Five Reasons to Cancel Your AAA Membership
Posted by Cap in Road Side Service |
According to a poll result from readers over two years ago, AAA membership is not crap — and that’s true enough for many people, as the occasional use of the roadside service provided by AAA makes the annual membership fees well worth it.
But alas, I decided recently to not renew my AAA membership.
Below are some reasons why I decided to cancel my AAA membership, and five reasons why you might want to do just the same:
1. You Might Not Need Their Roadside Services
The main reason why most people join AAA is for the roadside service — and it’s a service that I haven’t utilize in years. My car is fairly reliable, it has never broken down seriously to the point where it needed a tow, and for me, the towing is the only cost saving feature of a AAA membership.
Some of the other roadside services are of course handy, but none of which are things you might actually need. The last time I got a flat tire was about three years ago, and as I was putting the tools and the flat tire back into my trunk, I remembered at the last minute that I had AAA membership.
Dead battery? Unlikely to be an issue if you inspect and check your battery regularly. With proper maintenance, an average car battery last 4-5 years. In fact, a car battery is actually one of the more reliable parts in an automobile.
Locking yourself out of the car? If your car doesn’t automatically lock its doors (like my econobox) and you have certain types of key-less entry, this is also a an unlikely scenario.
2. AAA Discounts Can Be Easily Beat Online
AAA travel and related discounts are nice, but it has been years since I’ve seen a discount that couldn’t be beat by other online travel comparison sites, cash rebate sites, or whatever coupon code and promotion that I can find on the web at the time. Here are a few sites that I use regularly to look for quick travel related discounts:
- Kayak.com – Travel price comparison search engine.
- Fatwallet.com – For those last minute deals, cash backs, and coupons.
- Retailmenot.com – For quick search on current coupons and promotions.
- BiddingTraveler.com - Lets you narrow down your Priceline “mystery” bidding hotels to what you really want for the price you want (I’ve personally used this service and similar bidding tactics successfully to get 5 star resorts for half off)
- Hipmunk.com – While this is just a price comparison site similar to Kayak above, the structure, layout, and handy guide really makes it easy for you to find a balance between airfare price, schedule, and hotels base on your needs
3. Alternatives to Other AAA Goodies & Travel Services
What about goodies such as free maps and tailored travel services? Again, these are things that you have alternative sources for. I still like AAA’s free maps and would love to keep grabbing them if I ever go on a road trip, but more often than not, I would already have a trip mapped out via various online maps before I head out.
If I still need a map, there’s always Google Map via my phone and the loads of paper maps I’ve accumulated through the years that can be found in the closet.
Travel guide books? There’s the library. Travel services? With the web at your fingertips, everyone’s an expert travel agent if they have enough time to do the proper web research.
4. Overlapping Roadside Services
Don’t forget that many car insurance plans offer an option for you to add-on roadside service at a minimal cost, and many times this will be cheaper than a yearly AAA membership. Most of these add-on gets you a free tow once per year, provides you with the usual roadside services, and usually covers everyone on the insurance plan. I checked with my insurance company but unfortunately it didn’t offer this add-on option. Bleh.
Some select credit cards will also offer free roadside service or discounted roadside service options. Most Visa Signature or World MasterCard credit cards should have this benefit available. Your best bet is to dig out your benefits terms and condition to read the details, and write down the roadside service numbers for those potential future mishaps.
5. Renew Only When You Need It
At the end, it’s a given that for many people, an AAA membership is for that peace of mind and those unexpected moments. AAA can be well worth it for many people, it just isn’t worth it for me anymore.
Will I need a tow sometime in the future? Most likely. Will it be once every year? I highly doubt it.
Here’s what I figured: Why pay a yearly membership fee in anticipation for a needed towing service? If you ever need a tow, just call AAA on the phone and renew or activate a new membership on the spot — you’ll get immediate towing service!
Sure, there’s a $20 membership processing fee on top of whatever it cost for AAA in your region, but that’s usually close enough in prices to local tow services anyway. Seems practical enough of a solution especially if you don’t need the other AAA services and you’re just renewing the membership for those (potentially rare) moments when you need a tow.
99 Comments to “Five Reasons to Cancel Your AAA Membership”
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December 2nd, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Not sure where you live, but I have AAA New England. You cannot let your membership lapse and then pick up the phone and call them to renew and then get service right away- they impose a 3 day waiting period. On the other hand, if you just make a NEW membership it is available immediately. Yeah, I’m sneaky like that.
Our AAA is totally worth it. We used it so much on our clunkers last year that we were told “No more tows for you!”. I have owned very new cars that I knew would never break down, and didn’t have AAA then.
One other thing is be like a little old lady and ask everyone you are about to give money to if they offer a AAA discount and you could save $100′s a year. I learned this trick on vacation by overhearing actual little old ladies ask for discounts. Silly little old ladies, always trying to save a buck!
December 2nd, 2008 at 6:51 pm
I have had it for the last couple of years and have gotten my value out of it. I have an old clunker that gets very good gas mileage [paid of itself in 2 months, when gas prices skyrocketed]. But I have had to use the tow benefits 4 times in the last year.
I did upgrade my Costco membership to Executive and I am insured through their Ameriprise Program [very competitive rates] and this comes with Roadside Assistance, so now I have limited tows from them, although not sure of quality/quantity.
I still get discounts at many venues such as Motels, I mention AAA and no one has asked to see the card. And I get better discounts via AARP, with membership @ appx 12 bucks per year vs 135 bucks for AAA. When I turned 50, sister bought me a membership as a joke.
My membership to AAA expired Nov 1 and I am still debating whether to continue.
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:01 am
Annie: I’m in Southern California and I don’t think there’s that waiting period restriction, although I should check on it. But I should clear up what I wrote as I was trying to point out the same thing. AAA provides you with immediate service upon activation of a new membership. For my location, if you let your membership lapse long enough, AAA will force you to open a new account anyway. I’ll rephrase the blog post for some clarity…
marca: good mention on higher tier Costco membership and AARP for the alternative roadside service and discounts.. it sounds like you don’t really need to continue your AAA membership too. When the renew bill came I kind of just slept on it (for a few months, heh) and eventually decided not to renew when I got the final renew notice.
But you guys also made the point that if you drive an old beater to save money, it seems pretty prudent to have AAA, BWC, or some kind of roadside service membership.
December 3rd, 2008 at 10:33 am
We used their towing services a few times last year so I’m not ready to drop them yet. I went a few years without AAA cause I had 3 years roadside assistance with my new car. Once that expired I went back to AAA, I like maps and trip tiks and such. I’m a dork.
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:25 pm
I canceled my AAA membership a long time ago. After waiting for half the day for the AAA truck that never came (for one time a flat tire and the 2nd running out of gas), it wasn’t worth the cost for “no service!”
December 3rd, 2008 at 5:01 pm
I was a member since 1980. My father actually paid for my first year, as a gift. I once, inadvertently, allowed the membership to lapse for a year. When I inquired about renwal they informed me that I was no longer eligible for the ‘member since…’ at the bottom. A punishment for my negligence? I told ‘em blow me! – Haven’t missed it since. They’re antiquated and obsolete.
December 3rd, 2008 at 5:13 pm
This is a really good post. I was thinking of getting AAA for a long time but kept postponing. But I think, I will just drop the idea.
December 5th, 2008 at 9:10 am
I totally agree with the blogger and with other commenters who said AAA is not worth it. I had AAA membership for 10 years [pre-internet age] and it was worth it to get maps, tritiks and discounts. But I hated their auto service. A couple of times I had a flat-tire/dead battery and had to wait a couple of hours before the service could arrive. The service guy gives a cr…y reason that he knocked on my door and returned as no one responded. I was so p…ed off and cancelled and never renewed the membership again. On other occasions during travel, though I wanted to use my AAA membership for discounts, I found better discount coupons in my motels. Enough said.
