You may have purchased roadside repair service when you bought your new car to keep you from having to worry about what to do in the event of a mechanical malfunction.

It's a great thing to have because the services include fixing a flat, charging your air conditioner, bringing you gas when you run out, or just about anything else related to vehicle repair or issues as long as it is a legitimate problem, and of course, is covered under the contract.

Some insurance coverage plans may include emergency towing that pays for a tow truck in the event something goes wrong. Typically, this optional benefit comes with a small fee that is added to your insurance premium.

This is not the same as roadside repair, and it does not cover as much. You get a tow to wherever there is a garage, or you can have your vehicle taken home. That is all you get with the emergency towing from your car insurance company.

Under roadside repair coverage, you may have to wait a little longer for the mechanic to get there than you would for a tow truck, but there is a possibility that he/she can fix the problem faster, and you can be on your way. If he/she can't fix it, you get your car towed to a place where it can be repaired.

One weakness of the coverage as you get it with your new car warranty is that new cars don't break down that often. It's entirely possible that you won't get a chance to try out the service. Of course, that's a good thing that you never have to be inconvenienced that way.

After the warranty runs out on your vehicle, you can usually obtain extended coverage to keep your roadside repair policy in force. It gets a little pricier at this stage because the vehicle is more likely to have a mechanical failure. From your standpoint, that means it is more important to have it since you are now more likely to need it.

This coverage is your option, of course, and you need to decide at what point you let it go. If you are the type of person who keeps a vehicle for many years, you are more apt to be concerned with this coverage than a person who wants to have a new car all the time.

Roadside repair is like any other insurance; you pay for it hoping you never have to use it.