In reply to NOHOME:
Yes and no. Retail towing rates (which is what you'd end up paying for when you call Joe Schmoe's towing directly with a credit card) are "we have you over a barrel" cheap, so that's something to keep in mind.
Our experience is pretty good, we usually have to use a tow or two a year and with that and the AAA discounts you can get from a lot of businesses, it's usually a wash or you come out ahead.
aircooled wrote: Well, when setting up a proper air defense system anti-aircraft artillery is pretty much a must to defend against low flying targets. So, yes, I would say AAA is worth it.
Just be very careful. If you take out a drone it can be considered a felony.
wbjones wrote:spitfirebill wrote: I have it. The cheap come on prices are for two miles of towing. Of course they will upgrade you to 100 mile tow for a fee. I get me and my wife.I've got it … but only the 100 mi … I'm considering upgrading to the 200 mi .. since most of my traveling is between 150 and 200 mi
You can call and upgrade your membership while on the side of the road if you need a longer tow...Found that out when we were 300 miles from home in a friend's dually Duramax with 2 ATVs in the bed. It wouldn't start - turns out a crankcase full of diesel and oil instead of oil is not good. $40 and we got the first 200 miles for free, worked out a deal for the next 100 with the tow truck driver by pointing out that we could just have him drop us off after 200 miles and call AAA again.
AAA does not cover a specific car but rather covers a named driver. I have AAA for myself (I drive a lot) but not for my wife who drives less than 8k miles per year. Should it happen that her car breaks down, it is likely that I will drive to the see her and try to solve. If I can not solve and tow is needed then I will be onsite so I can show ID and get her car towed.
Brokeback wrote: You can call and upgrade your membership while on the side of the road if you need a longer tow...Found that out when we were 300 miles from home in a friend's dually Duramax with 2 ATVs in the bed. It wouldn't start - turns out a crankcase full of diesel and oil instead of oil is not good. $40 and we got the first 200 miles for free, worked out a deal for the next 100 with the tow truck driver by pointing out that we could just have him drop us off after 200 miles and call AAA again.
That was not my experience at all the one time I tried to use mine (8?) years ago, the first time I had AAA...
BoxheadTim wrote: In reply to NOHOME: Yes and no. Retail towing rates (which is what you'd end up paying for when you call Joe Schmoe's towing directly with a credit card) are "we have you over a barrel" cheap, so that's something to keep in mind. Our experience is pretty good, we usually have to use a tow or two a year and with that and the AAA discounts you can get from a lot of businesses, it's usually a wash or you come out ahead.
When I said CC I meant that my CC benefits cover towing, not that I pay with a CC. Even has the toll free # to call for assistance on the back of the card.
In 40 years of driving I have had one occasion to call a tow truck (for the Miata ironically). So, at $100/year for the AAA membership (CAA for me) that would have been a $4,000 tow for a 5 mile distance.
Thinking back, I've mainly used it to tow my nonworking purchases home but it has saved my bacon a few times and I do use them for DMV services; open on Saturday, none of the riff raff at the normal DMV. Worth it in my book.
Never considered it until the water pump went out on the old GP. Signed up shortly later. I drive mostly newer stuff, prolly never need it but it's cheap insurance. Ya never know.
WonkoTheSane wrote:Brokeback wrote: You can call and upgrade your membership while on the side of the road if you need a longer tow...Found that out when we were 300 miles from home in a friend's dually Duramax with 2 ATVs in the bed. It wouldn't start - turns out a crankcase full of diesel and oil instead of oil is not good. $40 and we got the first 200 miles for free, worked out a deal for the next 100 with the tow truck driver by pointing out that we could just have him drop us off after 200 miles and call AAA again.That was not my experience at all the one time I tried to use mine (8?) years ago, the first time I had AAA...
Huh...maybe its a different regions thing? This was maybe 4-5 years ago, and the tow truck driver was the one who actually told me to do that haha. Or I just got lucky.
I have it. Ive used a few times. The discounts are nice and I dont think its too pricey for what it provides.
Finding AAA in the white pages used to be difficult with all the AAAA Bail Bonds and AAAA Pawn Shops listed.
I've had it for years and have found it to be well worth it.
I've gotten my money's worth out of it in the last year, although every single time I end up waiting in the middle of nowhere for hours. We upgraded to the Gold membership which includes 100 miles and when I got a flat tire in the middle of Arizona it was a real wallet/lifesaver. Then my truck had one of its rear tires blow out about an hour from my house. Would have been a lot more money if I didn't have the AAA Gold.
I've gotten my money's worth! This is me waiting for a tow on I85 on the way home from the 2010 Mitty.
I joined AAA in case my wife or daughters broke down, but I've been the only one to use it.
Those of you who've used AAA for towing - do you also have towing on your auto policies?
petegossett wrote: Those of you who've used AAA for towing - do you also have towing on your auto policies?
I do, but beware. It's the reason I now have AAA. What the insurance companies don't tell you is that each time you use towing it counts as a comprehensive claim. Do it too many times (like I did for my kid's beater) and your insurance gets cancelled. Oh, and they stay on your record as claims, not specified as just a tow, so other insurance companies can see it when they check your claim history. Got AAA silver now, 4 tows per year per person and I get to keep towing claims off my insurance, that makes me
petegossett wrote: Those of you who've used AAA for towing - do you also have towing on your auto policies?
I have had it on various auto/bike policies. Much more restrictive than AAA. Lower mileage and has to be towed to a repair facility.
NOHOME wrote: When I said CC I meant that my CC benefits cover towing, not that I pay with a CC. Even has the toll free # to call for assistance on the back of the card.
Ah, OK, that makes sense. I probably wouldn't pay for AAA either if that was a benefit on one of my credit cards.
travellering wrote: With four classic minis, three Citroens, four SAABs, and a Suburban and Maxima both clos... blah blah blah AAA ... ... towing.. blah blah blah...
I think Adrian was right about the forum going downhill! 24 hours, no one even makes a comment?
We're gonna need pictures to substantiate this claim of uber-GRM-ness.
(Had AAA for years, I usually drive the old crappy cars while my wife gets to drive reliable things with AC that works and parts that don't fall off)
I waited 5 hours for a tow when I had AAA, I could have had someone pick me up, return to the house and get the truck/trailer, and take it wherever I wanted to in less time.....so, I never renewed. I might buy it if I were travelling out of state a lot, but that is enough of a rarity to never worry about.
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