However, like many products, one size doesn't always fit all when it comes to roadside assistance plans and you'll likely need to shop around to find a company that provides either the roadside assistance plan that's already perfect for your needs, or one that offers options to customize the plan and make it perfect.

Before you start shopping, familiarize yourself with the kinds of roadside assistance coverage available, as well as how your vehicles and the number of drivers in your household factor into your plan.

Basic Coverage

There are certain kinds of coverage most roadside assistance plans offer as standard coverage. These kinds of coverage include basic assistance like retrieving your keys when you've locked them in your vehicle; bringing you fuel when you run out of gas; replacing your tire when you have a flat; and towing your vehicle when it's problems go beyond basic repair. Most companies don't offer much room to customize these options because these situations are the very reasons you need a roadside assistance plan.

Add-On Coverage

Many roadside assistance plans allow room for additional kinds of coverage that aren't directly related to your vehicle's operational status. For example, some companies might allow you to add bicycle coverage to your plan, or help you pay a certain amount of legal costs should you get a ticket. These are nice coverage options to have, but not every driver will want them.

Keep in mind that sometimes ?add-on coverage? isn't ?add-on coverage? at all; sometimes companies add these types of unnecessary coverage in their roadside assistance plans as ?standard,? but increase the prices of the plans. If you feel the roadside assistance plan you're considering includes several kinds of coverage you don't want or need, and there's no way to customize the plan so that you're not paying for these types of coverage, move on and look for roadside coverage from a company that either offers more basic plan options or allows you to customize the coverage you purchase.

Drivers

Most roadside assistance plans cover one vehicle per plan; the number of drivers covered, however, varies greatly from plan to plan. If you're the only person who drives in your household, it might not matter to you how many drivers the plan covers. If there are several members of your household who drive, you might want to look for a roadside assistance plan that will automatically cover each driver.

Vehicles

As stated above, most roadside assistance plans you consider will cover one vehicle per plan. If you own more than one vehicle and want to make sure each vehicle is covered, look for roadside assistance plans that allow you to add additional vehicles for prices that meet your budget needs.