Many insurance companies now offer their customers the option to add roadside assistance to their policy. Adding roadside assistance to your policy allows you to get help quickly when you need it. If you find yourself stuck on the side of the road, use the following guide to get the help you need as quickly as possible.
Determine What the Issue Is
If your car suddenly begins to stall and then completely stops, you more than likely have run out of gas. Look at your gas gauge to see if you are out of gas. If you start to feel your car jolting back and forth and then pull to one side more than another, there is a good chance that you have a flat tire. If smoke is coming from your hood, your car may be overheating. When you call for assistance, you need to be able to explain what issues you noticed so that the tow truck driver can know what to expect when they arrive. If they know to bring gas or a spare tire with them when they come, the driver can get you back on the road as soon as possible.
Determine Your Location
Next, you need to take the time to determine where you are located. If you are in an area that you are not familiar with and you have a GPS on your cell phone, you can easily determine your location by looking at the map app on your phone. Click "current location" and then any store that you drove by before your car broke down. You can then learn the address of the store so the tow truck driver will know where you are located when they come to give you assistance.
Contact Your Insurance Company
You need to be sure that you take the time to call your insurance company before calling any tow truck for assistance. The insurance company has prearranged agreements with certain companies to ensure that they can get the best rate for the services that their customers need. The agent at the insurance company can then call the closest roadside assistance provider in the area. If you hire a company that is not a registered provider with your insurance company, you could end up paying for the assistance out of your own pocket.
Once the assistance provider is contacted, he or she should arrive at your location within a short period of time. Be sure that you stay as far off of the road as you can and keep your hazard lights on to warn other drivers that your vehicle is not operable at the moment. For more information about how to handle a roadside emergency, contact a company like Ragans Mac Auto Sales And Service.
Share12 February 2016
Hello. My name’s Samuel Jacobs. I retired from my job as an auto mechanic last year. During my years as a mechanic, I had the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life. Some have remained friends to this day. When I was working, there is one thing that I came across at least weekly. That is how uneducated people are when it comes to their vehicle’s tires. Properly cared for tires are crucial to the safety of your vehicle. Without them, your car isn’t going anywhere. If they give out on you while you are driving, there is the potential for serious injury. I’m going to share some tire safety information here. Things like the importance of correct inflation, how to check the tread, when to replace tires, tire rotation, and what to do in case of a blow-out. I hope you find this information to be helpful.