Unless you have additional coverage for roadside assistance added to your policy, the majority of insurance providers will not pay for towing costs incurred due to a mechanical problem.
In an ideal world, there would never be a situation in which a motorist is forced to pull over to the side of the road because their vehicle has broken down. However, this is not a flawless world, and sometimes things just stop working. If you find yourself in a situation where you need to be towed to the closest repair shop by a tow truck, you are probably wondering how much, if any, of the cost of that tow will be covered by your auto insurance. The response is dependant on the particulars of the policy that you have.
Roadside help, which is also known as towing and labor coverage, is a policy add-on that is often affordable and is available by most major vehicle insurance carriers. The vast majority of automobile insurance plans do not cover towing because of a technical problem.
If you do not already have coverage for towing and labor, which is sometimes referred to as roadside assistance, as part of your policy, then it is quite likely that your insurance policy will not cover towing.
Your tow-truck journey, though, could be covered after all if you have a full-coverage policy, liability insurance plus collision and comprehensive coverage, or if you pay for roadside assistance via a separate service. In addition, if you were involved in an accident that was caused by another motorist, the subsequent towing may be covered by the insurance policy of the driver who was at blame for the accident.
Which Insurance Options Include Towing Service?
Towing is often not covered by standard auto insurance plans unless the policyholder specifically adds coverage for either roadside assistance or towing and labor.
If you find yourself stuck on the side of the road, you may be able to add an extra coverage called roadside assistance to your insurance policy. This coverage will pay for services like as towing, changing flat tires, and locksmithing.
It’s possible that if you have comprehensive and collision coverage, roadside assistance is already included in your policy. However, you should always check with your insurance provider to be sure.
What is Roadside Assistance Coverage?
In the event that your car becomes inoperable, the roadside assistance coverage you have may pay for a tow, up to a particular distance that is outlined in your insurance. If your car is involved in an accident and you are unable to drive it because of the accident, your insurance company may pay for the expense of towing your vehicle.
Roadside help is a supplemental service that may be purchased in addition to your vehicle insurance policy from a number of insurance providers, including Progressive. The following are examples of how roadside assistance from Progressive may be put to use:
- Towing service for your car within a radius of 15 miles, or to the nearest qualified repair shop if the radius is more than 15 miles.
- We provide winching services in the event that your vehicle becomes mired in muck, snow, water, or sand (within 100 feet of a road or highway).
- services that can jump-start a battery that has died.
- Towing services for electric automobiles to the nearest charging station that meets the required standards.
- services offered by locksmiths in the event that you misplace your keys or inadvertently lock them inside your car.
- Offering assistance in changing a flat tire.
- Fuel delivery (you pay for the cost of the fuel).
How Do I Get Roadside Assistance?
If your vehicle insurance policy simply covers you for liability, then it most likely does not contain any kind of roadside assistance coverage.
But if you have collision coverage, which pays for damages regardless of who was at fault in an accident, and comprehensive coverage, which pays for damages caused by weather disasters, vandalism, and a variety of other catastrophes, your insurance may also include roadside assistance coverage. A word of caution: before your collision and comprehensive coverage kick in, you will normally need to pay an out-of-pocket deductible of either $500 or $1,000.
It is often not difficult to add roadside assistance, as well as towing and labor coverage, to a policy if it is not already included. You may add a rider to your standard insurance for somewhere in the range of $5 to $15 per automobile.
There are alternative methods to ensure that you are protected in the event that roadside assistance is not included in your auto insurance policy. Some automakers provide free roadside help with the purchase of a new vehicle. This assistance is often valid for a certain length of time or miles driven. When you buy a used automobile from a dealership, you may be able to purchase roadside assistance for that car via the dealership. This service is often included in warranties for used cars.
There are other companies that provide roadside help on their own, such as AAA. Depending on the protection package that you choose, you may get a specific number of tows each year from this company. Good Sam Roadside Support, the National General Motor Club, Allstate Motor Club, and Better World Club are some of the other organizations that provide roadside assistance. Members of AARP, who must be at least 50 years old to join, are eligible to participate in the organization’s roadside help program.
Will Auto Insurance Pay for Towing After an Accident?
If you are involved in an accident that was caused by another motorist, the costs associated with having your vehicle towed may be reimbursed by the liability coverage carried by the driver who was at blame for the accident. However, depending on the details of your coverage, if it is determined that you were at fault for the accident, you may be required to pay for the costs of having your vehicle towed.
Will a Car Insurance Company Pay for Impound Fees?
Your vehicle’s insurance provider will not pay for impound or parking lot costs on your behalf. Make it a priority to get your vehicle from the impound yard as soon as humanly feasible. It’s possible that you’ll only have a few days to retrieve your vehicle before being charged further fines, but it all depends on where your car was taken.
Does Insurance Cover a Car Being Towed?
Even if you’re not in the vehicle when it’s being towed, your auto insurance policy will still cover any damages that occur. In the event that the tow truck that is towing your vehicle is involved in an accident, the driver who is found to be at fault will have their insurance company pay for any damages to your vehicle, just as they would if you had been involved in an accident while driving. In addition, if you have collision coverage on your insurance policy, you will most likely be compensated for any damages sustained by your vehicle while it is being towed.