How do You use AAA?

[jazz4cash]

Ditto on the bad experience. Never again!
Question: Are the hotel/car discounts any better than AARP?

Not sure of the fine print but I think they are the same except AAA might have more.

I had one terrible experience with roadside vs 3 or 4 good ones. AAA seemed very concerned with my complaint but too late to actually resolve the issue

 

[sdawson]

AAA has been great for us. Lot's of peace of mind, especially for our kids who have taken long cross country trips. We just have it for possible towing, dead battery, key lockout, etc. Not for insurance. We have had AAA for 11 years. Many of those years, we have not used them at all. Others we have used them once or twice. As we have AAA, we can opt out of the towiing option on our State Farm insurance, which saves us a bit on each of our three cars.

Last year, our 19 year old moved from Oregon to Colorado, in their 25 year old car. We added him as a member, and we view it as low cost insurance. If he breaks down, he will at least be towed somewhere (we have the 100 mile tow option. He did not break down, but he has used it twice now (dead battery once, key lockout ounce).

The great thing about AAA is that all you have to be is with the car and have your AAA card. It does not need to be your car. So if you are on a trip with a friend for instance, and their car breaks down, they will tow it on your AAA membership.

This spring, my daughter's car was dead in her apartment parking lot. She lives near us. I went over, and determined it was not the battery, something else was quite wrong. We needed it towed for repairs. We phoned AAA and they had a tow truck there within 30 minutes. The feature that the AAA membership is tied to *you* not to any particular car is great.

-Shawn

 

[FD1000]

I used to be a AAA member years ago, but honestly, they don’t offer anything I can’t get cheaper elsewhere.
The only service I’ve used in the last several years from them is for an international driver’s license. I’ve rented cars abroad without one, but you might need it if a police officer stops you.
When I do get one, I take my own photo with my phone, print it at Walmart for pennies, and do it at AAA.
If you are an AAA member, they still charge you for the photos and international driver’s license.
As for the rest:

• Maps? Totally obsolete. Google Maps covers driving, walking, and public transportation anywhere in the world.
• Hotels? I use Booking.com and Trivago. I’ve been getting better rates and discounts (up to 20-30% from Booking.com) for years—AAA doesn’t come close.
• Trip planning? Their suggestions were never flexible enough for my needs, and response times were slow.
• Towing? My insurance charges just $4 per year for towing, and honestly, I haven’t needed it in over 30 years.We keep our vehicles in top shape and proactively replace parts like batteries to avoid surprises. We’ve mainly driven Hondas and Toyotas and, lately, Kias/Hyundais, and the issues we’ve had were usually minor—mostly electronic sensors, which can still run hundreds of dollars each.
  That’s why I also buy extended warranties—they’ve always included towing and saved us money and hassle.
  One example:
  The transmission failed once, and the repair would’ve cost $4,000. Instead, it was fully covered, and I was given a loaner for two months.
  That one incident alone paid for all 30 years of extended coverage.
  For me, it’s about peace of mind, and when you negotiate well, the cost is worth it.

Big Tech has taken over this space—AAA just hasn’t kept up.
In fact, they’ve closed several offices in my city, which says a lot.

 

[CO-guy]

I used to be a AAA member years ago, but honestly, they don’t offer anything I can’t get cheaper elsewhere.
The only service I’ve used in the last several years from them is for an international driver’s license. I’ve rented cars abroad without one, but you might need it if a police officer stops you.
When I do get one, I take my own photo with my phone, print it at Walmart for pennies, and do it at AAA.
If you are an AAA member, they still charge you for the photos and international driver’s license.
As for the rest:

• Maps? Totally obsolete. Google Maps covers driving, walking, and public transportation anywhere in the world.
• Hotels? I use Booking.com and Trivago. I’ve been getting better rates and discounts (up to 20-30% from Booking.com) for years—AAA doesn’t come close.
• Trip planning? Their suggestions were never flexible enough for my needs, and response times were slow.
• Towing? My insurance charges just $4 per year for towing, and honestly, I haven’t needed it in over 30 years.We keep our vehicles in top shape and proactively replace parts like batteries to avoid surprises. We’ve mainly driven Hondas and Toyotas and, lately, Kias/Hyundais, and the issues we’ve had were usually minor—mostly electronic sensors, which can still run hundreds of dollars each.
  That’s why I also buy extended warranties—they’ve always included towing and saved us money and hassle.
  One example:
  The transmission failed once, and the repair would’ve cost $4,000. Instead, it was fully covered, and I was given a loaner for two months.
  That one incident alone paid for all 30 years of extended coverage.
  For me, it’s about peace of mind, and when you negotiate well, the cost is worth it.

