8/12 I've had AAA for over 15 years. It's $47 + $27(additional) per
year. Thanks to the internet, Google maps, GPS, iPhone, and
Travelocity and other wonderful sites, I no longer use AAA maps
and AAA routing anymore. The only thing I need these days would
be the towing service. I just found out that I could pay $6/year
to my auto insurance for towing service up to $70. In contrast,
AAA offers 7 miles of free towing. Does it make any sense to
keep AAA? How many miles can you tow for $70 these days?
\_ I was debating this very thing just recently. I opted to keep
AAA for two reasons:
1) It's nice to be able to perform DMV transactions w/o going
to the DMV.
2) I tend to take advantage of the discounts using my AAA card
for things like hotels and rental cars plus even at some
retailers. I am not sure I break even each year, but it's close.
P.S. AAA also provides other services like a locksmith if you
lock your key in your car, which you might use if you have an
older car that still uses keys. I used it a couple times
over the last 15 years.
\_ The best reason for using AAA instead of another emergency towing
service is that AAA negotiates with the individual towing companies
for higher priority, and has contracts with more towing companies
to provide a better density of coverage. In other words, if you
break down at the side of a road, the towtruck AAA dispatches will
get to you faster than the towtruck dispatched by your insurance
company. To me, that's worth the money. Also, AAA covers *you*,
not *your car*, so you can use it on a friend's car if needed.
\_ I have AAA membership, as well as insurances for 2 auto, home owner,
rental property, umbrella, and 2 life.
\_ Shit, you would probably be rich by now if you had invested all
that money instead of giving it to insurance companies.
\_ I don't even have earthquake or ID theft insurance. Not sure
if AAA offer the latter. -- PP |