When you’re in need of a tow truck, it can be hard to know whether or not your car insurance covers the cost. This is an important question because it’s easy to get scammed by companies claiming to offer roadside assistance when they really don’t. To make matters worse, many people are under the impression that their full coverage policy will cover them if they break down on the side of the road. Unfortunately, this is not always true. In this article, we’ll discuss whether or not insurance covers towing. We’ll discuss roadside assistance additions to plans, and discuss whether or not full coverage policies cover towing as well.
What is Roadside Assistance?
Roadside assistance is a service that many car insurance companies offer to their policyholders. The roadside assistance phone number will be provided in the event of an emergency, and representatives are available 24 hours per day/365 days per year. In the event of a roadside emergency, you’ll be able to call your insurance company for help. In addition to providing phone support and sending out a tow truck when necessary, they may also be willing to send an oil change or tire rotation vehicle if it’s needed.
What is Covered by Roadside Assistance?
Most companies will send out an agent or tow truck during business hours (usually within two hours) if you get stuck on the side of the road for reasons such as flat tire(s), your battery goes dead, or you run out of gas, etc. Towing may also be covered; however, some insurers state they only cover “towing from one safe location” as opposed to all different types of towing services. In addition, it’s important to note that not all roadside assistance plans cover battery jump starts.
If you have a dead battery in the middle of nowhere, your insurer may send out an agent or tow truck to get your car started and take it back to a service center for repair. If you’re going on a road trip with friends and one of their cars breaks down unexpectedly, some policies will allow additional drivers covered under the same policy to receive roadside assistance coverage as well (usually up to three). Most companies also provide lockout services when keys are locked inside the vehicle—this can be extremely helpful! Do full coverage plans include these benefits?
What is Covered by Full Coverage Insurance?
In general, most insurance carriers offer limited “comprehensive” insurance that covers all damage done to your vehicle. This includes theft, vandalism, glass damage (from rocks), and fire; however, it does not cover any damages done to the vehicle as a result of an accident where you are at fault or if you hit stationary objects on purpose. Comprehensive insurance is usually separate from collision coverage—meaning that even if your car is repaired under comprehensive insurance there may still be additional fees due to loss of use/market value after an accident has occurred.
Is Towing Covered by Full Coverage Insurance?
The short answer here is no! Even though full coverage policies will provide some level of “comprehensive” protection for your car in case something happens outside of normal driving circumstances, this typically does NOT include roadside assistance services such as towing.
What are my Towing Coverage Options?
Towing coverage is usually an add-on option or upgrade to your current policy. You can purchase this in the form of a rider, endorsement, or separate insurance plan; however, many companies will require you to call them directly for approval before they’ll send out their agents (which means you might pay more if it’s not available through one provider). Some drivers choose to opt into full coverage policies that include roadside assistance services—this is often done by purchasing additional mileage on top of basic liability limits.
Why is Towing Covered Differently than Roadside Assistance?
It’s important to note here that while most car insurance carriers do offer some type of roadside service such as jump-starting and lockout help, these are typically NOT covered by full coverage insurance. This is especially important to keep in mind if you purchase a new car and opt for any add-on options such as interior protection, corrosion control, or engine/transmission protection—these may not be covered under your policy either.
What if My Vehicle is Stolen?
If your vehicle is stolen, comprehensive insurance will pay for the cost of replacement and cover any other damages that may occur as a result of theft (i.e., vandalism). The good news here is that if you have full coverage on your car then it should be fully covered under your deductible—meaning there are no out-of-pocket expenses! In addition, even though most companies won’t provide roadside assistance services when a vehicle has been reported stolen or missing, some insurance providers do offer this service after three days from the time they were notified about the incident. If you want additional protection in case something happens during normal business hours and don’t mind paying an additional premium each month, you may want to consider purchasing a roadside assistance package.
What if I Am Not at Fault?
If you are not at fault for the accident, your comprehensive coverage will pay for any damages done to the vehicle. Some insurance providers do offer additional protection in this case by waiving deductible fees and providing on-site repairs if possible—however, these are also NOT covered under full coverage plans. As always it’s important to read the fine print of your policy before filing a claim or making changes! And remember that personal injury is an entirely different matter which is best discussed with your attorney rather than your car insurance company.
How Do I Get Roadside Assistance?
First, call your car insurance company to see if you have coverage for this type of service. If so, contact the provider and ask them what steps need to be taken in order to file a claim—most companies will require that you have your policy number available before they can process payment. In addition, some drivers choose to add roadside assistance as an upgrade or option when purchasing their vehicle from a dealership. This is usually done by signing up at the time of purchase; however, not all dealerships offer these services (or cover certain areas). The best thing here is simply doing research ahead of time and making sure you know exactly what types of roadside assistance are included with each plan!
To learn more about your car insurance options and the coverage you can receive, reach out to the insurance experts with Malhotra & Assoc. Insurance today!
Disclaimer: This blog post is meant for general informational purposes only and may not reflect your specific policy
