Insurance roadside assistance vs. AAA Plus

11 years ago

I pay for AAA Plus road coverage every year. I forget how much it is, but it's a chunk of money. I figure I should do it because I'm a woman driving alone most of the time.

Last month I changed my auto insurance to a different carrier and discovered that the policy charges $8 per car per year for roadside assistance. I called the agent and asked about it, and she told me it covers repair of flat tires on site, and towing within 15 miles or to the nearest qualified place. AAA Plus will tow within 100 miles.

I'm going to have to look up the AAA fee (I know it's a lot more than $16!), and the other AAA Plus features, and decide which coverage I want to cancel.

Have you made a similar decision? Which way did you go?

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Comments (20)

wanda_va
11 years ago
We have had roadside assistance through our car insurance policy forever--with no problems whatsoever. It's a much better deal than AAA, IMO.
monica_pa Grieves
11 years ago
We stayed with AAA. We mostly drive more than 15 miles from home, and if it's a problem that can be fixed on the spot (like a dead battery or keys locked in the car!)AAA will not tow.
Besides, AAA has discounts for many hotels, many retail chain stores and vacation attractions (we saved money on buying theme park tickets in advance at AAA here, from paying at the gate.

However, just last week, we discussed the Plus, and decided to stay with standard AAA membership.
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I have AAA for myself and wife. I keep it because my wife is out at night with her car many times in winter. (In her retirement, she has joined sevaral social "things" like learning in retirement, and two genealogy societies. Well, guess what, last winter for trhe first time in my life I called AAA for help. I ruined a tire on a snow covered road and the temperatrue was 10 F. I struck a snow covered object. I think it was a cast iron drain grate that had been dislodged by a snow plow. Instead of struggling with it myself and I was recovering from a severe cold with possible cardiovascular complications, I decided I'd give AAA a try. The tow truck arrived within 40 minutes. The operator cold not budge the lug nuts with normal force. I signed a release saying I would not hold AAA liable if he broke a stud by applying abnormal force. No go. The nut woudl not budge. Just two weeks before, the "Firestone shop had mounted a new set of tires and over tightened the lug nuts. The AAA operator winched my Jeep onto the back of the truck and we took it to the offending Firestone shop and dropped it there. I called my wife and she picked me up. I was geting cold before she arrived with the wind blowing. All this service came at no charge to me. I feel that I got money's worth that night. However to be fair, there has been several years that I've had AAA and never used it. But it sure was a life saver on that cold winter night.
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nanny98
11 years ago
My DH more than makes up for it in the travel guides and maps that he collects every time we THINK about going anywhere. Actually, his collections belong over on the (border-line) hoarder forum. (Only slightly kidding and a tender spot.)
mare_wbpa
11 years ago
I'm also a woman who drives alone, so I have regular AAA, not plus. I just paid my yearly fee, it was $54. AAA will tow 15 miles at no charge. If your garage is further away than 15 miles, they will charge per mile over the 15. I have used the towing over 15 miles, but just once in about 30 yrs of having AAA. I feel that in the unlikely occurance that I need to be towed more than 15 miles, the money I've saved by not having the plus will pay the extra charge. If it never happens I'm ahead of the game.
azzalea
11 years ago
Well, one $200 towing bill (and we had TWO of them a couple of years back) because we broke down at the country house and needed the truck towed back to our mechanic---was enough to make me figure the extra for AAA Plus was more than worth it. It's a 30+ mile trip. Plus doesn't cost much--only $32/year.

Does your insurance company's roadside assistance offer ALL the befits of AAA plus? Like a driver for an hour after you've been towed, to get you where you need to go?, etc?
alisande
Original Author
11 years ago
Plus doesn't cost much--only $32/year.

Azzalea, I'm paying $141 for AAA Plus! I think the coverage is probably overkill for me. I don't do any vacation traveling, and other than longer trips several times a year, my usual driving is no more than 30 miles from home. I never have opportunities to use the various AAA discounts. I called them about a flat tire four or five years ago, but that's about it.

Mare's rationale is something I should think about. I have a feeling the insurance roadside assistance is the same as regular AAA, or close to it. I'm annoyed with myself for paying blindly for AAA Plus all these years.
gadgets
11 years ago
Here's a website that gave me the prices for the different AAA plans. I had to give my zipcode to get to this page. Is that because the costs vary by location?

Shirley

Here is a link that might be useful: AAA prices
alisande
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks, Gadgets. I'm looking at the chart right now that compares regular AAA to AAA Plus. Regular AAA will tow for only three miles in my area!

