What is Road Side Assistance in Car Insurance?
Roadside assistance in car insurance is an add-on coverage that provides emergency services to policyholders in case of a car breakdown. You can opt for road side assistance cover at an additional premium amount while buying or renewing a comprehensive car insurance policy.
With the RSA add-on, you can get help from your insurance provider if you experience car problems either at home or while driving. The insurer can guide you over the phone or send a mechanic to your location to fix your car. In case your vehicle can't be repaired on the spot, the insurer can arrange to tow it to the nearest garage, ensuring peace of mind and your continued safety.
Features of Roadside Assistance Add-on
RSA in car insurance has several key features that provide the essential support to vehicle owners. The key features of roadside assistance include:
- Accommodation: In case of a major car breakdown that takes considerable time to be repaired, the insurer can arrange a hotel stay for you under your 24x7 roadside assistance coverage.
- Alternate Vehicle: Besides hotel accommodation, the insurer can also provide a cab for transportation to the hotel or garage.
- Guidance for Minor Faults: If your car is experiencing minor defects, the insurer may also guide you on the phone for repairs if you are not willing to wait for the mechanic.
- Not Counted as a Claim: Any service availed under RSA in car insurance is not considered a claim, thus keeping your NCB intact.
What is Covered Under Roadside Assistance?
Roadside assistance in car insurance includes the following emergency services:
- Battery Breakdown: RSA in car insurance includes coverage for your car's battery failure. In this case, the insurer will assign a technician to jump-start your car's dead battery.
- Minor Repairs: 24x7 roadside assistance also covers you if your car encounters a minor mechanical or electrical fault. Under this scenario, the insurer will send a mechanic to your location for instant repair.
- Flat Tyre: If you ever encounter a flat tyre situation, you can reach out to your insurance company and ask for a quick roadside assistance. Your insurer will ensure you get back on the road without hassle.
- Towing: Roadside assistance add-on in your four-wheeler insurance also offers a towing facility. If your car breaks down, your insurer will arrange to tow it to the nearest garage or workshop of your choice.
- Provision of Spare Keys: As silly as it may sound, some of us accidentally lock our keys inside the car. In this case, even if the car keys are lost, a spare key is provided under RSA in car insurance.
- Low Fuel: In case you find yourself with an empty fuel tank midway through your journey, the insurer can send fuel so you don't have to search for the gas station, which might not be available for miles.
What is Not Covered Under RSA in Car Insurance?
The following situations are not covered under road side assistance for car:
- Last Resort: Policyholders can only use roadside assistance when they do not have any other option. For instance, if the policyholder can take the car to a nearby garage without any help and still try to utilise RSA in their car insurance, the insurer might not assist.
- Drunk Driving: If the driver is found drunk during a car breakdown, the insurer will not offer roadside assistance.
- No Driving Licence: If the driver is found to be driving without a valid licence at the time of breakdown, the vehicle insurance policy will not provide roadside assistance.
Who Should Purchase Roadside Assistance?
RSA in car insurance can benefit you under the following scenarios:
- If you own a car that is less than 5 years old, it is advisable to opt for RSA in car insurance.
- If you frequently drive long distances, you must include roadside assistance in your car insurance policy. This is because the chances of car breakdown are higher during long trips, and you may get stranded if there is no garage nearby.
- Some people can handle minor car issues. If you don't know about repairs, buying 24x7 roadside assistance add-on can be helpful.
How can I Buy Roadside Assistance Online?
You can easily purchase RSA in car insurance from Policybazaar by following these steps:
- Visit Policybazaar.com and select 'Car Insurance' on the homepage.
- Input your vehicle number and other relevant details.
- Now, from the list of quotes from different four-wheeler insurance companies, choose the one that suits your budget and requirements.
- Under 'Add-ons,' select '24x7 Roadside Assistance.'
- Pay the premium amount via available payment methods like cards, UPI, net banking.
- Upon successful payment, you will receive your car insurance policy with the 24x7 roadside assistance add-on at your registered email address.
Conditions Related to Usage of 24x7 Roadside Assistance Add-on
It is important to note that under the roadside assistance add-on, you have to pay for certain services out of your pocket. For example, if your car runs out of fuel and becomes immobilized, the insurer usually provides up to 5 litres of emergency fuel under roadside assistance, but you will bear its cost.
Similarly, if your car breaks down and cannot be repaired, the insurer helps tow the vehicle to the closest garage within a specified distance from your location. However, if the towing distance exceeds the limit mentioned in your roadside assistance insurance document, you have to pay extra charges.
However, having RSA in car insurance is highly beneficial because it ensures immediate assistance during a car breakdown. While you will still bear the fuel or mechanic costs, at least RSA will ensure prompt service availability. Additionally, utilising the roadside assistance in car insurance doesn't count as a claim, so your No Claim Bonus (NCB) remains unaffected.
How to Claim Car Insurance for Breakdown with Roadside Assistance?
You can easily claim roadside assistance if your vehicle breaks down unexpectedly. Here is the process:
Call Your Insurer
To avail road side assistance in your car insurance, contact the 24x7 RSA helpline number of your insurer mentioned in your policy.
Share Your Details
Provide your vehicle registration number, breakdown location, and the details of the roadside assistance service required, like for a flat tyre, fuel requirement, or battery jumpstart, to your insurer.
Get Instant Support
After verifying your details, your insurer will provide you with the road side assistance you need at the shared location. If there are minor repairs, the technician will repair them on the spot. Otherwise, your car will be towed to a nearby network garage.
