Honestly, I ditched AAA last year after waiting almost three hours with two cranky kids and a melting bag of groceries. Tried my insurance’s roadside once—surprisingly faster, plus it’s just bundled in. The travel discounts were nice, but I barely used them anyway.
Yeah, I get what you mean about those wait times—three hours is rough, especially with kids in the car. I’ve seen a lot of folks switch to their insurance’s roadside for the same reason. Honestly, the bundled service is usually just as fast (sometimes faster), and you’re already paying for it anyway. Those travel perks sound great on paper, but if you’re not using them much, it’s hard to justify sticking around just for that. Still, I always tell people to double-check what’s actually covered... some policies leave out stuff like lockouts or towing distance. Just worth a peek before you’re stranded again.
Had a similar experience last winter—my S-Class got a flat, called AAA, and waited nearly 2.5 hours. My insurer’s roadside actually showed up faster the next time. But yeah, some policies cap towing at 10 miles... not ideal if you’re far from home.
Yeah, I’ve noticed AAA just isn’t what it used to be. I remember when my parents had it, they’d brag about how fast and reliable it was—like, you could count on them showing up in under an hour, no matter where you were. Now? Last time we had a breakdown (minivan, dead battery, pouring rain, kids in the backseat losing their minds), it took almost two hours for help to arrive. And that was in town, not even out in the sticks.
The thing that really gets me is the towing cap you mentioned. Ten miles barely gets you across town in some places. What’s the point if you’re stranded on a road trip or even just outside city limits? I get that they’re probably trying to keep costs down, but it feels like they’re cutting corners on the stuff that actually matters to families—like reliability and peace of mind.
Honestly, I’m starting to wonder if it’s even worth renewing. My car insurance roadside assistance isn’t perfect, but at least they don’t nickel-and-dime you with mileage limits. Plus, they actually showed up faster the one time I needed them. Maybe AAA’s just coasting on their reputation at this point. Or maybe it’s just too many people using the service now and they can’t keep up?
I do wish there were more options out there for families who just want straightforward, dependable help without all the fine print. Feels like you have to read every word of the policy these days just to avoid getting burned when you actually need help.
I get where you’re coming from, but I think it’s worth taking a step back before ditching AAA altogether. Here’s the thing: every roadside assistance plan—whether it’s AAA, your car insurance, or even something bundled with your credit card—has its own fine print and limits. The ten-mile tow cap is annoying, yeah, but a lot of insurance-based roadside plans only cover to the “nearest qualified repair facility,” which can be just as limiting if you want your car towed to your trusted mechanic across town.
Here’s what I usually tell people:
1. Actually read the details (I know, boring, but it matters).
2. Compare what you’d pay for extra miles or services with each provider.
3. Look at how claims are handled—some insurance companies outsource everything, so you might get a random local tow company anyway.
4. Consider how often you really use these services. If it’s once every few years, maybe the cheapest option is fine.
Honestly, none of these services are perfect anymore. It’s all about picking the one that’ll annoy you the least when things go sideways. And yeah, it’s a pain... but that’s insurance for you.
