Lockout and Dead Battery Service
Does car insurance cover lockout and dead battery service?
Written by
Ann Herro has been writing about insurance and employee benefits for over 15 years. She has covered topics as easy as insuring a car, and as difficult as transparency in healthcare costs.
Reviewed by
Cara Carlone is a licensed P&C agent with 20 years of experience. She has her P&C license in RI and TX and holds CPCU, API, and AINS designations.
Imagine this: You get out of the car, slam the door, and you quickly realize that you’ve locked your keys in the car. Or worse, you find yourself in a lonely parking lot after dark, with a dead car battery. In either situation, what's next?
Most of us have had battery trouble or been locked out of our car at some point. At times like these, a car insurance policy that covers dead battery and lockout service can turn serious car trouble into just a mild inconvenience.
If you’re unsure how to get battery and lockout service coverage, ask a local independent insurance agent. These agents can help you get the coverage you need to protect yourself.
Does Car Insurance Cover Lockout and Battery Service?
Some car insurance policies cover emergency lockout service and battery service, but not all do. When they do, towing and roadside assistance coverage is the portion of the policy that helps reimburse you for the costs of unlocking your car or jump-starting your dead battery.
Towing and roadside assistance is an optional type of coverage that can be added to standard car insurance policies. It covers things like flat tires, fuel delivery, lockouts, dead batteries, towing, and more. If you end up stranded while out on the road, your towing and roadside assistance coverage can pay for a professional service to come out and tow your vehicle or perform necessary mechanic services (e.g., jump-starting your battery) to help you get your car home or to a repair shop.
Why Do You Need Battery and Lockout Service Coverage?
Adding battery service and lockout service to your car insurance policy is a great way to be prepared for those occasions when your car battery dies, you lock your keys inside, or even when you lose your keys entirely.
This type of coverage might be most beneficial for people who have a long work commute, take long or frequent road trips, own an older vehicle, or lack vehicle repair and maintenance experience. Likewise, if you think you won't be able to afford a tow or a battery jump at a moment's notice, adding towing and roadside assistance coverage to your car insurance policy can be a low-cost way to prepare for these types of events in advance.
Keep in mind that not every insurance company automatically covers battery and lockout service with its towing and roadside assistance coverage. Some might offer different levels of coverage that apply to different services, and some simply may not include both of these services with their standard coverage.
Your best bet is to allow your independent insurance agent to explain your coverage to you. A local agent can make sure you find a policy that best suits your lockout and battery service coverage needs.
How Does Battery and Lockout Service Coverage Work?
Most insurance companies make it easy to access covered roadside assistance, such as battery and lockout service. When you need help, you'll likely need to call a designated roadside assistance phone number found on your car insurance ID card. You may also be able to access assistance through a mobile phone app.
The insurance company will dispatch a local service provider (e.g, a locksmith, tow truck, or mechanic) to help you either unlock your car, jumpstart your battery, or tow it to a designated location.
Typically, you won't need to file a claim for battery and lockout service if you have towing and roadside assistance coverage. Instead, you'll have to pay for certain services (e.g., the cost of a replacement battery) while the insurance company picks up the rest (e.g., jump-start, locksmith service, towing, etc.)
If you receive some type of roadside assistance but pay out of pocket, you can usually submit your expenses to your insurance company for reimbursement.
How to Keep Your Car Battery Maintained
With proper maintenance, you can potentially improve your car battery’s longevity. Here are a few tips to keep your car battery well-maintained.
- Keep it clean. Be sure the terminals are free from corrosion and buildup that could block or interfere with the electrical current.
- Consider wrapping your car battery with an insulated battery blanket to protect it against exposure during extreme hot and cold weather.
- Before you jump-start your car in cold weather, warm up the battery by taking it out and bringing it indoors. A warm battery is much easier to jumpstart.
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An Independent Insurance Agent Can Help You Find Battery and Lockout Service Coverage
There is no better way to protect yourself from inconvenient events than to plan ahead. Of course, accidents do happen, but emergency battery service and lockout service coverage can give you peace of mind when you are on the road.
To get quick auto insurance quotes and make sure you are covered, contact an independent insurance agent today.