any AAA members here...

[T2urtle]

Where were you when you used your service and how fast were they? how helpful...


I'm going to concern tracking the car this summer and well when you track your car you push it to the limit in most cases and stuff is bound to break. From what i heard in most cases a tow almost always cost $150+, 50-75 to hook up the car and then miles. Track is about 2-3 hours away. A one year member for the plus program for me and my brother runs $104 and that included 100 miles towing. Looked it up i can do a max of 4 times a year before they revoke me.

I think it might be save insurance just for the track and possibly all year round... I have a solid car AFAIK, never gave me a no start. But cant count for blow outs and etc.

 

[Gibson486]

when i used AAA, it took them 1 hour to get me after my mom's van's transmission decided to die.

 

[Possessed Freak]

Where were you when you used your service and how fast were they? how helpful...

I live in Eastern PA, first time was in Western PA on the turnpike.
Second time was about 15 miles from my house.

Both times they were insanely quick and very helpful. No complaints.

 

[kornphlake]

I haven't had a need to use AAA for a while, but the few times I did they had a truck dispatched and at my location within 30 minutes. I've never been outside of a metropolitan area when I needed the tow so I'm sure trucks were available and in the area. My parents had their car towed from the middle of the desert near Las Vegas to the nearest dealership in Victorville, it cost them nothing even though the distance was well over 100 miles. The basic membership covers towing to the nearest shop or a dozen or so miles to the shop of your choice, if the nearest shop is a hundred miles away it's covered.

I get my auto and home owner's insurance through AAA as well as the roadside assistance. I've shopped around a couple times and can't find a better deal, even with the annual AAA membership fee their insurance rates are hard to beat. Free maps are good too.

 

[white]

I'm in the LA/OC metropolitan area and when I've had to use it, I had to wait around 30 minutes for them to arrive. The last time I was less than a mile over the limit on the tow, but he was cool and didn't charge me.

 

[StageLeft]

Too expensive, I get towing with a small extra cost to my geico insurance. I have never yet broken down so paying $60 (?)/year to AAA is fvcking absurd for somebody like me (or most people). I swear I met a person once who said he regularly breaks down a couple times/year, so people like him are why it's so expensive.

 

[BassBomb]

Used to be a CAA member... I needed a tow from getting in a ditch due to snow and that basically paid for itself (membership was 50$ / yr I think)

 

[BlackTigers]

last year i had my trans fail twice, blew my engine once, and killed an alternator, oh i had a CV snap in half, i think i also completely blew out a tire as well.

if i wouldnt have had AAA, we're talking $600 in tows. Thanks to it, the $47 a year was a life saver. they're usually really fast, getting to me in under 30 minutes everytime, sometimes within 15.

oh, and we save money at hotels, and cedar point with AAA as well, and 5% or so at various other places. y

 

[kornphlake]

Too expensive, I get towing with a small extra cost to my geico insurance. I have never yet broken down so paying $60 (?)/year to AAA is fvcking absurd for somebody like me (or most people). I swear I met a person once who said he regularly breaks down a couple times/year, so people like him are why it's so expensive.

I drive a car that is 15 years old with almost 200k miles. It runs well enough that it doesn't make sense to replace it, but not well enough that I'm willing to risk driving without some insurance should it break down. AAA offers more than just roadside assistance, I got really good deal on a rental car a few years ago by booking through their website, I like the maps a lot and keep several in each of my vehicles, members get a discount at restaurants, hotels, mechanics, theme parks, etc. There are benefits that make it worthwhile, or at least break even, even if you don't need towing. Like I already mentioned, using AAA as a broker for my auto and home owner's insurance saves me a couple hundred a year over Geico.

 

[theblackbox]

i was in pueblo when my gas line split and called AAA and they refused to come until the fire department was called and the area was cleared due to the gas leak. it was about 98 degrees outside and the little bit of gas that leaked while the engine was running had already evaporated. after calling 911 and getting the fire department to check and okay everything, AAA came out and towed the jeep.

overall, about an hour and a half.

 

[shortylickens]

I only recall actually needing them once, back in the summer of 2000 (WOW! Has it been that long?) Anywho, they called up a local group to jump my car after it had died from being left alone too long. Took about an hour, which was reasonable for the location I think.

Keep buying a membership every year. Never need them. But its cheap insurance for basic stuff.

 

[T2urtle]

Keep buying a membership every year. Never need them. But its cheap insurance for basic stuff.

only reason why i've considered it... 6 years of me driving needed one tow and it cost my $50 to move it 2 blocks down to my work so i can do the repairs.

whats this FREE maps and etc things... they send you this stuff in the mail? I like the 8% off napa since i buy most of my local stuff thru them.

 

[thomsbrain]

It only takes one call for it to pay for itself. They will respond to any car as long as you are there with your card - meaning you can get tows if you are a passenger in someone else's car. It's good piece of mind to never have to scramble for tow. You always have the number handy. Good insurance for anyone driving an older car.

 

[thescreensavers]

Here in Florida, South florida at least, State farm has trucks that constantly drive around looking our for people that need help, Since I have State Farm Insurance I get that shit for free. Never needed it though.

