I used to swear by AAA too, but honestly, I started looking at the numbers and realized I was paying for a lot of stuff I never used. My insurance roadside isn’t perfect, but it’s been fine for the basics—jump starts, flat tires, that kind of thing. Last year, I got towed about 12 miles and didn’t pay extra. Maybe it depends on the policy? For me, it just made more sense to cut out the extra membership fee. If I ever need something fancy like trip interruption or discounts, I guess I’ll reconsider, but for now, I’d rather keep that cash in my pocket.
Yeah, I hear you on the numbers not adding up. For me, AAA used to be a no-brainer, but lately I’m not sure it’s worth it unless you’re using all the perks. My classic car isn’t covered by my regular insurance for roadside, so I kinda have to keep AAA around… but for my daily driver, insurance roadside has been just fine. Only thing that bugs me is the wait times—AAA used to be faster, now it’s hit or miss. Guess it really depends on what you drive and how much you actually use the extras.
I kinda get where you’re coming from, but as someone who just started shopping for insurance, I’m honestly confused by all the “extras” everyone talks about. I looked at AAA and a couple others, and it feels like they all promise roadside, but then you read the fine print and it’s like, “We’ll tow your car... if you’re standing on one foot and it’s a Tuesday.” My friend swears by her insurance’s roadside, says she got a jump in 20 minutes last month. Maybe it’s just luck of the draw? I’m starting to think picking insurance is like picking a line at the grocery store—no matter what, you end up behind the guy with 47 coupons.
Man, I totally get what you mean about the fine print. I’ve been on a bunch of road trips over the years and honestly, I used to swear by AAA too. But lately, it does feel like there are more hoops to jump through. Last summer, my car battery died in the middle of nowhere Nevada, and I figured, “No problem, I’ve got AAA.” Ended up waiting almost two hours for a jump because apparently there was only one tow truck covering like three counties. Meanwhile, my buddy with some random insurance company got help in under half an hour when his tire blew out on the highway.
It really does feel like a coin toss sometimes. The perks sound great until you actually need them, then it’s all about where you are and who’s available. I still keep AAA for the discounts and maps (yeah, I’m old school), but I’m not as confident in their roadside help as I used to be. Picking insurance is definitely like picking that grocery line—sometimes you just get stuck behind the coupon king and there’s nothing you can do about it.
The perks sound great until you actually need them, then it’s all about where you are and who’s available.
That’s been my experience too. A couple months ago, I had a flat on a rural highway. Called AAA, waited over 90 minutes. I get that coverage depends on location, but it’s frustrating when you’re counting on them. I still keep the membership for the travel guides, but I’m starting to wonder if it’s worth it for roadside help anymore.
