Identifying Auto Service

Breaking down on the road can be a serious problem, and there are some things to consider if it happens. Getting roadside assistance or calling a towing company to help is often high on the priority list, and determining what you need can dictate who you call for help. 

Minor Breakdowns

Anytime you break down on the roadside is serious, but some situations are minor while still needing immediate attention. A flat tire, for instance, is often easily dealt with, and most roadside assistance providers can change your tire and get you moving again quickly. 

Running out of fuel, tire repair, a dead battery, and similar repairs all fall into the list of minor breakdowns. However, they all have the potential of becoming a significant problem if they are not dealt with right away. If you have a roadside assistance membership, you can call them to help in these situations, and the service will come out to help you any time of day or night and in any weather, ensuring a rapid resolution to the problem. 

Major Breakdowns

Some situations require more assistance than most roadside services can offer, although a towing company may be a provider for the roadside assistance network you are a member of. In these situations, the towing company can take your car to a shop if you have a significant breakdown that you can't handle on the roadside. 

If you know what is wrong with your vehicle, you may choose to call a towing company directly and have the vehicle moved off the road. Still, if you don't know what is wrong, the roadside assistance provider may diagnose the problem and get the car running, so starting with them might be prudent. 

Planning Ahead

While no one wants to plan for an emergency in their vehicle, and you may never have one, having a plan can keep you safe until help arrives. Joining a roadside assistance club or program is one step you can take to ensure there is always help available to you if something happens to your vehicle.

The cost of these plans is typically very reasonable, and you may want to consider the membership as another form of insurance on the car. You may also want to put things in your vehicle to help you until the roadside assistance service or towing company arrives.

A blanket, some snacks, drinking water, flares or emergency triangles, and a cell phone charger can all be excellent items to have with you if the car is not running and you are caught in extreme weather, either hot or cold. Your roadside assistance service will often have some suggestions for emergency kits that you can put together for your vehicle if you ask.