Home and Auto Is AAA Worth it?

**alnorth** · 01-29-2010, 10:30 PM

So, I get home from work and start going through my mail ("Look how bad those politicians in the other party are! Give us money to fight them!", "Fill out this survey! Get Coupons!") when I noticed a letter from AAA extolling all the virtues of the service and how blessed I am to be chosen to join this wonderful club.

This was one of those things I kept in the back of my mind as something I'd look into maybe, but due to laziness never really got around to researching it. So now I guess AAA is going after the lazy customer by making it effort-free for me to join. Between the various discounts and what is basically tow/oh crap I'm out of gas/dead battery insurance, do you think it is worth it?

**CosmicPal** · 01-29-2010, 10:32 PM

It's better than AA, but not as good as the BBB

**DaFace** · 01-29-2010, 10:36 PM

If you travel a lot, it's worth it (provided that you aren't getting military/AARP discounts already). Most hotels have around 10-20% discounts for members. I personally get the roadside insurance from my insurance company, so that's not really much of a benefit. Not sure what else there is.

My parents love it and have been members for years, but I let it drop after trying it for a year since I don't travel that much.

**Rain Man** · 01-29-2010, 10:40 PM

I had it for ages, and then dropped it because it didn't seem that I was getting any value out of it. Since then, I've had a few hotels that said they'd give me a AAA discount, but I didn't have it. Like DaFace said, if you spend a lot of time in hotels it probably pays for itself. I guess it pays off if your car's not reliable too, but back in college when I had car trouble three months in a row, I got a nastygram from them saying they were going to drop me if I didn't get my car running better.

True story: I was a AAA member for something like 20 years, and then I dropped it. Then the next year I got a research opportunity with AAA, and the last question in the interview was "So tell us. Are you a AAA member?" I fessed up and told them, and figured I was screwed, but fortunately they laughed and hired me.

Otter · 01-29-2010, 11:02 PM

It is when u need it.

LaChapelle · 01-29-2010, 11:09 PM

Anything more than a mouthful is a waste
is BS

2bikemike · 01-30-2010, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Otter

It is when u need it.

Exactly, I have it mainly for my wife and daughter. In fact during our last big rain storm my wife got a flat. Its pouring rain and she is sitting on the side of the freeway. AAA got there real quick and she doesn't even get out of the car. The tire was change fast and she was back on the road in less that 20 minutes.

**gblowfish** · 01-30-2010, 07:49 AM

I've had it for a long time. Hotel discount is OK, but if you ever break down and need a tow, or have a flat, or lock your keys in the car, it's a good thing to have. I think it costs about $80 a year for my wife and me. It's like extra insurance.

MIAdragon · 01-30-2010, 07:58 AM

Yes break down once and it pays for itself.

RJ · 01-30-2010, 08:49 AM

I've had it for years. It's relatively inexpensive and more than pays for itself when you have occasion to use it. I especially like knowing that my wife's car is covered since she works somewhat far from home.

stlchiefs · 01-30-2010, 09:02 AM

If you've ever had a dead battery away from the house, it's worth it. It's a nice little extra bit of coverage, especially for the wife as others have mentioned. I don't always have time to be the knight in shining armor, sometimes it's easier and faster to just hire one.

**HemiEd** · 01-30-2010, 09:10 AM

We have had them for many years, for a variety of reasons. We have our home owners and auto insurance through them, excellent prices and service.

When our girls were teenagers and constantly getting in jams, and needing a tow, it was pretty nice and more than paid for itself. In fact, one year they told us we could not get another tow, as we had reached the limit.

But more recently, a few years ago we had a need for one, and it did not go well. They had their dispatcher in India! Talk about communication issues!
It might still be ok for a smaller market, but it wasn't a good experience here in the Chicago area.

Their insurance is still great though.

chief husker · 01-30-2010, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJ

I've had it for years. It's relatively inexpensive and more than pays for itself when you have occasion to use it. I especially like knowing that my wife's car is covered since she works somewhat far from home.

Have been a member for 20 plus years, worth every penny. From discounts that we use frequently to that oh shit moment, when they bail your ass out of a jam.

keg in kc · 01-30-2010, 10:04 AM

I'm a member and have had auto insurance from them for years. I rarely need them for anything, but it's good to know the option's there.

Mojo Jojo · 01-30-2010, 10:21 AM

If you travel and/or drive a lot it is worth it. One breakdown or tow and it will more than paid for itself.

