Most drivers judge a car insurance policy by what happens after a crash. Many of the moments that test a policy are far less dramatic: a flat tire on the way to work, a dead battery in a parking lot, a cracked windshield. And for the growing number of people who drive for a rideshare app, the most important question is what their policy does while the app is switched on. An auto insurance policy with roadside assistance and rideshare coverage answers both.
Roadside Help When the Car Will Not Cooperate
Roadside assistance coverage can provide service around the clock and help cover the cost of getting moving again. The services it handles include:
- Emergency towing
- Dead battery help
- Flat tire changes
- Lockout assistance
- Roadside winching if the car is stuck
Help can be requested online by filling in a short form. If you have already paid for roadside help yourself, the cost can be submitted for reimbursement through an online claim, with the receipt uploaded once the claim is filed.
Why Rideshare Drivers Need Extra Coverage
Driving for a rideshare company creates a gap that many drivers do not notice until they need to make a claim. Here is how it works:
- The app is on, but no ride is accepted. A personal auto policy typically excludes coverage while you are logged in and available for rides.
- The rideshare company’s cover is limited at this stage. Its full commercial liability coverage probably does not begin until you accept a ride. Before then, its limited coverage typically pays for damage you cause to others, but not damage to you or your own car.
- Rideshare coverage fills the gap. Added to a personal auto policy, it covers that window when you are logged in but waiting for a request.
Rideshare coverage is available in 23 states, including Illinois, Texas, Nevada, Colorado and New Jersey, and is added to an existing policy through an agent. For anyone driving part-time for an app, rideshare insurance coverage is what keeps that waiting time protected.
The Foundations Underneath
Roadside and rideshare coverage sit on top of the core of the policy. Liability, which is required by law in most states, helps cover the cost of injuries to others when you are at fault. Collision coverage handles damage to your own car in a crash, and uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage helps pay costs if you or your passengers are injured by a driver who does not have enough insurance. Insuring several cars on one policy, or bundling auto with home insurance, can also bring the overall cost down.
Other Coverages Worth Pairing
Comprehensive
Comprehensive coverage helps pay for damage to your car from incidents like theft, vandalism, hail, wind and fire, the events no amount of careful driving prevents.
Rental Car Coverage
When the car is in the shop after a covered claim, rental car coverage helps keep you on the road. It is also worth knowing that many of your own policy’s coverages extend to cars you rent for personal use.
Windshield Repair and Replacement
A chip from a stone on the highway can spread into a crack quickly. Windshield coverage can be added so repair or replacement is handled under the policy.
Which Drivers Benefit Most
- Daily commuters who rely on the car to get to work and cannot afford to be stranded by a flat tire or a dead battery.
- Part-time rideshare drivers who spend time logged in and waiting for requests, when a personal policy alone typically leaves them exposed.
- Drivers who park on the street, where theft, vandalism and falling branches are harder to avoid.
- Households with one car, for whom a rental while repairs are made keeps work, school runs and errands on schedule.
Final Thoughts
The best car insurance is the coverage that matches how you actually drive. Roadside assistance handles the small breakdowns that happen to everyone, comprehensive and windshield coverage deal with damage you cannot avoid, and rideshare coverage closes the gap for anyone earning money behind the wheel. Review your car insurance coverage with these in mind before the next renewal.
Get an auto quote from Farmers and add the coverages that fit your driving. Find more everyday money guides on BlogsBuddy.