December 5th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Excellent post – I was struggling about this very issue since I was due for renewal in February. I was under a parental plan, and they moved, so I have to now have my own membership (vs being a dependent). Fuggedaboudit.
And p.s. – with regards to AAA discounts. They’re not always deals. I work at a company that evaluate online hotel deals against regular prices (www.dealbase.com) and we come up with these standard hotel offerings that don’t always seem to be that great of a % off. (Here are about 400+ that we’ve found in scouring hotel sites across the US, Mexico, and the Caribbean: http://www.dealbase.com/Aaa-hotel-deals)
December 5th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
I still keep an AAA membership even though I have never called for roadside assistance. I agree that its value can be debatable. However, I have found that while traveling and roadtripping, I have managed to save enough money at museums and other tourist attractions which have an AAA discount that it nearly pays for the membership. Add to this the small value of the maps and guidebooks, and I figure that I break even every year.
December 6th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
My cell phone company (AT&T in SoCal) offer roadside assistance for $2.99 a month, comes out to $35.88 for the year. I get four free calls a year and I’ve used every one. Anything more than that I have to pay for. Anyway, I’ve used the service over the past several years and it’s been great. With a household of five vehicles, I’ve even been able to use it for my kids, as the only requirement is that the cell phone holder be on site with the cell phone. Yea, I had to drive a couple of miles last month, for example, to meet up with the kid who locked the keys in the truck but it saved me $75 over calling a lock out service. Personally the $2.99/mo service has saved me a bundle overall what with prior dead batteries and flat tires.
December 7th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
AAA is great! I had a flat tire once during a VERY hot day in the south; I had my dog with me. I had roadside assist. thru my insurance co., but also had AAA. I called my ins. co., who said they’d be there in 30 mins. After 35 mins, i called AAA, who said they’d be there in 50 mins. AAA got to me in 20 mins flat. By the time i left, my ins. co. still hadnt arrived! We’ve stayed at numerous hotels/motels during our travels, and always look for nights that already offer discounts. I’ve been able to use my AAA discount in addition to the hotel’s nightly discount! A few months ago, i flew my nephew north from NC and found a great discount thru Kayak. I was also able to use my AAA discount then, for an unbelievably low round trip fare! Once, my car was towed from a parking meter spot i forgot to go back to pay. The tow truck company guy gave me a receipt and told me to submit it to AAA for reimbursement. Although he’d said it was a 50/50 chance they’d pay it. I did, and within a month of sending the rcpt to AAA, i received a reimbursement for the full $175 cost of the tow. Cost of AAA? Debatable for some. But for 42 bucks a yr, value maps, guidebooks and trip tix, I say it’s damn well worth it.
December 7th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Great article. I was just thinking of getting a AAA membership for travel deals and roadside protection. But I think you are kind of right on some of this.
December 8th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Why debate? See for yourself what you can save through your AAA membership: http://www.AAA.com/discounts. You’ll find thousands of retailers who offer AAA discounts (and many do ask to see the card) on items such as clothing, shoes, tires, travel of all kinds (not just hotels), electronics, computers, eyeglasses, sports team tickets, theme park tickets, flowers — the list goes on and on. You could use the card almost every day for something. It’s not just for towing anymore! :) Cap may have five reasons he doesn’t want to buy, but there are more than 160,000 retail locations that want to save you money just for having a AAA card. And, btw, AAA brings you gas, changes your tire, replaces your battery, and tows you, too.
December 8th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Oops! I forgot to identify myself as an employee of AAA. In the interest of full disclosure, of course.
December 9th, 2008 at 7:47 am
I’ve been a member since 1990. I seldom use the road assistance, maybe about once per year. Each time I’ve used it the service has paid for itself. Flat tires changed on my minivan, keys locked in my son’s car (he’s on my membership), towing availability and gas in the event of running out during roadtrips are all services I’ve used over the years, and had I not needed them, the peace of mind knowing these services are available when needed is well worth the minimal annual fee. Heck, I’ve spent more on less. I’ve used my AAA card for discounted mechanic fees and on hotels, restaurants and products. The truth of the matter is that we forget to pull out the card and take advantage of these discounted services. Perhaps if you made more use of the card, you’d see how much money you’d save on products and services used regularly.
December 10th, 2008 at 8:02 am
Also check with your car insurance company! A lot of car insurances offer services like towing etc in your insurance packet. You might already be covered for it. We had a water pump failure once and got stranded on the highway. Our car insurance company reimbursed us for the towing and the rental car.
December 17th, 2008 at 11:09 am
A scout should always be prepared and like others I have used the road side assistance a few times. When we had smaller more easily towed cars we could return to pick up our own. But with a larger vehicle that isn’t as easy. Also, do your friends have roadside assist? If you are traveling with a friend or relative and need help you can call AAA and they will come. The person is covered, not the vehicle being driven. Hope this helps those of you trying to make a decision
January 14th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
I drive a BMW and with the massive unreliability of their cooling systems it is almost mandatory that I carry AAA Premier Membership with free towing up to 200 miles (it’s not available in all regions sadly but it’s only $137.00 – 2009 prices). Now before you think that kind of coverage is overkill, I’ve been on lots of road trips in the Midwest and Mountain regions and have been EASILY hundreds of miles away at times from the nearest BMW dealer (e.g. western south dakota). That’s going to be one expensive out-of-pocket tow at premium rates without a AAA Premier membership!
February 18th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
My AAA membership is due to expire next month. I’ve been laid off and really can’t afford to spend the $70 to renew when that money could be used to put food on the table or go towards a utility bill. I think I’m going to cancel and just add towing coverage to my insurance policy for a couple of bucks.
February 19th, 2009 at 6:16 am
i do not want to be a member of the worlds last chance anymore, cancel any information about me. do not submit any book to me.replace the name with angie
February 25th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
I don’t know how many of you do longer car trips but last year about 90 miles from SF I hit a deer and the car was undrivable. Having the Plus membership that covers 100 miles of towing was invaluable.
April 2nd, 2009 at 11:18 am
Yikes. I once had a car so spotty, I knew the AAA tow truck drivers after a while. I can’t imagine my life without it. It’s sad, right?
April 9th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
I came to you in December 2008 to get a refund from my mothers card she had passed on September 7th 2008 I gave you all papers you needed you made copy’s and I was to get refund of 22.75 have never gotten it is now April 9th 2009 how long does it take my address again and the same when I gave you all information you wanted 4255 w humphrey st 3721 Tampa Fl. 33614 or do you never give people there money back. I it always paid for my mothers card. For she live on S.S. check she had you for years and only used you around 6 times its like when you get car insurance you hardly use your insurance but a few times in a life time but make you pay full price. So will you please send me the refund.
April 9th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
Does any one from AAA read these commits and pass them on
April 16th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
According to the AAA website, “instant” membership does not apply to motorhomes or related RV’s, trailers, and such. It can take up to 7 days for your new AAA membership to be valid so that you can call and use your towing or tire change benefits. But since my regular car’s insurance wouldn’t cover RV’s and I have seperate insurance on that which does NOT include towing, etc., AAA seems like a good deal. RV towing or any kind of service can be more expensive than regular passenger vehicles, and I haven’t found RV roadside services cheaper.
April 20th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
My parents got me aaa last year because of car trouble. I don’t really need it now and havnt used it for over a year. Then last week I got a letter from a collection agancy saying I owe $60.01 to AAA…?! I don’t even know what for. I’m calling AAA today and cancelling my membership, and I’m not paying anything either.
April 24th, 2009 at 8:21 am
If you use your car insurance for roadside assistance, it’s considered a claim and can cost you later in premiums. Some sort of roadside assistance plan outside of insurance is better than using insurance. Take that little thing off your insurance coverage and bill. It’s not worth it. You can verify this by calling your company.
