AAA membership...pros & cons?

[rdcl]

I'm thinking of joining triple A. The idea of roadside assistance help 24/7 .... if needed....seems a good idea.

True that my State Wide auto insurance plan will reimburse me for towing up to a certain mileage point, but with AAA you pay nothing up to one hundred miles, with the plan I'd chose called: AAA plus. $83.00 yr.

Can any AAA users out there relate their own experience if you have ever had to call for help? How is the service?


Russ

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Used AAA once to fix a flat tire on the Sienna while we finished our picnic at the Ocoee river.

I think AAA is just a dispatch service that calls whatever nearby operation is in the area they have an agreement with. The service might be horrible or great depending on whoever wanders up. Our flat was swapped out just fine.

 

[doublesharp]

I had to use AAA twice last summer when a fuel pump went south and my experience was nothing but positive. I was piggybacking on my wife's basic membership. The free tow miles were low, like about 5 I think, but I was within a mile of the mechanic both times so it there was no charge. $4 a mile if it needed to go beyond 5 miles. Took less than an hour to show up each time and the tow truck was a clean late model flatbed. Operator was a pro.

I've driven 49 years and probably haven't been towed over 5 times total and none in the last 20 years until last summer. If I was self insuring I'd be well ahead of the game by skipping the annual premium fee and just hiring the truck when I need it for cash. Now that I've used AAA I'd probably pay for it but mama re-upped with a mileage upgrade so I'll continue to freeload. I hope it works the same way carrying an umbrella protects against rainfall.

 

[M E Morrison]

Used AAA once to fix a flat tire on the Sienna while we finished our picnic at the Ocoee river.

I think AAA is just a dispatch service that calls whatever nearby operation is in the area they have an agreement with. The service might be horrible or great depending on whoever wanders up. Our flat was swapped out just fine.

Yep, this is pretty much it no predicting who will show up.

I feel it is important if you have an older car, or female drivers in the family.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Used to be you could go into the AAA center here in town and get free maps. Now you have to order online. I don't even know why I order maps other than they are "free" which of course we all know they're not. The last order of a dozen maps or so (there's a limit) is still in the shipping bag.

Let's see... they are sent USPS from 1000 AAA Drive, Heathrow FL. How's that for more information than you wanted to know?

 

[Jebus35745]

We just joined last month for taking a vacation just in case, first driving vacation. Saved money 1 nite on a hotel. We keep forgetting to ask if anyone honors 3-A but the other places we stayed don't give discounts. We'll be traveling back home tomorrow and feel a little relieved that there is someone to help if needed. They gave us a lot of good info for the Smokey Mountain area. Larry

 

[Absalom]

I once broke down on a dirt road in the California high desert and got a tow of about 85 miles to Bishop. What that would have cost me paid for a few years of AAA plus. Between tows and dead batteries, I have saved quite a bit more money than I've paid in membership over the last decades. And I've been able to help out some friends who couldn't afford membership, too. Membership is tied to the person, not the car, so as long as there's a smiling face with a member card, the service will be provided, no questions asked. Living with the extended distances in the West and not exactly driving brand-new vehicles, I wouldn't be caught without it. Never had a bad experience with a tow truck driver either.

 

[Longhorn1986]

I joined back 2010 to get a discount from Penske truck rental when I moved back to Texas. Since then, I've saved money on insurance and hotels through them as well. The one time I used them for a tow, I used their phone app. It dialed them right up, sent them my location and I had a flatbed wrecker there in 45 minutes. No further charges to me. I have the extended towing as I run all up and down the Texas coast fair often.

 

[da gimp]

we had it for years until our State Farm agent reminded me we already had similar & better coverage in our auto ins. coverage . I believe our AAA policy fixed 3 flat tires a year free, then it cost.. they towed 2 of our vehicles 13 miles each at no charge... I do not know what the maximum distance was...Each time their guy got to our vehicle... they were clean, neat & professional & polite. Fixing the flats for my lady was a big plus... & look for the AAA sticker on the tow truck/wrecker & the driver... in KC, Mo. some wreckers were using a scanner to find out where AAA was dispatching their wreckers & beating them to the scene , telling the owner/driver AAA member that they were sent by AAA then demanding huge money to release the towed vehicle/vehicle with a fixed flat ... often for over $600.00 or more.

 

[Targets Guy]

We have been AAA members for over three decades. They are tops in our book. Back in the day I loved their trip ticks and maps.

They have never failed us when we needed a tow or a flat tire fixed for my wife when she was driving home in the blowing snow and after midnight after working her swing shift.

With my classic car on the road this year learning how to make the fuel injection work I have already used them twice in the same weekend; once to get me home and the second to come out and tow me to the garage.

I also use the discount our membership provides at various motels throughout the state.

Oops forgot cons. Con: They keep trying to sell me their stupid life insurance.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

I've had AAA for a number of years. Never had to be towed, or have a flat changed out, but I do get maps and tour books when planning a trip.

