It is bound to happen to all of us who drive.

You have a flat tire or your car breaks down. You need help, but calling your insurance company for assistance could be a bad idea.

Some automobile insurance companies offer roadside assistance, but what you may not know could end up hurting you, says Lori Silverman in Clark Howard's Consumer Action Center.

"If you have it you can use it, but it may hurt your wallet later on," says Silverman.

Some insurance companies treat your use of roadside assistance as a fault claim that ends up on your CLUE (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) report.

If you have too many claims, that could make it difficult to change insurance companies. You may be seen as high risk.

Silverman says a good option is to have AAA.

Consumer expert Clark Howard says, “It's the Wild West with no rules on what insurers can decide to report on your CLUE report."

He says you have no right to appeal either. Howard adds the number one rule if you need help: “Never get it from your own insurer. Get if from AA or elsewhere.”