Roadside Assistance is a useful service offered by numerous car and insurance companies. With this service you can call an operator and have a tow truck sent to wherever you are stuck. If you get into an accident, the operator can contact and send the police to you. By having a roadside assistance program, you no longer need to be concerned about getting out of a situation where you are stuck on the side of the road.

Here are some helpful tips to consider when calling your road service program:

First, you must establish the problem. When speaking with an operator, you must inform them what problem you are having with your vehicle, if you know what the problem is. This information will be passed on to the tow truck driver or emergency officials who are coming to assist you. By knowing the problem, they will be able to aid you more quickly and efficiently.

Second, you must describe your location. Inform the operator where you were driving and where you think you are on the road. This allows the operator to call for the nearest tow truck company or emergency services in order to get to you more quickly. If you are comfortable doing so, it is a good idea to turn on your headlights or flashers, or put out reflective triangles behind your car in order to aid the tow truck driver or emergency officials in locating you faster. After describing your location and making your car easier to find, you should wait outside your car placing the car between you and the road. If you are pulled over on a busy highway, it would be best to wait inside you vehicle.

Lastly, it is important to have information on hand. Have multiple copies of your roadside assistance information. One copy should be in your wallet or purse so it is accessible, and the other copy should be kept in the glove box of your car in case you don’t have your wallet or purse with you when you are in need of emergency roadside assistance. This information should consist of the numbers the operator needs in order to gain access to your account, as well as the expiration date and details about what coverage you receive with your road service program.