Roadside Assistance Cover: Why it is Essential

To drive your motorisedi vehicle on Indian roads,i you need to ensurei you have an activei and valid insurance policy.i All vehicle owners arei mandated to invest ini a third-party limited liabilityi insurance plan under thei Motor Vehicle Act ofi 1988. However, such ai policy comes with limitedi coverage. If you wishi to protect your vehiclei from natural disasters andi human-made incidents, you needi comprehensive insurance. Such ai plan also enables youi to get extensive coveragei with the help ofi add-on riders, one ofi which is roadside assistancei or RSA. Let usi understand what is RSAi in car insurance andi why it is essential.

Whati Is Roadside Assistance ini Car Insurance?

As the namei suggests, roadside assistance isi the instant assistance youi can get if ori when your vehicle breaksi down, especially when youi least expect it. Iti is a type ofi add-on rider that enablesi you to call youri insurance provider for assistancei in jumpstarting your vehiclei engine, replacing a flati tire, getting you sufficienti fuel to reach thei nearest petrol bunk, ori even towing your vehiclei to the nearest garage.i  Essentially, a roadside assistancei cover helps you deali with frustrating situations wheni your vehicle breaks downi or malfunctions and providesi relief. Most car insurancei  providers in India offeri roadside assistance as ani add-on with comprehensive cari insurance policy plans.

How Muchi Does Roadside Assistance Coveri Cost?

The cost of roadsidei assistance cover in cari insurance varies from onei insurance provider to another.i The basic cost ofi roadside assistance add-on coveri depends on several factorsi pertaining to the typei of vehicle you owni and its age. Fori instance, the premium costi for RSA for sedans,i compact cars and hatchbacki cars is typically loweri than that for SUVs,i MUVs, and luxury cars.i Geographic factors such asi the city you residei in, the availability ofi garages, etc., also affecti the cost of thei RSA insurance premium.

How Roadsidei Assistance Cover Works

If youri vehicle suffers a suddeni breaks down, you doi not have to scramblei to find help. Insteadi you should call youri car insurance provider andi appraise them of youri situation. The insurer willi then get in touchi with the nearest garagei in its network, andi a garage representative willi come to the spoti where you are strandedi with your car andi assist you. The garagei mechanic will either repairi your vehicle or towi it to the garagei based on the typei of breakdown. You cani also call for assistancei to refuel your vehiclei up to the nearesti petrol bunk, but youi have to pay fori the cost of fuel.i Since you would havei already paid a premiumi for this cover, youi would be covered fori expenses up to thei sums assured under thei roadside assistance cover. Youi have to bear thei remaining costs out ofi your own pockets.

In manyi cases, you can calli the insurer for roadsidei assistance even if youi have not purchased thei RSA cover. However, youi must be prepared toi bear all the costsi associated with the conveyancei of the garage mechanici and the cost ofi repairs.

What is Covered ini Roadside Assistance, and Whati are the Roadside Assistancei Cover Benefits?

Most insurance providersi typically cover you againsti the following under thei roadside assistance cover add-on.

Minori repairs:-Your vehicle could needi minor repairs if iti suffers a mechanical problem.i In such a situation,i you can call fori roadside assistance.

Battery breakdown:-If youri car’s battery runs out,i the insurance provider willi send a mechanic fromi a network garage toi fix problems with thei battery and even providei a jumpstart to thei battery, if necessary.

Flat tyre:-Ai flat tyre or tyrei puncture is a commoni problem that all vehiclei owners encounter. You cani call your insurer toi get help fixing thei flat tyre. The insureri will send a mechanici to change the tyrei or provide you withi a new tyre ifi required.

Towing services:-If you cannoti fix your broken downi car on the spot,i you can call fori towing services. The towingi service provider will takei your vehicle to thei nearest garage for thei necessary repairs.

Spare key provision:-Ifi you lose your vehicle'si key or get lockedi out of it, youi can call for roadsidei assistance. The mechanic mayi use a slim-jim tooli or bring along ai key maker and providei you with a sparei key.

Taxi support:-If you needi to reach somewhere immediatelyi after your vehcile breaksi down, the insurance provideri will also offer ai taxi service to geti you there. There arei stipulations on how fari you can go, buti that will depend oni the insurance provider.

Exclusions toi Roadside Assistance and Otheri Details

Before getting roadside assistancei coverage, you should knowi that there might bei some exclusions and limitations.i They will depend oni the provider. Some standardi exclusions are.

• There will bei a set amount ofi times you can calli for roadside assistance. Afteri that, you will havei to pay for iti out of your owni pockets. Many providers assisti up to 4 timesi a year.
• There may bei limitations or the numberi of times you cani avail of refuelling servicesi in a year.
• Your insurancei provider has the discretioni to refuse you thei roadside assistance cover servicesi if you are inebriatedi while driving your cari or have taken parti in any illegal activity.

Whoi Should Take Roadside Assistancei Cover?

Roadside assistance is thei kind of add-on everyonei should consider opting for,i as it comes toi your aid in variousi unforeseen circumstances. You shouldi especially opt for iti if you travel ai lot using your cari or if you feeli you may be ill-equippedi to change a flati tyre or manage minori or major vehicle breakdownsi on your own. Ideally,i you should opt fori roadside assistance to alwaysi feel protected and safei while on the road.i However, there are somei factors you could consideri before getting roadside assistancei cover, including.

Age of youri car:-If your vehicle isi brand new, you mighti not need a roadsidei assistance cover. Roadside assistancei might be handier toi people with older cars.

Frequencyi of use:-If you arei a regular vehicle useri or even use iti to travel long distances,i it would be besti to get the coverage.

Convenience:-Ifi you value convenience ini a dire situation, youi will benefit from roadsidei assistance.

FAQs

How quick can roadsidei assistance services provide help?

Typically,i roadside assistance is swift,i and you can geti access to services withini an hour. Insurers havei partnerships with garages alli over the country toi offer immediate assistance.

How muchi does roadside assistance coveri cost?

The cost will dependi on the insurance provideri and the type ofi vehicle you own. Somei providers offer roadside assistancei with the original policy,i while some providers offeri it as an add-on.

Cani I buy roadside assistancei cover in car insurancei online?

Yes, you can buyi roadside assistance cover onlinei along with car insurance.i You can research onlinei about the insurers providingi this add-on.

Disclaimer: For morei details on risk factors,i terms & conditions pleasei read sales brochure carefullyi before concluding a sale.i *The discount amount willi vary subject to vehiclei specification and place ofi registration