May 10th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
I have had a membership for 21 years, many of those years I havent broke down. But…what about the day when a fella broke down in my driveway with his 4 wheel truck, no problem just called and they took him and his pos truck out of my driveway so I could go to work the next day. And the pretty girl who locked her keys in her car at my work, I called and they came out and let her in. She even made me cookies :) And the time I thought I was overheating down the street from work, why chance trashing the engine just have it towed home and look at it on the weekend. I wouldnt ever be without the service, I recommend the plus for the 100 miles. Wouldnt leave home without it. Even have their auto insurance. 300 bucks less than anyone else I called. (I have 4 cars)
May 17th, 2009 at 8:36 am
In response to Annie in New England; this is because the club was sued, big time ! Most auto insurances and even brands (such as Toyota) offer roadside assistance. Nevermind Onstar. AAA is a dying brand and is pretty much obsolete. It’s more out of habit that anyone has and or renews their memberships. I don’t and my car is a few years old as well. Just too high-priced and an ancient business model.
June 4th, 2009 at 11:01 am
I just received a letter from AAA stating that next month I was being placed back on “Basic” because I was no longer elegable for RV status as I exceeded the “average level of expense” for a 3 year period. That’s right…..I didn’t use more calls then allowed, just more expense. They will however review my non usage in 12 months to see if I re-qualify. We have been members since the ’80′s.
Perhaps they will be going the way of the Dinosaurs soon.
June 16th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
I have the plus membership and I can tell you AAA has been pretty awesome. I have no complaints and the tows would have cost me an arm and a leg elsewhere.
July 18th, 2009 at 11:23 am
For you, you are happy and I respect that. Naturally travel frequency helps. For me and many others, especially with families, I respectfully disagree:
1. Just had 100 mile towing in relative wilderness in Canada with a breakdown at HUGE savings (dealer-maintained car had been checked out ahead, serviced, etc, with spare antifreeze, water, oil and extra-long jumper cable, but things happen in hot weather with stop and go driving for road construction). The tow-truck driver was wonderful, as were the AAA and CAA folks in locating my son when his cell phone did not work and informing me of the towing progress and locale.
2. The discounts online are not always the best price, but are definately good, and often do beat other places for travel/car rental dependant on the specific coupon. It has Barnes and Noble books discount for free, and other helpful goodies which were not reason I signed up but I am glad I did.
3. I saved $100 or more last year when needed one-hour eye-glasses, and got at 30% discount.
4. Maps and guidebooks we got free are up-to-date, and include city-specific maps for all locales on the journey.
5. Have used auto-lockout service twice in ten years, both on vacations, once with new car that automatically engaged the locks when the car stopped, and the other when passenger did so. We save at least $40 each time. Tow truck drivers sometimes only take cash…
6. Traveler’s checks have come in very handy in the past. Article on why these “dinosaurs” still useful– http://www.reidsguides.com/t_mo/t_mo_travelers_checks.html American Express at no fee…if stolen or lost, replaced for free! ATMs do not always work, either for individual card, or in individual locale without vehicle…
7. AAA-plus has travel-interruption protection and reimbursement I have not had to use, up to $700 and more, for collision, and in some places for theft. I only know this because I have been reading the benefits since the need car breakdown, have not had to use.
Also, regarding insurance, I am very reluctant to make a claim and drive up the rates. AAA has paid for itself for me and my family, not just in peace of mind. I am trimming down cable and cell service, but am upgrading my AAA to premier.
July 27th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Cancel your AARP memberships while you are at it. They advocate this ridiculous health care reform bill that Obama and his thugs are trying to “ram” through before people know what is in it. Hell, not even Obama knows what is in it. In addition, the people who are doing this will not even be enrolling in the government-run healthcare system. Doesn’t that tell you something?
Bad AARP, BAD!
October 19th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
I not only cancelled my aaa refuse to pay a cell company too. For me the problem is not the tow truck arrival time. The real problem is my family safey. There are a lot of nuts out there and my family needs security. My mother told me about a company that sends a TAXI CAB to rescue you, when your in a bad community or on the highway. I was pissed off I did not believe her. My wife and five kids were coming back from Goldsboro, North Carolina and had car trouble in Washington D.C. After my kids told me how afraid they were and my wife who is cool broke down and cried. I decided to locate this company. Well, my family waited 40 minutes for a tow truck and 5 different cars stopped to offer help. But who can you trust. The police stopped just before the tow truck arrived and asked if they were ok and called a cab. That’s right a cab. She did not know she was in a dangerous area. So along with the road service my insurance company provides, I have Aidme motor club. They offer services that I was never familiar with. Now aaa and all those other companies need to sell what aidme sells.
January 4th, 2010 at 10:52 am
I have 2 children age 19 and 20. The girl (age 20) had 3 points on her driving record, One of which was 3 years old however just detected by AAA in our last renewal in August. Even though it falls off her record in October, AAA charges for the rest of the year so our premium won’t decrease until next August!
Also, the total bill for 3 cars and 4 drivers, 2 adults with perfect records and 1 teenager with 1 ticket and the 20 year old with 3 was nearly $7,000.00 dollars!
I shopped and found better coverage for under $4,000.00! That is a ton of money…! I cancelled in a heartbeat!
March 12th, 2010 at 7:51 am
AAA is 100% worth it, I’m using it right now.
But the biggest thing that makes it worth it is if you break down far from home. When I broken down last year in Central Ohio (I admit to having an old car) I had my cell and called AAA and they sent a tow truck for me. Who would I have called if I didn’t have the card with a number on it, I don’t know any tow services in Central Ohio or anywhere else for that matter off the top of my head. It isn’t as if there is a national chain of tow trucks or anything.
Granted, I did call my brother first and using the internet he could have gotten me a phone number, but without AAA and being in the middle of nowhere, I would have been more susceptible to getting ripped off. Plus if I had broken down in the middle of the night, I’d hate to call a family member and wake them up.
It’s worth it for me, but maybe not for everyone.
April 8th, 2010 at 9:47 am
I don’t have an option, in order to renew my actual car insurance with them you are forced to have AAA membership.
April 28th, 2010 at 2:24 pm
Dude no offense but like 75% of everyone that uses AAA is satisfied and just because it doesnt work for you doesnt mean its horrible and after all these comments of how much everybody likes AAA I would have to say you got OWNED IN THE FACE!
May 15th, 2010 at 7:09 am
Wow – There is allot of interesting advice in here. AAA is well known and offers a quality service. Mother made certain I had AAA’s Emergency Roadside Service before I was allowed to drive. Now I make sure she has it. AAA has always made an effort to respond to me quickly but have not always been able to. I do know they make every effort to do so. If I am on a highway or a bridge or offer any hint that I am concerned for my safety, they always ask if I would like them to contact the authorities. Safety is their primary concern.
There are other companies out there that offer an ERS but personally, I won’t go with any company that doesn’t have AAA’s experience. My cell phone provider tried selling me their ERS but then I found out they use AAA’s network of tow companies and AAA’s dispatch groups.
ERS is suppose to be used allot like auto insurance in that you have the coverage before needing the service. It is a peace of mind think. I am not sure that advice on how to rip off the company by buying the service only when you want a cheap tow is particularly responsible. But then it looks to me like AAA doesn’t really allow it anyway. Or at least not in my state. There is a waiting period before new people can use it.
Personally, I like that when I am on the road, I don’t have anything to worry about. If you don’t think you need it, don’t get it. Or if you think you found something better, go with it. For me, AAA’s ERS has been a blessing. Especially since no veh has ever survived first contact with me! :D
May 18th, 2010 at 8:06 am
I’ll keep my AAA membership.
May 31st, 2010 at 7:03 pm
I’m a little shocked when I hear people say they are struggling as to whether they should renew – it’s super-cheap insurance people. In NY, it’s $45 p/year. One tow needed and it’s worth it’s price in gold. I keep my Honda in great working order but still needed them when I: 1. left my lights on and needed a charge, 2. Battery died and needed an on the spot replacement, 3. Computer in car died and needed a tow, 4. Piece of metal in the street got lodged in my tire and needed a flat fix on site, 5. Was traveling on business and rental car battery died in a snow storm. Admitedly, their response time used to be horrible but in past few years (at least in NY) it’s been less than 30 minutes and they call you on your cell to see if the truck has arrived. They also now have their defensive driving course on line for only $31. Believe me, I don’t make a lot of money but this is $45/year well spent.
