Regardless of whether you buy or lease a new Porsche, you’ll get a couple of perks to go with your swanky new motor. One of these is the Porsche Roadside Assistance Program (PA). The program will be available to you free of charge for the duration of your Limited Warranty coverage. When you leave the dealership, you’ll do so with the peace of mind that comes from knowing your maintenance and emergency services needs are covered. Whether you break down, lock yourself out, get stuck in mud, or suffer a bust tire, you won’t be left high and dry by the side of the road. Whatever time of day it is, and wherever you are in the country, you can call Porsche Road Assistance and your needs will be met quickly, easily, and for no extra charge.
How long is the program available?
PA is available for the full duration of your vehicle’s Limited Warranty cover. For new vehicles, this will be for 4 years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. If you purchase or lease a Porsche Approved vehicle, you’ll receive the benefit of the program for the duration of the Porsche Approved Limited Warranty period.
Where can the program be used?
PA can be used anywhere across the United States and Canada. Wherever you are, you’ll simply need to dial 1 (800) PORSCHE/ (Option 1) to reach assistance.
When can I use the program?
Porsche Roadside Assistance is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. There’s no limitation on how often you can use the service. Provided your requirement is covered by the program, you can request support whenever and wherever needed.
Which services are offered?
As per porsche.com, PA covers a wide array of maintenance and emergency service needs, including:
Trip Interruption
Breaking down close to your home is one thing. Breaking down when you’re halfway across the county is quite another. How do you get home? How do you cover the cost of all those unexpected things like meals, lodging, and even car rental? Fortunately, if you own a Porsche and if you’re still within the terms of your warranty period, PA can help. As per drive.com, you’ll be covered for trip interruption support in the event you break down over 100 miles from your home address. The cover will be available in the event of a warrantable engineering failure. If the car cannot be used without resulting in damage, and if the local dealership is unable to fix the problem on the same day, you’ll be eligible for the following:
- Meals Reimbursement
- Lodging Reimbursement
- Alternate Transportation
- Car Rental
Lodging can be reimbursed for up to 3 days at a maximum cost of $750. Car rental can be reimbursed on the proviso there isn’t an authorized dealership within 50 miles of your current location. If there is, you’ll be provided with a courtesy car from their fleet instead.
Flat-Tire Service
Getting a bust tire when you’re miles from home is always frustrating, but with PA, you don’t need to worry. Contact Roadside Assistance and they’ll arrange for a servicer to attend. If necessary, they’ll then arrange for your car to be towed to the nearest dealership to be serviced. Just bear in mind that while the support is complimentary, you’ll need to arrange separate payment to cover the cost of installing a new tire onto the wheel. You will also need to pay for the return of a repaired tire, if applicable.
Emergency Fuel Delivery
If you suddenly find yourself out of gas, PA will arrange to deliver enough fuel to get you safely to the nearest gas station. Although you’ll obviously need to cover the bill for any gas you use at the station, the fuel provided by PA is free of charge, as is its delivery.
Lockout Service
We’ve all been there… you come back to your car only to find you’ve locked your key inside. Because of the way Porsches are built, trying to access the car without the key could cause serious damage. But don’t worry. Contact PA, and they will either help you make arrangements to retrieve your spare key, or, if that’s not viable, arrange for your car to be transported to your nearest dealership for a replacement key to be organized. PA will also assist if you lose or break your ignition key. However, bear in mind that replacement keys can take up to 48 hours to be made. Neither the cost of the replacement key nor any labor costs will be covered under the terms of the assistance.
Battery Jump-Start
Next time your car dies, you don’t have to panic. Simply contact PA and Porsche will send a servicer to assist. As the first port of call, they’ll attempt to jump-start the car. If that fails to work, they’ll arrange for your car to be towed as per the Emergency Towing guidelines.
Extrication Service
If your car gets stuck in mud, snow, sand, or a ditch, PA will ensure you don’t stay stuck forever. Providing the car is located next to an accessible public road, they’ll use service equipment to free your car and get you back on the road. If the car isn’t accessible, they’ll discuss the next steps depending on the individual circumstances.
What happens when my warranty expires?
PA is available as a complementary service only for the period of your warranty coverage. However, if you wish to continue to use the service after the end of the warranty period, you can organize an extension on a yearly basis via a participating Porsche Centre. Your dealer will be able to provide you with a full breakdown of the costs, along with the requirements for joining the program. Most people find that the cost of the program compares favorably with the packages offered by other providers.
Is it worth it?
Porsche Road Assistance isn’t an unlimited service. Depending on the circumstances, you may have to foot at least some of the bill if you request support. But even compared to the support provided by the likes of the AAA, it covers a huge number of scenarios. Even better, the majority of its services are complimentary. And in the days when costs are spiraling, anything that comes without a major bill in the mail has to be worth a smile. In addition, most users (or at least, those that use forums such as pistonheads.com) are very complimentary about the personalized service provided. Whether or not you decide to continue the service after the end of the warranty period is down to your own personal circumstances and requirements. But until then, it’s an incredibly useful service to have at your disposal.
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