Notifications
Clear all

anyone else feel like AAA insurance isn't what it used to be?

461 Posts
421 Users
0 Reactions
3,012 Views
geo896
Posts: 13
(@geo896)
Active Member
Joined:

Haha, that's pretty rough. Had a similar experience a while back—AAA guy showed up to jumpstart my old Mustang, and he looked genuinely confused by the battery placement. I ended up guiding him through it myself. Honestly, these days I just keep a basic toolkit and portable jump starter in the trunk...saves me the hassle and embarrassment of teaching someone else their job.

Reply
poetry_laurie
Posts: 9
(@poetry_laurie)
Active Member
Joined:

Had a similar experience recently, but mine was more of a head-scratcher. My mom's car battery died at the grocery store parking lot (typical luck, right?), and we called AAA thinking it'd be sorted quickly. The guy shows up, super friendly at first, but then he just stands there staring at the engine bay like it's some alien technology. Granted, it's a newer hybrid model, so things aren't exactly laid out traditionally...but still.

I watched him poke around for about 10 minutes, carefully trying not to intervene because I didn't want to be "that guy." Eventually though, he started pulling on random plastic covers and panels that definitely weren't meant to come off. At this point, I couldn't stay quiet anymore and politely suggested checking the manual (which was literally sitting in the glove compartment). He looked genuinely surprised that cars still came with manuals. 😂 Long story short, after flipping through a few pages together, we found the battery terminals hidden behind some fancy plastic housing.

I get that cars are getting more complicated these days—especially hybrids and EVs—but isn't AAA supposed to keep their techs trained on stuff like this? I mean, I'm just a student driver and even I figured it out with minimal effort. Not trying to bash them too hard; they've saved me plenty of times before. But lately it feels like calling them is becoming more of a gamble than a guarantee.

Anyway, lesson learned: I've started carrying one of those portable jump starters too—best investment ever. Now if only there were portable tire inflators that actually worked reliably...

Reply
Posts: 7
(@cocomitchell119)
Active Member
Joined:

Yeah, hybrids can be a real curveball for roadside assistance these days. I've noticed AAA techs seem hit-or-miss lately—some really know their stuff, others...not so much. Good call on the portable jump starter though, saved me more than once. Ever tried the tire inflators that plug into your car's 12V outlet? Not perfect, but they've gotten me out of a pinch a few times.

Reply
zeusc36
Posts: 9
(@zeusc36)
Active Member
Joined:

Yeah, those 12V inflators are lifesavers...until they're not. Had one bail me out after a nasty pothole incident at 2am (don't ask), but another time it took forever and barely got the tire halfway inflated. Honestly, AAA's been kinda sketchy lately—had a guy show up once who looked more confused than me about hybrids. Portable jump starters though? Pure gold. Saved my bacon more times than I'd like to admit.

Reply
ocean_cloud
Posts: 8
(@ocean_cloud)
Active Member
Joined:

I've had mixed luck with AAA myself. Last winter, I got stuck in a snowbank and the guy who showed up was a total pro—had me out in minutes. But another time, I waited almost two hours for a simple battery jump. Honestly, I've found that keeping a solid roadside assistance add-on through my regular insurance is cheaper and sometimes faster. AAA's perks are nice, but if you're budget-conscious like me, it's worth checking if your insurer offers something comparable for less.

Reply
Page 10 / 93
Share:
Scroll to Top