All about Roadside Assistance Coverage in Car Insurance

With the slightest malfunction or break-down of your car, you might end up in a trouble. This malfunction can be anything right from a flat tire to break failure. In such a scenario, it becomes easier for the driver/owner if assistance is available. The concept of roadside assistance is quite old yet essential for customers.

Almost every car insurance plan in UAE comes with the feature of roadside assistance that provides free help in case of an event that leads to the breakdown of the vehicle. This includes multiple situations such as flat tire, engine failure, accidents, etc. Under the feature of roadside assistance, the insurer provides towing service when the vehicle is not in a condition to be driven physically. On top of it, there is a stand-alone facility also available under roadside assistance.

Understanding Roadside Assistance (RSA)

Your basic car insurance in UAE comes with coverage and various other features and benefits, roadside assistance is one of them. In order to understand this feature let us take a look at an exemplary situation.

Suppose you are driving with your family and suddenly you start to feel that your gear shift mechanism is not working properly. You are in the middle of a highway and there is no workshop in a radius of 15 kilometers moreover, it is not safe to drive your car in such a situation. This is where roadside assistance comes into the picture. In case of such an event, you can call your insurance provider to make use of this facility. All you need to do is notify them by simply calling their helpline number and they will arrange assistance for you even at remote locations.

If your vehicle cannot be driven or if it is unsafe to drive then the company will provide a towing facility and you’ll have to pay the charges for towing. Similarly, if your vehicle is out of fuel the insurance provider will refuel your car but you’ll have to bear the refueling charges. Once your vehicle reaches the workshop you can get it repaired by simply paying for the expenses incurred. The detailed coverages under the feature of roadside assistance tend to vary from provider to provider. For instance, some of the insurance providers provide accommodation in case of serious breakdowns that require time.

Coverage Provided under Roadside Assistance

As mentioned roadside assistance is a broad feature and offers coverage against a variety of scenarios. Here’s a quick rundown on the incidents that are covered under roadside assistance.

• Refueling- At times, unplanned trips may result in an empty fuel tank and this is where you can make use of roadside assistance to refuel your vehicle when there is no gas station nearby. You can simply call your insurance provider and place a request for refueling your car.
• Mechanical breakdowns- If your vehicle is broken down and is in a situation, you can call your provider to arrange a mechanic for analysis and repair.
• Towing Facility- With an increasing number of cars cruising the streets of UAE, there has been an exponential rise in the number of road accidents. In case your vehicle has met an accident that has led to a situation where your vehicle cannot be driven you can avail of the towing facility. Your vehicle will be towed to the nearest workshop for repair and service.
• Alternate Vehicle- Under roadside assistance, the provider will arrange an alternate vehicle to make sure that the owner reaches their destination on time by the time their car is being repaired or serviced.
• Medical Assistance- If the driver or any of the passengers in the vehicle are in the need of medical assistance followed by an accident, and then the insurance provider will take care of it under roadside assistance.
• On-Call Services- One of the most useful features of roadside assistance is on-call services. Customers can make use of this facility in order to get the required information.
• Alternate Keys- Roadside assistance is not just limited to providing help and support in case of an immobilized vehicle. If you are stuck due to lost car keys you can make use of this facility to contact the provider for getting an alternate key.

Points to Ponder while Availing Roadside Assistance

Before you go ahead and opt for roadside assistance, there are some important points that are to be kept in consideration. Here’s a rundown-

• Age of the Vehicle- As the concept of depreciation is applicable to almost every asset; it is also applicable to vehicles. Most of the car insurance providers in the UAE are reluctant to offer roadside assistance to aged cars. Moreover, the annual payable charges for opting for roadside assistance under your car insurance UAE will be substantially higher for aged cars.
• Number of Services- The majority of car insurance providers have a pre-decided capping on the number of services. For most companies, there are six to twelve services depending upon the package you choose.

Conclusion

Roadside assistance turns out to be a boon for the customer in unforeseen events. With the right car insurance in UAE and roadside assistance, you can enhance the protection quotient and drive fearlessly.