AAA is it worth the money?

[cercis]

I just got my renewal notice. I moved to a new state and it is more expensive. It's $121 for the year. That's $10/month. Or, one tow.

Our cars are getting older. We have a 1994 ford ranger 4x4 that gets driven maybe once/month - 40 miles round trip usually. I drive a 1998 Saturn that does very well and hasn't really broken down, but it is starting to run rough and is probably approaching the end of its life, I drive 10miles/day all within 2-3 miles of our home. DH drives a 2002 Saturn that has broken down once and had to be towed (this was right after getting AAA) but that seemed to be a fluke thing and it otherwise runs really well. He drives 40 miles/day.

He also drives a work vehicle. His work would pay for the towing, etc of that vehicle but he may be left stranded somewhere while waiting for the red tape to be sorted out (he works for the state, this could take hours). And if he is out after hours and does it without permission, we could end up responsible for paying for it.

I lean towards paying for it, even though it is a lot of money. We don't have towing, etc on our insurance largely because we had AAA. I think adding it will cost more than $10/month.

[PRICEPLUS]

I have triple A because I need to know that if my wife's car breaks down and I am not around there is help. I think it is better to have and not need than to need and not have!

[mom-from-missouri]

Mine is only $2.50 a month--its not triple a, but the same plan. Its thru my cell company-cingular.

[cercis]

Who do you have your service through Mom? Does it cover everyone in your family? I could save $42 if I dropped DH and another $30 if I just had the basic coverage. I need to check what the basic covers. It might be worth it to cut back. We've used AAA three times since we got it, two tows and a flat change (which reminds me, I need to replace my lug wrench, it doesn't fit my lug nuts).

Well, I talked to DH and he insists we keep it. All of it. I think it's pretty silly to keep the plus service, but he insists.

[mom-from-missouri]

I have Cingular. It covers who ever has the phone. Since my kids at home are still little, and don't drive, I have the phone--but one time, for a field trip I let my then 7 year old take it, asone of the moms driving for the trip did not have a cell phone. They had a flat, and my daughter called it in--they came and fixed it! They give you a 3 digit code you dial from the cell and it goes directly to the auto club.

[CRFSaver]

As for towing, you can get tow insurance through your insurance company. What is the cost compared to AAA?

[Fern]

AAA is the most expensive becus they're the best known, but there are other companies who provide comparable service at lower prices.

[mom-from-missouri]

Originally Posted by CRFSaver

As for towing, you can get tow insurance through your insurance company. What is the cost compared to AAA?

I am not sure of the cost, but when I checked with my auto insurance once about getting it, I was told I paid for it upfront, then would be reimbursed. With my autoclub, I don't have to put out the cash up front. I just sign for it.

[cercis]

I'm pretty sure the tow insurance through my car insurance only covered the fully covered car (so the 2 liability only cars weren't covered) and was something like $15/month.

I could lower the AAA price by getting rid of the extra coverage, but it does apparently cover a rental car for a short period of time. I think if you need it, it is money well spent, but it's like any other insurance, it feels like money wasted when you don't need it.

[byusteeler]

If you travel a little AAA often gets you the best rates on hotels and motels. So there are other advantages and discounts that if you take advantage of them can more than save you the cost of the service thus making the peace of mind virtually free.

[PRICEPLUS]

I also like the free maps when I take a trip.

[cercis]

I think we've used the AAA discount twice. Other times we got a better deal through orbitz or their website. DH checks and double checks, checking out every possible detail. Too bad the AAA discount isn't a set amount off that you could use on top of a deal.

[dealsaver]

It's great when you've got older cars that tend to break down a lot. I upgraded our membership so I could have our cars towed further when we had two older cars.

[marglo]

We pay $145 a year for AAA+RV and no, I don't think it is worth (at least not so far and we have had it off and on for years), but I still like having it. We love the tripiks and like the tour books. We occasionally get a discount for being a member. But the main reason is we have tried of other towing companies that were much cheaper and we didn't like them nearly as well. Their trip planning was not nearly as good for one thing.

[BAGAGT1]

I would take a look at the Allstate Motor Club, seems to have all the benefits you are looking for, and at least in my state, it is $84 a year.

[djaco]

I have insurance through Geico, and have their service for $12 a year. It includes everything AAA has, except the trip planning. I locked my keys in the car once while on vacation and they had a locksmith there within 30 minutes. Also had a breakdown and they had a tow truck there pretty quickly too. I think AAA is too expensive. I have a friend who had it and cancelled because they took 3 hours to show up for a flat tire (this was in town, too - not the middle of nowhere).

[arianeira]

Luckily AAA here is still very reasonable (at least as far as I'm concerned). I think it is worth it for the peace of mind. I know that there are other companies out there with similar services, but AAA won me over before I was even a customer.

When I bought my car I had the bumper-to-bumper warranty that included roadside assistance. One night my battery died, and I had to call someone out to take care of it. Long story short, the battery was leaking so I had to have it towed to the dealership. I went to get my car the next day and noticed that the truck driver had ransacked it and taken a couple of bucks that I'd forgotten were in there.

I found out that the roadside assistance actually worked through AAA, so I called them to complain (I called everyone and their grandmother to complain). The woman was very nice and noted my complaint even though I wasn't actually a AAA (paying) customer. That sold me right there.

[TBH]

We have AAA plus, and I always question whether it's worth it. I do use the discount to get into zoos and so on a couple times a year, but I think it costs us $120/year.

However, AAA has saved my butt many, many, many times (broke down 75 miles from the nearest town at dusk one time and they showed up pretty quickly).

Glad to know Geico has a plan--we have Geico too. I'll look into it. Anybody have something else to report on Geico's plan?

[mom-from-missouri]

Just remember that these places are not AAA or any other company. They are simply garages or stations that have a contract to service the roadside assistance companies customers. I have friends who own a tow company and service station. If you read the side of their truck carefully, they service AAA, Cingular roadside, Wards roadside, Good Sam's and numerous others. But, they are not employees of AAA or anyone else--they are simply contracted with them. So, if you get mad at AAA and cancel and go with Cingular, that doesn't mean the same tow truck won't show up again to help you.

[TBH]

Good point, Mom.

Does anybody know of a good review site where I could get info on auto clubs? I've had AAA since I learned to drive and always thought it was worth the money.

But ever since I moved to Philly 4 years ago, I've been frustrated. AAA in this town sucks. It often takes 3+ hours (even when you tell the operator, quite truthfully, that you're stranded at night with a sick infant in 20 degree weather). Once my car wouldn't start in my own driveway. I called in the morning, and waited all day, calling every couple hours to make sure I was still in the queue. Finally at the end of the day they told me to call back tomorrow, they were too busy.

So I'd love to find out not only what auto club might be cheaper, but what clubs have strong networks in my area.

Suggestions?