Had a similar issue last summer—AAA took forever when my alternator went out on a road trip through Arizona. Temps were easily over 100 degrees, and sitting roadside for nearly two hours wasn't fun. After that, I started doing some digging into local tow companies ahead of time and found that smaller outfits usually have quicker response times and sometimes better pricing (especially if you're paying out-of-pocket).
AAA's still handy for peace of mind, and their discounts can offset membership costs if you use them enough. But yeah, relying solely on them for roadside emergencies isn't the smartest move anymore. Now I keep a short list of local tow and repair places saved on my phone whenever I'm traveling somewhere new. Takes maybe 10 minutes of research before the trip, but totally worth it if things go south.
Had a similar experience myself about six months ago. My battery died unexpectedly in a grocery store parking lot, and AAA quoted me over an hour wait. Ended up calling a local towing company instead—showed up in 20 minutes and charged less than AAA's out-of-pocket rate. I still keep AAA for the discounts and general convenience, but like you said, having a few local options handy is definitely the smarter move these days...
Had a pretty similar situation not long ago. My wife got stranded at her office parking garage after work—battery completely dead. She called AAA, and they estimated around 90 minutes. Since it was getting late, I suggested she try a local roadside service I remembered from a claim I handled a while back. They were there in about 25 minutes and charged noticeably less than AAA's quoted rate.
I still keep AAA around mostly for peace of mind and the occasional discount, but it does seem like their response times and overall value have slipped a bit over the years. Maybe they're stretched thin or something...who knows? But yeah, having a couple reliable local contacts saved in your phone is definitely worth the effort these days.
"having a couple reliable local contacts saved in your phone is definitely worth the effort these days."
Totally agree with this. I'm new to insurance and went with AAA for the reputation, but hearing stories like yours makes me think I should probably have a backup plan...just in case. Better safe than sorry, right?
Yeah, AAA's fine until you actually need something serious done. Best bet: 1) Find a local broker who knows luxury vehicles inside-out, 2) Keep their direct line handy, and 3) Double-check your coverage details yourself—trust me, saves headaches later.
