When I attended the funeral of a friend's uncle (whom I'd never met) in a city 120 miles away ...

... and my rad sprung a multitude of holes sitting at red lights on a hot July day in the procession ...

... CAA towed my car to my garage (just within the limit of 200 km. [125 mi.]) at nil cost. Though the dispatcher had said that they don't deliver folks home ... he'd offered to drive me, at extra fee, as it'd be over the limit ... he did me, saying that it wouldn't be kosher to let an 80-year old hitch-hike home (and it was near his return route).

The lady in question later took a video of my car to enter into a contest of trying to find an old car in worst condition, for a draw for a substantial credit toward a new car.

Didn't win: some folks on Gardenweb who saw the video said that my car was in too good condition to have a hope of winning ... maybe they were just trying to make me feel good?

ole joyfuelled

Nice! And kudos to you for being able to find the receipt!

They also offer other discounts - for movies, on ebags and many others. They post them on their web site.

I used to belong to AAA but I let it expire. Maybe I should renew it? I'm not sure why I let it expire. Both my daughter and myself had to use it in the past year.

My kids get it for birthday or Christmas gifts, depending on when it expires. DD & her SO get it for Christmas. DS has been on ours until this year, when he turned 24. Now he has to have his own. So, he got an early birthday gift. It also makes a great graduation gift. I know our kids have needed it many times and would have been in trouble with out it. It sure pays for itself at the price of a tow! Or in DS's case multiple tows! And I don't pay for the basic plan for any of them. I get the gold plan. Basic only pays for, I think, a 10 mile tow. Gold is much more than that.

Well, it's nice that you got the free battery, but I got a free battery from Fleet Farm when my battery died and I'd venture a guess I paid much less than you did through AAA and that doesn't include the AAA cost. I was surprised because I brought the old battery in as a core exchange and the guy at the counter looked at it and said "you bought this here, this would still be under warranty". I didn't even think about it and I knew I wouldn't have the receipt but they engrave the batteries and just looked at that. I was happy.

AAA is like a service contract on appliances. It gives some people a comfort that they have a number to call who will locate a tow for them if ever needed. In my opinion, it's rather expensive insurance and I've never seen a time where it actually "pays" to have it. I can buy 3 top quality car batteries for one year's cost of AAA. Had I been paying for AAA in the time I've been driving I probably would have paid for at least one new car.

I will say I was considering getting AAA or some other sort of roadside insurance. A friend had to have her van towed and her car insurance covered it so there's other options. Some car manufacturers have roadside assistance programs too. When I looked at the cost of it, I decided it's a better option to self-insure and keep the $125/yr in my pocket. Some prefer to pay it. I think I'll just concentrate on having a cell phone charged that has good coverage and I should be able to get help. I've heard enough stories of people I know who have used it and waited hours to days before they showed up.

FWIW, you should probably have your charging system checked to see if it's charging properly. If it's not, it can destroy a battery so it's possible it would happen again.

Well, it was a 3yr. battery, it lasted 2yrs and 7mo., and it will probably happen again in 3yrs...or 2yrs.and 7mo. I live alone, I'll pay extra for someone to drive to my home, give the car a jump, or let me buy the battery right there and install it for me(I don't want to even try), or tow me from a parking lot, or bring me gas (don't always have my 82yr old mom or available friends to call),unlock my car when the keys are in it (cops don't do that anymore). And I don't have a second car. All these things have happened to me over the years esp. when all I could afford to drive were clunkers.

How much does a diagnostic test cost? I saw a $10 coupon in the paper from a garage once. It must be expensive. Next time I have the oil changed I'll ask.

I've used my AAA service at least once a year. Last year (2010) I used it twice- 1. Our daughter drove upstate to visit friends in February, her car totally broke down on the Thruway coming home. We luckily found her on the Thruway (Thank God for cell phones), called AAA and they towed it near our home-about 150 miles. 2. Then last fall, I came out from grocery shopping to find battery dead, they sent over the battery charger guy,and he got it running. I even got my ice cream home before it melted! I consider AAA membership a necessity for a car, just like insurance.

cynic does have a point,tho. For the $680 a year I pay my car insurance company, they should give me something back in return. I can count on my hand how many times I've used my car insurance - or they have agreed to let me use it - in all the 40yrs.I've driven. Plus the high deductible they insist on in order to make the cost of a reasonable premium. I know as soon as I complain, tomorrow I'll have a serious accident and need the liability coverage! but still.

AAA is well worth the nominal cost.
Not just the large number of business that give an AAA discount - Like Lenscrafters, who give a 30% discount, major car rental companies, most hotel chains, etc., but also because of the road service. I had a battery die on a cold winter day in a cemetery, a car die on the expressway, and a few years ago, when I was in the hospital, and ready to be discharged - my brainless sister called from my house and said "I can't come get you - your car won't start". I called AAA from the hospital and thy went to the house and jumped the battery. Idiot sister had left the headlights on all night.

With AAA, if you break down on a major or toll road, you won't be left to the mercy of towers who roam those roads, looking for breakdowns, and rip you off.

