For many drivers, there is nothing worse than being stranded on the side of a busy road.

Having roadside assistance could give you peace of mind, but it might surprise you to know that motor clubs are not the only ones now offering safety services.

However, are these alternatives safety nets or gambles?

For Marc Perlman, there is nothing better than cruising the open road in his SUV.

“It's kind of low to the ground, small, four-cylinder engine. So, it's got some pickup,” said Perlman.

Recently, Perlman needed to be picked up after his alternator and battery died. Luckily, he had emergency roadside assistance attached to his auto insurance policy, not through a motor club like AAA or All-State.

“It was offered as one of the options on the Web site,” said Perlman.

Phil Reed with Edmunds.com said roadside service plans are exploding in popularity, so it is no wonder that some of the largest auto insurers are now getting into the driver’s seat.

“Companies are trying to distinguish themselves by offering perks to drivers,” said Reed.

Basic perks include towing and lockout services, tire changes and gas delivery.

Many in the insurance industry said these new plans are offered at a fraction of the cost of traditional motor clubs.

“Plans are usually running anywhere from about $6 to about $20 a year,” said Loretta Worters of the Insurance Information Institute.

Perlman pays about $1 a month for his plan with Progressive and he said it’s a great deal.

Experts advised consumers to ask questions if they sign up for a service because some insurers keep track of how many roadside claims are filed per year.

“If you have a number of car accidents or speeding tickets, then this may be one more factor that could add to the premiums for your car insurance,” said Worters.

Four out of five of the top insurers offer safety service, while two said they do consider roadside claims a risk.

“Usually if you've had three or more claims in one year, a company will often re-evaluate whether you have higher risks,” said Worters.

On the flip side, motor clubs are not tied to your insurance, so they won’t affect your rates. Most also provide a wider range of services.

“Many people will say, ‘You use AAA once for a hotel and it's paid for itself,’” said Worters.

When it comes to finding the right program, Reed said it’s really about personal preference.

“It's a good idea to look back over your driving history. What situations have occurred and what do you want to prevent," said Reed.

As for Perlman, he has not hit any more bumps in the road, but he said he was happy his insurer is one that doesn’t keep count.

“It was real helpful that one time that I needed it,” said Perlman.

If you are going to add an emergency service plan to your policy, experts suggested you ask whether or not your insurer considers roadside claims a risk factor.