Do you have AAA?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 6,223
Likes: 1,700
From: Northern California
St. Jude Donor '15
I have it more for the travel discounts than the road side service. The handiest service they provide is the DMV stuff, well worth it for that alone in my book.
Last edited by Rooster OG; May 19, 2017 at 06:59 PM.
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Racer
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 356
Likes: 32
From: Fond du Lac Wi
NO to AAA!
In 1964, when my career air force sergeant father returned from 3 years in Germany, AAA refused him car insurance. their reason---we don't insure enlisted men. i was sitting right with him as a 10 year old.
so if my father was not good enough for AAA, I could never be.
I don't carry a grudge MUCH!
foytoy
fond du lac, wi
so if my father was not good enough for AAA, I could never be.
I don't carry a grudge MUCH!
foytoy
fond du lac, wi
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 41,732
Likes: 1,718
From: Springfield MO
Expensive but with 6 vehicles we use some roadside service at least once a year (e.g., tire change in the rain for my daughter last week in Dawson, WV).
Then we figure in the discounts for maybe 6-10 hotel stays a year where we get 10-15% off the lowest rate, closes in on break even.
Only downside I've seen over the years is the dispatching process is cumbersome and response times are longer at off hours or less populated locations, and in our local area, drivers apply pressure to take the vehicle to the "base" shop that handles the AAA calls for service, even when I've tried to explain that all repairs will be under warranty, for free, at the dealership...and I have the "100 mile" package that tows to the shop of my choice in that range as opposed to nearest shop.
Then we figure in the discounts for maybe 6-10 hotel stays a year where we get 10-15% off the lowest rate, closes in on break even.
Only downside I've seen over the years is the dispatching process is cumbersome and response times are longer at off hours or less populated locations, and in our local area, drivers apply pressure to take the vehicle to the "base" shop that handles the AAA calls for service, even when I've tried to explain that all repairs will be under warranty, for free, at the dealership...and I have the "100 mile" package that tows to the shop of my choice in that range as opposed to nearest shop.
Nearly every motel has a senior citizen discount that is equal to the AAA discount. Most are 62+ to qualify, some as low as 50. I have never seen an AAA discount that was 10-15% LOWER than the senior citizen discount or the veterans discount. Many motels also offer a veteran's discount that is lower.
In my case, AAA motel discounts don't give me anything additional.
I just checked online and at the Springfield, MO Drury Inn for one night, June 13, web rate is $139.99, senior(50+) rate is $139.999 and AAA is $132.99. $7 savings over senior.
Sleep Inn, same date, web rate $71, senior $71, AAA $71. zero savings over senior
La Quinta Inn, same date, web rate $97, senior $87.30, AAA $87.30. Zero savings over senior.
Hilton in Branson, MO same date, rack rate $194, senior $161, AAA $161. Zero savings over senior.
I have found in my travels in 40 states in my Corvettes that both AAA and senior savings are normally 10% off the rack rate.
If you are not a senior, then the AAA discounts could add up, especially at the more expensive motels. In my circle of Corvette friends, everyone of them qualifies for the senior citizen discount when we do our road trips.
Last edited by JoesC5; May 20, 2017 at 10:52 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 41,732
Likes: 1,718
From: Springfield MO
I have four cars(two are old) and they are all covered by my State farm roadside assistance coverage. IF I were to purchase a new car with a manufacturer's roadside assistance, then I wouldn't need to have it on that car's insurance policy, thus I would not be required to pay for it. My insurance premium would go down by not having coverage on that particular car.
Last edited by JoesC5; May 20, 2017 at 10:23 AM.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 335
Likes: 40
From: Sacramento CA
Became a member about 33 tears ago when I worked for the local affiliate. Finally upgraded from the basic to the Plus. It paid for itself several times when one day the wife's 2002 Tahoe lost the water pump and on the way home the ignition in my 93 1500 died.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 807
Likes: 313
From: New Jersey
Between manufacturers roadside and insurance roadside (even on my '78 Caddy) AAA is duplication of service for me. Like two cable companies, I can no longer afford to spend resources that way.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 220
Likes: 30
From: Fairfax VA
Nearly every motel has a senior citizen discount that is equal to the AAA discount. Most are 62+ to qualify, some as low as 50. I have never seen an AAA discount that was 10-15% LOWER than the senior citizen discount or the veterans discount. Many motels also offer a veteran's discount that is lower.
In my case, AAA motel discounts don't give me anything additional.
I just checked online and at the Springfield, MO Drury Inn for one night, June 13, web rate is $139.99, senior(50+) rate is $139.999 and AAA is $132.99. $7 savings over senior.
Sleep Inn, same date, web rate $71, senior $71, AAA $71. zero savings over senior
La Quinta Inn, same date, web rate $97, senior $87.30, AAA $87.30. Zero savings over senior.
Hilton in Branson, MO same date, rack rate $194, senior $161, AAA $161. Zero savings over senior.
I have found in my travels in 40 states in my Corvettes that both AAA and senior savings are normally 10% off the rack rate.
