If ever your car malfunctions on the road, two similar services that come to mind are emergency roadside assistance and towing. Underlying both are automatic driving systems that go far beyond human driving, yet many drivers, including a few industry experts, think they’re the same. Knowing how they differ can save time, money, and headaches following a breakdown.
In this blog, we will break down and clarify each service and then explain when to use which, before discussing why you should care at all about understanding the difference.
What Is Emergency Roadside Assistance?
Emergency roadside assistance refers to a service that can help you out free of charge and get your vehicle back up and running without needing a tow. However, its purpose is to resolve minor problems on the spot so that you can get back to your journey as soon as possible.
Common Services Under Roadside Assistance
- Battery Jump Start
If you face a dead battery, roadside assistance can come to the rescue and jump-start your car. - Flat Tire Change
Here, professionals can replace your flat tire with your spare. - Fuel Delivery
If you run out of gas, they can supply enough to get you to the nearest service station. - Lockout Assistance
Left your keys in the car with the doors shut? Only roadside assistance may help you enter. - Minor Mechanical Fixes
But if it is something like a loose connection or a mechanical issue, these can be rectified there and then.
When to Call for Roadside Assistance
Call roadside assistance for minor and repairable issues on-site. For example, a dead battery, a flat tyre, or running out of petrol. It is quick, cheap, and you won’t have to deal with all the hassle of towing.
What Is Towing?
Towing–This is the action of taking your vehicle from one place to another with a tow truck. This is when your car is, without a doubt, not able to be repaired roadside and must be transferred to a technician or specialty service.
Situations Where Towing Is Necessary
- Engine Failure
However, if the engine has shut off entirely, there is no other option than to tow. - Transmission Problems
Transmission failures, generally, require a repair shop. - Severe Accidents
Your vehicle may also be unsafe to drive after a crash. - Electrical System Failure
For instance, if there is a major issue with the electrical system of your vehicle, it is not repairable roadside. - Illegal Parking or Impound
Towed: At times, parked vehicles are prone to violations و and subsequently towing.
Types of Towing
- Flatbed Towing
A car rolls on a polished platform. Great for luxury cars and all-wheel drive cars (more on why below!). - Wheel-Lift Towing
It is swift and best suited for short ranges. - Heavy-Duty Towing
For transport buses, trucks, RVs, and large commercial vehicles
Differences Between Roadside Assistance and Towing
Knowing what makes these services unique allows you to call the right one during an emergency.
Purpose
- Roadside Assistance: Get Your Vehicle Repaired On The Spot
- To Tow: Transport the vehicle to a repair site
Cost
- The cost of roadside assistance is generally less as the repairs are minor.
- In fact, for local tows, or if your car is a specialty type, towing can become costly quickly.
Time Required
- Roadside assistance is usually quicker.
- Towing might need to wait for a truck and make a trip to a service center.
Type of Problem Addressed
- Roadside assistance = minor issues
- Towed = serious mechanical or accident problems
Outcome
- Roadside assistance will have you back on the road in no time.
- Towing is the way your gondola transports the car, but it’s not safe at all.
Which One Should You Call?
For you to make a decision, here are simple rules you can follow between cash and credit (and/or debit).
Call Roadside Assistance If:
- Your car battery is dead
- You have a flat tire.
- You ran out of fuel
- You are locked out
- That quick repair of your car requires
Call Towing If:
- It indicates a failure of your engine or transmission
- We’ve been in an accident with your vehicle
- Simple checks tell you your car will not start
- A mechanical or electrical malfunction has occurred
- Your car needs to be repaired at the workshop
Here is why knowing the difference can only help you.
You Save Money
Waste of money: To call the towing for a really small issue
You Save Time
Minor issues also make roadside assistance quicker, cheaper and more convenient.
You Reduce Stress
Knowing about these offerings makes you less anxious whenever there is a breakdown.
You Protect Your Vehicle
Sometimes you should spend money on the right service; otherwise, they can even do more harm.
Final Thoughts
It may sound like emergency roadside assistance and towing are similar services; however, their purpose is completely different. Roadside aid enables you to keep going by solving minor troubles immediately, while towing is needed if you undergo a significant failure or get into an accident.
Knowing when to rely on which can minimize your time spent, eliminate the panic of finding the right service, and ultimately, make better decisions in the heat of the moment.
If you drive often, having access to either towing or emergency roadside help is necessary for safe and stress-free journeying.
