Emergency road service insurance – more than just towing

Emergency road service insurance: Which travel interruption expenses are covered?

The scope of coverage in emergency road service insurance depends partly on the comprehensive motor vehicle insurance you have taken out. Below are examples of the types of extra expenses incurred by travel interruptions that are covered by emergency road service insurance.

Emergency road service insurance covers:

1. Vehicle towing expenses

Emergency road service insurance covers the expenses of towing an unroadworthy vehicle to the nearest repair shop. The insurance also covers towing expenses when your vehicle won’t start at your home. 

Alternatively, instead of towing costs, the insurance can cover the repair technician’s labour costs and travel expenses if the damage or malfunction is repaired on site. However, these expenses are covered up to the cost of towing the vehicle.

2. Additional travel and accommodation expenses in Finland

Emergency road service insurance covers the driver's transport and travel expenses to their home town or the point of departure or destination, as well as to the passengers’ point of departure or destination if

• the vehicle was repaired and made roadworthy but this took so long that it was necessary to continue the travel by some other means of transport.
• the vehicle was stolen and remained missing for so long that continuing the travel by some other means of transport was necessary.
• the vehicle was damaged beyond repair. 

Transport and travel expenses are only compensated for up to the amount that travelling back home would incur. However, other additional expenses are covered to up to 200 euros in total in all comprehensive motor vehicle insurance options except Super Motor Insurance. Emergency road service insurance included in Super Motor Insurance covers other additional expenses to up to 500 euros in total.

The insurance company has the right to decide the provider of the towing or roadside assistance services to be ordered. The services should therefore be ordered either through Pohjola Claim Help or by calling Pohjola Insurance vehicle emergency service at 0303 0303.

If the towing service or roadside assistance covered by the insurance is purchased from a service provider other than the partner designated by the insurance company or the Pohjola vehicle emergency service, the compensation payable equals, at a maximum, the amount that the partner designated by the insurance company would have charged.

3. Additional travel and accommodation expenses abroad

Emergency road service insurance covers the driver's transport and travel expenses to their home town or the point of departure or destination, as well as to the passengers’ point of departure or destination if

• the vehicle was repaired but repairs to restore its traffic safety took more than three working days and as a consequence, continuing the travel by some other means of transport was necessary.
• the vehicle was damaged and rendered unroadworthy and will not be repaired until returned to Finland.
• the vehicle was stolen and the travel was continued by some other means of transport.
• the vehicle was damaged beyond repair. 

Transport and travel expenses are covered according to the cost of the cheapest means of transport within the territorial limits of the insurance up to the amount of expenses incurred by returning home. If the loss occurred outside the Nordic countries, the travel or the transportation is arranged through the Pohjola vehicle emergency service. 

Emergency road service insurance included in Medium Motor Insurance is valid only in Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark and in transportation between these countries.

Emergency road service insurance: Which travel interruption expenses are not covered?

Emergency road service insurance is there for you if your journey is interrupted due to a road accident or a technical malfunction in your vehicle. However, the insurance does not cover loss or damage caused by

• running out of fuel
• running out of electricity if the vehicle is powered by electric energy
• deficient maintenance of the vehicle or any of its parts or excess strain imposed on the vehicle
• the vehicle sinking through the ice on a winter road, unless the road is in public use and meets the safety requirements of the road authorities
• losing keys or locking them in the vehicle
• damage due to participation in a competition, training for a competition, or driving practice, or damage occurring when otherwise driving on a track for motor vehicles or in an area or section of a road closed to public traffic.

Super Motor Insurance emergency road service insurance within the EEA

If you drive your company vehicle within the EEA, emergency road service insurance included in Super Motor Insurance provides additional cover for unexpected situations. Emergency road service insurance included in Super Motor Insurance may cover rental car expenses in EEA countries outside Finland instead of compensating for the driver’s and passengers’ additional travel expenses. This aims to ensure smooth continuation of travel.

We cover the expenses of a rental car that is equipped with standard accessories and is equal in size to the insured passenger car specified in the insurance policy and is available. An additional benefit offered by emergency road service insurance included in Super Motor Insurance in the compensation for a rental car is that if the rental car is damaged, and the deductible on its insurance is higher than the deductible of an equivalent insurance policy for the insured car, the insurance covers the deductible difference.

An advance agreement must always be made with Pohjola vehicle emergency service on car rental. The rental car must be returned to the rental company as instructed by Pohjola vehicle emergency service. If the car referred to in the insurance policy is repaired abroad, the travel must be planned so that the vehicle can be picked up once it has been repaired. Fuel, deductible waiver payment and other voluntary payments related to renting a car are not covered. Rental car expenses are covered over a maximum of seven days, however no more than 1,200 euros.