If you are not a senior, then the AAA discounts could add up, especially at the more expensive motels. In my circle of Corvette friends, everyone of them qualifies for the senior citizen discount when we do our road trips.
In my case, AAA motel discounts don't give me anything additional.
I just checked online and at the Springfield, MO Drury Inn for one night, June 13, web rate is $139.99, senior(50+) rate is $139.999 and AAA is $132.99. $7 savings over senior.
Sleep Inn, same date, web rate $71, senior $71, AAA $71. zero savings over senior
La Quinta Inn, same date, web rate $97, senior $87.30, AAA $87.30. Zero savings over senior.
Hilton in Branson, MO same date, rack rate $194, senior $161, AAA $161. Zero savings over senior.
I have found in my travels in 40 states in my Corvettes that both AAA and senior savings are normally 10% off the rack rate.
If you are not a senior, then the AAA discounts could add up, especially at the more expensive motels. In my circle of Corvette friends, everyone of them qualifies for the senior citizen discount when we do our road trips.
Last edited by Co-Vette; May 20, 2017 at 01:42 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,083
Likes: 190
From: IL / FL .
I was never interested in AAA until a few years ago when I found myself owning two cars with no spare tires, no jacks, and non-runflat tires. And I take long road trips. I found the AAA Premier plan appealing, offering a tow up to 200 miles! In the event of a damaged tire or wheel or mechanical failure I could pick an actual Corvette dealer or Discount Tire store etc of my choosing, maybe near home.
I'm surprised that AAA towing covers me in any car I'm in, even if I'm riding in a friend's car.
I never considered AAA when cars had spare tires, I just changed my own. Now you hear stories of people stranded for days waiting for a correct tire or wheel to be located and shipped in. The 200 mile tow could get me and my car to the best place possible.
I'm surprised that AAA towing covers me in any car I'm in, even if I'm riding in a friend's car.
I never considered AAA when cars had spare tires, I just changed my own. Now you hear stories of people stranded for days waiting for a correct tire or wheel to be located and shipped in. The 200 mile tow could get me and my car to the best place possible.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 41,732
Likes: 1,718
From: Springfield MO
I should have said regular advertised hotel rates, no club or affiliation discounts. Point is that people think of AAA as roadside assistance but the $10-30 or more it saves for each hotel stay helps offset the membership cost. I have AARP and usually AAA has the edge on them, except last fall when I went to get two rooms at a discounted rate, only the AARP discount would work.
Extremely rare that AAA will have more than 10% discount from regular advertised rates, and it's extremely rare that AAA discounts(or AARP) will be greater than the senior discount.
But, like I said, if you are not a senior citizen, then the AAA discount is better than paying the rack rate. If you are a senior, then I still hold with my opinion that you won't be saving any more money as a AAA member vs a senior discount.
I never go on a road trip without making all my motel reservations in advance. Either using their website or calling the motel gets the same price. Only takes a few minutes to check out the "best available rate" vs the AAA rate, the AARP rate and the Senior rate. About the only time I can't get a senior rate is if there is a special event going on(like a NASCAR race) and the motels jack up their rates and suspend their senior discount.
Some places(like hotels in national parks) don't offer any discount to AAA, AARP, senior etc. Same rate for everyone.
Last edited by JoesC5; May 20, 2017 at 03:00 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 41,732
Likes: 1,718
From: Springfield MO
I was never interested in AAA until a few years ago when I found myself owning two cars with no spare tires, no jacks, and non-runflat tires. And I take long road trips. I found the AAA Premier plan appealing, offering a tow up to 200 miles! In the event of a damaged tire or wheel or mechanical failure I could pick an actual Corvette dealer or Discount Tire store etc of my choosing, maybe near home.
I'm surprised that AAA towing covers me in any car I'm in, even if I'm riding in a friend's car.
I never considered AAA when cars had spare tires, I just changed my own. Now you hear stories of people stranded for days waiting for a correct tire or wheel to be located and shipped in. The 200 mile tow could get me and my car to the best place possible.
I'm surprised that AAA towing covers me in any car I'm in, even if I'm riding in a friend's car.
I never considered AAA when cars had spare tires, I just changed my own. Now you hear stories of people stranded for days waiting for a correct tire or wheel to be located and shipped in. The 200 mile tow could get me and my car to the best place possible.
Three of my cars have spare tires and the Z06(that I take on long road trips) has run flats. No way would I put non run flat tires on my Z06 and then head out west.
* only 3 miles on the base AAA membership. If you have a flat tire in Torrey, UT, you won't find a tire shop within 3 miles that can handle a wide Corvette tire. There is a Goodyear shop in Cedar City(185 miles away). There are many places that you can drive to on a road trip that won't be within 200 miles of a town with a tire shop that can handle Corvette tires.
Last edited by JoesC5; May 20, 2017 at 03:09 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,623
Likes: 1,134
From: Cincinnati OH
Holey crap -- what do you drive that's so unrelible that AAA pays for itself every year? I've had AAA for probably 30 years and maybe used it 4 or 5 times. It's peace of mind, but not a savings for me.
Last edited by hdrider1; May 20, 2017 at 03:11 PM. Reason: Spelling