Who You Gonna Call?

No one, and I mean no one, looks forward to the day when their tire blows out or their battery fails to start the car in the morning before work. And let's be honest, many of us probably don't think to acquire the skills or equipment needed to handle unlocking a car door if the keys are locked inside or the car just happens to run out of gas. And what if the unimaginable happens, and your car has a major mechanical breakdown while you're driving somewhere? Even though most people are fortunate enough not to see this often, roadside emergencies can and will happen at anytime.

Planning ahead for the what-if roadside emergency scenario seems to be the last thing anyone thinks of when purchasing or driving their vehicle. But we see roadside emergencies every single day, minor ones such as a #deadbattery, #lockout or a #tirechange, or major ones where the car will ultimately need a #tow. It can happen at anytime, anywhere, to anyone, so why not be prepared? The worst thing you want to do is to wait until your roadside emergency happens to realize you needed to be prepared.

Purchasing emergency roadside assistance insurance through your auto insurance provider is a great way to get the help you need. All insurance providers offer some level of #roadsideprotection that can be added into your regular insurance payments, and from my experience don't cost very much either. For just a few extra bucks a month, you can have peace of mind that your roadside emergency won't become a nightmare. Most companies provide the basic services as well as towing up to a set limit of miles, and even rental car coverage or reimbursement for qualifying situations. Just know that each individual vehicle will need its own coverage, and you must carry full coverage insurance to receive it. It's definitely worth looking into!

Another alternative are #motorclub memberships. Most people are familiar with AAA as it is probably the most well-known and visible #motorclub, but did you know there are countless others? Although a little more pricey than adding #roadsideprotection to your auto insurance, motor clubs offer package deals not just for one vehicle, but all the vehicles and all family members. Most motor clubs also offer other bonus discounts and rewards as well. Choose your plan carefully, as there may be specific coverage limits which would leave you responsible for any costs over the limit amount, and usually there are limits to the miles you can be towed or number of times you can call.

Of course, not everyone subscribes to some form of #roadsideprotection insurance. Perhaps they only carry liability insurance and can't afford the price for a motor club membership,don't see the value in carrying this kind of insurance, or just didn't realize they had it. Still, we don't treat the general public any differently than a person who receives #roadsideprotection insurance from the insurance companies or motor clubs. In fact, these are the customers that may need the most reassurance because they don't have the confidence of pre-purchased #roadsideprotection insurance behind them. You can find a local emergency roadside service provider by doing a general search in a telephone directory, or if you're like most of us, looking it up on the internet through your phone. Search engines such as a Google are a good starting point, or Yelp which specialize in recommending local services that have been reviewed by others in the area. The pitfall is that you may have to call around a bit to find the provider who can come quickest or works best for your budget.

Imagine you're on a busy highway in a minivan with your children and their friends and your tire blows out. Are you prepared to change it yourself? Or do you have the confidence to know help will be on the way?

#besafe and #moveover, it's the law!