June 22nd, 2010 at 5:59 am
just renewed mine and upgraded .if you make two calls year its worth it .
June 29th, 2010 at 11:20 am
I’ve always had good luck with AAA. One time I was riding with my sister and she locked the keys in the car. I called AAA and they came right out, since I was a passenger in the car. Besides, my company pays for it, so it’s well worth to keep the service. I’ve had it since 2003 and has only had to use it three times.
Yes, some of the discounts aren’t great, but others are great! It is definitely worth keeping…never know when you will need it!
July 16th, 2010 at 9:02 am
Question? Can my wife use my primary card if i’m not with her? I have used my card in the past for a co-worker and his car but I was standing there.
July 18th, 2010 at 4:14 pm
If I sign up for AAA auto insurance, do I HAVE to get the AAA “club membership” card (for an extra $50).
I got free roadside service from my automaker when I purchased my car. I question why I should pay for an extra roadside service – this is redundant to me.
July 22nd, 2010 at 7:18 pm
Have used AAA for about 10 years. Every time “rescued” was grateful. Last night, I had to call for a jump. I filled out a response card in the dark with all my information, including cell number and email addy. I received a sales call from AAA insurance today. They guy explained that the card said I was interested in INSURANCE. I declined, the guy was nice, said he wont bother me anymore. Now, I’m getting sales calls from OTHER companies. Two calls in two hours on my cell. I have a sick feeling that AAA sold my phone number. Anyone else have this happen?
July 24th, 2010 at 4:22 am
I have had all my family members of AAA for 25 years. I will be dropping them within a week. I was 200 miles away on a trip and staying at a motel and my car was stolen. CHP found it next day in a field 50 miles away. Most car is OK. Tow company went from field to my motel $275. Filled out reimbursement papers and was turned down because stolen cars are NOT covered. Go figure that one out, tried travel interruption still NO GO. Asked then why no good reason given. Completely out of my hands, car stolen, no impound fees no money back. Funny if I lock keys in car, run out of gas, drive a junker I am covered but someone steals car not covered even if tow company is a AAA tow place. See Ya AAA
July 24th, 2010 at 1:09 pm
Nine out of 10 times we will not need AAA towing if we took care of our vehicles the same way we take care of our health/bodies. I do. Dumb me has had AAA for 6 years and never used it because I keep my car in great shape. My vehicle’s scheduled maintenances are right on schedule, ALWAYS. I’m going to cancel AAA today!
July 26th, 2010 at 4:31 pm
I have a AAA membership due to insurance purposes. With all that we have covered with AAA, we get a multitude of discounts that cannot be beat. (yes, we have researched). We have had to use them for many reasons in the past, dead batteries, lock-outs, tire-changes, towing, trip interruption, etc… The only problem we have encountered is RV, their coverage is rotten and our problem was huge. When towing our boat right outside of Calexico, our motorhome lost most of its power. We pulled over and called AAA. Their response: unhook the brand new boat, leave it alongside the highway because AAA coverage would only cover one vehicle to tow. We were also told the tow truck driver would only take one passenger in his truck, the others would have to stay behind. Myself, 3 children and our dog were supposed to stay in the boat, on the side of a highway, in 118 degree heat. Needless to say, we limped into a motel parking lot and got ourself a room. The husband went with the tow truck driver, got a rental car, drove 130 miles home, picked up our family truck, drove 130 miles back to get the boat and family. Drove another 130 miles back home and a week later, drove 130 miles back to get our motorhome when it was completed. Now the good news…AAA reimbursed ALL expenses incurred under the Trip Interruption clause, and our motorhome warranty covered the repairs. That said, we now have Good Sam’s Club roadside assistance as well, which will tow EVERYTHING in the event of a breakdown and one membership covers ALL family members in the household. We have taken our AAA membership down to bare bones, taken all drivers off of it except for one, and are only keeping it in order to keep our insurance.
August 19th, 2010 at 5:44 am
my family has been AAA members for over 48 years. It has paid for itself over and over. Yesterday I was on a family vacation to to the grand canyon. my radiator blew a hole just past hoover dam. (my mechanic inspected my van just before I left and everything was great!) The tow to kingman was 79 miles. the tow truck carried me, my wife, and 2 kids comfortably. dropped us at a hotel and then took our car to a shop. the tow would have cost me $4×79 miles= $316 plus a $40 hookup fee. that’s $356 and their trip interruption coverage will pay for up to $750 of hotel, meal, and car rental so we can get the car fixed and continue on our trip. Do leave home without it!!
September 5th, 2010 at 8:25 am
I have been AAA member since long, don’t know since when… My Member Since Date is always Current year, since I forget to renew on time and then renew it after 5-6 months. Anyways, my experience is WORST with AAA over these many years! It is like, you would know the worth of Customer Service when you really have to use and these guys on the CS side of AAA are the WORST piece of CRAP in the name of Customer Service. They don’t have any emotions! and Don’t even get me started with their AUTO Services. The managers to technicians, everybody is so Rude, you don’t want to go there at all.. (BTW, I had been Family AAA membership for my family to use, but they have never been helpful whenever my wife needed their help… So this year, I am cancelling their membership for GOOOD…. Adios “AAA”
September 14th, 2010 at 6:24 pm
I had to use AAA when I was on vacation in Wash state, 1st. 5 miles os a tow are free on Basic Membership, however..tow truck dirver missed a couple of turns and said it would cost 7$, no receipt, think he wanted a tip. Aren’t the drivers in a particular city supposed to know where to exit so they can’t charge extra for the mileage they go over…
September 23rd, 2010 at 6:34 am
Does anyone know the current AAA policy about free basic membership for 50 year members? My mother has had free basic membership since 1998 but now that I have reached 50 year membership I think the flood of baby boomers has made them drop that deal.
September 24th, 2010 at 9:46 am
One aspect that has not been mentioned as far as I can tell is AAA’s ecological policies – or lack thereof. You may be in for a surprise when you research where AAA stands in terms of their lobbying efforts and their archaic views on the environment. This was the main reason we switched to the BetterWorld Club. We are not interest in supporting a company that is completely clueless about global stewardship.
October 18th, 2010 at 5:16 am
My insurance has better coverage at $20/year. Check with you insurance carrier.
October 18th, 2010 at 12:54 pm
I tow as a second job… if you break down on NYS thruway, you can not tow it yourself, or call any other tow company, the NYS thruway tows you (at a very high rate) … BUT, THEY ACCEPT YOUR AAA CARD AND WILL BILL THEM DIRECTLY! Any other coverage you have, you can be reimbursed, but if you don’t over a hundred dollars on you, they impound your car until you can pay… so AAA card equals free tow… anyone else equals pay out your A*s and hope u get reimbursed! …. for me, AAA equals piece of mind
October 28th, 2010 at 12:31 pm
You can’t cancel once you pay by credit card! After eleven months, I called to cancel but was told I could not cancel over the phone and they were billing my credit card for another year. I was told the only way to cancel and avoid paying for a second year is to mail them a letter and mail them my member card. Canceling over the phone is not possible.
November 19th, 2010 at 7:53 pm
I had the same problem Danny. Was going through some difficult times a few years back and they put me through HELL trying to cancel, kept charging my credit card, demanded all kinds of nonsense of me. I can’t believe they are Still doing that today! They lost my membership. I got a year free Toyota Roadside Assistance with my new cars 2x. I self insure with a $5 tire plug kit in the car and a tire inflator (works like charm!) and keep the car in good shape with adequate gas. I also have Visa and Amex to help out if needed, just don’t need it. Discounts abound elsewhere. Call AAA and you get people with barely a high school education on the phone who HATE you if you aren’t like them. They talk down to me and I’m a whole lot harder working and smarter and more successful but would Never sound snooty because I’m NOT. They however ARE. That was the biggest turnoff. With the money I’ve saved since I finally was able to quit I could literally get my car towed hundreds of miles!
