Roadside assistance and roadside break down coverage are special services that help cyclists, or drivers, whose vehicles have been damaged by a breakdown engine, a mechanical breakdown that causes the driver to be stranded. A roadside assistance program offers roadside assistance by offering service between the hours of sundown on weekdays and twenty-four hours a day on Saturdays and Sundays. Roadside support technicians are trained to assess the driving situation and to determine the extent of the damage to your vehicle. Most roadside assistance companies offer scheduled or do-it-yourself services for basic or recovery vehicles. For more complex or more expensive vehicles, such as trucks or SUV’s, a company representative will be called to your location or you can arrange for a pickup after hours or on a weekend. You are often eligible for at least one free tow during your deductible period.
Roadside assistance plans pay up to one hundred percent of your insurance premium if you need to use their services for a covered accident or collision. The reimbursement amount is based on your policy coverage and the type of auto insurance policy you have. Your auto insurance policy typically has “full” or” bumper-to-bumper” coverage, which pays up to a certain dollar amount for both parts of your car. If your policy does not have full or bumper-to-bumper coverage, a roadside assistance company will usually pay up to one hundred percent of the total cost of your vehicle. Roadside service programs pay the same amount per mile as your regular auto insurance policy.
Certain types of emergencies qualify you for a “per use” benefit limit on emergency roadside assistance. Certain kinds of medical emergencies and mechanical problems that require a roadside repair are also likely to qualify for a “per use” benefit limit. Certain kinds of charitable activities qualify you for a “per use” benefit limit. Certain roadside emergency service programs pay the entire cost of towing a vehicle if it is covered by your auto insurance policy.
How do memberships affect your roadside assistance? When you sign up for a Roadside Assistance Membership, Roadside Assistance Plans (RAP) will automatically be added to your existing auto insurance policy. Memberships cover a driver in case of an emergency roadside assist when the primary policyholder is not available to provide assistance. When you pay for a Roadside Assistance Membership, you agree to receive unlimited roadside assistance services from a provider for a specified period of time.
So why would I want to sign up for Roadside Assistance? For individuals who drive occasionally or never get roadside assistance coverage because they chose not to participate in a Roadside Assistance Plan they may want to reconsider. Roadside Assistance Plans can save you hundreds of dollars on the expense of auto insurance. Memberships also offer many benefits such as discounts on auto parts and services, membership in a driver’s education program, discounts on automotive repair and maintenance, and discounts on hotels and restaurants.
My car went down the ramp and I had to put my car in park and call AAA to let them know I was not at home and they called the local fire station to find out what the problem was. They sent the fire truck and an automatic response team to my house while my wife started to fix our flat tire. The next day we called AAA again to report the same thing happening again. I am thankful we had Roadside Assistance because it would have cost us a lot more to call all the different companies and attempt to resolve this issue on our own.