When you buy a car, you need to consider getting a roadside assistance plan. Although it is an additional cost, it is an essential service and can save you money and trouble in the long run. Roadside assistance companies work from all areas of a city and offer many benefits and emergency services. Below are three main benefits of subcontracting roadside assistance for your vehicle.
Flat tire service and repair
Imagine you are driving downtown, on your way to work, and blown-out tire. You will have to flip your hazard lights on and park on one side of the road. But what next? In most cases, you will have to call a friend or family to pick you up. Then you have to get a towing company to take your car to an auto repair shop. You will end up paying not only the cost of tire replacement but also pay for towing services. Also, you will have inconvenienced your friend or family member as he/she has to drop everything to come and pick you up and take you to the repair shop. You can avoid all these if you have a roadside assistance plan.
With a roadside assistance plan, you pay a monthly fee that allows you to call a roadside assistance company anytime. Once you pull over your car, you only need to call your roadside company and wait for an expert to come to your rescue. In most cases, it will take a few minutes to get help. The technician will change and replace your tire at no cost. This means you can continue driving your car within 30 minutes or less. This is a major benefit of subcontracting roadside assistance companies.
Fuel Assistance
It is common to run out of gas while on the road. This happens to almost everyone at some point. If this happens to you and you do not have a roadside assistance plan, you will have to walk to the nearest gas station, fill up a jerry can, and then carry it back to your stalled vehicle. You can as well call a friend or family to bring some gas. This is embarrassing and causes lots of inconvenience to both you and your friend.
With a roadside assistance plan, you only need to make a call to your provider, and a technician will be there within minutes with enough gas to take you to the next gas station. This is a great plan, especially for senior drivers and adolescent drivers. With such a service, you will never have to worry about your car stalling due to low gas.
Dead battery assistance
It is common for your car to stall due to a dead battery. It happens all the time more so with modern cars. If this happens to you, you will go through a lot of struggle to charge your battery. Depending on where you are, it might take you hours to charge your battery. Whether you call a friend, wave down on strangers for help, or get an automotive repair company for repair services, you will waste a lot of time and resources. However, with a roadside assistance plan, all you need is to make a call, and you will have a technician to your location within minutes. They will charge your battery or give you a backup battery to continue with your journey. For most roadside assistance companies, these services are inclusive in the monthly payment plan. This means you do not pay for such services on the spot whenever you need help.
With the many benefits that come with roadside assistance plans, I am sure you are considering getting such a plan. You will find that there are hundreds of companies offering roadside assistance. This makes it a daunting task to find the best one. However, if you know what to look for and your needs, narrowing down on the many services providers will be easy. The following tips will help you choose your ideal plan and also the right roadside company.
Check out different plans
Before choosing which plan will work for you, be sure to know what it includes. If you go for the complete package, you will enjoy every service that the company offers. Other plans will offer coverage for some specific services. For example, some road assistance plans will cover only towing, fuel delivery, and jump-start services. You might as well enjoy lockout services, flat tire service, and towing. Therefore, know what the plan covers and ensure that it is what you need before making a decision.
Consider your lifestyle
Before you settle for any roadside assistance plan, you need to factor in your lifestyle. If you are a frequent traveler and stay in hotels often, then you need the complete package. The package covers you for anything and depending on which service provider you choose, you may access hotel and travel discounts as well. However, if you drive a few miles to work and to the grocery, then a simple plan will work.
Think about your health and limitations
Ever body knows what they can and cannot do when facing roadside emergencies. Consider this when choosing a roadside assistance plan. For instance, if you have a flat tire, could you change that yourself? What would you do with a dead battery? Are you able to jumpstart your car if you have to? Are you forgetful and are afraid you would lock your keys in your car? If you answer these questions, you will find it easy choosing the best roadside assistance plan.
Finding a roadside assistance company
You will realize that the market has many roadside assistance companies. Therefore, you need to be choosy when finding one. First, you need to check what plans a company is offering and compare it to your needs. Experience is also vital when choosing roadside assistance services. Look for a company that has been there for many years. The reputation of the company is also critical. Do they have a good track record? What do their past customers say about the service? Go for a company with a positive industry reputation.
It is vital to compare quotes from different service providers. But as you compare quotes, be sure you’re comparing the same packages from various providers. Last but not least, consider geographical coverage. Some roadside assistance companies limit their services to specific areas, and therefore you need to know whether or not your area in within the overage before making a decision.