Tips for using Roadside Assistance Cover

Planning your trip

When planning to travel long distances by car, it is advisable to contact your car insurance company and obtain information on your roadside assistance cover. This is in case something happens to you that you will easily be able to contact the closest road assistance agent to help you.

Add as benefit of car insurance policy

If your car insurance policy does not include this kind of cover it is recommended to add it to your policy or purchase independent roadside assistance cover. 

What does it cover

Familiarise yourself with what this cover offers you and how their "claims" procedure works. This is to enable you to know if certain problems are covered by your car insurance road assistance policy.

Contact Details

Always ensure that you have the number for the car insurance assistance line with you when travelling. Most insurance companies will arrange road side assistance on your behalf if you contact them directly.

Detail of the problem

If your car breaks down next to the road or you need some form of assistance, ensure you have as much detail of the problem as possible before contacting them.

Locating you

Keep in mind that they need to locate you in order to assist you and they rely very heavily on your directions to do so. Make sure you give them as much information as possible and note landmarks and distinctive places while driving.

Reference / Claim number

When calling for assistance, make sure you note the individual's name you speak to and insist on a reference/claim number.

ETA

Ask them for an estimated time of arrival and also where they will be dispatching your "assistant" from.

Details

Ask them who they will be sending and if possible get a description of what they will be travelling in.

Waiting

While waiting for help to arrive, stand as far away from the roadside as possible as you may be a hazard to oncoming traffic.

Move Car out of road

Try and move the car as far out of the road as is safe and possible. If you are not able to do this, place your emergency (chevron) triangle 5 meters away from your car on the side of the oncoming traffic and switch your hazards and lights on. (a dead battery is better than a dead driver).

The following companies all offer Road Assistance cover with their car insurance policies -

Auto & General , Budget Insurance , Dial Direct , First For Women