That's a solid suggestion, but honestly, when I'm stuck roadside at night in the rain, flipping through manuals or quick-reference cards isn't exactly my idea of fun... 😂 I recently bought insurance for my EV (first-time buyer here, yay adulthood), and it made me wonder—do most insurance roadside assistance plans even cover specialized EV towing? Or is that something you have to specifically request or upgrade for? I'd hate to find out the hard way!
I wondered about this exact thing when I got my EV last year. I tend to drive a bit... aggressively (let's just say my insurance premiums aren't exactly low), so roadside assistance is something I've had to use more than once. Anyway, I assumed my regular roadside coverage would handle everything, but turns out it's not always that simple.
A few months back, I got stranded with a dead battery—totally my fault, pushed the range way too far—and called my insurance's roadside assistance. The guy on the phone seemed confident at first, but when the tow truck arrived, the driver looked at my car like it was some alien spaceship. He straight-up told me he wasn't comfortable towing an EV because he didn't have the right equipment or training. Ended up waiting another hour and a half for a specialized tow truck to show up. Not exactly fun when you're stuck in the dark on the side of the highway.
After that experience, I called my insurance company to ask specifically about EV towing coverage. Turns out, some insurers automatically include specialized EV towing, but others treat it as an add-on or upgrade. Mine was the latter, unfortunately. Had to pay a bit extra to make sure I'd get the right kind of help next time.
So yeah, definitely worth checking with your insurance directly. Don't assume they'll automatically cover EV-specific towing just because they offer roadside assistance. And honestly, even if they say they do, I'd ask specifically about their network of tow providers—do they actually have trained EV specialists available in your area? Because trust me, you don't want to find out the hard way like I did...
"Ended up waiting another hour and a half for a specialized tow truck to show up."
Had a similar experience last summer—got stuck in the middle of nowhere, assumed roadside assistance had me covered. Nope... waited forever for someone who knew EVs. Definitely worth double-checking coverage specifics beforehand.
"Definitely worth double-checking coverage specifics beforehand."
Fair point, but honestly, coverage specifics only get you so far. Had a similar issue myself—premium roadside assistance promised the moon, but when my EV actually broke down, the "specialized" tow truck was just a regular flatbed with a driver who'd barely seen an electric before. Ended up supervising the whole loading process myself to avoid damage.
- Coverage details can look great on paper, but execution matters more.
- Might be better off researching local towing companies ahead of time and keeping their numbers handy.
- Even luxury brands often subcontract roadside assistance to third-party services, so don't assume premium service equals specialized EV knowledge.
Not saying coverage isn't important, just skeptical it's enough on its own. Better safe than sorry...
Had a similar headache a few months back when my EV died in the middle of nowhere. Called up my supposedly "premium" roadside service, and the driver looked totally lost when he saw the car. I ended up having to walk him through everything myself just to make sure he didn't damage the battery pack underneath. Honestly, since then I've kept numbers of local towing companies who actually know their stuff bookmarked on my phone... coverage alone isn't enough, unfortunately.