I am in the market for a new car. I have been checking the AAA car buying service and it looks like they could save me a lot of money, upward of 2500-3000 bucks depending on the model of car.

No complaints with AAA, and I have my house insured with them as well.

 

[LedFowl]

My daughter has AAA. One time, her car wouldn't start after a recent starter replacement. The guy that came out recognized the problem and was able to correct it, avoiding a tow back to that shop.

I now have AAA myself. I've had similar coverage through my regular auto insurance, but I would have had to study on how to use it in an emergency. AAA is very straight forward.

 

[mojave30cal]

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

 

[Cyrano]

Used to be you could go into the AAA center here in town and get free maps. Now you have to order online. I don't even know why I order maps other than they are "free" which of course we all know they're not. The last order of a dozen maps or so (there's a limit) is still in the shipping bag.

Let's see... they are sent USPS from 1000 AAA Drive, Heathrow FL. How's that for more information than you wanted to know?

Three months ago I got free maps at the AAA office in El Paso. Never had an indication they were going to a mail order system. But El Paso is at least a year behind in everything, so maybe we just haven't caught up yet with the latest system.

I've had to be towed and had any number of flat tires and dead batteries attended to. It's been worth it for me.

 

[moralem]

In Dallas we have an office where you can get your free maps......a single tow is worth it. And since I have no spare in my Carrera I call them when I get a flat and off we go. I also have the motorcycle upgrade. Get it, the first time you use it you won't regret it. The maps were great for my 2014 trip to Alaska on my motorcycle. Be sure to upgrade to the service that will give you a two up to 100 miles. The basic is only 7 miles and then the cost of a tow can cost you.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

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

.

Thought that was just for guns!

Guess that's why I also carry extra gas in my boat......

 

[BC38]

We have been AAA members for over three decades. They are tops in our book. Back in the day I loved their trip ticks and maps.

They have never failed us when we needed a tow or a flat tire fixed for my wife when she was driving home in the blowing snow and after midnight after working her swing shift.

With my classic car on the road this year learning how to make the fuel injection work I have already used them twice in the same weekend; once to get me home and the second to come out and tow me to the garage.

I also use the discount our membership provides at various motels throughout the state.

Oops forgot cons. Con: They keep trying to sell me their stupid life insurance.

I'm right there with you. I have older vehicles and sometimes tow with them. If you break down while towing, ask the operator to let you upgrade to premium. It's only another $50 a year or something, and with it they'll send a flatbed to not only pick up your broke down rig, they'll also tow your trailer or whatever. Otherwise they tow your vehicle and your trailer gets left on the side of the road.

Over the years I've probably used my AAA enough times for breakdowns, tows, lockouts, etc. that I have received more in services than my membership has cost me.

Won't leave home without it.

 

[rwsmith]

Roadside assistance is the only....

Roadside assistance is the only REAL benefit and now that is covered by our insurance company.

The discounts offered amount to a few dollars

With the internet you don't need their tourbooks.

We were members for years and it wasn't worth it.

If you travel a LOT, it may be worth more to you.

 

[Beemerguy53]

I've been a AAA member for almost 40 years, and I think it's a great value.

Many people think of AAA mainly as a towing service, but there is so much more to membership than that:

* First, the aforementioned maps and tourbooks. Yeah, yeah, I know, everyone has the internet on their phones these days, but a smartphone or GPS will never be able to replace a full-size foldout map that lets you see just how that trip from Maryland to Colorado will look, or how to plan a route around rush hour in Washington, D.C. And AAA tourbooks contain very valuable information about places to go, things to see, weather, traffic laws, etc., in specific states and cities you might visit.

* About 10 years ago, on a whim, I asked the insurance agent in my local AAA office for a quote on home and auto coverage; it was about $500 per year less than what I was paying, and I've been with Travelers Insurance, with AAA as my agent, ever since.

* I go to Germany often (about every 18 months or so), and AAA has the best exchange rate around for converting US Dollars into Euros. They use Travelex, the same currency exchange service you'll find in most international airports, but the rate is far lower than you'll pay dealing with Travelex directly. They will ship your Euros to your home via FedEx, and you're good to go. If you don't want to carry cash, you can order a pre-paid credit card loaded with Euros or any other currency.

* AAA's travel agents are knowledgeable and experienced, and the club has some of the best prices around on vacation deals, both domestic and international. I will be going to Ireland for the first time this fall, and I booked the entire trip through AAA; it was painless, easy, and far less expensive that what I would have paid trying to book it on my own.

* The AAA rate at hotels, plus the AAA member discount on many purchases, will save you money.

* In many AAA offices, you can buy travel accessories and even luggage at a substantial discount.

 

[CCantu357]

AAA has been around forever, and is still the best deal around for roadside help. It pays for it self with tows or dead battery issues. I have a membership for myself and used my guest membership to cover my grandmother as she still drives quite a bit. One evening her Chevy's battery decided to die. She used her OnStar and they told her it would be several hours before a GM dealer could come help. AAA had a fellow out with a new battery within the hour. There is a reason they have been around for so long, and I highly recommend them!