I hear you on the price creep—it’s definitely not what it used to be. But honestly, after what I paid for a flatbed tow for my S-Class last year (let’s just say it was more than a nice dinner out), I’m still hanging onto AAA. I’d love to see a pay-per-use model too, but with the way some of these specialty tows add up, I’d probably end up paying more in the long run.
I do wish they’d let us customize coverage a bit more. I don’t really need hotel reimbursement or lost luggage coverage either—just want someone who knows how to handle a low-clearance car without turning it into a very expensive paperweight. Still, peace of mind is worth something, especially when you’re driving something that’s not exactly cheap to fix. Guess it’s one of those “better safe than sorry” situations... even if it stings a bit at renewal time.
I totally get what you mean about the “better safe than sorry” thing, especially with a car that’s, let’s just say, not exactly a beater. I’m still pretty new to driving (just got my license last year), so I’m not rolling around in anything fancy—my car’s more “vintage hand-me-down” than S-Class—but even then, I’ve already had a couple of those “uhhh, what do I do now?” moments. First time I locked my keys in the car, I thought I’d just call a locksmith and be done with it. Joke was on me—turns out, that’s like a $100 mistake. My dad just shook his head and handed me the AAA card.
I do wonder if they could make it more flexible, though. Like, I don’t really need all the bells and whistles either. The hotel thing is kind of funny to me—if I break down, I’m probably just calling my parents, not checking into a Marriott. But the roadside stuff? That’s gold. I’ve heard horror stories from friends who tried to get a tow without AAA and ended up waiting forever or paying way more than they expected.
Still, the price hikes are real. My parents grumble about it every year at renewal time. I guess it’s one of those things where you don’t really appreciate it until you’re stranded on the side of the road at midnight, wishing you’d paid for the “expensive paperweight” insurance. I’d probably be more annoyed if I was paying for it myself, but for now, I’m just glad someone else is footing the bill.
Curious if there’s ever going to be a “student driver” discount or something. I feel like I’m way less likely to need a tow than my dad, who somehow manages to get a flat tire every other month...
Curious if there’s ever going to be a “student driver” discount or something. I feel like I’m way less likely to need a tow than my dad, who somehow manages to get a flat tire every other month...
Funny, I’m the opposite—my driving record is, let’s just say, not spotless. I’ve needed AAA more times than I care to admit, so for me, the price hikes sting but still feel worth it. The hotel thing is weird though. Never met anyone who actually used that perk. Would be nice if they let us pick and choose what we pay for instead of bundling everything together.
I get what you mean about the bundled perks. I drive a higher-end car and honestly, I care way more about reliable roadside service than hotel discounts or travel planning. The idea of picking and choosing services would make so much more sense, especially since everyone’s needs are so different.
On the student driver discount—interesting thought. I wonder how they’d even calculate risk there? I know younger drivers statistically have more accidents, but if you’re not using the service much, seems like there should be some flexibility.
I’ve actually used the hotel discount once, but only because it was the only option in a pinch. Not a game changer. What really bugs me is how the membership cost keeps creeping up, but the core services (like towing distance) haven’t improved much. Anyone else notice wait times getting longer lately, too? Maybe it’s just my area, but it feels like the value’s slipping compared to what it used to be.
Yeah, I’ve noticed the wait times creeping up, too. Used to be you’d call and someone was there in 20-30 minutes—now it can be over an hour, at least where I am. The perks are nice on paper, but I agree... most folks just want solid roadside help. The price hikes sting, especially when the basics don’t seem to be improving. I do think risk calculations for student drivers are tricky, but there should be more flexibility for low-usage members. Just feels like they’re not listening to what people actually want anymore.
