What Can You Do If You Have No Money To Pay For Roadside Assistance?

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Life has a tendency to be a little unpredictable, especially when you put a lot of faith in a machine that is meant to get you safely to your destination every time you leave your home. Unfortunately, not everyone who breaks down on the side of the road in their vehicle does so when they have enough money to pay for roadside assistance. So, how do you handle the fact that you need help and you have no money available to cover the help you need? Here are a few things you need to know about getting emergency roadside assistance when your pockets are empty. 

See if there is free roadside assistance in your state. 

Some states, knowing unexpected situations do occur, have some kind of roadside assistance program in place for people with no money. For example, in the state of Kentucky, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has what they call a SAFE Patrol for stranded motorists. They will deliver fuel, change a flat tire, or jump a battery free of charge. The only thing you will have to pay for is if you do, in fact, have to have a tow truck pull your vehicle. Not all states have these programs, but you can reach out to the DOT in your state to find out.

Call a roadside assistance company and explain the situation. 

Not always, but in many cases, roadside assistance services will have some kind of program in place to help when someone breaks down and they have no money to pay for services right at the time they are provided. Some companies may:

  • agree to bill you later for the services
  • agree to take a post-dated check or future-authorized debit payment
  • agree to take partial payment now with the rest due later 

Call your insurance provider for potential roadside assistance coverage. 

A lot of people do not realize that their car insurance policy includes some form of roadside assistance coverage. In most cases, you would pay for these services and the insurance company will reimburse you. However, in a dire situation, you may be able to get your insurance company in touch with a service provider to let them know that whatever assistance you need will be covered. This way, you can get the help you need to get back on the road or have your vehicle towed without having to pay for the services up-front. 

For more information, reach out to a company like Parkway Wrecker Service.


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