I get where you’re coming from about the exclusions—some of those budget plans really do seem to find every loophole possible. But I’ve actually had a pretty different experience with AAA, at least compared to the other cheap roadside options. Here’s what I’ve learned after juggling family road trips and a couple of “oops, keys locked in the car” moments:
1. Read through the fine print (yeah, it’s a pain). AAA’s basic plan actually does cover lockouts, but some of those budget ones only help if you’re stranded on the highway or something super specific.
2. If you’ve got kids or do a lot of driving, upgrading to their Plus or Premier plans might be worth it. They throw in more miles for towing and better coverage for stuff like lost keys.
3. Keep an eye on your auto insurance too—some policies sneak in roadside assistance that’s just as good or better than standalone plans.
Honestly, I’ve tried cutting corners with those cheaper services and always ended up regretting it when it mattered. Sometimes paying a bit more upfront saves you headaches down the road... literally.
That’s actually super helpful, thanks for breaking it down. I’m shopping around for my first policy and honestly, the fine print is making my head spin. Didn’t even realize some insurance policies already include roadside stuff—guess I should double-check that before paying extra for AAA. The “more miles for towing” thing is interesting too, since I do a lot of weekend trips out of town. Feels like every plan has a catch somewhere... kinda wish there was just a simple chart comparing all this.
I totally get what you mean about the fine print—it's like they purposely make it confusing. I remember staring at all those coverage charts and just feeling lost. One thing that helped me was making a little spreadsheet with the stuff I actually care about, like towing miles, lockout service, and trip interruption. Not gonna lie, I was surprised to find my regular car insurance already had some basic roadside coverage baked in (definitely not as much as AAA, but enough for most city driving).
If you’re doing a lot of out-of-town trips, that “towing distance” thing is huge. Some policies only cover like 5-10 miles, which barely gets you to the next exit... Others will do up to 100 miles but cost more. It’s a pain to compare, but it’s worth checking before dropping extra cash on a separate plan.
Honestly, I wish there was a simple chart too. It’s wild how much time this eats up just to avoid paying for something twice or getting stuck with junk coverage. Hang in there—it feels overwhelming at first but it gets easier once you know what matters most for your situation.
I hear you on the fine print—last year I spent way too long trying to figure out if my AAA Plus was actually worth it or if I was just paying for the sticker on my windshield. Ended up calling their customer service after getting stranded with a dead battery in a grocery store parking lot, and let me tell you, the “free tow” only covered seven miles. Seven. After that, it was something like $7 a mile, which adds up fast if you’re not in your own neighborhood.
What really got me was realizing my regular insurance actually had roadside assistance for like $10 a year. Not as many bells and whistles, but honestly, how often do I need trip interruption or bail bond coverage? The main thing I care about is getting my car off the side of the road without having to sell a kidney.
I get why people love AAA for road trips or if you’re driving older cars, but for me, it started feeling like I was paying twice for stuff I barely used. The spreadsheet idea is smart—I did something similar but just scribbled notes on a legal pad comparing what each plan actually covered versus what I’d realistically use. Most of the time, those “premium” features sound good until you realize they come with so many restrictions they’re almost useless.
Not saying AAA’s all bad—my parents swear by it—but these days I’m more likely to just keep jumper cables in the trunk and hope for the best. If you’re mostly city driving and your insurance has basic roadside, that might be enough. But yeah, those coverage charts are a headache... half the time it feels like you need a law degree just to know what’s included and what’s not.
Anyway, just my two cents from one cheapskate to another.
But yeah, those coverage charts are a headache... half the time it feels like you need a law degree just to know what’s included and what’s not.
Yeah, those “premium” features sound good until you realize they come with so many restrictions they’re almost useless. I had the same realization when my friend’s AAA tow wouldn’t even get her halfway home. Honestly, for city driving, basic roadside from your insurance plus a set of jumper cables is way less hassle. I still keep the AAA card in my wallet out of habit, but not convinced it’s worth the price anymore.