November 19th, 2010 at 7:56 pm
Forgot to mention, the tire inflater is also a battery jumper! Cost about $60 and I own it. When you pay for a membership it’s the same as renting, worse even actually – you have to wait. I can even use this device as a flashlight and an AC outlet anywhere I want to take it like when I go camping. AC in the tent is nice. Try and get AAA to do that or to inflate your tire instantly. LOL NOT going to happen.
December 7th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
I called a month ago the AAA for my husband car, the battery was death, was around 6:00pm, and the told me that the store was already closed, and that I have to wait the day after. My husband went with my car in the store and bought a new battery. Our AAA will expire in Jan 2011 and I sent an email for cancel it, they wrote me back that we were selected for an automatic payment (credit card) and for this we could have any refund, and we could cancel until Jan. Today they called me and they asked me if I want to vancel mine , and have a reimbursment, but only me not my husband. I was trying to find the term and condition online but I couldn’t. I’ll complaine.
December 28th, 2010 at 4:39 am
WHEN I NEEDED HELP ONE OF YOUR ASSOCIATE TOLD ME THAT THEIR NOT COMING TO HELP ME. I SAID THAT IS PART OF YOUR JOB. ONCE AGAIN WITH THE SAME RUDE ATTITUDE HE TOLD THAT THEIR ARE NOT COMING TO HELP ME.THAT IS VERY UNPERFECTIONAL.THAT’S WHY I WANT TO CANCEL MY MEMBERSHIP.
January 3rd, 2011 at 10:38 pm
It really depends. If your car would break down, if you drive a lot (about 30K/year at least), you would have flat tire or need quick help it is well worth it. AAA saved me several times.
Re customer support, there is always a chance that you may not come across to the right person. If you are not happy dial back to talk to someone else a supervisor without getting angry.
Had a new car, the alternator broke down in the nearly middle of nowhere where I would most liekly be screwed by a mechanic. They towed me 100 miles from east PA to State College for free. Same car stalled 2 times later same day, they towed again without asking to the dealer. It would cost at least $700-800 to tow plus getting screwed by a mechanic.
Got stuck in a winter freezing cold. Called 911 cops were there in 5 mins, and AAA in 15 mins.
My wife ran out of gas two times far from home again AAA was there.
Not to mention flat tires etc. or jump starting one of our cars several times.
So it was well worth it with all the service.
Again, it really depends on the circumstances. If you do have any other roadside service at that price – that is great, if not why take a risk to get stuck some place and pay real big bucks to the cost of dinner. Cars are an important part of our lives so better be on the safe side instead of penny pinching.
If you want to save money do that by going to a movie 3 times less.
Believe me it is very relieving to be able to talk to someone for help if there is no one else.
January 25th, 2011 at 10:12 am
I’ve had AAA for a long time & I love the service! I’ve have used it for a dead bttery (they brought a new one out and replaced mine free of charge) and for towing. And we use it when my husband locks his keys in the car (which, thankfully, is less often than it used to be!) I also have gotten good discounts on hotels and at retailers (ask everywhere if they give a AAA Discount & you’d be surprised how many places do!) I’ve found the membership to be worth the price.
February 18th, 2011 at 11:12 am
I wouldn’t think of cancelling my AAA membership. I save an average of $200 – $300 each year on discounts for hotels, attractions, and shopping at some of my favorite stores. I have a newer Honda and would have never expected a transmission malfunction that left me stranded last year. The big yellow AAA truck towed my car to the shop and dropped me off at my office 3 miles away. And just a couple of months ago, my teenage daughter managed to lock the keys and the alarm transmitter in the car. We were in a little town in the middle of nowhere and AAA saved the day. And the best part is that it doesn’t matter who’s car I am in. If I am a passenger in someone else’s car, AAA will come out and help. My insurance company’s roadside assistance only covers my car and I decline that coverage every year. I’ve had AAA for roadside assistance since I started driving and I feel safer knowing that my AAA is in my wallet (or possibly locked in the car in with the keys :)
February 19th, 2011 at 9:59 am
AAA Is worth every penny. Just to avoid having to go the CA DMV is worth it Alone. Don’t think just because your car is new that you will never need a tow! I work at a high line car dealership and I see new cars come in on the hook all the time! I drive older cars and so does my wife. How much money are you saving if you have to take off work to go fix your families blown out or flat tire?? Peice of mind is priceless!
March 17th, 2011 at 3:20 pm
My wife has AAA and has for years since her Dad originally got it for her as a gift. She used it for a tire blowout tow last year. I used it for a thought-I-could-change-my-timing-belt-myself tow. We even got our housekeepers car unlocked with a locksmith from AAA. I use all sorts of coupon codes when buying online, not just the AAA discount. But for example, renting a car at Hertz I got to use multiple discount codes (AAA and my corporate code).
April 2nd, 2011 at 12:37 pm
I was a AAA member for over 20 years but cancelled it a couple years ago when I got my car insurance through Costco (Ameriprise) as they offer road side assistance. I thought I would be fine with this but last month when my car broke down I found out that the Ameriprise road side assistance charges if you need a tow over a certain # of miles (7, I believe). I live in Southern California so a 7 mile tow is a joke. Plus I was told it would be over 2 hours before they got to me. A friend used his AAA card for me and I was helped out of this situation in less than 30 minutes. Later I called AAA and tried to renew to the Premier status I previously held and was told I could only be a basic member and perhaps after one year I could upgrade. I hate that they won’t let me automatically enroll at the upgraded status. I will probably renew, however, since I don’t want to get stuck again in this type of situation. I think AAA is worth it for peace of mind but in Southern California I really need the Premier membership to cover long distance tows.
April 23rd, 2011 at 11:58 am
I’ve been a AAA Plus member since Jan 2008 after some uninsured underaged motorist ramrodded the rear end of my car (i luv my ’03 Eclipse GTS) in a snowstorm in the mountains of PA…so i activated the plus membership and was saved by being able to have it towed to nearest major urban mechanic nearly 100 miles away to do a quick patch job so i could drive back to a repair shop in Chicago as recommended by the Insurance Co where i had all of the major repairs done locally while i rented a car (both also on AAA discount in addition to the insurance discounts) close to home/work.
Despite 2yrs & 11mo’s later of no use for AAA roadside assistance, i continued to use it for discounts on travel (hotels), shopping (mainly electonics and auto), and dining. Had not been carrying the roadside from cellphone company or Insurance agencies.
December 2010, had popped two passenger tires on same vehicle in Central IL during a snow storm on a grated pothole. If i had insurance or cellphone company tow covering up to 50miles to nearest tire shop I would have spent at least $150/tire pretax out of pocket to be reimbursed by Discount Tires (where i purchased insurance coverage on my 17″ Pirelli tires). With AAA Plus they were on site within 40min with a flatbed as and hauled it all the way to closest DT warehouse 1.5hrs away in Indianapolis same day…swapped the Good Year Eagles for Pirelli’s and only cash dished out was to tip the driver and buy him a meal (he gotted pulled off call of clearing the hi-ways just to tow my car).
Keep in mind it was middle of snowstorm so EVERY tow driver was busy clearing highways and mainways…and the truck that arrived 15min after my initial call was not equipped to handle my car…it was a 1 axle tow. So another quick call to AAA on speaker so the tow driver on site could clarify what was required…sure i was pissed, so later the call ended 5 min later i walked 3 blocks down to grab some gyros & burritos for lunch. When I walked back to my car, a totally different driver had already set up the flatbed ready to chain down my car and hoist it on the tow…he was just waiting to see my card & grab my john Hancock…now that’s the AAA that my aunts, uncles, and grandparents brag about!!!
