Getting stuck on the side of the road is frustrating on its own. That frustration only gets worse when you have to fork over money for a tow truck or call someone for a lift.
Of course, it’s even more of a hassle if you run out of gas. In that case, you’ll have to get a ride to obtain a gas can, fill that up, and get a ride back to your car. Then, you’ll need to put the few gallons in your tank, get back on the road, and finally head back to a gas station to fill the tank up all the way.
The above scenarios are why many people opt for a Vehicle Service Contract with roadside assistance.
Even the most reliable and durable vehicles occasionally have hiccups. Having protection can help prevent a breakdown from turning into a disaster.
What Is Roadside Assistance?
Think of the service as “stressless help from a new friend.” A roadside assistance policy is a set of the most commonly needed services for drivers whose vehicles suddenly become inoperable, or stuck, due to a breakdown. It’s often included with a factory warranty or a Vehicle Service Contract with roadside assistance coverage added in.
The Importance of Roadside Assistance Coverage
Why would you need a roadside assistance policy? Unless you’re driving purely as a fun cruise to feel the wind in your hair, you’re likely trying to get somewhere important.
If you’re on your way to a job, to pick up your kids from school, to go on a first date, or to attend an important event, you don’t want any more delays than necessary. Having a service that can help get you out of a tight spot and expedite the process is what roadside assistance is all about.
Here are some likely situations in which such a service would be helpful:
- Your car battery dies
- You run out of fuel
- You lock your keys in your car
- A tire goes flat, and you don’t have the ability to change the spare
- Your car breaks down, requiring a tow truck
- Your car gets stuck and needs to be winched free
Your warranty or Vehicle Service Contract provider will give you a phone number to call in case you need help.
What Is Generally Included in a Vehicle Service Contract?
Vehicle Service Contracts offer customized protection for a vehicle to give the owner peace of mind after a factory warranty expires. Protection plans can vary and can offer different levels of protection. For example, some plans include:
- Powertrain Protection: These plans typically only protect against failures of components in the engine, transmission, differential, and perhaps a few other such items.
- Premium Protection: These plans tend to be far more comprehensive than just powertrain coverage, and protect against failures in the powertrain, electrical system, suspension, or navigation.
- Corrosion Protection: These are often add-on plans that provide repairs to prematurely rusting or corroding body panels or frame members.
You’ll rarely find a Vehicle Service Contract with roadside assistance not included. However, if you’re in doubt, make sure to talk to the provider before signing the contract. If not, you’ll have to purchase a separate roadside assistance policy if you want the benefits that such a policy offers. All plans through CarShield include roadside assistance.
Do CarShield’s Vehicle Service Contracts Include Roadside Assistance?
Yes, all CarShield service contracts offer this protection. You don’t have to search for a protection plan with roadside assistance; it’s there by default. Here are some details about the service:
- The coverage is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
- Contract deductibles don’t apply to roadside assistance
- The contract benefits are for the covered vehicle only
If you need to use your roadside benefits, call 866-222-7869. Let’s break down what the service includes:
Towing Service
This is available when you break down and can’t get your car started again without damaging it further. In that case, your towing expenses are covered.
Emergency Tire Service
A flat tire is unexpected and instantaneous. A tire goes flat, and you’re sitting by the side of the road, hoping you have the tools to change your tire. If you have roadside assistance, the solution is as easy as calling a number and waiting for them to send someone out to change your tire for you.
Lockout Service
It’s frustrating to step out of your car, lock it, realize you forgot something, and find out that the “something” was your keys. With roadside assistance, you don’t have to call a locksmith or perform some unlocking trick you saw on YouTube, instead a locksmith will be dispatched to help you get inside.
Battery Service
Whether you accidentally left your lights on or your battery is just on its last legs, you might be left without enough power to start your car. That telltale click is an unsettling noise. Rather than wait for someone to appear who will kindly let you jumpstart from their battery, just call roadside assistance, and you’ll get that jumpstart in no time.
Fuel Delivery Service
We’ve all had it happen. We push the needle toward E to see how far we can stretch that tank of gas when the vehicle sputters, vibrates, and comes to a stop. Unless you happen to be pulling into a gas station, you’ll need a friend, family member, kind stranger, or ridesharing service to rescue you.
Roadside assistance not only keeps you from having to inconvenience anyone else, but it also gets fuel delivered right to you. That way, you don’t have to go retrieve a gas can, get gas, and come back to your car in a time-wasting process.
Winching
Sometimes, cars get stuck. Whether it’s sand, mud, snow, or some other trap, you’d be all right again if you could just get your car out. You might get lucky and have some passerby in a large pickup truck pull you out, but it’s best to leave things to the professionals.
For vehicles that get stuck, your plan covers a winching service to get it out as long as it’s within 100 feet of a public road. No matter the level of policy you get peace of mind when you head out on the road. Whatever happens, you can drive without worrying about what will happen if your car breaks down.
Contact CarShield and Get a Plan to Protect Your Ride
Whatever the reason you get stranded, you don’t need to stay that way. Get a quote through CarShield for a plan that will keep your car on the road, running in tip-top shape.
Check out the contracts you can get through CarShield today. And remember, whichever one you choose, roadside assistance is already included.
