On a dark country lane, your car sputters to a stop and dies. It's a bank holiday and all the garages are closed so you sit and wait for a good Samaritan to lend a hand. This is not the time to wonder why you didn't take out roadside assistance cover with your motor insurance policy.

Many of the 27 car insurance companies offer roadside assistance as an optional part of their policies. To remain competitive, some insurers are now offering these options free or adding features similar to those offered by travel or medical insurance policies.

Friends First has just upgraded its existing motor assistance package. Roadside and personal assistance cover is now automatically included free for all policyholders.

The revamped package extends coverage to include punctures, lost or stolen keys and keys locked in the car. A replacement car is provided for five days in the event of fire or theft as is one hour free labour by a mechanic at the scene of a breakdown or accident.

Other features include home-start assistance, towing services, transportation to an onward destination and overnight accommodation if the problem cannot be fixed on the same day.

An unusual feature of the cover is a "personal assistance" provision for those with a serious illness who incur an injury while driving which is not necessarily related to a car accident. For example, a person with a heart condition who has a heart attack while driving would be covered.

Personal assistance includes a driver service to transfer the driver or passenger to their destination or home, travel and accommodation for a family member if the driver is detained in hospital, transfer for the driver between hospitals, transfers home after a hospital stay, and compensation for any additional travelling expenses incurred if the driver's journey is interrupted due to a death in the family.

The motor assistance package covers the policy, not an individual. Since up to four people may be listed on a policy they are therefore all entitled to motor and personal assistance benefits.

Friends First has developed a network of local contacts throughout the State to cover roadside assistance and they aim for a 40-minute response rate. The service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Motor insurance with the assistance package may be purchased directly from Friends First or through its broker network.

PMPA's Motor Rescue service is available for £29.58 (€23.30) to private car policyholders. The service is a comprehensive breakdown service designed to assist in the event of breakdown, accident or vandalism. Features include: breakdown and accident assistance (including one hour free labour for on-the-spot repairs), driveway and roadside assistance anywhere in Britain and Ireland, and towing to the nearest repair centre if needed.

If repairs cannot be completed on the same day, three options are available: transportation to intended destination for you and to the nearest repair centre for your car; accommodation expenses for one night to a maximum of £25 per person, £100 total; replacement car for up to 24 hours and transportation by rail or bus back to your repaired car. A message relay service is also available to alert up to two people of your unforeseen delay.

The service is available by FreeFone, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

A Euro Rescue package is also available for £68.34. It combines roadside assistance with travel insurance type cover and includes: motor assistance, medical assistance, cancellation, personal and legal protection.

The Automobile Association is the oldest roadside assistance firm, established in 1910. AA membership costs £67 plus VAT, associate membership is £21 plus VAT per year. Both include Road Rescue service which covers flat batteries, keys locked in car, faulty alarms, punctures and running out of petrol. If the problem is more serious, the car is towed to the nearest AA-appointed garage, free.

Additional coverage is provided by the Home Start and Rescue Plus plans. Home Start costs £21 plus VAT and provides coverage at your home address.

Rescue Plus is AA premium membership which covers Britain and Ireland. It costs £33 plus VAT per year and each additional associate member pays £21 plus VAT for cover. Associate membership is available for up to three people in the household, including a spouse and two children under 25. If the car cannot be repaired in a reasonable amount of time, a long-distance tow to the destination of your choice in the Republic will be provided. Subscribers may also choose from the following three options: car hire for up to 48 hours; overnight accommodation for up to five people; or public transportation expenses of up to £100.

AA has its own fleet of roadside assistance vehicle and service is available through a FreeFone number 24 hours a day, seven days a week.