May 16th, 2011 at 7:08 pm
I’ve been with them 15 years – never really checked around until I did some poking! I’ve been overpaying on my insurance with the EXACT SAME COVERAGE from AAA!!
I’m off, economy is difficult, looking for more ways to cut back costs! GOOD BYE AAA, gave you an opportunity but you guys decided that you didn’t need it.
Trust me, shop around and you’ll find that you’re over paying AAA and they can care less.
May 23rd, 2011 at 2:45 pm
I know this is an old thread; however, in TX there is a 7 day waiting period on an activated membership for towing service.
I enjoyed this thread, thanks for posting. I went online in consideration for a AAA membership or alternatives. At the end of the day I went with the membership. An added plus was when I called the local office instead of purchasing online they gave me a special 2 for 1 and waived my initial membership fee. So, not only do I have peace of mind for an upcoming trip, I also have a bonus membership for my college student as well. Time will tell if it was a wise decision.
May 28th, 2011 at 1:58 pm
I’m glad every scenario works out for you. There will always be something that creeps up on you that you do not expect & then you will wish you had it.
I had a car that had a vapor-lock type of problem. Mechanic’s didn’t get the problem fixed the first time. Different mechanic didn’t get it fixed the second time. I don’t know about people with a bunch of money to spend, but after the second tow I definitely felt I got my money’s worth. Also you dont want a tow to the first “goober” you find in a phone book or 411, you want it towed to the dealership. Many independents won’t tow you anywhere except back to “my shop”. Yeah, open your wallet. The biggest thing of all, particularly for those of us that live paycheck to paycheck – you might have had the money for membership back at say the first of the year, but not the money now. Not for 2 tows, not for 3 tows, or more. You say you have never had a major breakdown, so for that fact alone you have no experience at it to rag on it. The only extended wait I have had is on a Sunday, or on one of those Winter days where everybody needed a battery jump start & none of the people had jumper cables for some dumb reason. The response is slow, but it was already paid for, which is some good news to the guy with little money at the time.
June 5th, 2011 at 10:04 am
Before re-newing AAA you might want to check for discounts on membership and membership renewal.
800-790-2533 (V-force)
June 6th, 2011 at 8:06 pm
mom0twins: That’s very good to know for the TX AAA re: the waiting period on towing service. It looks like many regions have quite a bit differences in rules so the original post was definitely YMMV. Thanks for chiming in on such an old post though ;)
July 25th, 2011 at 9:29 am
I worked for AAA for several years, and had much interaction with execs from other clubs throughout the country, as well as the national office. There are literally over a hundred clubs of different sizes, some as small as a single county or two, some as large as half-a-dozen states. AAA is not a corporation, but a “not-for-profit” association. (This is different than “non-profit.”) “Not-for-profit” does NOT mean that AAA doesn’t care about making money. The cost of the services they provide keep going up and the cost of membership has not kept up for the most part, with the exception of most have introduced “premium” memberships. AAA clubs want to make money, and aside from member fees, each club has profit centers based on what they’ve found works for them.
Every club has a core operation based on towing and other automotive services, and a travel department/travel agency to service members and sell travel packages. Some lose money on the towing, and make it up in other areas. Not in travel, as these packages are mostly arranged by AAA National or large independent vacation packagers, and there is not a lot of profit margin there. (Just a commission.) Some clubs sub-contract auto-repairs to independent garages, some own and operate a string of sophisticated auto-repair facilities. Some are very heavy into insurance, not only auto, but life and home property, casualty as well. Some not at all.
The amount of value you receive as a AAA member depends on your lifestyle and what type of consumer you are. If you travel often by air, if you tend to travel a lot for business (and buy 20+ hotel nights a year) the more you like to check around and compare prices, the less likely you are to get the full value out of your membership. You probably belong to airline and hotel affinity programs and are racking up miles and free nights.
Towing – This you can get at comparable prices from other sources, as noted. Obviously, this only applies if you or your family members are driving a car out-of-warranty. Keep in mind that cars manufactured in the last decade are much more reliable. If you live in a remote area, and/or drive long distances to and from your vacation, then you might want the peace of mind. If you break down in New Mexico, and belong to AAA New England, no matter, you get the same service. If your club does not own and operate the towing operation, then know that you could have the same truck picking you up as an Allstate Motor Club member.
Travel – If you like to sit down with a travel agent and get advice on where to go, then AAA’s full-service travel agency is there for you. This is old-fashioned, but some people like to talk to a real person before plunking down a couple of thousand bucks. (The wealthy do the same thing, but with a Virtuoso agency, for a custom itinerary to Borneo or Zanzibar, but that’s a different ballgame.) If you go to Disney every year with the family, then it’s worth it. AAA has an exclusive discount with Disney that is hard to beat. If you like to take cruises, and live within easy driving distance to a cruise port, then you’ll appreciate their cruise packages, (but these are oriented toward older consumers, or families as with a Disney cruise.) The rest of the travel packages can be bested by just checking around on the internet. Don’t ever book an airline ticket, or hotel directly with AAA. The AAA rate in most cases is higher than what you would get from the airline or hotel chain directly. You’ll see that the AAA rates are higher than other listed rates on Hyatt.com and other travel sites. This is because AAA’s travel agency charges a commission of as much as 20% to the airline or hotel, as a traditional travel agency would. AAA only gets a good wholesale price when they can guarantee lots of volume from popular middle-of-the-road (no pun intended) destinations like Disney and cruise operators, because the wholesaler/hotel chain has to take a haircut on the AAA commission. A lot of the good deals through AAA are stuff that isn’t selling well, for one reason or another. (In that case, you might think about why it isn’t selling well.) In some cases, the AAA travel agent might be pushing it. A “Three Diamond” AAA-rated property is still a good experience, but a great deal on a four or five diamond property you got from Priceline at a lower rate is a better deal. Keep in mind that AAA will never sell you a package involving a property that has not been rated by them. This is something the property has to pay for. Generally, this is good, because their rating system takes into account the things that are important. But many upscale properties that are rated by Michelin, Fodor’s, etc. just don’t bother with a AAA rating. They don’t need it, AAA is not their market.
Insurance: In the vast majority of cases, AAA is an insurance broker. So they are a middleman. If you have a good driving record, you’ll get better rates going to an Allstate, State Farm, Geico, etc.
Car Buying: AAA uses a couple of vendors who have a network of dealers that offer a “no-hassle, no haggle” discount for AAA members. Again, you can get a better deal by negotiating and comparing, and getting dealers to compete with each other. My own personal experience with this service was unsatisfactory. The first time, no one ever got back to me after I sent a request for a quote via the AAA website. The second time, I did get a call back, and spent 30 minutes describing the vehicle I wanted. I answered questions on color choices, etc. Was assured that they’d check around and get back to me – she never called back. Wasn’t a problem because I got a dealer to beat another’s already-competitive price. If you want a car from dealer stock, and aren’t too particular, and hate haggling and don’t mind paying a bit more than you could have, then this AAA service might be of value.
In general, AAA tries very hard to provide excellent service to their members. All member complaints, especially those legitimate issues expressed in writing to the club get resolved to the member’s satisfaction, no exceptions. Especially if the complaint is with a sub-contractor, where AAA will lean on them to “make it right” for the member.
AAA has been around for more than 100 years. They do good work on the national level campaigning for driving safety, better maintenance of roads and highways, reporting on gas prices and advocating for drivers on the local, regional and national levels. They have a hotel and restaurant “Diamond” rating system, which makes them money, and is a good measure of quality. But you get all that without being a member. AAA has been on the wrong side on some issues, campaigning against bike lanes and bike rider’s rights, for example. In major cities, they are often siding against mass transit, usually because this means less funds for maintenance of highway, road, bridge and tunnel infrastructure.