01-29-2010, 10:30 PM
alnorth . Join Date: Dec 2002 Casino cash: $57156239	Is AAA Worth it? So, I get home from work and start going through my mail ("Look how bad those politicians in the other party are! Give us money to fight them!", "Fill out this survey! Get Coupons!") when I noticed a letter from AAA extolling all the virtues of the service and how blessed I am to be chosen to join this wonderful club. This was one of those things I kept in the back of my mind as something I'd look into maybe, but due to laziness never really got around to researching it. So now I guess AAA is going after the lazy customer by making it effort-free for me to join. Between the various discounts and what is basically tow/oh crap I'm out of gas/dead battery insurance, do you think it is worth it?
Posts: 36,130

01-29-2010, 10:32 PM	#2
CosmicPal Learn it. Know it. Live it. Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: St. Petersburg, FL Casino cash: $10004900	It's better than AA, but not as good as the BBB __________________ - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - Four blessings upon my fellow planeteers: Older whiskey, younger women, faster horses, and more money.
Posts: 10,840

01-29-2010, 10:36 PM	#3
DaFace Kind of a mod Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Donkey Land Casino cash: $-1873101	If you travel a lot, it's worth it (provided that you aren't getting military/AARP discounts already). Most hotels have around 10-20% discounts for members. I personally get the roadside insurance from my insurance company, so that's not really much of a benefit. Not sure what else there is. My parents love it and have been members for years, but I let it drop after trying it for a year since I don't travel that much.
Posts: 53,153

01-29-2010, 10:40 PM	#4
Rain Man Seize life. Be an ermine. Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $-672449 VARSITY	I had it for ages, and then dropped it because it didn't seem that I was getting any value out of it. Since then, I've had a few hotels that said they'd give me a AAA discount, but I didn't have it. Like DaFace said, if you spend a lot of time in hotels it probably pays for itself. I guess it pays off if your car's not reliable too, but back in college when I had car trouble three months in a row, I got a nastygram from them saying they were going to drop me if I didn't get my car running better. True story: I was a AAA member for something like 20 years, and then I dropped it. Then the next year I got a research opportunity with AAA, and the last question in the interview was "So tell us. Are you a AAA member?" I fessed up and told them, and figured I was screwed, but fortunately they laughed and hired me. __________________ Active fan of the greatest team in NFL history.
Posts: 145,507

01-29-2010, 11:09 PM	#6
LaChapelle Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Casino cash: $10004900	Anything more than a mouthful is a waste is BS
Posts: 8,588

01-30-2010, 07:49 AM	#8
gblowfish Be Kind To Your Pets Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Glorious Independence, MO Casino cash: $16886178 VARSITY	I've had it for a long time. Hotel discount is OK, but if you ever break down and need a tow, or have a flat, or lock your keys in the car, it's a good thing to have. I think it costs about $80 a year for my wife and me. It's like extra insurance.
Posts: 41,016

01-30-2010, 07:58 AM	#9
MIAdragon Someone pass the antifreeze Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Miami (North Cuba) Casino cash: $-2202181	Yes break down once and it pays for itself.
Posts: 15,944

01-30-2010, 08:49 AM	#10
RJ Supporter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: In a shotgun shack Casino cash: $9895202	I've had it for years. It's relatively inexpensive and more than pays for itself when you have occasion to use it. I especially like knowing that my wife's car is covered since she works somewhat far from home.
Posts: 14,940

01-30-2010, 09:02 AM	#11
stlchiefs Veteran Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: St. Loser, MO Casino cash: $10005674	If you've ever had a dead battery away from the house, it's worth it. It's a nice little extra bit of coverage, especially for the wife as others have mentioned. I don't always have time to be the knight in shining armor, sometimes it's easier and faster to just hire one.
Posts: 4,160

01-30-2010, 09:10 AM	#12
HemiEd Supporter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ozarks Casino cash: $-499436	We have had them for many years, for a variety of reasons. We have our home owners and auto insurance through them, excellent prices and service. When our girls were teenagers and constantly getting in jams, and needing a tow, it was pretty nice and more than paid for itself. In fact, one year they told us we could not get another tow, as we had reached the limit. But more recently, a few years ago we had a need for one, and it did not go well. They had their dispatcher in India! Talk about communication issues! It might still be ok for a smaller market, but it wasn't a good experience here in the Chicago area. Their insurance is still great though.
Posts: 34,888

01-30-2010, 10:04 AM	#14
keg in kc oxymoron Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: OP/KC/Whatever Casino cash: $9556299	I'm a member and have had auto insurance from them for years. I rarely need them for anything, but it's good to know the option's there.
Posts: 58,682

01-30-2010, 10:21 AM	#15
Mojo Jojo Veteran Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Johnson County Casino cash: $10013802	If you travel and/or drive a lot it is worth it. One breakdown or tow and it will more than paid for itself.
Posts: 3,341