If you are looking to choose a roadside assistance plan, there are a few things you should know about the plans that are out there. Not all plans are created equally so you may find that one has more of what you are looking for than another but you can’t be certain until you do some research. It also helps to already have a good idea of what you want from a roadside assistance plan.
While almost all plans are similar in nature, there are some things about each one that you need to be aware of. Some of the factors that will change one roadside service plan from another are the towing mileage and also the number of service calls that you get in a given period of time- usually in a year. These are the types of things you want to look for when choosing your plan.
Some other services that may be included in a roadside plan are lockout, jumpstart, dead battery and fuel delivery. When considering a plan, look to see what it offers and compare this to what you need. You will also want to consider what you get for the price. While money is not everything when choosing a plan, you do want to be sure you get the plan with the best value so rather than look for the cheapest plan, you want to look for the most cost effective plan that still gives you what you need in a service plan.
When choosing your plan, ask yourself these questions:
- How many miles of towing will I need?
- How many service calls per year/per month do I need?
- Will I need gas service?
- Will I need flat tire/change tire service?
- What happens if I am in an accident?
Most roadside assistance plans do not help you if you are in an accident. They are designed to help you if you break down or become stranded on the side of the road somewhere. They are not an insurance policy and typically will not provide towing if you are in an accident.
So when do you need a roadside assistance plan? Well, it’s important to understand that you never know exactly what will happen or what you will run across when you are traveling in a vehicle. You may have already experienced something unexpected before and you know what a hassle it can be if you need help.
There are several good times to take advantage of roadside assistance and when you have a solid plan in place, you will be able to do so at just the right time. Some examples of when you might need these services are if your tire blows out, if you blow an engine or the engine overheats, if there is unexplainable smoke or steam from your vehicle, if you cannot make repairs to your car yourself or if you lock the keys to your car inside your vehicle.