AAA Membership - Is It Worth It...?

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Crew Love

Senior Member

242 posts
Jan 17, 2010 7:38 PM
I'm thinking about getting a membership for the first time to the American Automobile Association (AAA), and was wondering if current/former members had any input to share.

Does the yearly fee justify the services and associated discounts? Positives? Negatives? Any other experiences and/or opinions?

Thanks.
Jan 17, 2010 7:38pm
GoChiefs's avatar

GoChiefs

Resident Maniac

16,754 posts
Jan 17, 2010 7:47 PM
I was thinking the same thing..just got something in the mail the other day for me and my wife to become members..$49.00 a year. I'd imagine it's a good deal since if you have to get towed just once..you've already paid for your membership.
Jan 17, 2010 7:47pm
A

Angel

Senior Member

363 posts
Jan 17, 2010 7:51 PM
Funny, I just renewed my membership online a little bit ago.

It is worth it to me. The last time I used it was in October of 2007, but, it is worth it. My battery died at the airport while I was on a trip and I called them and they came and took care of it.

It puts my mind at ease.

Also, have received some good discounts with the card.
Jan 17, 2010 7:51pm
C

Crew Love

Senior Member

242 posts
Jan 17, 2010 7:53 PM
Angel wrote: Funny, I just renewed my membership online a little bit ago.

It is worth it to me. The last time I used it was in October of 2007, but, it is worth it. My battery died at the airport while I was on a trip and I called them and they came and took care of it.

It puts my mind at ease.

Also, have received some good discounts with the card.
Have you (or anyone else who reads this) ever used AAA for their travel advising? A few buddies and I are looking to book a cruise in late March and I could see this as another potential perk to becoming a member.
Jan 17, 2010 7:53pm
Heretic's avatar

Heretic

Son of the Sun

18,820 posts
Jan 17, 2010 7:55 PM
GoChiefs wrote: I was thinking the same thing..just got something in the mail the other day for me and my wife to become members..$49.00 a year. I'd imagine it's a good deal since if you have to get towed just once..you've already paid for your membership.
Very true. When I was married, my ex and I went without it for a while. Car broke down. Had a nice $100+ bill to get towed home. That's a decent bit more than the Plus (superior) version costs for a year. And if you get AAA, get the Plus if the cash isn't a huge issue. Regular AAA only gives you a short tow range that's free (like 10 miles or something like that).
Jan 17, 2010 7:55pm
A

Angel

Senior Member

363 posts
Jan 17, 2010 7:56 PM
Not for a long time..... Sorry. Not sure what the travel advising is like. They have a great magazine which is how I find out about alot of the discouts.

I've used it to get discounts when booking travel plans when available.

Used this past summer to get a discount on a hotel in the New England area.
Jan 17, 2010 7:56pm
GoChiefs's avatar

GoChiefs

Resident Maniac

16,754 posts
Jan 17, 2010 7:58 PM
What's the differences in the regular and the plus?
Jan 17, 2010 7:58pm
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Cat Food Flambe'

Senior Member

1,230 posts
Jan 17, 2010 7:59 PM
Yes. Unless you never leave the hamlet in which you reside, using it once every four years, you're money ahead - in particular the "gold" membership with the 100-mile free towing benefit. Sure - maybe you drive a newer car, but tell that deer that just impaled itself on your hood., or that drunk that just rear-ended your Focus in Fredricktown. :)

Try finding a reliable towing company at three AM on your own. In my younger days, I had a tow truck operator in Texas advise me that he needed a $100 cash "hook charge" to tow my rental car six miles into the nearest town.

There are many honest towing-service operators out there (I tip, by the way). There are also quite a few vultures out there.
Jan 17, 2010 7:59pm
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Al Bundy

Senior Member

4,180 posts
Jan 17, 2010 8:02 PM
GoChiefs wrote: What's the differences in the regular and the plus?
Plus will tow you a longer distance without extra charge is the biggest difference that I know about.

I think it is worth it. Without hotel discounts and other discounts, I have found that the fee almost pays for itself even without a tow.
Jan 17, 2010 8:02pm
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Laley23

GOAT

29,506 posts
Jan 17, 2010 8:12 PM
Yes, especially if you live with a chick who cant change a flat! They do it all for you, for free (ok the yearly fee, but still).

I usually get towed once a year and that is the yearly fee right there. Some years when I need more help it has definitely been worth it. The best was when I was nervous as shit after a flat on the highway at night. I thought I would get run over changing it. They came, towed me off the highway, changed the tire and left. I just got back in the car and drove home. The guy didnt like me spare, didnt think it would make it the 22 miles home, so he just gave me a real tire from the tow truck.
Jan 17, 2010 8:12pm
G

Gobuckeyes1

Senior Member

497 posts
Jan 17, 2010 8:13 PM
I think it is worth it. I just think of it as "break down insurance".

