Roadside Assistance: Better Than Just Towing

Car problems will usually occur at the most inconvenient time. With so many vehicles on road, every driver should think about what they would do if their car suddenly broke down and they were stranded on the side of the road. There was a time when the only resource a driver had was a local towing company. Local towing services are not always open and their location may be far away from where the car is located. Once a towing service arrives, people will usually have to get their car towed to the closest garage. Individual towing expenses can be expensive and you may end up paying more for a repair, especially if you are not familiar with the car repair shop. Fortunately, there are many companies that offer roadside assistant memberships that include towing fees with their service.

Depending on which road side plan and company you choose, they can provide a number of added benefits over the service of a regular towing company:

- Roadside plans will cover a variety of vehicles such as passenger cars, trucks, company cars, SUVs, and RVs.

- Roadside assistance plans will usually cover you whether you are the driver or a passenger

- Many roadside assistance plans will reimburse for costs of repairs if you arrange for your own repair when the plan can't find anyone to help you in a reasonable amount of time.

- Auto clubs provide 24-hour assistance and towing practically anywhere in the U.S. The service will cover any accessible road. Most auto clubs allow a certain numbers of roadside assistance tows each year. This service is a good investment because you will end up saving more money than if you used a regular towing company.

- Roadside assistance packages normally include: battery boost, tire change, parts delivery, towing or wrecker service, winching services, freeing a locked key, replacing lost keys, unfreezing "frozen" locks, replacing broken keys, delivery of emergency gasoline or other fluids, spare-tire installation, and accident or breakdown reimbursement.

- Manufacturer supported roadside assistance generally requires a tow to the nearest car dealership. This may not be helpful if the problem is not covered under a manufacturer's warranty. For instance, tires are not usually covered. Auto clubs do not mandate what garage you can have your car towed. Your towing fees will be covered under the membership.

- Increased competition among auto clubs has kept costs low. If you have an older car, a membership can be an inexpensive method of protection. As an incentive, some cell phone and credit card companies offer roadside assistance plans.

- Auto club companies also offer members travel services, complimentary maps and guidebooks, and discounts for partner services such as hotels. You can often add bicycle roadside assistance coverage to an auto program You can also receive free road atlases, trip routing, travel assistance, and bereavement assistance. Free custom trip routing can include detailed trip planning, mileage guides, destination brochures, information on road conditions, camping locations, and more.

- If your vehicle is trapped in the mud or a ditch, roadside assistance will have someone come out and pull you out.

- Provide legal fees for speeding or moving traffic law violations.

- Travel assistance to reimburse drivers for vehicle rental and/or travel expenses when the vehicle is stolen or disabled due to an accident. This can include car rental, hotels, meals, and public transportation.

- Provide medical assistance such as doctor referrals and cover costs of a hospital stay.

Roadside assistance service plans are quickly becoming a popular choice for drivers. When traveling late at night or long distances, it will give you peace of mind knowing that help is only a phone call away.