Whether or not you get the value out of your membership depends on what and how much you buy from them. If you just renew your membership, and never call for towing service, you are a profitable member for them, and you get the peace of mind knowing a century-old service organization is behind you. They’ll be there for you when you need them. However, if you aren’t an insurance customer of theirs, don’t book any travel from them, and get towed more than three times in a year, they’ll cut you off as an “unprofitable member.” And you’ll have plenty of chances to buy from them, as you’ll receive many direct mail solicitations, as well as the magazine, which in the vast majority of cases is a travel brochure, or a travel and insurance brochure with very little original edit that isn’t dictated by the travel or insurance department, or doesn’t directly support membership renewal. You’ll have to get them on the phone to opt out. If you do want to stay informed about your membership, don’t opt out of the magazine, however. Most AAA websites are behind the curve, content-wise. But some clubs have cutting edge tracking systems on their websites however, that monitor your visits and send you solicitations based on your browsing. In fact, you can’t get to your club’s website without a tracking cookie being laid, as all the club sites are behind a “zip-gate,” i.e. you have to enter a zip code to be re-directed to the appropriate club. The “TripTik” system looks like Jurassic Park next to Google, but you can’t call Google on the phone and talk to a real person and have them snail mail you a map. Again, depends on your “web-savvy” quotient, how much time you have on your hands, and what kind of consumer you are.
Another area where AAA is lacking is in courting the Latino-Hispanic market. There is zero effort in that regard. So if spanish-language content is helpful to you, it doesn’t exist in the AAA universe. There is no real active marketing to younger drivers, except through their parents. Some younger drivers buy a membership because they’ve had one for years through their parents, but most members have been members for years. That’s why the median age is 50+.
All of the above is based on my composite experience and dialog with the national office and execs at all the major clubs across the country. Your decision to join is really a matter of the individual club in your area, and what value it brings to you other than “peace of mind.” If “peace of mind” is enough, then it’s an easy choice to make, and not a wrong one.
July 28th, 2011 at 10:14 am
Called AAA of NE Ohio yesterday at 4:11 pm, asking for a tow. Was told that because I have their premier membership ($130/year), it would be 30 minutes till truck arrives. Two hours later, after calling several times, they then say he is 5 minutes away. Fifty minutes later, at 6:50 the truck arrives. When I ask him, he says don’t blame me, I don’t start work till 6pm. So, AAA lied to me about the tow. What is the Premier Membership worth? Nothing, as far as I am concerned. They never called me to tell me updates on the time or give me any courtesy. Yet, they advertise the Premier Membership as Concierge Quality Service.
Oh, and one more thing. Yesterday it was warm, clear, no bad weather. And, their excuse was, “Sorry, we are really backed up today.” They say that every day, no matter what.
July 29th, 2011 at 9:03 am
I’ve had AAA save me with a tow quite a few times. The price I pay for modifying my car, I guess.
Not everyone has a super reliable car, or does routine maintenance. There’s lots of people out there that don’t even know how to change a tire. So maybe AAA is a nice thing to have for those people.
August 3rd, 2011 at 11:51 am
I called AAA on time on the very day that I needed my battery recharged…car had died at my home…FLA and my battery was dead. They honored the membership. I also was told by the operator, to tell them that I am a nurse on the way to work if I should have a breakdown at home again…they come out faster, otherwise the call could take hours for anyone to show up. The tip works…I personally did it…just out of desperation…I have since never let my AAA lapse again. I do love the peace of mind, but the newer memberships have lots of restrictions, that the older ones did not…so maybe it is time to re-eval…great article.
August 12th, 2011 at 11:59 am
In five years I’ve used AAA’s Emergency Roadside Service once and my wife twice. It was a rare (heavily) rainy night in Huntington Beach, I left my son’s hockey game heading for home when my fan belt snapped and my car died. Tow truck got to me in about 30 minutes and took my car to the dealership I requested.
My wife’s alternator died and got her car towed to the mechanic. Second time she ran out of gasoline and AAA brought her some.
Worth the price of membership? Maybe not for those three service calls alone but everything else we’ve benefitted from our membership, it has been.
Discounts at hotels, restaurants, shopping, etc. For us, the two things that make it worth having membership are: piece of mind and (in So Cal) the DMV services.
We’ve purchased vehicles for each of our kids, walked into AAA offices to transfer titles, have paid and picked up tags, one time I had to get a handicapped placard when I broke my foot. Never spent more than 20 minutes on any of my AAA, DMV transactions. If you’ve ever been to a California DMV office you’d know it’s a place worse than hell with what I swear has to be a two hour minimum wait just to deal with the most depressing, apathetic people on earth.
Don’t know about other regions but if you live in Southern California and don’t have AAA Membership, you’re in Idiot!
August 15th, 2011 at 12:49 pm
Well I totally disagree with you, you can not find the same discounts online and when you do there is always a catch. Also everything you book like hotels are AAA rated and backed. Also AAA offers alot of added benifits with there new car care centers in SC and NC they offer memebers 10% off of labor fees for any work. They also offer full service travel agents and offer the best Disney discouts around. So I think what you are saying is total garbage and I hope not to many people listen. The membership is a small price to pay for piece of mind.
Sincerly
Kristina Tucci
August 16th, 2011 at 11:19 pm
Well, I made a vow that I would need to factor in the cost of AAA as “maintenance” for my car after my ex & I had 2 flats on the Al-can highway in Alaska. We were in a truck & got the first flat changed cuz the closest AAA tower was 300 miles away. But when we went another 70 miles and got our second flat of the day (which was also July 4th) we had no other options but wait 5+ hours for the tow truck to get to us. He came from Fairbanks, we were not at all close to another town/village. No cell coverage, bear season/mosquito hell. Luckily we walked to a ranger station that let us use the phone. The driver took us back to Fairbanks, so a approximate 10 hr trip for him, all covered by our AAA Plus. Well we did tip the tow driver all the cash we had about $50. But that tow alone would of been $800. Plus, the new tires. We learned in AK they suggest 2+ spares.
August 17th, 2011 at 12:28 pm
Was considering joining solely for the additional hotel discount. Not a good idea?
August 20th, 2011 at 9:36 pm
I like AAA just to avoid the DMV lines on vehicle registration in SoCal. It’s more conveniently than any of the DMV spots.
August 23rd, 2011 at 10:11 am
I’ve been an AAA member since getting my first car and going on my first road trip.
We are a military family and travel all over the country. Plus my husband gets deployed or travels far away constantly. When I’m alone, generally I’m stuck without anyone to call. AAA has come to my rescue many times, with tows, getting the dog unlocked from the car, and providing us with maps and travel books in the pre-smart phone and internet days. Even now we like the paper maps and books, because we have many unplanned trips and moves. It’s nice to unfold a large map to get a view of the whole picture and find alternate routes or have a travel guide to tell you which attractions give AAA discounts or have free admission (like art museums)Plus I do get a general idea of hotel prices and pet policies from the travel guides quickly without having to look up each single hotel on the smart phone in a metropolitan area you have never visited (and it’s 10pm).Kayak just doesn’t do it for me then.
Towing/auto calls have sometimes taken a long time, but mostly we’ve been helped within a little more than an hour, even at night. We’ve taken advantage of many discounts, including free Full Protection Value of our household goods during a long distance move on our own dollar, or other times we’ve used the discount for renting our own moving truck. I’ve saved a few bucks with the on-line shopping portal. We can get passport photos, have gotten travelers checks for international travel, and I believe I’ve used free notary service.
Membership isn’t really “cheap” at the upgraded levels, but the nice thing is that you have access to these services for a known price if you would be traveling and using these services anyhow. I’m all about the cost savings and peace of mind. I wouldn’t renew my membership if I weren’t getting value out of it or been treated well in the past.
