Most full coverage auto insurance plans will come with additional protection for emergency road and towing service and labor if the insured vehicle breaks down or other problem and help is needed. That can be a huge relief to many people who have no idea how to do something as simple as changing a flat tire or starting a vehicle. But for others, that can also be a waste of money.

Many types of roadside emergency service plans will pay for the cost of dispatching a tow truck or other emergency service that will do anything from helping to get into a locked vehicle when the driver has left the keys in it, to adding some gasoline to an empty tank. Changing a tire or starting with a low battery are some of the most common services provided, and emergency starts are very common in cold climates when the temperature drops significantly below freezing for the first time and consumes energy. battery.

But there are limits on the frequency and types of services provided. Typically no more than five gallons of gasoline will be provided, and then only once every six months, if a plan calls for it. And if the vehicle cannot be started, the owner could simply be stranded, as many times the responding vehicle is not a tow truck capable of removing the car, truck, van, or SUV and taking it to the owner’s home or repair shop. repairs.

In such cases, it is preferable to have a towing and labor coverage rider attached to the auto insurance plan. With that added protection, a tow truck will appear, remove the vehicle, and take it to a repair shop or to the owner’s home. The advantages of such plans are obvious as they can mean the difference between being stranded in what could be death or winter or the heat of summer. And if you are traveling with family or perhaps with a small child or baby on board, there could be a real danger to the lives of some of the passengers.

So having a towing package on car insurance could literally be a lifesaver, as well as a very practical way to get home if there is a vehicle breakdown. On the other hand, there are limitations on what will be done with towing and job coverage.

As the name implies, the policy will cover towing costs and the labor required to do so up to the policy limits. And those limits often include the total distance to be towed. If you’re close to home, that distance can be as little as 50 to 75 miles. And if you’re traveling away from home, it could be up to 125 miles, but only to the closest approved repair center or other destination. The additional miles towed comes out of the insured’s pocket. And such plans will often require the insured to prepay for services and then seek reimbursement from the insurer, which could take up to two months to receive.

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