Have you ever been stuck with a flat tire, a dead battery, or engine problems? It’s frustrating and can ruin your plans, isn’t it? Roadside assistance is here to help! It’s useful if you find it tough to change a tire by yourself or if you want to feel safer when you drive.
If you’re wondering what roadside assistance includes or how to choose the best option for you, this article explains everything. I have also tried to put together a simple guide to roadside assistance to help you understand and choose a policy easily.
What is roadside assistance?
Roadside assistance is a service offered to help drivers physically and financially when their vehicle breaks down. This service or membership is typically offered for a fee.
It provides two main benefits:
When you have roadside assistance, and your vehicle breaks down, this service can really help. They can bring you fuel, change a flat tire, or even tow your car to a shop if it can’t be fixed right away.
Think of roadside assistance as a special type of car insurance. You pay a regular fee, known as a premium, to the service provider. If your car breaks down, you usually don’t have to pay for these emergency services on the spot because your plan covers them, as long as the cost doesn’t go over your policy’s limit.
For example, if your car needs to be towed and your roadside service plan includes towing, you could save quite a bit of money since you won’t have to cover the towing cost yourself. Thus, it would help if you thought about getting roadside assistance in Toronto to avoid paying for these expenses out-of-pocket.
What does roadside assistance cover?
When you sign up for roadside assistance, here are some of the services you might get:
- Towing: They can tow your car if it can’t be fixed on the spot.
- Transportation help: If you and your passengers are stuck, they can help you get where you need to go.
- Battery jumpstart: If your car’s battery is dead, they can help start it.
- Gas delivery: If you run out of fuel, they can bring gas to you.
- Lockout service: If you’re locked out of your car, they can help you get back in.
- Tire change: They can replace a flat tire with your spare.
- Winching: If your car is stuck, like in mud or snow, they can help pull it out.
Keep in mind the specific services offered can vary from one company to another. This isn’t a complete list, but it covers some of the main types of help you can expect.
What makes roadside assistance different from other coverage?
Roadside assistance is a special service that helps you when your car breaks down. It’s different from the usual car insurance or the warranty that comes with new cars. Normal car insurance mainly pays for damage from accidents and doesn’t cover things like breaking down on the road. A car warranty fixes or replaces parts that stop working properly on your new car, but it usually doesn’t help with flat tires or running out of gas.
You can buy a roadside assistance plan as an extra service from your car insurance company or the company that made your car. It’s a good idea to compare different plans and prices to make sure you’re getting the best deal for this kind of help.
Why is roadside assistance important?
Imagine you’re driving late at night in a place you don’t know well, and suddenly, you hear a loud pop—a flat tire. If you don’t have roadside assistance, you might end up stranded, trying to change the tire yourself in the dark. But with roadside assistance, you can call for help, and a professional will come to fix your tire and make sure you and your car are safe.
Roadside assistance is a service everyone should think about, but it’s especially useful for certain types of drivers:
- People who don’t know how to change a tire: If you’re not sure how to replace a flat tire, roadside assistance can be a lifesaver.
- People who can’t leave their vehicle easily: For those who might find it hard to step away from their car due to safety concerns or other reasons, having help come to you is very helpful.
- People who drive cars that might break down: If your car is older or has mechanical issues, it’s more likely to break down, making roadside assistance important.
- People who drive a lot: If you’re often on the road, either for work or other reasons, the chances of running into car troubles increase, so having assistance ready is a good idea.
Where do I get roadside assistance?
PEARL CORP. offers a straightforward and budget-friendly roadside assistance membership. The gold plan costs just $9.50 a month or $99 a year, plus tax.
This plan is designed to meet your common roadside needs effectively. It offers 24/7 help from a dedicated team anywhere in North America. Their roadside assistance phone number is there to serve you 24/7. Once you subscribe, you can use their services for a whole year from the date you start (your eligibility date). Thus, your search for “roadside assistance near me” ends with PEARL CORP.
Here’s what the plan includes:
PEARL CORP. covers the first $100 of each incident where you need roadside help.
- You can use this service up to three times a year.
- The coverage starts 20 days after your membership begins.
This means if your car breaks down or you have other car troubles, PEARL CORP. will help pay for the costs of getting you back on the road, as long as it’s within these limits. Thus, PEARL CORP. is one of the leading roadside assistance service providers in Canada.
How do you decide which roadside assistance program is the best for you?
When choosing a roadside assistance program, it’s important to think about more than just the price. Different plans offer different levels of coverage and extra benefits that might be useful to you. Here’s how to make a well-rounded decision:
Check towing and call limits:
Not every plan lets you use roadside assistance as often as you like. Some set a limit on how many times you can call for help each year or have a maximum distance they will tow your car for free before charging extra.
Understand who the plan covers:
Some plans are linked to the vehicle, meaning anyone driving that car can use the services. Others are linked to the driver, meaning the subscriber can use the services with any car they are driving.
Consider extra benefits:
Some programs, like those from PEARL Corp., offer additional perks such as discounts on travel and shopping. These benefits can make a pricier plan more valuable.
Look for trip interruption coverage:
If your car breaks down far from home and it takes several days to fix, trip interruption coverage can help pay for your hotel and meals during that time.
See if coverage extends to others:
Some plans might cover you even if you’re a passenger in another car. You might also be able to extend your coverage to family members.
Check for key replacement:
If you lose your keys, some plans help you get a new set, though you might have to pay for them. This is useful if you’re prone to losing things.
Finally, while buying a roadside assistance service plan from your car insurance company can be convenient, remember that using it is considered filing a claim, which might raise your insurance costs in the future. When picking a plan, weigh these factors to find one that best suits your needs.
Conclusion
In summary, roadside assistance is an invaluable service that helps you deal with car troubles, offering support like towing, tire changes, and more. When choosing a plan, consider the range of services, coverage limits, and extra perks to find one that matches your needs. Thus, if you have been looking for a roadside assistance service provider in Canada, then your search ends with PEARL CORP. Picking the right roadside assistance can save you money and provide peace of mind while driving.