AAA membership...pros & cons?

[Rat458]

Our experience with them was not very helpful.
Wife and grandkids were at the beach and picked up a piece of metal in the tire.
Called AAA and was told they do Not drive onto the beach, even though it is a legal highway.
Had to limp it up to the blacktop risking damaging the rim.
Then was told they don't fix flats ,just change them.
Had to drive quite a ways to a local tire shop on a flat tire.
Needless to say my wife didn't have many good words to say about their lack of service.

 

[JSR III]

I had a friend that joined AA, now he doesn't drink at all.

 

[Pocchr]

AAA also provides Travel Info, Guide Books that also give information on Lodgings. If you do International Travel, they provide FREE Passport Photos and International Drivers Licenses. AAA also has reciprocity agreements with most foreign Automobile Clubs. BTW, the Passport Photos are just what you need when applying (first time in my State) for a Concealed carry Permit. I've been a member for years.

 

[bullmack]

My wife and I have each had memberships for several years. We have their RV coverage because somewhat strangely that's how you cover a motorcycle. Have used it many times even for friends we were with - no questions asked. Only issue is one time we were riding from Laughlin to Vegas and another rider had a breakdown that was in some small geographic black hole of no coverage. One of us was on the phone with AAA being told there was no coverage in that area while another was on the phone pretending to be a potential new member and he was being told they did have coverage. We solved the mechanical issue ourselves.

 

[rdcl]

Look at it this way...it's better to have it and not need it than
need it and not have it.

Exactly my reasoning. Piece of mind for just under a hundred bucks a year for their "AAA Plus" plan is what I'm getting.

Now see, changing out a flat tire is a pretty simple & straight forward job for most of us.....in nice weather, but I can only imagine how miserable such a chore would be in one of Ohio's freezing cold winters.
It'd be nice to just sit in a warm car and wait for the AAA guy to arrive and do it!

I do appreciate everyone's replies. Thanks.

Russ

....Oh BTW. Speaking of tire changing, I keep a heavy-duty Craftsman floor jack in my car trunk as it is much easier to use and safer than the lousy winding scissor jack that came with the car. The sucker is heavy as hell.....but worth having. Again: piece of mind. And as a rant....I STILL hate the little "doughnut" spares that come with cars.

 

[kozmic]

My M-I-L has been buying my wife an AAA membership for her birthday since she was 18 and went away to college. We used to get the trip maps, but that technology went out with disco. She used it once for a blow out probably 10 years ago and we occasionally use the hotel discount, etc. My son locked his keys in his car this summer, but called GM roadside assistance before my wife found her AAA card in her purse and got it that way.

If your cars don't have roadside assistance and you travel enough to fully utilize their discounts, then it might be worth while. If not, then probably not.

 

[H Richard]

I've been driving for 59 years, If I paid $80 p/yr that's $4720 I could spend on tows and flats. Since I have road hazard on my tires that includes flats and tows and since I maintain my cars well, and I have only had 2 tows over that entire 59 years, and only 2 flat tires. I think I am money ahead by not having it.

 

[Rule3]

Have had it for years for the whole family.

I actual used the service for the first time a month ago. Had a tire blow out, I mean blow out!

Called waited about 60 minutes and a professional guy/truck came out and changed my tire (yes I have a real spare)

Service trucks are authorized by AAA. Even sent me a survey to complete afterwards,

Gave me a bottle of cold water. It was 93 F out and the same humidity, no way I was gonna change it myself.

We have a local office or whatever, get maps, photos all kinds of stuff if you want. They are also good for rating motels and Hotels.

Well worth it IMHO

 

[Dave_n]

Have been a member for over 40 years. Since I used to commute weekly around a 160 miles one way, it paid for itself (the premium version) quite a few times when less than 100 miles from either home or work. Still a member even though retired. Dave_n

 

[Salty RI]

You can also renew your drivers license and Reg, that alone is worth the price, not having to go to the DMV.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Have been a AAA member for a long time.
Have been towed, maps, Books, I think I locked myself out once long ago.
Add Discounts on motel rooms, I'm glad I have it.

 

[shouldazagged]

I've been a member for twenty-nine years and am due to re-up for thirty. Since I probably will have to give up driving in the next year or so, thismay be my last.

For a good many years I've gone for the Plus option, and on one occasion it saved me a bundle. They towed my car eighty miles at no charge, which would have been ruinously expensive with the twenty-mile limit of the basic plan.

I've used them often, a number of times to help my sister out of jams.

I'm a fan.

