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