Menu

Roadside Assistance: What Will Insurance Cover?


About Me

Roadside Assistance: What Will Insurance Cover?

Until an incident six months ago, I mainly considered my car insurance to be something I would use if an accident occurred. After being stranded at work with a car that wouldn't start, I learned there was more to my plan than that. There is a whole section that has to do with roadside assistance. The guy driving the tow truck asked if my insurance covered emergency calls and I said I didn't know. He asked me the name of the company and then called his boss. After a quick word with my provider, he found out that I was covered in full. If you are not sure if your car insurance covers roadside assistance, let me tell you how to find out. After going over specific clauses in the contract, I'm betting you are covered for everything from a flat tire to a dead battery.

Circumstances That Merit Calling Around-The-Clock Towing Services

Today's modern and sleek cars can be more complicated to maintain and manipulate than their older counterparts. If your battery cables come loose or you lock your keys in the car, for example, you may not be able to wiggle a few wires to start the car or jimmy the lock to get back inside. 

Instead, you need to call a professional wrecker to assist you with these and other kinds of driving challenges. You can get your car started, doors unlocked, and other problems with your car solved by hiring a local towing service to assist you.

Jumping a Dead Battery

The batteries used in today's vehicles tend to be more complex than the simple ones used in vehicles just a few years ago. They may offer more power. However, they can also die and need to be jumpstarted to bring back to life.

Even more, they may require drivers to go beyond simply trying to jump their cars from other people's engines. When your car will not start with a jump from another person's battery, you need to call towing services that can get your battery jumped and turned over again.

The driver of the wrecker can either jump your vehicle from his or her wrecker's engine or use a jumpstart kit that he or she keeps on hand. Both options can give your battery enough power to turn over and start again. 

Unlocking Doors

Today's newer vehicles likewise feature innovative lock designs that are challenging to jimmy with a credit card or coat hanger. Instead of breaking a window to get back in your vehicle, you can call towing services for help.

The driver for the towing service that responds to your call for help can use a professional lockout kit to get the doors of your car open again. The lockout kit allows him or her to maneuver the mechanisms in the lock to open the doors. You avoid having to break a window or use a coat hanger to try to get your locks open again.

Finally, towing services can winch out your vehicle if or when you get stuck in snow or ice. This service can be particularly helpful if your newer vehicle lacks four or all-wheel drive.

Professional towing services can jumpstart your car's battery and get your car running again. They can also unlock your doors and winch out your stuck vehicle.