Is AAA worth it?

[skyking]

Originally posted by: 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.

I was basing that on being together 24 years

 

[Platypus]

Get the cheapest/shittiest plan and/or other service possible that gives you a bond card.

It comes in handy with fascist bullshit states like Illinois that take your license regardless of your offense in a traffic stop; giving them instead your AAA, et. al bond card.

 

[lxskllr]

I won't have AAA. If it were a good deal for the consumer, it wouldn't be offered. Maintain your car, and it most likely won't need towing. Put a spare key in your wallet if you like locking your keys in the car.

 

[GeekDrew]

I have AAA Plus. I have my oil changed and etc at a AAA Car Care facility, and w/ my AAA discount, it is less expensive than elsewhere. They also discount parts and labor for repairs. Combining that w/ the other discounts I've gotten by being a AAA member, and the times that I've used them to unlock friends cars, tow someone, etc, I think that it's invaluable.

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
I won't have AAA. If it were a good deal for the consumer, it wouldn't be offered. Maintain your car, and it most likely won't need towing. Put a spare key in your wallet if you like locking your keys in the car.

Not necessarily. They offer it because it is beneficial to AAA Corp (or whatever their name is). If you use it for discounts and etc., you save money and (I know that at least in some cases) AAA doesn't lose anything at all.

 

[Jeff7]

Yup - except my grandmother has been paying for AAA for myself, my sister, and my parents as some sort of ongoing gift.


I haven't had much cause to use it, but my sister* has, and it does save some headaches and expense, at least at the time. I don't know how much it costs per year though.





* - no pics, dammit.

 

[acheron]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
I won't have AAA. If it were a good deal for the consumer, it wouldn't be offered.

...

Economics is not a zero-sum game, things can be a good deal for both parties in a transaction. It's sort of how capitalism works.

 

[coloumb]

Classic - awesome discounts at Napa and other places.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
I won't have AAA. If it were a good deal for the consumer, it wouldn't be offered. Maintain your car, and it most likely won't need towing. Put a spare key in your wallet if you like locking your keys in the car.

The savings on my insurance and discounts more than pays for itself. And not everyone maintains their car religiously and things can still happen.

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman

Originally posted by: lxskllr
I won't have AAA. If it were a good deal for the consumer, it wouldn't be offered. Maintain your car, and it most likely won't need towing. Put a spare key in your wallet if you like locking your keys in the car.

The savings on my insurance and discounts more than pays for itself. And not everyone maintains their car religiously and things can still happen.

I'd be in the hole if I had AAA since I started driving.

 

[Drekce]

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.

They have a 3 day "no usage" period when you sign up now...at least in the southeast region.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: lxskllr

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman

Originally posted by: lxskllr
I won't have AAA. If it were a good deal for the consumer, it wouldn't be offered. Maintain your car, and it most likely won't need towing. Put a spare key in your wallet if you like locking your keys in the car.

The savings on my insurance and discounts more than pays for itself. And not everyone maintains their car religiously and things can still happen.

I'd be in the hole if I had AAA since I started driving.

Why have any kind of insurance then?

I'm guessing your insurance company doesn't give you discount for being a AAA member, you don't go to the movies, restaurants, buy tires, etc...

 

[Reckoner]

AAA plus = win. 100 miles free towing is a nice CYA policy to have

 

[feralkid]

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.

Sounds like you only have the classic, where they tow you to the nearest authorized repair facility, not to your home.

 

[shopbruin]

I love it here in CA. I can handle DMV issues in their office instead of going to the DMV.

I've paid my car registration, received the tags the same day, updated information, and recently when we didn't receive the plates for our new car, went to AAA and they gave us new plates on the spot through DMV services.

Used it for notary services, passport photo services, and they're actually friendly in the offices. Also used the various discounts!

I don't know what I'd do without it. We have Plus.

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman

Why have any kind of insurance then?

I'm guessing your insurance company doesn't give you discount for being a AAA member, you don't go to the movies, restaurants, buy tires, etc...

Insurance in MD is mandated by law. When I had full coverage my deductible was $1,000, and I have minimum liability now since my Jeep's 12 years old.

