Roadside Assistance: Auto Insurers Offering Comprehensive Coverage

Roadside assistance is a service for stranded drivers that usually covers towing, locksmith services, battery changes, jump-starts, tire changes, and the delivery of fuel or oil. It is usually offered as an add-on to your car insurance policy. Some auto insurance companies that offer roadside assistance include Progressive, AAA, GEICO, State Farm, Allstate, Good Sam, and Nationwide.

Towing

Most roadside assistance plans will tow your car to the nearest mechanic, but some will tow your vehicle to a mechanic of your choice. Some plans have a limit on how far they'll tow your car from the breakdown location, for example, five, 10 or 20 miles. A higher towing mileage limit may be preferable, all else being equal.

Some plans cover the entire cost of the tow, while others will only pay up to a certain amount per incident. For example, a plan may have a limit of $100 per incident for locksmith services, spare tire installation or other on-site labour. Other plans may cover the cost of a particular service but have a maximum amount per year. Some plans have both a maximum per incident and a maximum per year.

If you want to add roadside assistance to your auto insurance policy, most insurance companies offer this as an optional extra. However, not all policies will be eligible for roadside assistance. If you're involved in a covered accident, your insurance company may cover towing even if you don't have roadside assistance coverage.

• Progressive: Towing within a 15-mile radius or to the closest qualified repair shop beyond 15 miles.
• GEICO: Towing up to 20 miles.
• State Farm: Towing up to 10 miles.
• Liberty Mutual: Towing to the nearest shop. Will pay up to $50 per tow if you arrange your own towing.
• Nationwide: Towing included in 24/7 emergency assistance.
• AAA: Towing up to seven miles, four times a year. One tow per household up to 200 miles, remaining tows up to 100 miles.
• AARP: Towing included in roadside assistance for AARP members.

Jump-starting the battery

Jump-starting a car battery is a basic skill that every driver should know. Here's a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to jump-start your car battery safely and effectively:

Prepare Both Cars:

Park the car with the good battery close to the car with the dead battery, ensuring the jumper cables can reach both batteries. Turn off the ignitions and set the parking brake on both vehicles. Ensure all lights, radios, and accessories are turned off.

Locate the Battery Terminals:

Open the hood of each car and locate the batteries. Car batteries have two terminals: positive (+) and negative (-). The positive terminal is often identified with a red cap or a "+" sign. Refer to the vehicle manual if you're unsure. Ensure the terminals are free from corrosion.

Connect the Jumper Cables:

Jumper cables have red and black clamps. Connect the red clamp to the positive terminal (+) of the dead battery, then connect the red clamp from the other end to the positive terminal (+) of the good battery. Now, connect the black clamp to the negative terminal (-) of the good battery, and then attach the remaining black clamp to an unpainted metal part, like a bolt, on the engine of the car with the dead battery.

Jump-Start the Car:

Double-check that the connected cables are away from moving engine parts. Start the engine of the car with the good battery and let it idle for a few minutes. Then, start the car with the weak battery. If it doesn't start immediately, you may need to wait for the battery to charge sufficiently.

Disconnect the Jumper Cables:

If your car starts, leave it running and disconnect the jumper cables in the reverse order they were attached. Ensure the clamps don't touch anything, especially metal, during this process.

Drive the Jumped Car:

Return the jumper cables to your emergency kit and close the car's hood. Drive the jumped car for at least 20 minutes to allow the alternator to charge the battery fully. Park in an open, safe area in case the car needs another jump-start.

Important Safety Tips:

• Do not attempt to jump-start a cracked or leaking battery.
• Ensure all connections are secure and in the correct sequence to prevent injury or damage to the electrical system.
• Keep metal clamps from touching each other during the process.
• After jump-starting, drive the car for a while to recharge the battery.
• If your car won't jump-start, the battery may be too old or weak, and a replacement may be necessary.

By following these steps, you can safely and effectively jump-start your car and get back on the road. Remember to keep a set of jumper cables in your vehicle for emergencies.

Fuel delivery

Most auto insurance companies offer fuel delivery as part of their roadside assistance plans. This service is usually included in the basic package, and there is no additional charge for fuel delivery. However, you will have to pay for the cost of the fuel. Some companies, like AAA, offer free fuel delivery, where they will bring you a small amount of fuel (up to 2 gallons) for free.