Big Tech has taken over this space—AAA just hasn’t kept up.
In fact, they’ve closed several offices in my city, which says a lot.

What is the tow distance provided by insurance for $4/year or included with extended warranties?

In our experience, needing a tow has not been related to vehicle maintenance. Rather, it's been after an accident where the vehicle is inoperable. Having the ability to get the vehicle towed up to 200 miles has been invaluable for us in those situations. In addition, a rental vehicle was covered by our insurance company for several weeks for vehicle repairs/replacement of our own vehicle.

Also, from what I've observed in our area, the most common AAA calls are to get vehicles extricated from the shoulder of the road after it has snowed. Do these insurance or warranty provided coverages include winching?

 

[FD1000]

The $4 towing is through our insurance—it likely covers up to 10 miles. I looked at my documents, and they don't specify miles. It says reasonable costs. You need to use their app; if not, the limit is $200.

• Lock yourself out of your car
• Need a jump-start
• Have a flat tire
• Need a tow
• Run out of gas or oil
• Get in an accident

If the battery dies, they’ll send someone to jump-start the car—not tow it 200 miles.
Our extended warranty covers:

• Bumper-to-bumper repairs
• Towing (within a 100-mile radius)
• Rental vehicle
• If we break down farther out, they’ll reimburse up to $200/day for towing, hotel, and meals, for up to 5 days.

We also chose to live in a state with minimal snow and low natural disaster risk. On the rare occasions it snows (every few years), we just stay home for a couple of days.
When vacationing, we avoid snowy locations—and have done so successfully for over 40 years.
So, looking at the above, I'm covered by 2 policies that should take care of reasonable normal expenses.
I don’t pay for insurance to cover low-probability scenarios.
That said, if you live in a snowy area, AAA can be worth it.

In the old days, I used many maps and books because we traveled to all US states except Alaska. I used to get city and county maps too. They were not current the minute you got them. I used to order newer maps constantly.
Google Maps is FREE and so much better and easier. It shows on your vehicle screen. We used it all the time in Europe for walking and for the public transportation, which is better than anyone who lives in that city.
I also have on my phone Waze and Here. The app HERE allows you to download the actual state/country map. If you lose your internet connection, HERE will work offline.
Why would anyone use paper maps anymore? That's like going to the bank to deposit a check instead of doing it on your phone.

 

[ModestNestEgg]

I've used them more than once for the odd flat tire on Christmas eve and similar situation. Years ago, for a less than reliable vehicle that is thankfully no longer my problem, the membership more than paid for the savings I had in calling for various tows.

And like the OP, I like the complimentary paper road maps too. I've walked into one of their branch offices and asked for random ones just for fun!

 

[Diogenes]

My daily driver vehicle is 34 years old, and my "hobby" car is 53. The daily driver breaks down often. My housing situation is unstable, and I've lost or given away most of my former tools. Overheating, critical engine failure, bad starter/alternator/water-pump... you name it. I get towed A LOT... every year I max-out my AAA towing allowance, and this is with the maximum-uber-executive membership package. AAA saves me probably $2000 a year in what would have been towing charges... flatbed (RWD car), often nearly 100 miles per tow.

Then there's AAA car insurance (an excellent deal, for my age and driving profile) and their acting as a surrogate for the California DMV, for registration and plates. The aforementioned 53 year old car was from out of state... AAA saved my bacon, with inspecting it an licensing it.

Folks driving newer cars, which rarely break down, would have less benefit from AAA. For me, it's quite literally my partner on the road!

 

[Koolau]

I had relatively good service from AAA but have duplicate coverage now with my car insurance for towing/road service, etc. so dropped AAA.

