AAA membership
- Thread starter M1Accord
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Cheapest is usually road service from your insurance company.
I do have AAA, because I have an RV, so I do RV Plus which allows for 125 mile RV tows without charge if needed. Basic AAA varies by location, so check with your local AAA for current pricing. Usually you are allowed up to four service calls per year for the membership amount.
Compare to other road service offers like BP or Shell, to see how their pricing or limitations are, especially if you only desire tow coverage and no other service that AAA can provide.
I do have AAA, because I have an RV, so I do RV Plus which allows for 125 mile RV tows without charge if needed. Basic AAA varies by location, so check with your local AAA for current pricing. Usually you are allowed up to four service calls per year for the membership amount.
Compare to other road service offers like BP or Shell, to see how their pricing or limitations are, especially if you only desire tow coverage and no other service that AAA can provide.
The basic plan is what I am looking at but it only tows up to 3 miles, which is really a joke. If I need AAA, I'd definitely be more than 3 miles away from facility. If it's 50 miles, I would go with it in a heartbeat.
I'll check with my insurance to see how much it would cost.
I'll check with my insurance to see how much it would cost.
I haven't looked into this in years - and I should - but many years ago a girlfriend lived in northern Indiana and belonged to AAA. HOWEVER, she was close to where Hoosier, Chicago, and Cleveland AAA all intersected. There was a vast difference in price and features. I had ASSUMED all AAA were the same - not so back then. Hoosier AAA was by far the worst. I called Hoosier back then and they explained that Hoosier focused on condo rentals, cruises, discounts on travel, etc. and roadside service was a minor and unimportant part of their business. If you have a relatives mailing address the next state over you might inquire as to the difference. And if anyone does any big research I would be curious. I have wondered about the BMW club assistance plan, since I am a member.And, I would need towing, not condo timeshares.
It's been a while since I've checked into it, but I believe the AAA "Plus" plan is 100 miles.
I had to get towed about 150 miles once, and only had to pay for the last 50 miles. I still have the Plus plan, but things change, so read the fine print.
I had to get towed about 150 miles once, and only had to pay for the last 50 miles. I still have the Plus plan, but things change, so read the fine print.
yea, definitely check your insurance company. I drive an 88 Dodge Aries, and they "suggested" I get it (likely, since I dropped full coverage, comp, collision, etc. when my other car got totaled..).
the road side service is only 10$ extra per month, so I said, eh, wth, I'll take it.
Thus far, I've used it once
Locked my keys in my car....err...well, I shouldn't say I did, but somehow who was driving my car did....pfft.
I didn't think about the whole towing/mileage thing though....lol. But I know enough people, that if I get in a bind, they could tow me Been there done that lol. Just not with this car
And on the plus side, there's a svc center nearly every 10 miles here....
the road side service is only 10$ extra per month, so I said, eh, wth, I'll take it.
Thus far, I've used it once
Locked my keys in my car....err...well, I shouldn't say I did, but somehow who was driving my car did....pfft.I didn't think about the whole towing/mileage thing though....lol. But I know enough people, that if I get in a bind, they could tow me
Been there done that lol. Just not with this car
It varies a lot state to state but they seem to take care of Californians pretty well. I have it for myself and my brother and it's under 100 bucks for 100 miles. I even used it to bring a car home I purchased (shhh) I let the membership lapse in December and a regular tow across town was 40 bucks more than to just renew my membership. So i called AAA up and did that over the phone and the towtruck was still at my location in 30 minutes.
AAA also has pretty nice discounts on other things that i always forget and fail to use. If you go to their local office you can get movie tickets and other things a lot cheaper than student discounts.
Another thing about doing it thru insurance and other companies is you still pay upfront and get reimbursed. If you are cheap or times are tougher if you have $150 in your pocket at all times maybe you had enough to fix what just broke on your car.
AAA also has pretty nice discounts on other things that i always forget and fail to use. If you go to their local office you can get movie tickets and other things a lot cheaper than student discounts.
Another thing about doing it thru insurance and other companies is you still pay upfront and get reimbursed. If you are cheap or times are tougher if you have $150 in your pocket at all times maybe you had enough to fix what just broke on your car.
Kestas
Staff member
I dropped mine six years ago. I haven't had a tow in the last 25 years. With the money I save I can pay for any future tow out of my pocket and come out ahead.
Originally Posted By: M1Accord
The basic plan is what I am looking at but it only tows up to 3 miles, which is really a joke. If I need AAA, I'd definitely be more than 3 miles away from facility. If it's 50 miles, I would go with it in a heartbeat.
I'll check with my insurance to see how much it would cost.