Choosing a Roadside Assistance Plan

When choosing a roadside assistance plan, it is important to consider the cost, the number of service calls allowed, and the towing mileage limit. Some plans may also offer additional benefits, such as trip interruption coverage or discounts on hotels and rentals. It is also important to note that some plans only cover a certain number of towing miles, after which you will have to pay extra.

Examples of Companies Offering Fuel Delivery

• Allstate: Allstate offers fuel delivery as part of its roadside assistance plans, which start at $89 per year. The plans offer up to seven rescues per year and include all the standard features, such as fuel delivery, tire change, and lockout service.
• Geico: Geico offers fuel delivery as part of its roadside assistance plan, which starts at $14 per year. The plan includes up to five service calls and towing up to 20 miles.
• State Farm: State Farm offers fuel delivery as part of its roadside assistance plan, which costs between $12 and $18 per year. The plan includes towing up to 10 miles and all the standard features.
• Progressive: Progressive offers fuel delivery as part of its roadside assistance plan, which costs around $30 to $60 per year. The plan includes towing up to 15 miles, winching, and all the standard features.
• USAA: USAA offers fuel delivery as part of its roadside assistance plan, which starts at $12 to $20 per year. The plan includes up to four rescues per year and covers fuel delivery, jump-starts, tire changes, and lockout assistance.

These are just a few examples of auto insurance companies that offer fuel delivery as part of their roadside assistance plans. Be sure to read the specific details of each plan to understand the coverage and limitations.

Locksmith services

If you lock yourself out of your car, roadside assistance can help you get back in. Some plans also cover the cost of locksmith services if you lock yourself out of your home.

AAA

AAA offers 24-hour car lockout services. If a roadside technician is unable to unlock your vehicle, your car can be towed or you can hire a locksmith and request reimbursement. The amount of coverage and towing mileage is determined by your membership level. AAA Premier members are covered for up to $150 in locksmith reimbursement expenses to unlock their home or vehicle.

Allstate

Allstate's roadside assistance includes lockout services. The company also offers standalone roadside assistance policies that are available to anyone, regardless of their car insurance provider.

State Farm

State Farm's Emergency Road Service program includes lockout services.

Geico

Geico's roadside assistance plans tend to be affordable and include lockout assistance.

Progressive

Progressive's roadside assistance includes locksmith services. If your keys are lost, stolen, or accidentally locked inside your vehicle, Progressive will dispatch a qualified service provider. You are only responsible for the cost of replacing your keys.

AARP

AARP's roadside assistance, which is provided through Allstate, includes lockout services.

Tire changes

Changing a flat tire on the side of the road in the rain at night is no fun. Luckily, many auto insurance companies offer roadside assistance plans that include tire changes. Here is some detailed information about four of them:

Allstate

Allstate offers roadside assistance as an add-on to its auto insurance policies or as a standalone plan. The standalone plans range from $89 to $179 per year and include services such as tire changes, towing, jump-starts, lockout services, and fuel delivery. Allstate also offers a pay-per-use plan with no membership fee.

Better World Club

Better World Club is an eco-friendly auto club that offers roadside assistance plans starting at $56.95 per year. Their plans cover services such as tire changes, towing, jump-starts, lockout assistance, and fuel delivery. They also offer an extensive discount program with over 1 million participating businesses in the United States.

Good Sam

Good Sam is an auto club that specializes in roadside assistance for RVs and trailers, in addition to traditional automobiles. Their plans range from $49.50 to $119.50 per year and include services such as tire changes, towing, jump-starts, lockout assistance, and fuel delivery. Good Sam also offers additional benefits such as tire and wheel protection, an RV tech helpline, and emergency medical assistance.

AAA

AAA is one of the most well-known auto clubs and offers comprehensive roadside assistance plans. Their basic plan costs $64 per year, while their Plus and Premier plans cost $94 and $124 per year, respectively. AAA's plans include tire changes, towing, jump-starts, lockout assistance, and fuel delivery, as well as additional perks such as travel accident insurance, car rental reimbursement, and home lockout service.

Frequently asked questions