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Roadside Assistance
Roadside Assistance
Written by
Kervin Mathew
Edited by
Laura Crowden
Reviewed by
Adrian BennettCompare car insurance policies the easy way
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Long story short
Get help when you need it
Roadside assistance can help you deal with flat tyres, dead batteries or an empty fuel tank. You can call for help anytime.
Towing limits may apply
Your car can be towed to a nearby repairer, but only up to a certain distance. Some providers cover 100 km but check your policy to avoid surprises.
Roadside assistance costs can vary
Basic roadside assistance can cost less than $100 a year, but premium options cover – and charge – more.
It can cover you for multiple cars
Some insurers may provide you with roadside assistance even if you drive more than one car – ideal for families with multiple vehicles.
What is roadside assistance?
Roadside assistance is essentially a breakdown service. Depending on your situation, having roadside assistance means you’ll have someone to help you if you get caught with a flat tyre, flat battery or a range of other mechanical misfortunes. All you need to do is call! You can purchase roadside assistance on its own or as an optional extra when you take out car insurance. Like all types of insurance cover, the features that come with roadside assistance vary from provider to provider.
What does roadside assistance cover?
When it comes to cars, and more importantly what goes wrong with cars, a few situations crop up again and again. And it’s these common scenarios that roadside assistance aims to fix. Keep in mind that roadside assistance will usually only cover you for certain types of callouts. Plus, there can also be a limit on how much they’ll cover you for repairs and other costs. So, depending on the situation, you might need to foot the bill for parts or labour.
Towing
The idea of having your car break down, stranding you in the middle of nowhere, is enough to put anyone on edge. This is when roadside assistance can be worth its weight in gold. Your provider can dispatch a tow truck to fetch your car. Just know that they might have a limit on how far they’ll tow you. For example, it might only be up to 100 km or only to your preferred repairer if it is within a certain distance.
Flat tyres
Did you just hear the dull THUMP-THUMP of a flat tyre? Give roadside assistance a call and someone will come out to inflate the tyre or replace it with your spare. If they pop the boot and find that your spare is missing, they might also arrange to tow your car to the nearest repairer.
Emergency fuel
This one’s for everyone out there who forgets to check the fuel gauge until they’re running on empty. Many providers will offer to come out and give you a certain amount of fuel (e.g. $15 worth) to get you up and running again. Some providers will even tow you to the nearest petrol station if they’re unable to get you fuelled up.
Flat batteries
Your provider can also send somebody out to jump-start your battery if it dies on you. But if it needs to be totally replaced, this will likely be at your cost.
Keys
Keys seem to have a mind of their own. If your keys somehow end up locked inside your car, or if they get themselves lost (or stolen), then roadside assistance may be able to help by sending a locksmith. Alternatively, they might send a courier or a taxi to fetch a spare set for you.
Minor mechanical repairs
Your average car has around 30,000 parts. Even the smallest one malfunctioning, like a fuse or a hose, might bring your steel horse to a grinding halt. Roadside assistance can help with minor repairs that are within a cost limit to get you back in the saddle and your car galloping again.
How much can roadside assistance cost?
Some insurers offer roadside assistance that starts at less than $100 a year. However, there are also providers who might charge much more for roadside assistance but cover more services.
How does roadside assistance work?
Though all providers can do things differently, they’re still essentially providing the same service. Here’s how a typical scenario involving roadside assistance would play out:
Call the provider
After a breakdown or issue with your car, it’s important to get your provider on the phone. They’ll ask you a series of questions to try to pinpoint the problem. If you’re lucky, it might even be something minor that can be fixed with their guidance over the phone!
Wait for help
While some insurers offer assistance within the hour, the wait time depends on how far a contractor or service provider is from your car, traffic conditions and more. Your insurer may be able to send you real-time tracking information so you’re aware of how long it might take for help to arrive.
It’s best to stay with your car and turn on the hazard lights while you wait for assistance to arrive – especially if you’re stranded on a motorway. You don’t want someone reporting your car as an abandoned vehicle.1For more information, see City of Melbourne – Illegally parked or abandoned vehicles
On-the-spot fix or towing
If your problem needs a qualified mechanic to fix it, the provider will usually send out a roadside contractor or a tow truck to get you going again. If they can’t rectify the problem on the spot, they’ll arrange for your car to be towed.
Additional services
Depending on your level of cover, your insurer may be able to arrange accommodation if you’re too far from home or a courtesy vehicle to get back home. This benefit usually only comes with comprehensive roadside assistance policies.
Remember to give your policy documents a quick read to make sure you understand your policy’s limitations and exclusions before committing to anything.
How should I choose roadside assistance cover?
There’s only one way to make sure you’ll get the coverage you need – and it isn’t exactly exciting. As with any type of insurance cover, you’ll need to do your homework and look at all the terms, conditions and limitations included in the different policy options. For instance, you might ask your insurer the following:
- Is roadside assistance available 24/7?
- What’s the average response time for your roadside assistance?
- Is there a limit to how many callouts I can make?
- Do you have a technical advice hotline?
- Will I still be covered if I’m interstate?
- Is there a limit to the costs my provider will cover?
- How far will my provider travel to provide roadside assistance?
Yes, it’s a lot to think about, but knowing this stuff will help you avoid getting stranded. Then you can hit the open road, knowing exactly how far you can travel before roadside assistance is out of range.
Helpful tip
If you drive an older car and decide not to get comprehensive car insurance, you can still get roadside assistance with lower levels of cover . Another benefit to roadside assistance is that you could tailor it to cover any car you drive – which is particularly useful if you switch cars from time to time.
Adrian Bennett
General Manager for General Insurance
Frequently asked questions
Which insurance providers offer roadside assistance in Australia?
Here are some prominent Aussie insurers who include roadside assistance in their car insurance cover or offer it as an optional extra.
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Are there waiting periods for roadside assistance?
Again, this can depend on the provider. There definitely are some who apply a waiting period before your roadside assistance provides coverage (e.g. 48 hours after you buy roadside assistance).
You may be able to access ‘immediate’ roadside assistance from some providers – even if you’re not insured with them. If you need to go this route, you’ll likely have to pay an on-the-spot subscription fee for the service plus a non-refundable service fee.
Is roadside assistance included as standard?
No, generally not. Some car insurance policies offer roadside assistance as an optional extra. This means that there will usually be an additional cost on top of your premium. However, since roadside assistance is regarded as a separate service to car insurance, a callout usually won’t be counted as a claim. Still, it’s still best to check with your insurer – just in case.
Do I need roadside assistance if my car is still under warranty?
It’s true that some cars come with roadside assistance as part of their new car warranty. However, you’ll still want to check what services are included and how long the benefits will last.
Does roadside assistance cover electric vehicles?
This really depends on your provider. Some might be willing to send out someone who can charge your electric vehicle (EV) while others don’t offer this service. Again, it’s a good idea to ask the provider what they cover directly.
Are trailers and caravans also covered?
Sorry, no easy answers here either! Some providers may include towing for your caravan or trailer as part of roadside assistance. Others won’t provide coverage, or they’ll require you to cover the cost of the callout.
Where can I find car insurance with roadside assistance?
If you’re looking for a car insurance policy that offers roadside assistance, then you’re in luck. We compare policies from a range of different providers – many of whom offer roadside assistance as an optional extra. So, take us for a test drive and compare policies with iSelect. You may just like what you find!
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