 

[Atty]

Used it twice. Once to pick me up from the ghetto when my car decided it wanted to die, took them about 45 minutes to come get me.

Second time is when my cars water pump blew itself up in the drive way, used them to tow my car to my buddies shop to repair it. Took 15 minutes to get to my house.

I'll never think twice about renewing my membership, haven't ever had a problem with them and it usually pays for itself throughout the year.

 

[QueBert]

Too expensive, I get towing with a small extra cost to my geico insurance. I have never yet broken down so paying $60 (?)/year to AAA is fvcking absurd for somebody like me (or most people). I swear I met a person once who said he regularly breaks down a couple times/year, so people like him are why it's so expensive.

I have the + membership, I've broken down once, but I was 106 miles from my house. + members get 100 free miles, I ended up paying $48. If I hadn't had AAA +, it would have been about a $960 tow. If I don't have to use them again for 10 years I still saved a shit load of money. Doubtful Geico will tow you even close to 100 miles. My car's not old or a clunker - shit happens. Without AAA I would have been stuck where I was at for a good week or 2.

How long it takes to respond really depends as all AAA does is call the closest tow company they have a contract with. They don't generally contract with shitty tow companies so response times are good. But if a companies busy with other tows you might have to wait. The discounts I get for things totally unrelated to my car pay for the membership many times over. I've probably saved about $150 over the past years from using my AAA card. I'll remain a member for as long as I drive.

 

[zerocool84]

I have the Plus membership. Was awesome with my old Bug as older cars can have simple stupid things go wrong with them that you can't fix on the side of the road. In my newer car it saved me once. Blew a tire on the freeway and the day before I had taken out the spare to check on it and forgot to put it back. AAA has saved me on many occasions. I've never waited longer than 30min. Plus you get tons of discounts on things as well for being a member.

 

[StageLeft]

I have the + membership, I've broken down once, but I was 106 miles from my house. + members get 100 free miles, I ended up paying $48. If I hadn't had AAA +, it would have been about a $960 tow. If I don't have to use them again for 10 years I still saved a shit load of money. Doubtful Geico will tow you even close to 100 miles. My car's not old or a clunker - shit happens. Without AAA I would have been stuck where I was at for a good week or 2.

Who charges $9/mile for towing?! I just looked at geico it's $1.50/mile.

Maps. I don't even know what maps are. I presume paper. I thought we deprecated them with GPS. Now, the discounts may be worth it but generally discounts are just a PITA. When i did have my AAA membership for a couple of years I struggled to use it and I think the biggest discount I ever got was maybe $10 or something.

People like this: http://www.epinions.com/review/finc-Insurance-All-AAA_-_Auto/content_13771837060

"Recently, my insurance carrier, Geico General Auto Insurance removed my towing coverage due to excessive tows in a 12 month period."

This person was complaining because despite paying $10k/year in insurance (wtf) they had blown past their 3 tows/year.

If AAA had an option for people who don't drive around in hoopties they could probably make it cheaper.

I got my first AAA membership in 2001. I've never had my car towed so already would need a $500+ tow to just break even. But then AAA is like most "insurance", statistically you will lose money with it. You get it for piece of mind knowing you won't have a large out of pocket expense even if you're ok overall paying more. Unless the insurance does not tier itself to risk and you're a person who gets towed every week, in which case AAA is a great deal for you. And a decidedly bad deal for people who drive around in reliable cars.

 

[Bignate603]

I have the plus for my wife and I. The last time I used it was when I was having an electrical problem that kept on killing my car randomly. I ended up needing a tow twice in one week, I thought I had fixed it but the car died a second time

I've used them when I was locked out of a car and a few other ocassions. I've had them for over 10 years and it's easily paid for itself.

There's also discounts all over the place for members. If you travel often the discounts may easily pay for your membership.

 

[halik]

Used them couple times, usually takes an hour or two for them to show up. When my Range Rover broke down (big surprise...), it took nearly 2 hours to source a flatbed big enough to carry it.

 

[Imported]

Last time I used them was back in '06 was cause I ran out of gas. They gave me 2 gallons free.. took about 45minutes though.

 

[T2urtle]

well peice of mind for my brother aleast while he is in college about 120 miles away. I dont wanna go to down and attempt to repair his car and etc in the event of a no start. with the car he is going to be driving has 125k w/ original starter/alternator.

also i could use the tow to possibly pick up my future project car.

 

[abaez]

I've only used the tow three times in about 10 years. But I do save $$ on the various AAA discounts (saved $40 on two days hotel in April) and will save again for the hotel next April. So if I'm not even, I'm close enough for me to keep it.

 

[vi edit]

I've got a wife (and her family...maybe it's genetic?) who have problems with locking their keys in the car. We've used the car unlocking service three times now. All responses came in under an hour. The few times I've had to tow it was around 30 minutes from calling.

The hotel discounts and vacation guides are also nice. But the reason I signed up initially was to save on renting moving trucks. I've had to move so much the last few years the AAA discount at Penske had paid for the service for about 10 years.

 

[HarryLui]

Have AAA for 9 years, very happy with their services.