I don't go to movies, and I'm not sure about the other stuff. I only eat out at a few select restaurants. As far as tires go... I can find pretty good deals on things without a membership. I don't feel like jumping through hoops for a minor discount.

 

[nanette1985]

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. Although you have to wait quite a while because they're also taking care of all the other members with car stalls, spinouts, dead batteries, etc. But still worth it.

 

[alevasseur14]

Every region has different rules regarding new sign ups. In MN, you're immediately eligable for basic benefits from the moment you sign up.

I work for a towing company that does all the AAA calls for downtown Minneapolis MN. A lot of people don't realize how quickly your 70 dollar basic membeship can pay for itself. I'll use our cash towing rates as a comparison:

You drive a Civic and need it towed. 80 bucks for the hookup. We give you three miles free, 5 bucks a mile after that. Lets say you go 10 miles. 80 for the hook, 35 for mileage, 8.51 State and Local taxes. 123.51 right there. Broke down on the freeway? Add 10 bucks. AWD vehicle? Add 20. Even something as simple as a lock out service is going to run you 60 bucks plus tax. AAA more than pays for itself in one call.

We also tow for the insurance companies that offer roadside assistance. I can tell you that those calls are WAY down on the priority list. They don't coordinate well with their members at all (member not with vehicle, no keys, wrong location, etc...) and pay terribly. Most AAA providers get incentives for making it on site within a certain time and are paid way better. Just a FYI.

 

[PepePeru]

my parents started paying for it when i was traveling back & forth to college, 12 years later, they still are.

and i've never once had to use the emergency service. though i did save 10% buying my HDTV at Circuit City.

 

[SuperSix]

If you travel - it's great too - 10% and more off on many places - great trip planning, plus the piece of mund you wan't be stranded.

 

[Train]

I crashed a AAA party once by accident. Walked into this hotel bar new years eve, totally hammered. I was already double fisting drinks, and for some reason wanted to order another one, started pounding on the bar, asking the bartender for a shot of jager. He was giving me funny looks.. he wasnt busy at all so I was kinda confused. Looked around the bar and the place was full of people staring at me with paranoid eyes, everyone of them chain smoking like crazy. Then a woman grabs my arm and says "this aint that kind of party" and walked me out. Took me a minute to figure out what was up, but when I met up with my friends at the OTHER hotel bar, they explained it to me, and we had a good laugh.

 

[Fayd]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
I won't have AAA. If it were a good deal for the consumer, it wouldn't be offered. Maintain your car, and it most likely won't need towing. Put a spare key in your wallet if you like locking your keys in the car.

i guess you dont believe in insurance either.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: Train
I crashed a AAA party once by accident. Walked into this hotel bar new years eve, totally hammered. I was already double fisting drinks, and for some reason wanted to order another one, started pounding on the bar, asking the bartender for a shot of jager. He was giving me funny looks.. he wasnt busy at all so I was kinda confused. Looked around the bar and the place was full of people staring at me with paranoid eyes, everyone of them chain smoking like crazy. Then a woman grabs my arm and says "this aint that kind of party" and walked me out. Took me a minute to figure out what was up, but when I met up with my friends at the OTHER hotel bar, they explained it to me, and we had a good laugh.

AAA is not AA

 

[Train]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman

Originally posted by: Train
I crashed a AAA party once by accident. Walked into this hotel bar new years eve, totally hammered. I was already double fisting drinks, and for some reason wanted to order another one, started pounding on the bar, asking the bartender for a shot of jager. He was giving me funny looks.. he wasnt busy at all so I was kinda confused. Looked around the bar and the place was full of people staring at me with paranoid eyes, everyone of them chain smoking like crazy. Then a woman grabs my arm and says "this aint that kind of party" and walked me out. Took me a minute to figure out what was up, but when I met up with my friends at the OTHER hotel bar, they explained it to me, and we had a good laugh.

AAA is not AA

No, it was in Canada.

 

[nageov3t]

I find it's worth it for the peace of mind, not to mention random discounts at places.