+1 it's just a "tow to safety" which is whatever crooked garage got lucky enough to be dispatched.
Might be worth checking if you can get a platinum credit card that offers roadside assistance.
The basic plan is what I am looking at but it only tows up to 3 miles, which is really a joke. If I need AAA, I'd definitely be more than 3 miles away from facility. If it's 50 miles, I would go with it in a heartbeat.
I'll check with my insurance to see how much it would cost.
+1 it's just a "tow to safety" which is whatever crooked garage got lucky enough to be dispatched.
Might be worth checking if you can get a platinum credit card that offers roadside assistance.
I got the Platinum plan that has 1 200 mile tow and 3 100 mile tows included. It was about $125, IIRC. The other plans were very similar in price, so this one made the most sense. I see it as a way home if my car gets stranded at work 25 miles away. Knowing that my car will be towed back even from a daytrip to any mall 70-90 miles away is worth it to me.
I have used a tow service twice in my 22 years of driving. Both times not towed just service (push start)
My mum bought the membership up until two years ago. She would have saved likely $1000-$1500 over that time including my service calls.
I think you are better off simply calling. Pay per use customers have higher priority since they get more for tow service than contracted services.
My mum bought the membership up until two years ago. She would have saved likely $1000-$1500 over that time including my service calls.
I think you are better off simply calling. Pay per use customers have higher priority since they get more for tow service than contracted services.
I'm with Schiphi's logic on that one. Knowing that I can be towed a decent distance without it costing a fortune is good, as then I can generally get the car home. However, the only time I came close to needing a tow, I was only a 1/2 mile from home (alternator rectifier shorted).
In my driving history, I've had probably a dozen or more tows, so AAA makes sense to me. The last one I was over 70 miles away from home in GA when my truck's A/T let go.
Plus, the less I need to worry about my wife's commute, the better I feel. If she gets a flat or needs her car towed, I don't need to take off work and show up.
Plus, the less I need to worry about my wife's commute, the better I feel. If she gets a flat or needs her car towed, I don't need to take off work and show up.
Won't let my wife drive without it, as I am not always available. $140 a year to cover all my vehicles and anything else I moght be driving is well worth for the piece of mind. and most police agencies, in my area, will not wait for any road service other than AAA, for crashes and disables.
Originally Posted By: rjundi
I think you are better off simply calling. Pay per use customers have higher priority since they get more for tow service than contracted services.
I'm not so sure about that. I think the towing service would have some interest in not losing their contract with the clubs. Another factor is knowing who to call. At least with AAA or another club, you have an 800 number to call that will work from anywhere. No need to try to figure out who might be close.
I pay about 40 a year for basic membership. I save over $300 a year in hotel and other discounts (of which there are many). The discounts are the real value to me -although I have used the lockout service a few times and had them change a flat in my parking lot at work while it was pouring rain. Have never needed a tow in 35 years driving.
I think you are better off simply calling. Pay per use customers have higher priority since they get more for tow service than contracted services.
I'm not so sure about that. I think the towing service would have some interest in not losing their contract with the clubs. Another factor is knowing who to call. At least with AAA or another club, you have an 800 number to call that will work from anywhere. No need to try to figure out who might be close.
I pay about 40 a year for basic membership. I save over $300 a year in hotel and other discounts (of which there are many). The discounts are the real value to me -although I have used the lockout service a few times and had them change a flat in my parking lot at work while it was pouring rain. Have never needed a tow in 35 years driving.
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I've got AAA mostly for the wife. Comes in handy when you need a tow. I had to use it for my truck.
Originally Posted By: bigmike
In my driving history, I've had probably a dozen or more tows, so AAA makes sense to me. The last one I was over 70 miles away from home in GA when my truck's A/T let go.
Plus, the less I need to worry about my wife's commute, the better I feel. If she gets a flat or needs her car towed, I don't need to take off work and show up.
Agreed...and since my cars are getting older, it can't hurt.
In my driving history, I've had probably a dozen or more tows, so AAA makes sense to me. The last one I was over 70 miles away from home in GA when my truck's A/T let go.
Plus, the less I need to worry about my wife's commute, the better I feel. If she gets a flat or needs her car towed, I don't need to take off work and show up.
Agreed...and since my cars are getting older, it can't hurt.
With AAA if the car goes kaput 2-3 hours away from a relative's house it's capable of being towed there and fixed. I carry a basic set of tools good enough to replace a serpentine belt or alternator on the Buick.
Nissan's extended warranty is covering roadside for the duration of the policy-- 8/120k.
However, we still have AAA Basic for some reason. I'll have to remind my parents to cancel it.
However, we still have AAA Basic for some reason. I'll have to remind my parents to cancel it.
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