If you have ever needed to get your car towed, you know how expensive it can be. And that’s if you can find a company that can do the job and not make you wait for hours. Companies like AAA have addressed the issue with their roadside assistance programs, but not everyone can afford a AAA membership. You may be wondering if your car insurance policy covers towing. Afterall, you pay them every month to cover unexpected vehicle accident-related expenses.
Car insurance does sometimes cover towing. But you should be sure to check your own policy to make sure you have the right protection in place. Here are some examples.
Full Coverage
Exactly as it sounds, full coverage means you have purchased enough insurance to cover nearly any expense that can arise. This means you have purchased the required liability insurance, but in addition you have covered yourself with collision and comprehensive. These two types of coverage protect you from all sorts of issues that can arise from a car accident, tickets, weather damage, vandalism, and theft.
With Full Coverage, you will likely have an option for towing. You may pay for it separately or it might be covered automatically. Check the details.
In addition, if you are in an accident caused by someone else you will likely have any towing costs related to the accident covered by the other driver’s insurance policy.
What is Roadside Assistance?
With a standard policy, if your car breaks down and you need to have it towed, your insurance company will likely not be covering the cost. In order to have your towing costs covered for a non-accident related tow, you have to purchase Roadside Assistance coverage from your insurance company.
Roadside Assistance is a generally inexpensive type of coverage that you can add on to your existing policy. Also known as towing and labor coverage, Roadside Assistance is offered by most major insurance companies and can save you a lot of money should you need a lengthy tow or a tow on a Sunday.
Roadside Assistance can help if you have a flat, run out of gas or another issue that strands you on the road.
What Does Roadside Assistance Cover?
Roadside Assistance can be very handy. Typical covered services include:
- Jump starts
- Dead battery repairs
- Flat tire repairs
- Fuel delivery
- Lockout assistance
- Towing
Other Types of Roadside Assistance
If your insurance company does not offer Roadside Assistance coverage, you can take a look at third-party providers to do the same. If you purchase a new car, you may be able to get Roadside Assistance coverage through the manufacturer. Some used car dealerships also offer a Roadside Assistance package. These types of coverage are usually short-term, limited by time or number of miles.
If you really need Roadside Assistance coverage and your auto insurance company does not provide it, it may be time to shop for a new car insurance company.
InsuranceWins can help. With some basic information, we can set you up with quotes from well-known auto insurance companies. Armed with this information, you can compare policies and find the coverage that you need at a price you can afford.
