Is there ever a good time to find yourself stuck on the side of the road miles away from your Wonder Lake home? If there is, it certainly isn’t in the middle of winter. Of course, cell phones help. But what if you’re too far away for a family member or friend to come to the rescue? What if it’s late at night and no auto repair shops are open to respond to your emergency?

For that matter, what if it’s bitterly cold out? What if you went off the road into a snowbank where passing cars won’t even see you, if there are any passing cars on that backroad you were taking? The unmitigated truth is that you could find yourself in a precarious position. If not that, at the very least your vehicle could leave you inconveniently stranded.

The first solution to this problem is timely auto repair and maintenance. If you take care of your vehicle at a trusted Wonder Lake area auto repair shop, your vehicle is far less likely to leave you stranded miles away from home. But even a well-maintained vehicle can have problems. For instance, suppose you hit a deer. Suppose you hit a bad pothole and damage a tire and wheel. What are you to do in a situation such as that? What are you to do if you’re stranded with an inoperable vehicle somewhere?

The second solution is to have a viable Roadside Assistance membership. Think of it as road insurance. Wherever you go, your roadside assistance plan goes with you.

Most Roadside Assistance memberships include:

• They’ll bring you gasoline if you run out
• They’ll replace a flat tire
• They’ll jump start your vehicle if it won’t start
• They’ll pull you out of ditch
• They’ll help you get into your car if you lock yourself out
• And, if they can’t provide services on the spot to get you going, they’ll tow you to a service station

Many auto insurance companies offer roadside assistance. AAA and others offer plans, as well. Each plan is unique. You should compare plans before you choose. For instance, some plans may allow you to call for assistance three times in a given year.

The point is that, with roadside assistance, you’ll have an extra option to consider if you do find yourself stuck on the side of the road miles from your Wonder Lake home. And if you don’t break down somewhere, you’ll drive with the comfort of knowing that you have that option if you ever need it. Of course, remember that the best roadside-assistance insurance is to maintain your vehicle.