Same here, always felt AAA was kinda redundant. My insurance roadside has bailed me out twice—dead battery once, keys locked in another time—and both times they showed up pretty quick. AAA perks sound nice on paper, but realistically, how often am I booking hotels or renting cars? Still, I guess if you travel a ton, those discounts might add up...but for daily commuting, bundled roadside seems plenty.
"AAA perks sound nice on paper, but realistically, how often am I booking hotels or renting cars?"
Yeah, that's pretty much my thinking too. I've had bundled roadside assistance through my insurance for years and it's always been enough. But one thing I've been wondering lately—does anyone know if insurance roadside assistance covers you if you're driving someone else's car? Like, say you're borrowing a friend's car and end up with a flat tire or dead battery...would your own coverage still kick in, or would you be stuck relying on theirs? Never really thought about it until recently when I borrowed my brother's car for a weekend trip. Luckily nothing happened, but it got me thinking about the fine print.
I guess AAA covers the person rather than the vehicle, right? Maybe that's one of the few scenarios where AAA could actually be handy. Curious if anyone's had experience with this scenario or knows how different insurers handle it.
Most insurance roadside assistance I've dealt with usually follows the car, not the driver. Learned that the hard way when I borrowed my buddy's ancient Corolla and ended up stranded with a dead battery...AAA would've been handy right about then, haha.
Yeah, that's pretty much spot-on from what I've seen too. A lot of folks assume roadside assistance is tied to the driver, but most insurance companies definitely link it to the vehicle itself. A couple things I've noticed over the years working in claims:
- AAA is one of the few exceptions—it's tied directly to the member, not the car. So if you're someone who borrows or rents cars often, AAA can be a lifesaver. Learned that myself when my wife's car broke down while I was driving it...thankfully, my AAA membership covered it without any hassle.
- Some insurance companies do offer optional coverage that follows the driver, but it's usually an add-on and not standard. Worth checking your policy details if you're someone who switches cars frequently or borrows from friends/family.
- Also, keep in mind that roadside assistance through your insurance might have limits on how many times you can use it per year or how far they'll tow you. AAA tends to be a bit more generous with mileage, especially if you upgrade your membership tier.
- Another thing to consider: if you have a newer car, sometimes the manufacturer's warranty includes roadside assistance for a certain period. My brother had no idea his new Subaru came with free roadside for 3 years until he got stranded and called me panicking, haha.
Anyway, glad you figured out your state's minimums and saved some cash. Insurance can be confusing as heck, but once you get the hang of it, it's nice knowing exactly what you're paying for.
Good points overall, but I'm wondering—is AAA really worth it if you don't travel or borrow cars often? Seems like standard insurance roadside coverage might be enough for most people...unless I'm missing something here.