Is AAA worth it?

[cpals]

Looking into purchasing AAA for the wife and I. I'm not sure if I should just purchase the plan for her or both of us since the extra family member makes it a little more costly. Most of the time we're driving together and when we're not I'm usually driving my work-provided car.

Thanks!

 

[Chryso]

We have classic for the spouse only.

 

[Crono]

Yes. For emergency service, plus you get discounts on a lot of different stuff.

 

[FelixDeCat]

Only if you are driving a car prone to breaking down. Ive telemarketed it back when I was 18 for about a day, and my parents had it when I drove a clunker junker. After a few tows we got cancelled. Its almost all profit for AAA because most people dont use it.

But its up to you really.

 

[Riverhound777]

My parents have it, I pay them for me to have it. I haven't used it in a long time, but when I had my old beater car I used it quite a bit. And my friends have used it.

 

[vi edit]

Every year I've had it, it's paid for itself. My wife has used the locksmith a couple times as well as the towing. We originally got it to save a couple hundred bucks off a Penske rental. It paid for itself that year. Plus we've used it for family members to rent trucks with the discount and hotel rooms.

I think we pay something like $80 for the family rate. It's a very nice little piece of mind if you travel a lot.

 

[acheron]

yeah, both my wife and i have used it for towing, plus various discounts, got an international driver's license through them, etc.

 

[cpals]

So you guys are just getting the Classic? Is it worth the extra $50/year to get Plus for the 100 mile tow?

 

[Blieb]

I've had it for a number of years ... got it for the wife too ... we have plus.

Plus is good because you can tow more than 10 miles.

I have used this when I'm with someone, and they locked their keys in the car, we used my card.
Also have used it for notary services.
Also have used it for temp tags when buying a car privately.

It used to be kickass for driving directions, but everyone has that now.

There are probably a lot of other services that we could get through them that we aren't even aware of!

 

[Capt Caveman]

The discount I get on my auto and home insurance pays for itself. Plus, all the discounts and services (ie. free passport photos) then having AAA service available itself.

 

[Capt Caveman]

I didn't know that they had Premier. I have the Plus but I had to be a Classic member for a year before I could upgrade to Plus. Classic gives you a limited towing distance and the Plus wasn't much more.

 

[QueBert]

If you have a cell phone and a credit card and don't have AAA. If you break down you can call and sign up for it on the side of the road right and have them send somebody right then and there. Using it even that one time to be towed should more than pay for the membership.

 

[skyking]

My wife and I were discussing it. I did not hear which plan but she said it was $100/year. Theoretically we have $2400 plus interest in our possession by NOT buying it.
I think we will go for it if we start to do a lot of road trips, see the country.

 

[waffleironhead]

I am not sure of what other services AAA offers and how much they charge, but I have roadside assistance insurance thru State Farm on my cars and it is only an aditional $1.50 per 6 months. Well worth the cost IMO.

 

[BlackTigers]

We have it, and it's saved our ass many times.

Numerous account of locking keys in the car, as well as many tows (ahaha, most are my fault). My parents love me for that.

 

[Eli]

Unquestionably, without a doubt.

 

[Juddog]

It is definitely worth it if you live in the northeast where car stalls, spinouts during a snowstorm etc. are commonplace.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: skyking
My wife and I were discussing it. I did not hear which plan but she said it was $100/year. Theoretically we have $2400 plus interest in our possession by NOT buying it.
I think we will go for it if we start to do a lot of road trips, see the country.

Note, you wouldn't have to spend $100/year for each of you. One of you can be added as an associate to whoever signs up for half the cost and recently they had a 50% off the associate cost which would have brought it down to $25 for the year.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Absolutely fucking not worth it. At all. Not even remotely. I got in an accident in my mother's car, which had AAA. She called them and asked them for a tow. They told her that the tow truck could only tow her car 2 miles, which would have left it about half a mile shy of the house, and if she needed it tower further, she would have to pay an additional fee of $100. They also said it would be two hours before a tow truck was available; all this while I'm talking to the police in the street who are demanding that I get the car moved. The next day, she cancelled her AAA service, and she hasn't had need of it a single time in the three years that have followed.

Fuck AAA.

 

[Mojoed]

Originally posted by: QueBert
If you have a cell phone and a credit card and don't have AAA. If you break down you can call and sign up for it on the side of the road right and have them send somebody right then and there. Using it even that one time to be towed should more than pay for the membership.

I actually called and asked about this a few days ago. I was told for the "Plus" level of membership, there is a 7 day waiting period for tow benefits.

 

[MrMatt]

Originally posted by: FelixDeKat
Only if you are driving a car prone to breaking down. Ive telemarketed it back when I was 18 for about a day, and my parents had it when I drove a clunker junker. After a few tows we got cancelled. Its almost all profit for AAA because most people dont use it.

But its up to you really.

Here's the thing though; I'd rather have it and NOT need it, rather than need it and NOT have it. If you drive a clunker, it's a must. But even if you don't, they have tons of discounts on things. 5 dollar movie tickets for instance, at least out where I am. And it's only 70/year.

 

[MrMatt]

Originally posted by: Juddog
It is definitely worth it if you live in the northeast where car stalls, spinouts during a snowstorm etc. are commonplace.

this

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: Mojoed

Originally posted by: QueBert
If you have a cell phone and a credit card and don't have AAA. If you break down you can call and sign up for it on the side of the road right and have them send somebody right then and there. Using it even that one time to be towed should more than pay for the membership.

I actually called and asked about this a few days ago. I was told for the "Plus" level of membership, there is a 7 day waiting period for tow benefits.

non plus members gets towing withing 7 miles. I was unaware you could sign up for plus, they use to only offer it to you after you'd been a member for a few years. They must have recently changed their policies if they make you wait to get towing privilages.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: Atomic Playboy
Absolutely fucking not worth it. At all. Not even remotely. I got in an accident in my mother's car, which had AAA. She called them and asked them for a tow. They told her that the tow truck could only tow her car 2 miles, which would have left it about half a mile shy of the house, and if she needed it tower further, she would have to pay an additional fee of $100. They also said it would be two hours before a tow truck was available; all this while I'm talking to the police in the street who are demanding that I get the car moved. The next day, she cancelled her AAA service, and she hasn't had need of it a single time in the three years that have followed.

Fuck AAA.

Only two miles? That doesn't sound right. Should have hung-up and called again to get another customer service rep.

 

[PhaZe]

I bough the cheapest AAA plan last year and some how ended up getting 35% off my glasses at sears.