This is a dumb question but what is the alternative? Do you just google “car help near interstate” and find a local business?

I still use it. It's better and cheaper than what my insurance company offers.

It works in Canada, too!

We just got triptik’s and guidebooks for our recent move. We have also used the jumpstart and flat tire services.

I have it. I’m very happy with it and the services have always been prompt. I like knowing that I can use the services even when I’m in someone else’s car. I plan to continue to stick with AAA.

Anonymous wrote:Nope. I dropped them about 15 years ago and have used Audi roadside assistance ever since (free with car for first 4 years). AAA has all these B.S. rules that led me to drop them. My car wouldn't start in a parking lot in the dead middle of winter in the northeast and I was in the parking lot freezing. I asked them to tow it to a shop so I could get a battery replacement (literally a FIVE MINUTE DRIVE away) and they refused to do so because "if we are able to start your car, we do not tow it". Well, they were able to jumpstart it, THANKS, and the battery died again WHILE I WAS DRIVING. All car functions ceased and it was a miracle I was able to maneuver the car off the road going 40mph. At that point I was blocking one of two lanes of traffic into town and backed all the way up to the interstate looking like a damn idiot blocking 100s of cars. The police came out and had to move my car off the road. And THEN, THEEEEEEENNNN AAA came back out and towed it the remaining ONE MINUTE to the shop. F*ck you AAA!!

DP. To anyone else who has an experience like this: It doesn't help right there in the moment, but report this kind of experience to AAA right away. They do have their own full-time AAA branded tow and battery trucks, but also use local tow companies that work under contract to AAA but who don't always live up to what AAA is supposed to provide (or who might have attitude, or be slower than they should, etc.).

Complain to AAA if stuff like this happens to you. It's the only way they have to know if a tow operator is being a jerk or not exercising good judgement on what to do and when to do it. Yes, they have rules about things like not towing if they can get your battery started, but if they know about an outcome like the one above, you might be able to get them to make some restitution.

I'm not trying to convince PP above to go back to them--way too much bad blood after that incident, which sounds awful. I'm just noting that organizations cannot know if there was a bad customer experience unless you complain and ask, "Why did your policy work this way, and what can you do if you want to keep me as a customer?"

Another fan of AAA here. I have had friends who use other services (like those that "come with" their cars) and they have found at times that those other services are very slow or don't have affiliated tow operators etc. in many areas, which only makes waits much longer.

AAA had to help me out four times in one year when one of our cars was having ongoing issues. They always came quickly. They've come to my house to get me into a car when DH locked the keys inside. They've replaced batteries (twice) in cars that had croaked in parking lots.

And I love that when you call them, the FIRST thing they always ask is: "Are you in a safe location?" This matters to me. If I were someplace I felt unsafe, I absolutely would tell them so and know they would send help or contact cops or whatever. The fact that they have this question as the standard start of their script for talking to you is very smart of them.

We also get maps and guidebooks from them a LOT. If you paid for those items they'd really get expensive. Their maps are excellent (and yes, some of us do still need real maps even with GPSes).

AAA has one of the very few real, in-person travel agencies where you can walk in, sit down and plan an entire trip with an actual human being who knows all the shortcuts for finding the best deals on airfare, train tickets, hotels, rental cars, etc. We had AAA plan an entire vacation to the Southwest and it was great (and if there are any problems, say, with a car rental place or hotel, you can have them call AAA directly and AAA will be your advocate with them -- these places have an incentive to keep AAA pretty happy since AAA can send more business their way).

We also have gotten foreign currency at AAA for international trips. Really handy as not all bank branches have actual currency, in case you want to have currency in hand when you arrive and not have to depend on very expensive currency exchange booths at airports or in city centers.

Yeah, big fan of AAA. We use the heck out of their services and products like the maps and travel stuff so we get our money's worth.

Looks like AAA is $75/year for their cheapest plan, and it ties to the driver not the car. I may get that, as it's cheaper than paying per-car through our insurance (we have 3 cars).

Anonymous wrote:We do. AAA is fast - within 30 minutes.

+1

I got a flat tire driving the mini van. i couldn't change it myself (I couldn't even get the spare out; stuiped minivan design). AAA showed up in like 20 min. Took the guy maybe 15 min . Back on my way and made it in time for preK pickup.

Another time, my car wouldn't start.

Two of my worst fears.

Anonymous wrote:Not exactly on point, but I have noticed quite a few people needed jump starts since the pandemic started. Maybe because they are driving their cars less?

Yes, this is exactly why, in fact. I now get grocery pickup once per week, but before that had to remind myself to drive at least 20 minutes once a week.

We do - I also used their vacation service (for a vacation we had to cancel due to COVID). I think it's worth it.

Not exactly on point, but I have noticed quite a few people needed jump starts since the pandemic started. Maybe because they are driving their cars less?

We still use it. If you have an older car, it’s worth it.

We still have it. I was out hiking with a friend just before COVID hit, and her battery died when it was time for her to drive us home. AAA came and jumped her car, even though she doesn't have it - I had my card and that did the trick.

Nope. I dropped them about 15 years ago and have used Audi roadside assistance ever since (free with car for first 4 years). AAA has all these B.S. rules that led me to drop them. My car wouldn't start in a parking lot in the dead middle of winter in the northeast and I was in the parking lot freezing. I asked them to tow it to a shop so I could get a battery replacement (literally a FIVE MINUTE DRIVE away) and they refused to do so because "if we are able to start your car, we do not tow it". Well, they were able to jumpstart it, THANKS, and the battery died again WHILE I WAS DRIVING. All car functions ceased and it was a miracle I was able to maneuver the car off the road going 40mph. At that point I was blocking one of two lanes of traffic into town and backed all the way up to the interstate looking like a damn idiot blocking 100s of cars. The police came out and had to move my car off the road. And THEN, THEEEEEEENNNN AAA came back out and towed it the remaining ONE MINUTE to the shop. F*ck you AAA!!