Can anyone explain "Emergency Extrication"? The chart says, "One service vehicle and one operator will be provided up to 20 minutes." AAA Plus adds a second service vehicle and a second operator for up to one hour.

I haven't gotten to the fees yet.....
sjerin
11 years ago
It really irritated me when they started the tier system, as with so many other services in this country these days. I went in to AAA to pay a car dmv registration (love that they have that service,) expecting to pay the $2 service fee. The guy told me there is no more fee because the new ceo didn't like the idea; he said the employees REALLY like him and the changes he is instituting, though I don't know what they are. We pay @$80, give or take, for the two of us. I think too your decision should rest on how reliable your car is right now.
redcurls
11 years ago
I like the AAA Plus. It is about $160 a year here, but covers whatever car my DH and I are driving....and once I had to use it when driving my daughter's car! I think the extracation fee is if you get stuck in mud or snow. Last year, I forgot to renew and they ended up calling me and offering six months extra for the same price. I think you can deal...
alisande
Original Author
11 years ago
I think too your decision should rest on how reliable your car is right now.

Well, they both passed inspection last month. :-)

I drive a 2003 4Runner in the winter. It looks great, and I haven't beat it up, but the Check Engine light has been on for a couple of years. The dealer mechanics did everything in their power to fix that, but didn't succeed. So I think the engine is fine, but who knows?

In summer I drive a 1992 Chevy Caprice. These are the ones issued to the police years ago, before Chevy stopped making them and the Ford Crown Vic took over. They are built like tanks and are said to "last forever." I also happen to think it's a sleek and sexy car, and it's a joy to drive. I bought it in 1996 and still love it. But yes, it's 20 years old.
alisande
Original Author
11 years ago
I'll bet you're right about the extrication, Redcurls. It never occurred to me that I could deal. Thanks for the tip!
maire_cate
11 years ago
The $32 for AAA Plus is on top of your regular membership.

We went with the Plus because our vacation place is about 130 miles from our primary home.
monica_pa Grieves
11 years ago
I have a 1007 Suzuki whose "check Engine" light has been on for years. Dealer mechanics told me that this light has nothing to do with the engine itself, anymore - it really has to do with the exhaust system, and would make the car fail the emission test, and they would try to fix it.
Since now I don't drive enough miles every year to require Emission tests to pass on state inspection - the light is still on, and I haven't had any engine problems.
emma
11 years ago
At one time I had that in 3 insurance policies. My car insurance, the extended warranty and in my home owners. A lot of those misc things come with the package. I asked about something one time and they told me that.
silvercomet1
11 years ago
I keep AAA. I wouldn't want to call my insurance company about a dead battery because I would be concerned that it might affect my insurance rates.
cathyid
11 years ago
We have AAA+ and wouldn't be without it. We tried another carrier in Arizona, and they only had a limited number of tow services. Plus we had to pay it first, and then be reimbursed. Living here, we are more often than not, in lightly populated area, that are 100 miles+ from home or the nearest mechanic. We used it two years ago, when we had a transmission problem, and it would have been over $1800 if we had anything else. It's the best $156 we spend.
dedtired
11 years ago
I just let my AAA lapse because it costs $65 a year and for all the years I've had it, I've only used it maybe four times. BUT...my ancient car had trouble on the way from my mom's to my house. I was able to make it home and then to the service station (only two blocks). I could have been in deep trouble had I been farther from home.

I did notice the roadside assistance on my State Farm policy and planned to use it instead of AAA, but I wouldn't have had a number to call in this case.

Guess I'll sign up with AAA in case my car runs into trouble again. I asked them to just "patch" it because I am actively shopping for a new (used) car now.

As for discounts, I've found that my AARP membership provides most of the same discounts as AAA.
linda_in_iowa
11 years ago
In Iowa AAA basic membership is $59.99/year and AAA Plus is $99.99/year. When I lived in CA I traveled more and liked having the Plus. Here I don't drive very far, less than 10,000 miles/year and just have AAA basic.
I am pretty sure their membership charges are based on fees they pay the towing places. Everything costs less in Iowa than on either coast.
Nita__AZ
11 years ago
I used to have AAA and it was expensive here in AZ versus what we paid in NC. When we bought the 5th wheel we joined Good Sam and I got a Platinum card. This will do everything that AAA did and it covers the RV plus any vehicles Mike and I drive even rentals. We have used it several times on the RV (5th wheel) and it was excellent.

AAA has finally stopped contacting me. I had been a member since 1980 and also had it for a few years prior to that.

Insurance roadside assistance vs. AAA Plus

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