Anyone a AAA member?

[TomJoe]

So we're gearing up for the wedding, and as such, planning for the honeymoon too. We've decided to take a two-week tour of the East Coast, starting in Hilton Head and working our way up to Boston. I figured we'd rent a car, and thought about signing up for AAA to help reduce the costs somewhat (for car rental and hotel). However, is it worth it? Does anyone have AAA and would they recommend it?

[Sock Puppet]

My wife and I have had AAA for years. It's definitely worth it. It pays for itself (or nearly so) the first time you need a tow, and the discounts you mention are good too. Of course, if you already can get the same discounts through other avenues (various professional memberships give you pretty much the same deals for hotels & car rentals), that's not so much a factor.

However, what clinched it for me was using them for home and car insurance. Their rates are merely competitive, not necessarily the best, but the level of service is MUCH better than what I've experienced through other insurance companies. It's analogous to the better service you get from credit unions vs. private banks; you're not just a policy holder, you're a member.

[ms_ann_thrope]

It's definitely worth it. It pays for itself (or nearly so) the first time you need a tow,Or a jump start. Or a flat tire changed. Or run out of gas. :yup:

[JackDog]

Whenever I hear AAA I think of the Simpsons episode where Homer accidentally takes Barney there instead of AA. :giggle:

Barney: "Hi. My name is Barney, and I'm an alcoholic."
AAA guy: "I feel for ya, pal...but you want AA. This is triple-A."
Homer: "Hi. My name is Homer, and I'm planning a trip to St. Louis."
AAA guy: "East St. Louis?"
Homer: "Is there any other?"
:homer: :barney:

[ChuckF]

Barney: "My name is Barney, and I'm an alcoholic."
Lisa: "Mr. Gumble, this is a girl scout meeting."
Barney: "Is it? Or is it that you girls can't admit you have a problem?"

I don't have AAA, but I did get the roadside assistance with my cell phone plan. It's $3 and they'll come tow you, bring gas, etc. No lodging discounts though.

[Dingfod]

We've certainly got our money's worth out of AAA this past winter, what with Roxy driving almost everything we own into the ditches. (http://picasaweb.google.com/warrybea/200SXinditch/photo#5054615849924589762) That and several times when Laney's car broke down or ran out of gas.

[seebs]

I have it. Some years, it's not worth much. When we were road tripping, we got maybe $10-20 off the hotel some nights.

But I've had one year where we used three free tows. A note: You can use them on a friend's car. Also if a friend locks her keys in her car, for instance.

[lisarea]

I had AAA for a really long time. But most of the time I needed anything from them, they'd tell me to leave my keys under the floormat and they'd pick it up within a few hours or something.

I think I gave up on them after the day I had to leave my car abandoned somewhere around the New Mexico border and they didn't even pick it up until a day or two later.

Not that I think they're always a bad idea, but they left me stranded too many times to justify paying them for that anymore. (Times I remembered to use them for anything else: One. They were pretty good. Gave me free maps and stuff.)

[godfry n. glad]

I've got it. I've had it for years. Most years, I never use it. But when I need it, it's reasonably fast, always reliable and no cost on site.

If you're getting it for the discounts on this trip, then don't bother, because I doubt you can make up the membership cost in discounts - unless, of course, you have a mishap, then it's like money in the bank. Insurance is insurance, after all. They're betting that you won't need any assistance, and you're betting them that you'll need more assistance than you would normally pay for when you needed it.

[TomJoe]

Thanks folks. It seems as if AAA is really good if I need a tow or I lock myself out of my car or run out of gas. These things I already pay for (with a minimal fee) on my car insurance. I do have a couple of memberships in professional societies, so I suppose I can use them for the rental car/hotel discounts. Guess I'll pocket the $100 I was thinking of shelling out for AAA and put it to use elsewhere on the honeymoon.

[Dingfod]

Vibrator batteries?

[godfry n. glad]

Vibrator batteries?

AAA vibrator batteries!

[roastelk]

I'm not an AAA meber, but I am a AMA member(Alberta Motor Association), which is my Provincial branch of the CAA (Canadian Automobile Association).

The CAA is loosly tied in with the AAA.. actualy I think the AAA will even accept CAA cards, and vise versa.


i fill up with gas at husky gas stations and I get points toward my next years membership fees.. I havnt payed for my AMA mebership in 4 years, I keep renewing it for free.

[Kyuss Apollo]

I've used AAA for tows and jumps a bunch of times. But the best part of it is that the RI Registry of Motor Vehicles no longer does car registrations (go figure). Either you have to mail it in and wait (pain in the ass) or you can just go down to AAA and renew the registration there. But you have to be a member to do that. Same thing with license renewals--lines are way shorter at AAA than at the registry, and the people behind the counter are downright pleasant rather than surly and abusive.