Roadside assistance programs provide help when you need it most. Car problems can leave you stranded when you’re away far from home and need repairs. If you’re a Nationwide policyholder, choosing a program through your auto insurer may be the most cost-effective option for help on the road. Read on to check out what the Nationwide roadside assistance program covers.
Nationwide Roadside Assistance Overview
Nationwide Insurance offers roadside assistance options to policyholders. Choose from Nationwide’s Assistance Basic plan with standard coverage and reimbursement for common roadside problems, or Assistance Plus with extra coverage and reimbursement for unwanted travel issues. Both programs include Nationwide’s 24-hour emergency assistance program for any passenger vehicle you and your family members use for travel.
You can purchase either plan for an additional cost as part of your auto insurance policy. Prices for roadside assistance range from an average of $2 to $4 a month, but still typically cost less than other service providers outside of your insurance agency. The main difference between each plan is the number of miles allotted in your towing coverage and reimbursement for travel disruption. Both the Basic and Plus plans cover roadside assistance with up to six calls in a calendar year. Here’s an overview of what Nationwide’s roadside assistance plans offer:
Towing
When your car breaks down on the side of the road or you need help after an accident, towing coverage offers assistance to get you safely to your destination or a repair shop. Towing roadside assistance covers reimbursement for towing expenses (as outlined by your policy) or costs for towing up to 15 miles in the Basic plan or up to 100 miles in the Plus plan.
Emergency Fluid Delivery
For those times when your engine overheats or you overestimate your fuel reserves, emergency fluid delivery is another way roadside assistance protects you and your vehicle. Emergency fluid delivery coverage includes coolant, oil, and fuel. Get any of these essential fluids delivered on site so you can get back on the road quickly and safely.
Battery Jump Start
No matter what environment you drive in, your car battery can lose its charge simply from wear and tear. Roadside assistance provides battery assistance to restart your battery using jumper cables. Once your engine starts, you can choose how to best service your vehicle without worrying about being stranded in the heat or cold.
Car Extraction
If you lose control or swerve while driving and slide off the road and your car gets stuck, car extraction offers another essential roadside assistance service. Once you contact Nationwide’s 24-hour line, a professional will arrive to winch your vehicle and pull it safely out of the mud, snow, or grass embankment you settled into. This coverage is especially important for drivers who may get stuck in a snow drift in heavy snow conditions.
Flat Tire Assistance
If you get a flat tire, Nationwide’s roadside assistance program provides help to change your tire. Professionals responding to your call will change your tire using a spare you provide, getting you back on the road quickly. This service also includes inflation if your tire needs more air or a patch to repair a small leak.
Lockout Service
Most drivers lock their keys in their cars at least once. Nationwide’s roadside assistance program covers up to $100 in expenses if you get locked out of your vehicle. In addition, this coverage counts toward expenses to replace a lost key fob or ignition key. You can also use lockout services if you break your vehicle key off in a door, in your trunk, or in your ignition.
Reimbursement for Trip Disruption
Nationwide’s Assistance Plus package covers reimbursement for trip disruption should your vehicle break down 100 miles or more from your home. This coverage provides up to $100 per day or a maximum of $500 for expenses paid out of pocket while you wait for vehicle repairs. Reimbursement costs can be used toward hotels, meals, and commercial transportation fares to reach your intended destination or head back home instead.
Optional Labor Plan
If you’re concerned about vehicle repairs when you find yourself stranded on the roadside, adding the optional labor coverage to your roadside assistance can help cover the cost of delivery and installation. Use this addition to your policy to pay for any repairs done at the site where your car breaks down. However, labor coverage doesn’t cover the cost of vehicle parts.
Nationwide Private Client
For affluent individuals with unique assets, Nationwide offers customized coverage including roadside assistance through their Private Client program. Nationwide provides 24-hour roadside assistance for all private clients with policies that include collision and comprehensive auto insurance (except in the state of California). This includes “white glove service” in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C., and Canada.
Private clients with collision and comprehensive on their auto policy also qualify for additional rental coverage for vehicle disablement or damage from an auto accident (except in California or Washington state). This coverage comes without a time or daily amount limit and helps you cover the cost of a rental vehicle in the event of an accident or disablement from a vehicle malfunction.
How to Access Nationwide Roadside Assistance
Once you purchase a plan, you gain 24-hour access to Nationwide’s roadside assistance program. If you encounter an issue and need help, the insurer offers several ways for policyholders to access roadside assistance through a mobile device or personal computer:
- Call the roadside assistance number 1-855-473-6410.
- Request assistance on the Nationwide app.
- Request service online through Nationwide’s Roadside Assistance website by clicking on the tab titled “get help online” and following the prompt to enter your phone number.
If you’re already a policyholder with Nationwide or find yourself shopping for auto insurance, adding roadside assistance to your premium may be an effective solution to cover unexpected towing, battery service, and roadside repairs. Having peace of mind as you and your loved ones drive on different roadways may be worth an additional cost on your Nationwide auto insurance policy.
At FIXD, our mission is to make car ownership as simple, easy, and affordable as possible. Our research team utilizes the latest automotive data and insights to create tools and resources that help drivers get peace of mind and save money over the life of their car.
