When your vehicle unexpectedly breaks down or gets a flat tire, it's like being thrown into the ring with an unpredictable opponent. You're faced with a crucial decision: fight back alone or call in a seasoned professional. This is your guide for knocking out roadside events, looking at the five most popular events and who should be trusted to handle them.
Let’s start with flat tires.
Flat tires happen every 7 seconds; that’s approximately 220 million flat tires a year in the U.S.
Doing it Yourself
Here’s what you need to change a flat tire:
- A spare tire or new tire
- A manual car jack
- A lug wrench
Most cars, with the exception of electric vehicles (EVs), come equipped with a spare tire and the tools needed to put it on (although more and more new models are being released without a spare). A knowledgeable driver with experience changing a tire can perform the swap in 15 to 30 minutes. If you have all of the tools and expertise required, this is probably the fastest option. However, if you are at all unsure of the right process, you risk doing it incorrectly. For example, if the jack dislodges, you risk the car falling and possibly damaging the wheel — or yourself. It is also important to note that spare tires are not meant for long distances, so make sure to head to the tire shop as soon as you can.
Calling a Professional
A professional has the benefit of experience and can easily change a tire. In addition, pros can check the tire for other indicators of issues with air pressure, rotation, tread-wear, and pinholes. When calling a professional, you have the option of having them put on your spare or using a tow to get to a tire shop if needed. As mentioned earlier, if you have an EV, you’re going to need a tow.
The downside for using a professional? Waiting for the service provider to arrive and out of pocket costs. If you have roadside assistance, this type of event is covered in your policy.
| In this nail biter, a knowledgeable DIY-er wins this round. DIY: 1 Professional: 0 |
Round two is dead car battery.
A dead car battery can be caused by a myriad of factors — leaving lights on, exposure to cold temperatures, battery age, and more. It often requires a jump start or, in worst case scenarios, you may need a new battery all together. Either way, you’re stuck.
Doing it Yourself
- Here’s what you need to jump start a vehicle:
- Safety equipment
- Jumper cables
- Another battery to charge your car — whether that’s another car or portable jump starter
You’ll also need a thorough understanding of where to put the cables. For example, some cars have special jump start points located in the engine compartment, different from the battery terminals. You must be certain about the process before beginning a jump start.
Safety is critical here. A lot can go wrong if you do the jump start incorrectly. A damaged battery has the potential to start a fire, which can cause injury to you and any other passengers. You also run the risk of short circuiting the electronics in a new car by improperly jumping it. A failed jump start can fry both cars involved and have impacts on the electrical system within your vehicle. Further, rain worsens the danger.
Calling a Professional
A professional will be equipped to safely jump start your car. They have the knowledge of correct procedures, they know when a battery is dead and can’t be jumped, they know not to jump a leaky battery, and they know the additional considerations of jumping hybrids and EVs. Professionals also have the appropriate safety equipment. Oftentimes, a professional can help diagnose the underlying issue, getting you started on problem-solving sooner.
The only downside of using a professional is waiting for their arrival and cost. If you have roadside assistance coverage through your insurance, auto dealer, or roadside assistance provider, the jump start will come included in your membership, at no cost to you.
| This round goes to the professionals. DIY: 1 Professional: 1 |
Round three is fuel delivery.
Running out of gas or charge can happen anywhere. Depending on your car type, you'll either need to refill your tank with gas or get your vehicle to the nearest charging station. For gas-powered cars, unless you are lucky enough to run out of gas within walking distance of a gas station — and you are comfortable leaving your car unattended — you will most likely need to get fuel delivered. For EVs, you will need a tow to a charger.
Roadside assistance programs will deliver fuel free of charge, excluding the price of fuel. Alternatively, a friend or family member may also be able to deliver fuel free charge. However, they may not be as readily available as a roadside assistance provider.
This is a tricky round, as much of the solution is dependent on the situation. When it comes down to reliability, your best option here is to use roadside assistance.
|
| This bout is a close one, but goes to pros. DIY: 1 Professionals: 3 |
Round four: Towing
A majority of roadside events require a tow. This stat increases if you have a hybrid or EV. DIY-ing your tow requires a friend or family member with a vehicle that has an appropriate tow rating, a tow hitch installed, the appropriate tools, and knowledge to tow your vehicle. Again, safety is a huge factor here. If done incorrectly, you run the risk of wire cables hitting other cars, the car becoming unlatched, rollovers, and more. Additionally, cars with front wheel drive (FWD) require special considerations for a tow. Towing a car with FWD incorrectly can damage the transmission.
Similar to fuel delivery, if you have a friend or family member that checks all of the requirements, is available to help, and can do so safely, go for it. If not, use a pro and call a tow professional to tow your vehicle for ease and safety.
|
| The final round, and winner of this fight, are the professionals. DIY: 1 Professionals: 4 |
The final round: Economic Showing
Statistically, you will have a roadside event in the next two years. The total cost of having a fully prepared car for every situation (battery jump start, flat tire, and lock out) can be anywhere from $90 to $450 depending on the quality of the equipment you buy. The average out of pocket cost of calling a professional can be $75 to $600. Using roadside assistance yields a potential cost savings of hundreds of dollars. While taking the DIY approach can be faster if you are knowledgeable about your vehicle, you risk safety and further damage your vehicle.
The cheat code: using roadside assistance
Roadside assistance gives you the benefit of using a professional to take care of your car, without the costs or hassle associated with trying to find them yourself. It can help save you money, peace of mind, and save your car from getting damaged from inexperience. You can get roadside assistance through your insurance carrier, with the warranty on your new vehicle, or through a roadside assistance provider. Learn more about roadside assistance coverage here.