Roadside Assistance: What Will Insurance Cover?

When an emergency strikes, it can often be difficult to remember all of the appropriate steps to take due to the high levels of stress that you are experiencing. This is why it is such a good idea to keep checklists handy to help you through some of life's more stressful moments, such as finding yourself stranded on the side of the road. Thankfully, keeping a copy of the following checklist in your glove box will help to ensure that you are well prepared any time you need to request an automotive tow.

Step 1: Gather Information About Your Car

The first thing a towing company is going to ask you when you request a tow truck is to provide them with information regarding your vehicle. While this information may seem incredibly basic now, it can be far more difficult to recollect when dealing with stress and anxiety. So go ahead and take a moment now to make a note of the following information so that it will be ready to pass along to the towing company when the time comes.

• the make of your vehicle
• the model and model year of your vehicle
• the color of your vehicle
• your license plate number
• any identifying marks, such as bumper stickers or previous damage

Step 2: Gather Information About Your Payment Method

Towing companies typically require you to pay for their services upfront. Therefore, you will need to be prepared with your payment information when you call. There are several different ways that you can go about supplying this payment.

If you will be waiting with the vehicle, you can choose to supply a payment directly to the tow truck driver via cash or check. If you will be paying for your services via credit or debit card, this payment may need to be processed over the phone before the tow truck is dispatched.

If you are not staying with your vehicle, you will need to make payment over the phone or leave payment in a designated spot where the tow truck driver can find it.

If you are planning to use your roadside assistance membership to pay for your towing services, be sure to have all of your membership information ready before calling. This will allow them to verify your coverage before dispatching a driver to your location.

Step 3: Gather Information About Your Destination

Another key piece of information that the tow truck driver will need is where they should be taking your vehicle. If you have a preferred repair shop, take the time now to make note of their:

• full business name
• street address
• phone number
• contact person if applicable

Having this information handy will allow you to provide accurate info regarding your desired destination as quickly as possible.

Once you have all of this information in hand, you will be ready to contact the towing company of your choice. To make things just a bit easier for you, don't forget to make note of the towing company's name and contact info and the bottom of this checklist before placing it in your glove box where it can be easily accessed in an emergency. If you're looking for reliable service, be sure to keep Darryll's Towing in mind.