I even pay extra for increased towing miles - we have a vacation home about 140 miles away. If my car breaks down I have the option of serving it or bringing it back home.

I have been towed by triple A more times than I care to remember. It is worth the cost.

It's well worth the cost (much less for me than $125/yr even for the AAA plus that I get) for me to have the peace of mind that comes along with having AAA. I've used it several times over the years.

Many years my parents paid for it when I was younger. One year my mom gave me money in an envelope for Christmas and she wrote on it 'For a membership to AA'. LOL, I told her AA was free and they even gave you free coffee and donuts.

With AAA, if you break down on a major or toll road, you won't be left to the mercy of towers who roam those roads, looking for breakdowns, and rip you off.

I don't know about your area but tow truck drivers and their companies are under strict guidelines. They cannot not just roam around offering assistance. Highway patrol and PD has contracts with certain tow companies that respond to calls on rotation. No driver/company is going to risk their license by stopping for random breakdowns much less troll for them. The only tow companies that roam looking for marks are those who are hired by private properties to keep their lots clear of unauthorized or illegally parked vehicles.

AAA battery service is a huge money maker for them. Yes they will replace your battery free if it's under warranty but if it's not you will pay far more than you would if you went out and g bought one on your own. Plus if you don't have the knowledge you may be told you need a new battery when a simple jump will do.

AAA is peace of mind insurance, nothing more. Parts warranties are just that. There is no magical extra warranty on a battery purchased through AAA. In fact I would bet the price is built in a little steeper than you would pay at the local auto store or even Walmart with the same warranty. Your AAA battery at best is in line with dealership prices.

Tow company fees are pretty much set by local statute.

Drivers who do AAA work are no more or less capable than those for other companies. AAA contracts with private towing firms. They do not own a fleet of tow services.

So if paying a hundred dollars or more a year is worth the peace of mind than that's cool. But over time it's very expensive towing unless you have cars that continually break down or you don't maintain.

We belong to AAA, too. We like it for planning trips and, yes, we have a GPS, but I like to plan possible stopovers, restaurants and sights to see along the way. AAA can't be beat for giving you all the information you need. Love the Tour Books and Trip-Tix. We get all our maps from AAA.

They offer a lot of services including help if you get locked out of your car OR your home. Also, some life insurance if you're injured/killed in an accident. It's nominal, but every bit helps when you need it.

Wildchild....No matter what the law, you know there are people who break it. In Pa, state and local police cannot patrol every mile of our major highways.

Just a correction about the cost of AAA. It is NOT a hundred dollars or more a year.

Sorry Monica but you don't know what you are talking about.
Tow truck drivers risk their live at every stop. Have you any idea how many die or are injured on our highways every year? They are not going to randomly look for disabled vehicles unless they are contracted to do so by the city,state or county.

Many states have absolutely free roadside assistance to simply pull stalled vehicles off the the road for safety. Those do drive around looking for disabled vehicles but that is for the public's safety.

Are there ways to cheat? Sure there are, from paper dollying, padding storage fees to selling batteries to people whose batteries are just fine. But intentionally looking for breakdowns? Not in the job description. Too risky both to life and job.

Just a correction about the cost of AAA. It is NOT a hundred dollars or more a year.

True but that basic service plan is only good for the first 5 miles or a tow to the nearest AAA garage. After that you pay by the mile. So your 40 some dollars gets you a five mile tow, a limited number of lock-outs and jump starts. With the new battery trucks you also have to deal with what is basically a salesman with an expensive tech toy and then another wait for the second truck to tow you if it is determined a towing is necessary. Read the fine print on your contract.

100 mile service costs double or more depending where you live. If you don't use it that first tow you need can say 3 years down the road has cost you 300 dollars. its simple math. Like Cynic said self-insuring pays off. Instead of paying for a service contract you could just put ad side the money for emergencies.

Many insurance companies offer the same first "5 mile" road side assistance for a lot less.

Re my story (the next following the original), the tow truck driver who drove me the 125 mi., mostly on the freeway, from their expensive city to my garage told me that, had I been paying for it, it would have cost me $800.00 - enough to pay for CAA for eight years (to quote him ... but, really, somewhat less than 8 years, for the CAA Plus that covers that long tow).

ole joyful

Wildchild....you haven't been around much, even in your own state.

Just Google "Unlicensed tow truck 2011", and you will see many recent news stories about a situation that you think doesn't exist.

Here is a link that might be useful: Unlicensed tow truck problem in LA

Wildchild....you haven't been around much, even in your own state.

Really. There are all sorts of scams being run. Good grief, LA and the whole US is full of fakers of all sorts. There are fake cabs, fake security guards, fake designers clothing sellers. Scam artists are everywhere.

But if you need to a pay a nanny to protect yourself no one is stopping you. I'm just giving the other side. Financially AAA membership does not add up for most people if they use their heads, drive cars in relatively good shape and understand how to use a cell phone to call for assistance. Anyone who would fall for a tow truck stopping without being asked is just another mark for pickpockets or ponzi schemes. Do you get into cars with strangers who claim to be cab or limo drivers?

