Roadside Assistance Cover in Car Insurance

With a roadside assistance add-on in car insurance, the policyholder gets assistance in case the insured car breaks down all of a sudden while driving on the roads. The insurer provides coverage for minor repairs, towing, etc. Thus, if your car is stuck anywhere on the road, the RSA add-on cover for cars can come to your rescue.

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What is Roadside Assistance Cover (RSA) in Car Insurance?

Roadside assistance in car insurance also known as breakdown assistance cover or 24*7 car breakdown assistance is an additional cover that offers assistance to a car if it gets stuck somewhere on the road. You can purchase this add-on by paying a little extra in your premium amount.

You can only purchase this add-on if you have a comprehensive car insurance policy as it only protects the insured vehicle from sudden damages on the road. For example, mechanical, or electrical failure, low fuel, etc. If your car gets stuck on the road, the insurer sends a mechanic at your location to repair your vehicle if you have bought RSA in car insurance.

Features of Roadside Assistance Add-on

Roadside Assistance car insurance add-on cover comes with certain features. They are as follows:

• Accommodation In case of a major car breakdown that takes considerable time to be repaired, the insurer may also provide hotel accommodation.
• Alternate transport Along with hotel accommodation, a transport facility like a hired cab is also provided 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 in case you are not ready to wait for the mechanic.
• Not counted as a claim: Any benefit taken under a road side assistance cover will not be counted as a claim. Thus, your NCB remains intact even if you use this add-on for repairs.

What is Covered Under RSA Cover?

• Battery Breakdown: This car insurance cover provides for battery breakdown and where the battery needs a jump start
• Minor repairs: The insurer sends mechanics to take care of minor breakdowns faced by you.
• Flat tyre: Let's face it, flat tyres are as common as the common cold. So when you have a flat tyre, a call to the insurer will ensure that help comes to you.
• Towing When your car breaks down, towing may be required to tow it to the nearest garage or workshop of your choice. This facility is also provided under the Breakdown Assistance cover.
• Provision of spare keys: As silly as it may sound; some of us accidentally leave our keys inside the car and lock it behind us. In that case and even in case the car keys are lost, a spare key is provided under this add-on to resolve the issue
• Fuel provision: In case you face an empty tank midway through the journey, the insurer sends fuel supply so that you don't have to search for the petrol station which may not be available for miles.

What is Not Covered Under RSA Cover?

• Not as a claim: The roadside assistance cover does not account for “as a claim” as the insured can use it for the specified number of times as per the policy documents.
• Last Resort: Insured can only use roadside assistance when he/she does not have any other option. For instance, if the policyholder can take the car to a nearby garage without any help and still tries to utilise the assistance, the insurer will not assist in that case.
• Drunk Driving: If the driver is found drunk when the car breakdown took place, the insurer will not cover it under the Roadside Assistance Cover.
• No Driving Licence: If the driver is found driving without a driving licence when the breakdown took place, the insurer will not cover it.

Who Should Purchase Roadside Assistance Insurance?

• If you have a car that is less than 5 years old, then it is recommended for you to opt for this add-on cover.
• If you drive your car often or take it out on long drives, then you must purchase this add-on as the chances for breakdown are more during a long trip and you may get stranded if there is no garage nearby.
• If you are a frequent traveller and travel out of station often then you must purchase this Roadside Assistance cover.
• Some people are able to fix minor problems in the car but if you do not know anything about repairing a car then you must opt for this breakdown assistance cover..

When Can You Buy Roadside Assistance Cover?

You can only purchase a RSA in car insurance, on two occasions:

1. While purchasing a new car insurance policy, you can simply add roadside assistance for car and it will reflect in your insurance premium amount.
2. Or you can purchase this add-on while renewing the car insurance policy. You just have to add this add-on by visiting Policybazaar.com and then adding the cover to your existing car insurance plan.

Conditions Related to Usage of Roadside Assistance Add-on

It should be kept in mind that the charges for availing of the services need to be met from your pocket and the insurer merely facilitates availability.

For instance, in the case of fuel provision, the insurer will send you fuel supply but the charge of the fuel will be paid by you, or in case of towing, the garage and mechanic expenses need to be borne by the policyholder.

However, besides the charges involved, having RSA in car insurance is beneficial because it cuts down on the hassles involved by providing ready availability of service. You will anyhow have to bear the fuel or mechanic's expense yourself even without the cover but at least the cover will ensure prompt service at your location.

Moreover, utilising the breakdown assistance cover won't be counted as a claim, thus your No Claim Bonus will stay intact. It's simply a facility that your insurer will provide in times of need.

Roadside Assistance: FAQs