AAA roadside service - experiences?

Arthur McDonald · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:54 am **Posts:** 2052

My mother wants to find something more economical than her $90/year Exxon Travel Club membership. Though their service was good when she needed it in the past, she hasn't had to call them since buying a Corolla six years ago.

She got an offer in the mail for a $19.95 one year AAA membership.

I've had AAA for years, but have never needed to call them for roadside assistance. (knock on wood) Can anybody report particularly good or bad service experiences with AAA roadside assistance? Other services?

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Tue Jan 19, 2010 10:31 pm

We have had to use AAA in the RTP area several times. Always in nice weather. Worked well.

Maria Winslow · **Posted:** Tue Jan 19, 2010 10:42 pm

AAA is a great deal. It's been worth it alone for the times certain people locked their keys in the car, but we've had stuff towed too.

Dustin Fredrickson · **Posted:** Tue Jan 19, 2010 10:43 pm

I've never had to tow, but have run out of a gas a couple times in a previous life, and a couple key issues, including one 7am stop at Wendy's on my way to an AX last year :oops:

I'm cheap, and only shudder slightly when the yearly renewal arrives.

Charlie Guthrie · **Joined:** Thu Aug 28, 2003 8:14 pm **Posts:** 832

I have used AAA many times for a variety of reasons:
Ford dies on freeway I540 - tow truck arrives in 1/2 hour and tows to shop
Ford dies in GA and AAA tows to local shop
Brother's bus dies in SC and AAA tows all the way to Danbury, NC (luckily he had the Gold Coverage to cover the added mileage).
Daughter's Maxima looses alternator in NC mountains and is towed to Charlotte (with one mile left on the free mileage)
Several battery jump starts since 1965 and a couple of locked keys in the car events.

Only two negative experiences to mention since 1965: On a vacation trip long ago, we were having a bad trip and we had three trouble calls in a week and we were cautioned that we might be canceled if that continued. Secondly, earlier this year we lost the main water pump/alternator/power steering serpentine belt due to a failed idler pulley on the wife's BMW. The tow truck took almost an hour to rescue us on I440, but the real problem was because my wife's registration was out of date and AAA will not tow a non-registered car. (This keeps them from having to tow people's project cars around, I guess). The tow truck went ahead and towed us home, but at the usual $55 rate for 4 miles.

All in all I highly recommend AAA, and their maps and travel services are outstanding. One caveat for folks who tow trailers, AAA does not cover trailer towing or service. If it breaks leave it by the side of the road.
Charlie Guthrie

steve remchak · **Posted:** Tue Jan 19, 2010 10:58 pm

AMEX has a similar program. i think it is included with a Gold Card.

TomFreeman · **Posted:** Tue Jan 19, 2010 11:01 pm

I've been an AAA gold member for about 4 years. I've had it tow my busted cars and friends busted cars on numerous occasions. Service always comes in 30-45 min. The drivers are usually very polite and professional. Just one 30-40 mile tow justifies the price yearly for me, and I've had at least one long tow each year, and usually more than that.

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Wed Jan 20, 2010 12:23 am

Forgot about my first AAA experience. East of LR, Arkansas on a Sunday night after a Pro Solo. trailer axle broke. Long story but service and "can do" were excellent under the circumstances.

RobLupella · **Posted:** Wed Jan 20, 2010 12:25 am

I've had it for years and they have always been prompt and towed the car/truck wherever I needed it.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Wed Jan 20, 2010 9:11 am

TomFreeman wrote:

I've been an AAA gold member for about 4 years. I've had it tow my busted cars and friends busted cars on numerous occasions. Service always comes in 30-45 min. The drivers are usually very polite and professional. Just one 30-40 mile tow justifies the price yearly for me, and I've had at least one long tow each year, and usually more than that.

X2. I've used it more for my friends than for myself. It's definitely worth the piece of mind.

FWIW, the last time I renewed they had a discount for using automatic renewals too.

Frank Catena · **Joined:** Wed Aug 27, 2003 1:08 pm **Posts:** 418

Long ago I did some consulting work for the AAA corporate folks in Florida so I made sure I had a current AAA card. I've used it a few times over the years .. good service.
The "AAA" rate at many hotels is usually the best deal you can get when traveling too.
To get any appreciable free towing you do need the Gold level membership. Also note that AAA covers *you* not a specific vehicle.

Frank

Michael Westerfield · **Posted:** Wed Jan 20, 2010 9:35 am

I have the gold package. Definitely worth it. Had to use it last month when the transmission in my wife's TL gave out.

Someone told me that if you live in the Raleigh area, the gold will get you towed back from any of the local tracks at no extra fee (VIR,The rock, etc).

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Wed Jan 20, 2010 9:49 am

Frank Catena wrote:

Also note that AAA covers *you* not a specific vehicle.

That is the best part and a fact of which lots of AAA members are unaware.

Frank Catena · **Joined:** Wed Aug 27, 2003 1:08 pm **Posts:** 418

Michael is correct, Gold covers towing up to 100 miles. Obviously CMP and Roebling don't make the limit.

It's ironic the number of folks here with memberships ... when I was doing consulting work with them their biggest concern was with the demographics of their typical member. Which they joked was the "blue hair problem".

Frank

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Wed Jan 20, 2010 9:58 am

Frank Catena wrote:

Michael is correct, Gold covers towing up to 100 miles. Obviously CMP and Roebling don't make the limit.

It's ironic the number of folks here with memberships ... when I was doing consulting work with them their biggest concern was with the demographics of their typical member. Which they joked was the "blue hair problem".

Frank

Were you working for AAA or a Buick dealer?

THSCC Forums

AAA roadside service - experiences?

Who is online