Used to be, I’d swear by AAA—especially with my ‘72 Dart. But last summer, I had a dead battery and the tow was only 7 miles. Ended up with a surprise charge for “overage.” Here’s what I do now: 1) Check your policy for tow limits before you need it. 2) Keep a local towing number handy as backup. 3) If you’ve got an older car, ask around for shops that offer their own roadside help. Sometimes it’s cheaper and faster, even if there’s no cappuccino while you wait...
Yeah, I’ve noticed AAA isn’t quite the lifesaver it used to be. Had a flat tire last winter and waited almost two hours for help, which never happened before. Ended up calling a local shop myself. I still keep the membership for peace of mind, but honestly, having a backup number like you said is smart. Feels like you gotta double-check everything these days...
Yeah, I get what you mean.
That’s exactly it. Last year, I had to file a claim after a fender bender and the process dragged on way longer than I expected. Used to be pretty straightforward, but now I feel like I’m always following up or double-checking paperwork. Maybe it’s just more people using the service now? Or maybe they’ve cut back on staff? Either way, I keep a list of local tow numbers in my glovebox—just in case. Anyone else notice their rates creeping up too, or is that just me being cheap?“Feels like you gotta double-check everything these days...”
Title: AAA Insurance Just Feels Slower Lately
Yeah, I’ve noticed the same thing—claims just don’t move as fast as they used to. I had a minor scrape in a parking lot last fall and expected it to be a quick fix, but it turned into two weeks of back-and-forth emails. I kept thinking I’d missed something or filled out a form wrong, but nope, just seemed like it was dragging for no obvious reason.
Your point about more people using the service is interesting. I wonder if it’s that, or if they’re just not keeping up staff-wise. It’s hard to tell from the outside, but either way, it does make me feel like I have to track every step and keep receipts for everything. I even started keeping a little folder in my glovebox for random paperwork—never used to bother before.
The rates thing is real though, not just you. My premium went up this year and I have a clean record. I called to ask why, and got the usual “cost of repairs going up” answer. Not sure how much of that is legit versus just standard company line. Feels like every insurance company is hiking rates lately though, so maybe it’s just the industry.
I get the sense that things are just generally more complicated than they used to be. Maybe it’s all the new tech they use, or maybe more people are submitting claims online and clogging up the system? Either way, you’re not alone in feeling like you have to double-check everything. Kind of frustrating, but at least having backup tow numbers is a smart move—never hurts to be prepared.
At this point, I’m just hoping next time I need them, it’ll go smoother... but not holding my breath.
I’ve been feeling the same way about AAA lately, and honestly, it’s a bit of a letdown. I’ve been a member for over a decade—mostly because I do a lot of long-distance driving and like having that peace of mind. But the last time I had to file a claim (fender bender on a road trip in Arizona), it was just a mess. Used to be, you’d call, talk to a real person, and things would get rolling pretty quick. This time, it was all online forms, then waiting days for a response, then more forms. I swear, half the time I felt like I was just resending the same info.
I get that things are changing—more people on the roads, more claims, maybe not enough staff. But if they’re going to keep hiking rates, shouldn’t the service at least stay consistent? I’m not buying the “cost of repairs” excuse either. Sure, parts are pricier, but my car’s not some fancy EV or anything. Feels like they’re just passing along costs without improving anything on their end.
One thing I’ve started doing is keeping a running log of every interaction—dates, names, what was said. It’s a pain, but after getting burned by a miscommunication last year (they claimed I never sent a photo when I definitely did), I don’t trust their system to keep track anymore. Maybe that’s just the new normal with insurance companies, but it’s frustrating.
Funny enough, roadside assistance is still solid for me—had a flat in the middle of nowhere last spring and they showed up in under an hour. But the insurance side? Not what it used to be. I’m tempted to shop around, but honestly, they all seem about the same these days. Maybe it’s just nostalgia talking, but I miss when this stuff felt simpler.