Yes, If I’m planning a vacation, I can get other better hotel discounts often (not always), and find great airfares or cruises, etc. on my own. And I’m very proficient at doing that. But those few times I was stuck on the highway shoulder alone or was traveling at night with my cousin when the car broke down, I’ve been really happy to have someone to call. And saving on other things is the icing on the cake for us.
August 27th, 2011 at 7:14 am
We used to have AAA and let it lapse. I haven’t broken down in 10 years, but broke down twice in the last two months (one a relative’s car).
The one nice thing about AAA, or other road side service, is that you can pick up your cell phone and have a tow truck on the way. When we were sitting on the busy Chicago Skyway Bridge and couldn’t get a listing for State Patrol (Poison Control, Liquor Control??) or a tow truck company, it was pretty horrible!
If you don’t have AAA I’d recommend keeping a list of regional tow truck companies in your car.
August 30th, 2011 at 1:37 pm
SHAME, SHAME, SHAME I am a AAA Auto customer and I was just sent a letter stating that AAA will demand that you sign up for the AAA membership if you were not a customer before November 2010 or they will not renew your policy. What shit is that. They are going to strong arm you into joining their “CLUB” that is pretty worthless unless you are AARP age and travel a lot. They should be ASHAMED of themselves
September 1st, 2011 at 4:14 pm
Personally, the Premium AAA Membership has been well worth the cost. I had them come and do a diagnostic on my vehicle when I was stranded and they gave me a ride home as well. There is a peace of mind that comes with the AAA membership and I would not want to live without that.
September 14th, 2011 at 6:34 am
AAA is not so much a “club” or “association” as it is an insurance company. It can obviously be a nice service. However, it all boils down to one thing: We are not getting the bigger end of the stick in this service.
In a way, it’s like gambling at a casino. You may win sometimes. In fact, there is a chance that you could win big. In the end, though, most folks are leaving the casino with less money. It’s the casino that’s doing well–not the patrons.
There are times when it seems AAA is the better deal. And if peace of mind is what you want, then like any other insurance company, AAA will do the trick. But over a ten year period, while you may use their services several times, most of the time you are paying for a large number of employees to perform services you will never use.
Roadside service? Again, over time, a AAA member will pay for two dispatchers whereas a non-member will pay for just one.
Discounts? AAA may have been the best for discounts before the rise of the internet. Today, I have found that simply selecting “best rate” or “internet rate” on various travel websites have provided me with a better rate than selecting “AAA” in the discount field. Not always, but most of the time.
In summary, and IMO of course, AAA is not the best value. They get the bigger end of the financial stick, otherwise, they would cease to exist.
September 24th, 2011 at 8:48 am
I just let mine lapse because it felt like a luxury I could no longer afford. I found out today that I am no longer eligible for my homeowners insurance! NO WHERE on the renewal bill did it say, “renew this or we will cut off your homeowners.” To top it all off, there is now a $15 fee on top of the $63 fee because of the lapse, nevermind the fact that I never had any of the benefits for the last 5 months. I hate AAA. I’ll be looking for new insurance.
September 27th, 2011 at 2:08 pm
AAA does have some nice services that can be used by having a regular membership. For Insurance? No thanks, too expensive. Even with a 6 year loyalty, clean record, no claims, etc, they were charging me 25% more than another companies quote with whom I had no previous history. Loyalty and clean records dont count much with these folks.
October 4th, 2011 at 6:17 am
there are better roadside services that offer more. dont believe aaa, overpriced. I worked there for over 11 years and they say they get service to u in 30 min usually. It takes 10 min to even get thru there phone prompts. and it takes even longer to get the call even to dispatch.
The company is the worst to work for too. they dont care about members, the big wigs just want to fill their pockets with more money. cant get sick there,,,or you get an occurance. Employees have to abuse fmla just so they dont loose their job. They offer you incentive to have a friend work there, yeah it will end up you loose that friend cause of the abuse you get working there. You never know one day to the next if you have a job or not. If you try to help a member,you will get in trouble for saying something. You know of a promotion to save them money,,,ha ha, if they dont know the code, you cant tell them, now how is that helping. AAA you suck , insurance is way over priced.
October 7th, 2011 at 4:37 am
I too had had AAA for 20 years as my very first part time job was as a courier for a bank, and I had to drive on the highway quite a bit. After having this for 15 years or more I finally had to use it. I had a flat tire while on a trip with my family. I waited 2 hours for someone to get there to fix my tire. I finally called back and was told that they had no record of my call. Finally after another hour someone finally got there, but they were unalbe to get the tire off! They pumped it up enough for me to drive it to a mechanic–which was hard since it was on a Saturday in Pigeon Forge TN and after the 3 hours of wiaiting most all true service stations were closed–who got the tire off easily and repaired it. That was the first and only experience with AAA and it was not very good. I let my service expire this year and added towing to my insurance policy. I my regret it, but so far I haven’t.
October 11th, 2011 at 4:02 pm
AAA and USAA – my car insurance co and my roadside assistance co are two superior company’s. My daughter locked BOTH sets of her keys in her trunk on the upper east side of manhattan minutes before embarking on a trip to a wedding in Vermont that she was driving three guests to. She told the AAA folks and they were there in 10 minutes – the driver refused a tip – that alone was a MINIMUM of $300 savings for an emergency locksmith service in Manhattan. A week later my battery died outside my daughter’s apt where I’d double parked and ran in some things as she was moving in. I received a $135 ticket from the time I went upstairs to call AAA and heading back out to the car just minutes later. AAA sent me a formal, notary sealed letter for me to send to the NYC parking authority for dismissal of the ticket.
I don’t know where you complainers live – but if you live in or around NYC and don’t have triple A – get your head examined!
November 16th, 2011 at 12:14 am
Intersting thing going on right now… I have a good friend who has a mini van with a kayak on roof, broken down, & AAA won’t tow unless she leaves the kayak?!?!?! I’ve change my mind on considering AAA in the future!
November 16th, 2011 at 3:56 pm
Word to the wise who don’t want AAA because they have roadside assistance with their insurance company. I’ve been without AAA membership for the last 5 years for the same reason, but I’ll be signing up again after reading a very interesting article: apparently insurance companies submit all of their roadside assistance claims to a database, and this is used to assess your risk when determining your insurance premiums. Doesn’t matter if you had a flat tire, dead battery, or an accident. If you make an assistance claim, it’s being logged as a tow, and assumed you were in an accident = now you’re considered high-risk = $$$ insurance premiums. AAA doesn’t report to any database. I’ll spend $50 to save $100′s IMHO.
November 22nd, 2011 at 11:48 am
I received an invite to join AAA and for me being such a complaint customer I was offered a $100 travel card for joining and paying a yr in advance- well I paid the yr in advance and of course my money was pulled from the bank IMMEDIATELY but here 2 months later I still have NO travel card -do you think maybe that was a “come on”??!!?? or just an outright lie
December 12th, 2011 at 8:30 pm
AAA has saved me $$ on rental cars. Use discount code shown on AAA card.
January 7th, 2012 at 11:30 am
AAA is crooked. I would never give them another penny! Run from them, auto drivers and homeowners!
January 28th, 2012 at 1:39 pm
Wow. This is a terrible article. I use all of the discount sites offered, but you can still typically do better with AAA. If you are lazy and book through a travel site, maybe you can find better discounts with RetailMeNot, but if you actually compare prices through the hotel’s sites, your AAA rate is typically better. Also, there are plenty of restaurants and other companies that accept the card for discounts that there aren’t other discounts for. And the Disney tickets are much less expensive.
Then there’s the travel guides you can have them print out for free. I have had several occasions where my GPS gets lost and/or the battery dies, and the travel ticket comes in handy.
And I use roadside assistance ALL the time. At least twice a year, if not, much more. I’ve had them tow my car once for a bad alternator (thanks to my mechanic making a mistake,) start my battery, change my tire . . . even if these are tasks I could do on my own, it’s a lot safer to call someone to do them for free. I really hope people don’t take this article seriously because AAA is fantastic.