The trend toward offering roadside assistance has been increasing over the last few years. Insurance companies have been a large part of the increased availability of roadside assistance plans. Many car insurance programs include different levels of roadside assistance as part of their general comprehensive insurance coverage packages. If you purchase the highest level of insurance, you will automatically be enrolled in the roadside assistance plan.

Drivers who are not interested in purchasing comprehensive coverage usually have the option to purchase roadside assistance as a supplemental service. Since the roadside assistance is performed by local mechanics or body shops, purchasing it as a supplemental part of your insurance coverage is usually less expensive than purchasing it outright from the shop itself.

Not all roadside assistance plans are the same. Drivers have the option to purchase less extensive plans at cheaper rates if they want to. The differences between more expensive plans and less expensive plans have to do with the number of miles that a person is allowed to be towed or the type of service a person is eligible to receive. If something should happen while you are driving and you need any of the services that are outside of the coverage plan you purchased, most roadside assistance companies will provide the service you need and charge you extra for the parts that fall outside of the standard plan. If you drive a long distance to work each day, or you have an older vehicle, it is a good idea to get as much coverage as you can afford.

The reason that insurance companies like to offer roadside assistance for their customers is because it lowers the risk of a customer being injured during a driving emergency. With a roadside assistance plan, the customer never has to get out of the vehicle when they pull to the side of the road. They can call for assistance using a cell phone, then sit safely inside the car until the assistance arrives. No matter what the mechanical problem is, the driver is never put in the dangerous situation of walking along the side of a busy road. Lowering the risk of injury or further accident can help keep your insurance rates down because it lowers the risk of having to file a larger claim.

One of the options that you have available to you as an add-on to your online auto insurance policy is roadside assistance. While some may view roadside assistance as an unnecessary extra, most people find themselves in at least one situation that would require roadside assistance some time in their life.

What Is Roadside Assistance?
The most fundamental form or roadside assistance will allow you, with one phone call, to get help were you to run out of gas or break down on the side or the road for whatever reason. With roadside assistance, you could have access to help such as roadside repairs (changing a flat tire, transporting a gallon of gas to you, refastening a loose wire in your engine) or towing to a station within a specified distance, free of charge. Depending on how much you travel by car, having this kind of assistance at your disposal can be quite a stress-reliever as well as save you substantial money in the long run.

Tips When Stranded Roadside
Whether your car is reliable or not, chances are there will come a time that you will be stranded on the side of the road. In this case, if you opted for carrying roadside assistance when choosing an online auto insurance policy it will take a lot of the stress and possible expense off of your shoulders. However, you should still be aware of and take the proper safety precautions when stranded roadside.

• First and foremost, prepare for the worst. Taking proper precautionary measure before you take a road trip will save you a lot of stress and keep you protected in the case of breakdown.
- Pack your car with an emergency kit
- Know basic car repair (how to check change a tire, check a car battery and fluids)

• If you are in a remote area when your car breaks down, stay with your vehicle – especially in extreme weather. An automobile is easier to find than a single, solitary person.

• Conserve water. This is especially important if you are in a desert or hot area. Also, remain in the shade. If there is no shade available, get under your car. In extremely hot areas, hiking even a few miles without water could kill you and the water in your car’s radiator is not safe to drink. It is mixed with ethylene glycol, which is toxic when consumed.

• If you are in a cold climate, and you are running the car’s motor, be sure that the exhaust is not coming into the car. Clear any debris or snow away from your car’s tailpipe. Keep your ears open. If your car engine is making more noise than usual, your exhaust may have a leak in it, which increases the risk of toxic gases seeping into the vehicle and poisoning you.

• Make yourself visible to rescuers. You can do this by opening the hood of your vehicle, sweeping the snow off of your car or waving both arms overhead when a plane passes.

• If someone stops and offers you help, try to find a group of people, or a family, who can help you, and steer clear of single men.

No matter where you are stranded, what kind of online auto insurance policy you have at your back, or how well you have prepared for any roadside mishap, there is no substitute for keeping your cool. Call 911 if there is an emergency. If you do not have a cell phone, make a sign that instructs passersby to call 911 for you.

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