Things to Know About 24x7 Car Breakdown Assistance

Posted on: Jul 21, 2020 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

Things to Know About 24x7 Car Breakdown Assistance

24x7 car breakdown assistance can be said as the emergency support provided in case of your car's breakdown due to any mechanical or electrical failure. In simple words, a professional technician would come for your help in case of any complications encountered in your car during the journey.

Many car insurance providers offer 24x7 car breakdown assistance as a built-in feature of the comprehensive car insurance policy. Some other car insurance companies offer this service in the form of an exclusive add-on along with the insurance policy.

How Does 24X7 Car Breakdown Assistance Work?

Your car insurance provider would collaborate or have a partnership with a network of businesses that provide car breakdown assistance services. These businesses would ideally have a team that would contact you and arrange assistance services for you on behalf of your insurance company in case of an emergency breakdown. However, the service provider, which is sent to you for assistance depends upon factors like your location, your vehicle, and the circumstances.

In the car breakdown assistance services, the professional would try to make the necessary repairs to your vehicle and restart it again.

What is Covered Under Car Roadside Assistance Cover?

Some of the 24 *7 breakdown services included in the roadside assistance cover of car insurance are:

Towing -

If your car is involved in an accident then your breakdown assistance provider will get your car towed to the nearby garage or service centre safely.

Flat tires -

If you are facing the problem of flat tires then your assistance provider can arrive and help in replacing your tire with the spare tire present in your car.

Small Repairs-

To bring your car back to working condition, the insurance company will also offer small repairs that can be done immediately.

Assistance with Extra Keys-

It may sometimes happen that you misplace your keys or they get stolen and you get stuck somewhere on the road. In such a situation, the insurance provider will make arrangements for the pickup and delivery of spare keys to the location where your automobile is stranded.

Repair or replacement of flat battery:

If your car’s battery gets drained and the vehicle breaks down while you are on the road, then your insurer will make arrangements to repair or replace the battery.

Legal aid:

If you meet with an accident on the road and you need legal support to deal with the situation, then you can get free legal advice from a lawyer over the phone.

Breakdown Support over a phone call-

For automobile breakdowns in the event of minor mechanical issues, you can seek free support from a mechanic over a phone call. With the assistance of the professional on call, you may resolve the small issues yourself.

Fuel delivery service -

This service will be provided if you need fuel delivery immediately. A professional would arrange fuel up to 5 liters for your car.

Battery jump-start service -

This is an attempt to start your car by jump-starting the battery if it is advisable by the car’s manufacturer.

Lockout service and locksmith service -

This can happen when you are unable to gain access to the car and you are helped by a professional to enter. This service is known as the lockout service.

Travel and accommodation arrangement -

During the repair of your car, if you want to take up accommodation in a hotel near the garage or wish to travel up to your house/office then the arrangement would be made by the assistance professional.

What is Not Covered Under Car Roadside Assistance Cover?

There are several conditions that are not covered under roadside assistance cover in car insurance. Your insurance provider will not be responsible for providing you with roadside assistance if your vehicle breaks down under any of these excluded circumstances listed in their policy. The exclusions in a car breakdown assistance cover are listed below:

• If perishable products, fragile luggage, bulky luggage that was improperly packed, or goods utilised for business purposes were the cause of the car breakdown.

• If you refuse to pay for the roadside assistance rider added to your comprehensive car insurance, the insurer will mark your car ineligible to receive future car breakdown assistance.

• If your car is utilised for racing or any other illicit activity, the roadside assistance claim will be rejected.

• If the repairs are made without notifying the insurance provider, the roadside assistance claim can potentially be denied.

• Vehicles that are older than 10 years are not eligible for car breakdown assistance.

• Certain types of vehicles are also not eligible for receiving 24*7 breakdown service and these include the following:

• vehicles used for rewards and rentals

• Cars used for delivering cargo and other stuff

• Vehicles with more than four wheels or fewer

• Automobiles lacking an internal combustion engine

• Cars weighing more than 3,500 kilograms

• Vehicles with measurements greater than 2.5 x 2.5 x 5.1 meters

Who Should Opt For ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE?

When buying car insurance online, you should opt for car roadside assistance, if you are a person who falls into any of the following categories:

Individuals who travel often

Individuals who frequently drive long distances run a higher risk of experiencing a car breakdown. If this happens in a deserted location without any way to get repair assistance, then it is even worse. Having access to on-road car roadside assistance can be quite beneficial in such situations.

One who owns a new car

If you have just bought a brand new car or if your vehicle is not much older than 5 years, then you should consider buying a roadside assistance add-on with your comprehensive car insurance. This is to ensure that your new car gets a professional repair service if it happens to break down in any remote area. Professional mechanics will repair the car with perfection and maintain its condition.

Individuals in need of repair assistance

If your car breaks down unexpectedly at a location where there is no nearby emergency auto breakdown service, then you may land in trouble. Moreover, if you are not well-versed in an automobile’s mechanical operation to find out the fault or repair it, it will add to the difficulty. To avoid such circumstances, you should opt for the car roadside assistance rider when buying car insurance online or offline.

CONCLUSION

24x7 car breakdown assistance is an add-on that is available along with the comprehensive car insurance policy on the payment of additional premiums. A comprehensive car insurance policy would help in ensuring complete protection of your car. Today, when a car is a necessity for the common man and insurance is compulsory for cars; it would be wise to purchase comprehensive car insurance along with the required add-ons.

Car breakdown assistance can be said to be an important aspect of your car maintenance. It is of great help in case of any unprecedented accidents or breakdowns. However, you must keep in mind certain factors such as the age of your car, the number of times a particular service is available, and the prices of the car breakdown assistance coverage while the purchase of this add-on.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to the policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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