Roadside Assistance Cover in Car Insurance

• Roadside assistance is a car insurance add-on that provides emergency services like towing support, on-spot repairs, battery jumpstarts, flat tyre service, etc.

• The high risk of increasing road accidents, head-on collisions, and accidents involving heavy vehicles increases the chance of a vehicle breakdown in the middle of the road.

• Key features of TATA AIG’s roadside assistance cover include its extensive garage network coverage, comprehensive features, quick settlements, and excellent customer service.

• Besides towing and repair services, roadside assistance also includes spare key retrieval, fuel support, arranging a taxi or hotel accommodation, and more. The add-on does not cover materials and spare parts, breakdowns outside service areas, unauthorised usage and ‘acts of god’.

• Overall, RSA in car insurance is an essential add-on for covering exorbitant emergency expenses at a low cost. It’s especially helpful for family travel, long-distance travel, new car owners and older vehicles.

• To get roadside assistance cover, simply include the add-on when buying or renewing your car insurance plan. To make a claim, call our customer support helpline, make the request and provide the necessary details.

• 4.8 Lakh Road Accidents

4,87,705 road traffic accidents were reported in India in 2024, a 31% increase from 2020. With accidents rising each year, your chance of being involved in one increases, making the roadside assistance add-on a must-have for four-wheeler insurance.

• 47% Truck Collisions

The Road Safety Status Report 2024 shows that 47% of car collisions are with trucks, while 13% are with other cars. These numbers highlight the high chances of total vehicle immobilisation and the need for roadside assistance (RSA) in a car insurance plan

• 31% Head-on Collisions

31% of all four-wheeler impacts are dangerous frontal collisions with other vehicles, according to the 2024 Road Safety Status Report. Add the roadside assistance add-on when buying car insurance online to get towing support, taxi support and overnight stay arrangements.

• 31.2% Occurrence of Accidents

National highways account for 31.2% of all road traffic accidents in India and 59.3% of all road traffic fatalities. Driving on these roads carries a high risk of accidental breakdown and secondary accidents. The roadside cover protects you and your car by providing towing and emergency rescue services.

• Over ₹2 Lakhs of Damage Costs

A road accident cost study shows that an average frontal crash costs ₹2,00,187 to car owners, while a side impact costs ₹41,725 on average. Leaving your vehicle unprotected on the road can further increase your repair costs. A timely towing service lowers your roadside recovery costs.

Inclusions

• Flat Tyre Service: If a flat tyre stops your journey, we will send a technician to your location to replace it with a spare tyre. If your car doesn’t have a spare tyre, we will get it repaired.

• Battery Jumpstart Service: For a stalled or broken-down battery, our roadside assistance cover will provide battery jumpstart services at your location. We can also arrange for a replacement battery, paid for by you.

• On-the-Spot Repairs: For minor mechanical or electrical problems, we provide on-the-spot repairs. A qualified mechanic will carry out minor repairs at your location.

• Spare Key Retrieval: Losing car keys is a common mistake. We will help you retrieve your spare or duplicate keys from your residence or office, or use standard tools to unlock your vehicle.

• Fuel Support: If you run out of fuel while driving, our roadside recovery insurance add-on helps you continue your journey. We provide up to 5 litres of fuel on a chargeable basis.

• Emergency Towing Assistance: Car breakdowns can happen at any place. When your car is disabled, we provide towing services up to 25 km. We also cover additional distance at extra costs.

• Taxi Support: When your car is immobilised outside your home city, we will arrange for a taxi to send you to your destination or home. The roadside cover doesn’t cover taxi fares.

• Hotel Accommodation: This coverage feature is useful when you are far from your home, and your vehicle is in a garage for repairs. If this happens, we will arrange for an overnight hotel stay paid for by you.

• Repaired Vehicle Pickup: If your car gets repaired at a garage far from your home city, we will arrange a driver to pick it up from the garage and transport it to your desired location.

Exclusions

• Outside Geographical Territory: No breakdowns are covered outside of India and in excluded states, including Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.

• Materials and Spare Parts: The roadside assistance add-on does not cover materials and spare parts used during repairs or transportation costs to obtain them.

• Luggage or Personal Items: It does not cover loss or damage to luggage or personal items kept in your vehicle while it’s being repaired.

• Specific Vehicle Cargo: The RSA car insurance add-on will not cover transportation of certain vehicle cargo, including livestock, motor vehicles, merchandise, perishable goods, etc.

• **Unauthorised Car Usage. The add-on does not apply if your car breaks down during races, rallies or motor sports or when participating in illegal activities.

• Extraordinary Events: Services may not be provided in the event of an earthquake, natural fire, war, riot, terrorist acts, or any other ‘Act of God’

• Non-Covered Events: Any services not listed within the roadside cover inclusions are not covered.

• Help in Remote Areas: Breakdowns in remote areas can be stressful and unsafe. Our roadside breakdown cover provides on-the-spot help on any national or state highways, ensuring your and your vehicle’s safety.

• Immediate Assistance: We provide a swift response to any emergency. All you need to do is call us and provide a few basic details to get roadside breakdown assistance at your location.