Not to mention to other small perks and discounts you get. The tour books used to be invaluable when planning a trip, but the internet has made them less necessary.
Jan 17, 2010 8:13pm
C

Crew Love

Senior Member

242 posts
Jan 17, 2010 8:19 PM
Is anyone aware of the stipulations for applying for an "Associate Membership"?

Both of my parents are AAA members and I'm wondering if I could save some bucks by becoming an "associate" on their membership...
Jan 17, 2010 8:19pm
S

Swamp Fox

Senior Member

2,218 posts
Jan 17, 2010 8:22 PM
We consider it like an American Express Card. We never leave home without it! When I was younger, it wasn't so vital. Now that I'm a senior citizen, it really comes in handy. We have called on it several times and we have been totally satisfied with the service and the yearly cost is well worth it to us. the towing on the best package is excellent as well. Nothing but good things to say about it. We have also gotten hotel discounts etc. along the way which have been nice perks. If you ever have an unexpected flat in a snow storm and don't want to risk jacking up your car on ice and snow with sub teens windchill you will especially enjoy the service.
Jan 17, 2010 8:22pm
T

ThumperAC

Member

38 posts
Jan 17, 2010 9:17 PM
I have it and use it. Lots of discounts by using it too, aside from hotels you get a discount from DirecTV, target.com, and some others I cannot remember.
Jan 17, 2010 9:17pm
A

Angel

Senior Member

363 posts
Jan 17, 2010 10:22 PM
Forgot, got a great deal at Best Western this past fall. :)

Also, the Reebok outlet store. Got a great special discount AAA negotiated with them for a month.
Jan 17, 2010 10:22pm
homefield's avatar

homefield

Senior Member

242 posts
Jan 17, 2010 10:55 PM
Well worth the money.When you have kids off at college it is nice to know they can get help when they have car problems and they don't have to worry about who they are going to call.
Jan 17, 2010 10:55pm
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raiderbuck

Senior Member

1,623 posts
Jan 17, 2010 11:14 PM
I have it, and I do use the discounts (travel). I used to drive my dad's old car that was prone to breakdown on me. The rear passenger side tire had a bad seal so it leaked air all the time, plus the car had a bad starter so the car would always die on me. I didn't have AAA at the time, and paid a decent amount of money for a tow and jump. I couldn't go two days without starting my car or putting air in the tire.

I got a new car and the first thing I did was purchase AAA service. It's peice of mind for me, plus the discounts are enticing.
Jan 17, 2010 11:14pm
Darkon's avatar

Darkon

Senior Member

3,476 posts
Jan 18, 2010 4:27 AM
homefield wrote: Well worth the money.When you have kids off at college it is nice to know they can get help when they have car problems and they don't have to worry about who they are going to call.
This!
For the wife and kids.
I travel alot for work so I am not always available if something happens.
Have only used it twice in the past 7-8 years but it puts my mind at ease when I am out of town.
Jan 18, 2010 4:27am
KR1245's avatar

KR1245

Senior Member

4,317 posts
Jan 18, 2010 6:44 AM
Piece of mind is worth it for me. I had to get my car towed once and it saved me alot of money. I would suggest going with at least the Plus package, I think the first one only covers tows up to 10 miles or something and then you have to pay for each additional mile. I figured I might as well pay more for the membership and get the added perks.
Jan 18, 2010 6:44am
ytownfootball's avatar

ytownfootball

Bold faced liar...

6,978 posts
Jan 18, 2010 8:09 AM
Something to consider or check on before you get AAA is whether or not your insurer offers towing coverage as a rider (or included on many) policies. I was actually unaware that I had two free tows a year built in to my coverage. You need to see about towing distance as many policies specify "to the nearest repair station" but that is not all that different than AAA.

I also added towing to my policy on other vehicle and the cost per month was less than half of what AAA is. The difference is that you need to pay up front and get reimbursed later showing receipt to your insurer.

AAA is a nice service when you consider the discounts on travel/food/entertainment etc., but if you're just looking for towing coverage, your insurer is almost in all cases going to be cheaper.
Jan 18, 2010 8:09am
V

vball10set

paying it forward

24,795 posts
Jan 18, 2010 8:23 AM
yes--definitely...both of my kids used it while in college(flat tires,frozen door locks,passport pics),and my wife and I have used it for various reasons...and it also comes in handy for hotel/travel discounts!!!
Jan 18, 2010 8:23am
power i's avatar

power i

Senior Member

1,296 posts
Jan 18, 2010 8:39 AM
My parents have paid for my daughter's AAA since she left for college. (She graduated last year.) Last Friday, my husband gets a phone call from her, asking what should she do, she has a flat tire. (She's only two hours away.) He said, "Um, call AAA?" Oh yea, she forgot about having that. And no, she's not blond. ;)
Jan 18, 2010 8:39am