 

[marko]

Our lease cars are never more than 3 years old and have roadside assistance BUT the reason we keep AAA is that many of their local offices act as a sort of annex to the RMV/DMV.

You can update, renew or change your driver's license, register a car, change plates and do all sorts of things without dealing with the dreaded RMV.

We just upgraded our licenses to Real ID and there we only 3 people ahead of us. In and out in less than a half hour for both of us...maybe 25 minutes. None of the RMV attitude either, just really nice, helpful people.

We might only use their office once every few years but for $60 a year it's worth every penny!

 

[CO-guy]

Well, it seems like the car you drive, how far you drive, and where you live are all factors in whether AAA is worth it to some people.

For example, R/T to a Costco for us is over 250 miles, so nearly any trip out of town is going to be over 100 miles away.

We carry traction devices and chains for half the year, so we've been fortunate not need extracting in the winter, but I know folks that make several calls per season to AAA.

 

[foxcreek9]

Keep in mind if you have "road side assistance" through your car insurance many (State Farm is one) counts these as a claim. Knew someone with 2 teenagers who had three such claims in a 12 month period and they received a letter that the next one would result in the cancellation of their policy.

 

[FIYes]

Last month, the battery on my car gave out. One call to AAA and they sent a tow truck driver who replaced the battery with a new one. The convenience was worth something to me. One phone call, no searching for someone who might come out. They showed up in a reasonable time. A year ago DH had a flat tire and a flat spare. AAA took care of it and we were able to drive the car to Costco the next day and buy new tires. Prior to that it had been several years since we needed to use AAA, but it is so convenient when needed. I did like trio tiks back in the day.

 

[FD1000]

Our lease cars are never more than 3 years old and have roadside assistance BUT the reason we keep AAA is that many of their local offices act as a sort of annex to the RMV/DMV.

You can update, renew or change your driver's license, register a car, change plates and do all sorts of things without dealing with the dreaded RMV.

We just upgraded our licenses to Real ID and there we only 3 people ahead of us. In and out in less than a half hour for both of us...maybe 25 minutes. None of the RMV attitude either, just really nice, helpful people.

We might only use their office once every few years but for $60 a year it's worth every penny!

---

When I buy new vehicles, the dealer handles the plates.
Annual renewals are done online—we’re already in 2025, after all.
On the rare occasion I had to visit the DMV (like a few years ago when my son was overseas and I had to take care of his car), I was in and out in 15 minutes.
In my state, AAA doesn’t handle DMV services—the only thing they’re good for here is issuing international driver’s licenses.

---

When I immigrated to the U.S. in the early ’90s and had little money, I bought American cars—back then, the Ford Taurus was the best-selling car. I kept upgrading to newer models, but they still broke down.
Then I started reading Consumer Reports and followed their recommendations. I switched to Hondas and Toyotas, and the problems stopped.
Conclusion: In most states, AAA doesn’t handle DMV services, and unless you have a car that frequently breaks down, there’s little reason to be a member.

 

[ShokWaveRider]

Our Lease comes with roadside assistance, another advantage. I think most new leases do, that along with GAP insurance.

 

[harllee]

AAA left me stranded a few months ago when my battery died. What is the secret to getting AAA to come out? I contacted AAA several times and they just said they had no one available. It was a weekday, the middle of the day, no holiday or bad weather or anything and I live in a fairly populated area. What am I doing wrong?

 

[sdawson]

Harllee. What state are you in? That has not been my experience. Perhaps AAA is better in some states?

 

[harllee]

Harllee. What state are you in? That has not been my experience. Perhaps AAA is better in some states?

I am in NC, local tow companies have told me AAA does not pay enough so they have all quit responding to AAA calls.

 

[Route246]

In California they handle routine DMV services. Well worth it if you need to go in person compared to going to the DMV.

 

[RetiredHappy]

We keep our AAA (Executive or whatever higher level is called) all through the years and we keep renewing, even though every car that we buy comes with roadside assistance for the first few years. We just got another new car end of last year, and we renew AAA for both of us again. We treat it as another source of insurance.

 

[pb4uski]

We have been members of AAA for many years, took a break when we moved from Frida to Texas and recently rejoined.