Stupidity and ignorance allow people to be taken advantage of. If they are helped by signing up for a service that many don't need then that's great. I however do not make a good mark.

Here is a link that might be useful: AAA Battery Scam

One of the features I like about the AAA membership is that the benefits are assigned to the member, not the car. So if you are driving a car that belongs to someone else and you get a flat or need a tow your membership will cover it.

I've paid the extra couple of bucks per car offered on the insurance policy for Roadside Assist for years. Barely used it, but good to have in this land of snow.

DH insisted on keeping his AAA membership. When the axle broke on his boat trailer miles from the nearest repair shop, he came home from the fishing trip with a hefty towing bill on our CC. Too far for AAA coverage. I got on the phone to insurance co. and was reimbursed --no problem. That was the last year he paid AAA.

Also, on those mornings when there is a long wait for AAA due to weather--cold,car won't start, stuck in snow, accidents, etc. we can call anyone and get service much quicker.

Ok. I just got off the phone with my insurance agent. She said to add the road side assistance benefit to my policy would cost me an extra $9 a year. This is what I'd get: $100 towards towing, battery boost/jump, flat tire assistance, enough gas to get to a station, unlock service. All of it at no out of pocket expense, except whatever towing cost over the $100. She said it used to be you had to use a credit card for these services and then took the receipts to your agent for reimbursement, but that is not longer the policy. You don't have to pay anything at time of service. I asked my agent to send a copy of the endorsement so I could do some comparing. She also suggested I find out how much towing actually costs as I have no idea. The coverage is good for USA and Canada,too.

I searched my bank statements and found in Oct.I paid AAA $94 for my Gold Membership. Thought for sure it was more than that. So I would save appx. $85 every year if I went with my insurance company. Hmmmm.

One other way to pay for towing is if you have a Signature Visa Credit card. One of the little known perks of that card is towing for whatever that going flat rate they have at the time. Currently it's $59.95. You don't have to sign up for it. It's already part of the card agreement. You simply dial 1 800 VISA TOW. It is only for 5 mile towing however. But it's something to know if you have a Visa Signature card and find yourself stuck.

Side note: I don't know if that $100 toward towing is just a once a year courtesy or if unlimited towing for a year. With AAA, I think it's 4 times a year (or 4 service calls a year?)

Of course AAA isn't worth the money (to us) in the long run, they wouldn't be a business otherwise. They make a profit because people pay more than they use.

Not that I think it's a bad idea...you are mostly paying for peace of mind and when you do need them, they save your butt. My boyfriend has AAA and we've used it multiple times and also use it for cheaper hotel rooms. I love it.

I have towing through my insurance for a couple bucks extra per month. I have an old car that I don't drive daily, so I knew it was bound to eventually need a tow, haha. I ended up blowing a hole in a radiator hose on the freeway a few months ago, and needed that tow afterall. They just towed it to my house for me and gave me a ride home too. Well worth the 2 or 3 bucks a month I've been paying in!

I'm not sure what else is on my policy (as far as roadside assistance), but I have friends that could come jump a battery or something small like that if I got in a pinch.

For heaven's sake. If you don't like/want AAA just don't join. But to persist on giving reasons why we shouldn't have it/like it is just plain silly.

lAAA isn't any different than any other business - that's how all of them make money - that's what profit is!

I appreciate hearing the reasons to not use it: it helps me make up my mind as to whether to use it or not. I chose not to use it for years, for some of the reasons given, as I'm fairly handy and have had friends that I can call on for some assistance, from time to time, though I've not chosen to have a cell phone, thus far.

I don't appreciate someone, not knowing my situation, telling me that I'm silly for using it, though. One of these days my kids'll be making decisions regarding the operation of my life, quite likely, but for the present, I feel capable of making my own decisions ... and if, in the present situation, while I pay attention to my kids' opinions ... if I'm unwilling to have them take over my life - why would I be willing to have strangers do so ... on a social networking web?

Daughter gave me a membership four or five years ago and I've kept it up ... and her Christmas gift last year was this year's renewal.

Now that I'm over 80, it seems to me to make more sense ... though some folks figured I'm slightly crazy to push the car to get it rolling down a slight incline, to get it to start when the battery was down (lights left on).

Heck - before the eight years that I'd have had to pay to be towed home from Toronto last year ...

... there's a good possibility that I'll be dead!

Not quite ready to go, yet, though, if you don't mind ...

... or even if you do mind.

ole joyfuelled

I was responding to silly reasons OJ. AAA is good for some. I have a good friend who has it. I can't imagine her without it. She and her DH are the type that have to call an electrician to replace a light switch. For them it makes good sense. They NEED to have someone do the most minor things for them. I doubt they even own a set of jumper cables much less know how to use them.

I was referring to the silly notion that some big bad tow truck driver will take advantage of you if you don't have AAA. It's pretty insulting to those in the industry. Just as insulting (although I found it highly amusing) to be told wthat you "haven't been around much" by someone who is completely clueless about you and doesn't want to learn anything new. Some people just gotta to be right even if they don't have a clue.