 

[soFlaNative]

Small price to pay for the peace of mind afforded knowing
the wife won't be stuck while I'm working the off shifts.

 

[FPrice]

I've been a AAA member since...1971? Have used them quite a few times so it's been worth it.

In 1986 my wife's car broke down about 90 miles from home in Eastern Mass. At night. AAA called someone who took us to a hotel for the night then towed us home the next day. The only bitch was that they took us to a hotel with minimal services when a mile away across the highway was several motels surrounded by places to eat.

One tip, if you have AAA and break down on a Massachusetts highway DO NOT let the MSP call a tow for you. The people they call charge exorbitant rates and demand immediate payment. Call AAA yourself. Don't ask my wife why.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

I had a friend that joined AA, now he doesn't drink at all.

So is that a recommendation for AA, or a warning against it?

 

[Lil' LadySmith]

Have had it as long as I've been driving. Used it for roadside stuff a few times. One thing I like is they generally ask if I feel safe where I'm at while waiting or if I'd like them to send someone (LEO type) to wait with me. Definitely reassuring when you're alone on a quiet road at night! Since I use to do a lot of road trips by myself I also upped mine to get 100 mile tow free. Peace of mind is well worth it!

The biggest thing for me has been being able to do registration renewals. Generally in and out in 10 minutes complete with stickers and new registration. Way better than going to DMV or hoping it arrives in the mail (and on time).

I also can still get their travel books if I'm going some place out of state. Plus if you lose your keys or lock them inside you can have them send a locksmith as well. They have other services too that I haven't needed to use.

 

[chief915]

I owned a towing company and was contracted with AAA..... I can tell you how it works from the towers side of the fence and what to expect when you call AAA.

A towing company that wants to do AAA work contacts AAA and says "hi, my towing company wants to contract with AAA". The regional rep from AAA comes to your towing business and "interviews" your company. They look over your equipment, give you the rundown on what AAA expects as far as services offered, time lines, etc. If you make the cut (equipment is in good shape, record keeping is done correctly, you have uniforms, everything is legit, etc) you then sign a contract with AAA to provide towing and roadside assistance for them. AAA gives you decals for your trucks and puts you into their "provider database".

Now, when Joe Schmoe is driving along and breaks down.... he calls AAA and tells them he needs help. AAA takes his information (member number, vehicle type, problem, intended destination with the care, etc) and puts Mr Schmoe on hold. AAA looks in their database and based on the location of the break down, they pull up a list of the closest AAA providers in that area. AAA calls provider 1 on that list and offers them the job, if they are busy or can't do the job for whatever reason AAA calls provider 2 on the list. Once a provider says yes I'll take it, the information on the call is given to the provider and the provider gives AAA an ETA of when they expect to arrive at the breakdown location. AAA gets back on the phone with Mr Schmoe and says we've got someone coming to help you and they will be there in about XX minutes.

Overall AAA service is worth having.....There are other "motor clubs" that offer the same thing that AAA does like Road America, Agero, and several others. I would definitely get the "Plus" membership as it tows you up to 100 miles for free. The basic membership only tows your car 3 miles for free, the idea is to get it off the road and into safety in a parking lot. Every mile after 100, or 3 depending on which package you get, is paid for directly to the towing company out of the customers pocket. The price of those miles is dictated between AAA and the towing company and varies depending on what part of the country you're in. Using AAA one time can save you enough money to pay for a couple years worth of membership.

 

[rwsmith]

You are a lucky dude..

I've been driving for 59 years, If I paid $80 p/yr that's $4720 I could spend on tows and flats. Since I have road hazard on my tires that includes flats and tows and since I maintain my cars well, and I have only had 2 tows over that entire 59 years, and only 2 flat tires. I think I am money ahead by not having it.

I couldn't be without roadside service. Crazy things are always happening to our cars. One time my coil fell off. At night we hit something in the road that took out a sidewall on our SUV and at the time and circumstances I wasn't able to get the crazy spare tire out from under the middle of the van. I've felt that it is a total necessity for us. Probably once or twice a year for that last 37 years. I've never called for a jump, it's always something screwy.

 

[Inusuit]

We've had it for years and give gift memberships to family. I've used it a couple of times when my 1987 pickup broke down. My son locked his keys in his truck at night on a remote trout stream. Took a while, but the AAA contract towing company found him and unlocked the truck. My only fail with them was when I was way off road to do a mine reclamation inspection. I was in a rented Suburban that automatically locked when I got out, keys inside. AAA refused to service the rental vehicle. Otherwise, membership buys peace of mind for the whole family even though with the exception of the old pickup, our cars are relatively new and reliable.