I like the peace of mind for towing, jump starts, flat tires, gas, etc even though we rarely use those services. Last time was running out of gas in our truck towing the travel trailer on I-10 west of El Paso about 7 miles from a gas station exit.

I would say that we use it most for motel discounts while traveling and that alone probably pays for our membership (or close). We used to alos have AARP and the travel discounts seemed very similiar.

Finally, when we were in Florida we used AARP for our condo and car insurance and they were pretty competitive but that seems to come an go.

 

[sdawson]

I am in NC, local tow companies have told me AAA does not pay enough so they have all quit responding to AAA calls.

Ok, sounds like it does vary by region then. I have to say, if I had that type of experience with any company -- where they can not deliver what they say they will, then I'd leave them as well. In Oregon, they have been quick to respond over the years. Sorry the experience in NC is not the same.

 

[More Cowbell]

AAA is a federation of regional automobile clubs. You might have to change your regional AAA club at renewal time even if you move to another county within the same state. State motor vehicle tasks may or may not be available at your AAA office, depends on the state. Some vehicle services, such as bicycle “towing” and EV mobile charging also depend on the regional AAA.

Did you know that a membership can be passed on to other family members? So if a grandmother decides it’s time to stop driving, she can pass on her AAA membership to a grandchild. Pretty neat to have a card that says you’re an AAA member for more years than you’ve been alive.

So far this year, I’ve used AAA for 2 tows (one under 7 miles, the other about 30 miles), a couple of notary stamps, and vehicle registration renewal for DMs car. I could not renew online because I was paying with DM’s trust checking account. Honestly, AAA was faster than dealing with the state motor vehicle website!

 

[CO-guy]

We have the Premier membership with 200 mile towing. We live in the middle of nowhere, so the basic service tow distance (10-15 miles) would get us nowhere.

Several years ago I hit a deer on the highway at 65mph in a remote part of the state, which rendered my vehicle inoperable. I was able to arrange a flatbed tow all the way back to my own driveway more than 100 miles away, not some distant repair center. AAA also provided a 1-day car rental until I could arrange a longer rental through my insurance company. The cost of that tow more than covered years of annual membership fees at the Premier level.

To add to my original post on this topic:

The value of having AAA was far more than just the hundreds saved on a long tow. Being able to arrange a 200 mile tow with AAA meant I was able to sleep in my own bed that night. Then, when I woke up in the morning in my own house, I called the repair shop in my own town.

The alternative (i.e., being towed to the nearest repair shop) makes me think of the Griswold's in the movie, "National Lampoon's Vacation." Except I was alone and there were no nearby hotels, motels, or "no-tells."

 

[FD1000]

Did you know that a membership can be passed on to other family members? So if a grandmother decides it’s time to stop driving, she can pass on her AAA membership to a grandchild. Pretty neat to have a card that says you’re an AAA member for more years than you’ve been alive.

Customers have been cancelling AAA membership in the thousands over the years. They shut down half of their offices around here.
AAA is begging for new ones.

 

[CO-guy]

AAA is a federation of regional automobile clubs. You might have to change your regional AAA club at renewal time even if you move to another county within the same state. State motor vehicle tasks may or may not be available at your AAA office, depends on the state. Some vehicle services, such as bicycle “towing” and EV mobile charging also depend on the regional AAA.

Did you know that a membership can be passed on to other family members? So if a grandmother decides it’s time to stop driving, she can pass on her AAA membership to a grandchild. Pretty neat to have a card that says you’re an AAA member for more years than you’ve been alive.

So far this year, I’ve used AAA for 2 tows (one under 7 miles, the other about 30 miles), a couple of notary stamps, and vehicle registration renewal for DMs car. I could not renew online because I was paying with DM’s trust checking account. Honestly, AAA was faster than dealing with the state motor vehicle website!

I had no idea a membership could be inherited!

Also a great reminder about coverage extending to bicycles. I carry it with me for bike touring and longer rides. Good to know if I have a mechanical issue I can arrange for a ride home, even if I'm 100-200 miles away.

More generally, it's great how AAA coverage follows you regardless of whether you're driving your own vehicle, a friend's vehicle, or a rental vehicle (or a rental bicycle).