also have roadside assistance on your policy.

Before you can answer this question you may be curious to learn more about what roadside insurance is, how it works, where it’s included, and how to use it. Continue reading to get all these questions answered and ensure you have the right policy in place for you and your needs.

What is Roadside Insurance?

Breakdowns are often expected when you own a car and drive around a lot (especially on these Bucks County roads). Therefore, roadside assistance can be especially helpful. It usually covers your vehicle if your car breaks down, you get stranded, you have a flat tire, or you run out of gas. Roadside assistance is all about safety and peace of mind. For example, you wouldn’t want to get out of your car and assess the situation or change a flat tire on a busy highway at night or in inclement weather. Therefore, roadside assistance is the perfect solution. Professionals will know exactly what to do to safely fix your vehicle. Since a problem with your car can happen at any time, roadside assistance can truly be a lifesaver and help you out of a sticky situation.

How Roadside Insurance Works

You should know that roadside assistance isn’t usually included automatically on your auto insurance policy. It’s sometimes an add-on coverage that you must purchase for additional money, but it depends on your insurance carrier. If you’re not sure if you have roadside assistance on your current policy, you can always give our team a call to assist you.

If you’re ever in a situation where you need to use the roadside assistance, all you would do is make a phone call to the number on your card when you’re stranded on the side of the road. The roadside assistance service would then connect you with the right professional based on what you need. For instance, it might be that your car requires minor repairs, or needs gas, or something else like a flat tire. It’s also possible that they can resolve the problem right where you are, so you can get on your way. However, it might require that a towing company come and take you to a nearby mechanic. Generally speaking, a professional technician will be able to come to your rescue when you’re in the middle of your journey and you suddenly become stranded or your car breaks down. Make sure you have the right paperwork and information with you while driving so you know the best way to get in touch with your provider should you need to use roadside assistance.

What’s Usually Included with Roadside Assistance

The good news is that you can use roadside assistance anywhere your car breaks down. For instance, you may be in a parking lot, on the side of the road, or even in your driveway. As a stranded driver, this service will usually include the following:

  • Towing
  • Locksmith services
  • Battery changes
  • Jump-starts
  • Tire changes
  • The delivery of fuel or oil

However, check with your carrier since each one will offer different things. You should also check the distance coverage for towing with your provider. There may be an extra charge if you need your car towed a far distance. While the towing company will try to make repairs and fixes on the spot, if they can’t get you back up and on the road again, then they’ll need to take your car to a nearby auto body shop.

If you find yourself in a bad accident and your car is totaled, then consider calling roadside assistance so they can tow it away from the scene. It may save you more money in the long run than trying to contact a towing company directly. Depending upon where you are and the situation, they’ll either tow it home or to your auto body shop.

How to Get & Use it

You can get roadside assistance through your auto insurance provider as well as third-party companies. However, it’s more convenient to have all your auto insurance covered under one provider and in one place. Once you have roadside assistance then you should plan on using it. All it takes is one phone call whenever you find yourself stranded or needing help with your car. The most common types of uses for it are dead batteries, flat tires, and lockouts. You may also want to use it for fuel delivery if your provider includes this in your coverage. 

Without roadside assistance, then you may find yourself spending a lot more money covering these types of costs. The best part is that once you make the phone call, the service provider will try to solve your problem over the phone so you don’t have to do much else. You can rest easy knowing that roadside insurance plans usually provide coverage around the clock and 365 days a year.

Finding Roadside Assistance on Your Car Insurance in Bucks County

Roadside assistance is important not only for the elderly and young drivers or those who often drive long distances. It’s really for anyone who drives a car! It might also be especially useful if you live in a remote area. While it’s an optional form of coverage, it’s a wise choice to get it. You have options when it comes to the best program for you so you should consider your budget and which level of features are right for you.

There are lots of options out there for auto insurance and roadside assistance. One of the easiest ways to evaluate them all is by using an independent insurance agency that can get you several quotes and review the policies for you.  So, if you’re looking for car insurance in Bucks County or anywhere else in Pennsylvania, then look no further. 

As our name implies, at Freedom Insurance Group, we give you the freedom of choice when it comes to your insurance policies. We’ll find insurance policies that are customized for you based on your individual needs. We represent several top A-rated companies to ensure that our customers are getting top-tier coverage at affordable rates. Once you have the right auto insurance policy and roadside assistance, you’ll be feeling more at ease as you head out on the road this winter and throughout the whole year!