I had a similar experience last year when my battery died in the middle of nowhere. AAA said they'd send someone within an hour, but it ended up being almost three because they dispatched a truck from way out of town. The driver was cool about it, but even he admitted it would've been quicker if they'd just called the local garage down the road.
Since then, I've switched to roadside assistance through my car insurance. It's bundled into my policy and honestly, it's been pretty reliable so far. Had a flat tire a couple months ago and they got someone out to me in about 30 minutes—way better than waiting hours like before. Price-wise, it's cheaper too since it's part of my insurance package.
AAA isn't terrible or anything, but I think you're onto something with them needing more local partnerships. Rural areas especially seem to be their weak spot lately...
Had a similar issue recently, but honestly, I think it depends a lot on where you are. AAA saved my butt plenty of times in the city, but last month when I got stuck out near my cousin's farm, it was a whole different story. Took foreverrrr. Maybe they're just not set up well for rural areas? Might have to check out the insurance-bundled thing though, sounds like a decent deal...
"Maybe they're just not set up well for rural areas?"
Yeah, you're spot on there. AAA is usually pretty reliable in urban spots, but rural coverage can be hit or miss. Here's a quick tip from someone who's seen it all: always double-check your roadside assistance coverage area before heading out to the sticks. Insurance-bundled roadside assistance can be a lifesaver—plus, bundling usually saves you some cash. Just make sure to read the fine print...you don't wanna find out the hard way that "nationwide coverage" has exceptions when you're stuck knee-deep in mud at 2 AM.
That's a good point about bundled coverage, but I wonder—does anyone know if insurance companies actually keep track of how often you use roadside assistance? Like, could frequent calls end up raising your premiums later on? Seems a bit risky...
"Like, could frequent calls end up raising your premiums later on? Seems a bit risky..."
Honestly, I think you're overthinking it. Roadside assistance is usually handled separately from your actual insurance claims. I've called AAA at least four or five times in one year (old car problems...), and my premium didn't budge. If you're worried though, maybe just go with a standalone roadside service—less hassle, clear separation, and no paranoia about premium hikes.