• Breakdown Repair Services: Our technician will diagnose the issue and perform minor breakdown and electrical repairs, such as fixing loose connections or resolving overheating issues. We also replace flat tyres and jumpstart dead batteries to get you moving again.

• Prioritising Your Safety: Being stranded on the road carries significant dangers, including adverse weather, secondary accidents and criminal acts. The roadside assistance cover lowers your risk by ensuring you don’t have to walk long distances to find help.

• Value for Money: For a nominal fee added to your base policy, the roadside assistance cover provides a range of emergency services when you need assistance away from home.

Be aware of the different conditions in which the roadside assistance cover can be activated:

• Policy Activation: Add the roadside assistance cover to either an own damage or a comprehensive car insurance policy. Make sure to read the terms and conditions to know if a service is covered.

• Geographical Location: TATA AIG’s roadside services are available on national highways, state highways, and motorable city roads across mainland India, except in Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim.

• Assistance Protocol: Ensure you keep the roadside assistance number saved on your phone, along with basic details like the policy number and car registration number, at hand for verification.

• Service Limits: Every RSA add-on has specific limits and exclusions. If your vehicle cannot be repaired on the spot, it can be towed to the nearest garage within 25 km of the breakdown location. Any additional towing cost beyond this limit may need to be paid directly to the vendor.

• Reimbursement Terms: In the rare event that you cannot get an eligible service, we will reimburse you up to ₹2000 per event for towing and ₹250 per event for other services. To qualify, you must follow all steps mentioned in the policy.

• Area of Coverage: Before getting roadside assistance coverage, check which cities are covered by the service network, what garages are available and distance limitations for towing services.

• Response Time: Check for the fastest response and immediate breakdown services. Since response time depends on location and traffic, check if the services are available in your desired locations.

• Coverage Options: Review what services are offered by the add-on cover and the scope of these services. Common roadside assistance services include flat tyre replacement, battery recovery, breakdown repairs, fuel delivery and towing services.

• Limitations and Restrictions: Understand all the limitations, including the number of calls allowed, maximum towing distance, types of vehicles covered, fuel support amount and servicing options.

• Step 1: Scroll up to the top of the page. Type in your car registration number and click on the ‘Get Price’ button.

• Step 2: Enter the necessary details, including brand, mode and variant name, purchase year and previous policy details.

• Step 3: From the available options, choose your plan. Then, modify the coverage details and include the roadside cover and other optional add-ons.

• Step 4: Check the premium quote and, if acceptable, pay the premium amount to buy a car insurance policy with a roadside assistance add-on.

• Step 1: Find the ‘Renewal’ menu at the top of the page and select ‘Car’ from the insurance options.

• Step 2: Enter either your existing policy number or car registration number and click on ‘Renew’.

• Step 3: Check the updated premium amount and No Claim Bonus. Modify the coverage details and add the roadside assistance cover to your plan.

• Step 4: Check the revised premium amount and, if acceptable, pay it to renew your car insurance with roadside assistance coverage.

• Step 1: When your car suffers a breakdown, get to a safe location and call our customer support number (022-6489-8282).

• Step 2: Provide beneficiary/user details, which may include your policy number, vehicle registration number, exact breakdown location, etc. Get prior approval before incurring any expenses.

• Step 3: Describe your breakdown issue and try the solutions suggested by our representative. We might send a technician for on-site repairs or arrange for towing services. Take precautions to protect your vehicle from further damage.

• Driving licence

• Vehicle registration certificate

• Car insurance policy document

• Valid identity proof

• Additional documents, including FIR, police report, repair bills, garage estimate, etc., at the time of filing a reimbursement claim

As an add-on, the roadside assistance cover is only a relatively small increase in your regular car insurance premium. However, it’s a cost-effective alternative to getting emergency services at remote locations, which can cost thousands or tens of thousands. Explore the factors affecting your RSA add-on cost:**

• Insured Declared Value: The higher the Insured Declared Value (IDV), the higher the add-on costs.

• Type of Vehicle: The brand, model and variant of your car can affect add-on costs.

• Age of Vehicle: An older car has a lower IDV, resulting in lower add-on premium costs.

• Registration Location: Places with a higher risk of car breakdowns carry higher prices.

• Claim History: Having a record of frequently filing minor claims makes you riskier to insurers.

Car insurance and roadside assistance coverage go hand in hand. Roadside assistance coverage ensures you get prompt help during breakdowns, accidents, or key-related issues, making your journey safer and hassle-free while complementing your insurance protection. It is a valuable addition to your car insurance policy, providing timely assistance during an emergency breakdown and helping you avoid unexpected out-of-pocket expenses.

A valid 3rd Party Car Insurance plan is mandatory for every car in India. You can add roadside assistance to a comprehensive car insurance plan which includes third-party policy coverage or standalone own damage policy, provided you already have the third-party cover.

We offer a wide range of four-wheeler insurance, including third-party, own damage, and comprehensive, as well as 8+ add-on covers for customisation. Explore our plans on this website.