What is Roadside Assistance?

Extended car warranties or vehicle service contracts are bought with the idea of having protection against mechanical breakdowns. What you may not realize is that there are other benefits to the plans. One, in particular, Roadside Assistance, is a genuinely awesome benefit that comes with many vehicle service contracts. When you’re stuck on the side of the road this service could be there for towing, gas, or to change a flat tire.

You see, as vehicles started to become more complicated it was harder for owners to carry out minor repairs. Soon auto clubs were teaming together to assist each other in case of a breakdown. Now we have a standard offering that is roadside assistance. Read on further as we explore what roadside assistance is and how it benefits you.

Story Time

No one likes getting stranded, especially if you have no real support structure for such an event. I found myself stranded on the highway at midnight during late Fall. I had a flat and needed to change the tire.

The car was new to me and I did not know where the jack was or any tools that I required. It took me the better half of an hour to find the jack and then I still needed to get the spare out the back. Let me just say that it was tiring and I was exhausted by the time I made it home. I was young though and had no idea about services that could assist, This one experience taught me that I always need to be prepared.

So, what you should take away from this story is that one, I could have been better prepared by inspecting the vehicle before driving off and two, I certainly could have used assistance.

The Benefits of Roadside Assistance

Now that you have a scene in mind you can quickly come to the conclusion that roadside assistance is a great help, especially for those traveling alone like myself. Plus minor repairs and navigating reliable towing services can be tedious and time-consuming. Below is a list of services that roadside assistance will be able to provide that will ultimately benefit you:

Jump-start service

On occasion, your battery could run flat and require a jump start to at least get it going again. In the case of a flat battery, you will know that there is a service available.

Towing service

There are times when there is an engine or transmission fault which causes the engine to stop running. Often getting to the nearest shop or at least home is what you need to comfortably sort the situation out. This service will tow your vehicle to the nearest mechanic to your breakdown site.

Locksmith/Lockout service

Sometimes keys get locked inside the vehicle or stop working correctly. In this case, a lockout service provider will be sent through to try and open a car door. If unsuccessful then a locksmith will be called to get into the vehicle and assist with replacing the locks and keys.

Fuel-delivery service

Should you unexpectedly run out of gas while out driving then the roadside assistance will send through a service provider that will deliver fuel. It will be a conservative amount but enough to get you to the nearest station to top up.

Flat tire service

If you have changed a tire on your own before then you know just how frustrating it can be. Especially if you are not familiar with that particular vehicle. The roadside assistance will send through a tire service provider to give a hand with changing that tire and getting you back on the road.

Winching service

Getting stuck in the mud or the snow is fun if you are out on an adventure weekend, not so much when you are on the way to work. Should this happen you can rely on a winching service sent to you to get you out of there and back on your way.

A Quick Look at Extended Car Warranties

An extended car warranty is a coverage plan offered by your vehicle manufacturer. They are plans that extended the coverage of the original warranty. Not all vehicle manufacturers are equal in their offering and the age or mileage of your car will affect what will be offered to you. You will have to contact the vehicle manufacturer to get a good idea of what that will cost you and what they are willing to cover.

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Vehicle service contracts are offered by third-party providers. The coverage ranges from basic items with the powertrain all the way to the most comprehensive coverage taking car of a large number of systems in the vehicle. Older cars or used cars benefit the most from a vehicle service contract. The coverage is more flexible in terms and also has many of the benefits listed above. Use our search tool to find out about coverage options for your vehicle. You will be able to search for plans that match your driving needs as well as budget by viewing quotes online without any obligation.

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