I totally get the “naming the ants” thing—been there, done that.
Haha, yeah, I’ve had my fair share of “ant-naming” moments on the side of the road too. As for insurance roadside counting as a claim, I’ve heard both sides but in my experience (with two different companies over the years), it did end up on my record as a claim—nothing major, but enough to make me think twice. That’s why I stick with AAA now.
I started with the basic plan for a while, but after getting stranded about 60 miles from home in my old ‘72 Chevy (long story involving a stubborn fuel pump), I upgraded to Plus. The extra towing distance was worth it for peace of mind, especially with an older car. If you’re mostly local and your daily driver’s reliable, basic might be fine. But if you’re like me and drive something that’s got “character,” Plus is a solid investment.
Honestly, insurance roadside is tempting because it’s usually free or cheap, but I’d rather not risk a ding on my record over a dead battery or flat tire. Just my two cents.
“I upgraded to Plus. The extra towing distance was worth it for peace of mind, especially with an older car.”
Couldn’t agree more on the towing distance—those extra miles are a lifesaver when you’re rolling in something vintage. I tried insurance roadside once, but after they logged it as a claim, I switched to AAA Plus and never looked back. For anyone with a “character car,” it’s just less stress all around.
Yeah, that claim logging with insurance roadside is a dealbreaker for me too. I’ve seen friends get dinged on their rates over what felt like minor calls. AAA Plus just feels safer, especially if you’re out in the sticks or driving something finicky. Those extra miles really do add up.
I’ve actually had this debate with myself a bunch of times. I used to just stick with my insurance company’s roadside, thinking it’d be one less thing to pay for. But after my car died in the middle of nowhere last winter, I changed my mind. The tow truck took forever, and when I called my insurer later about something unrelated, they brought up that roadside claim. Didn’t love that.
With AAA Plus, yeah, it’s a little extra each year, but the peace of mind is worth it for me. I drive an older Civic that’s usually solid, but you never know when something random will go wrong. Those longer tow miles are huge—especially if you’re not close to a big town. Only downside is remembering to keep the card handy... I always lose mine in random jacket pockets.
I get why some folks stick with their insurance, though. It’s convenient and sometimes bundled in for “free.” Just depends how much you want to risk your rates getting nudged up over something small.
I totally get the struggle with losing the AAA card. Mine’s probably in the glove box, or maybe my hiking backpack… who knows. But honestly, that’s the only hassle I’ve had with them.
I’m pretty practical (read: cheap), so I stuck with my insurance’s “free” roadside for a while. But the last time I got a flat, it took them almost two hours to send help, and then my agent mentioned the claim at renewal time. That’s when I realized those little “freebies” can come back to bite you.
“Just depends how much you want to risk your rates getting nudged up over something small.”
Exactly this. I’d rather pay a bit extra for AAA and keep my insurance record clean. Plus, the longer tow range is a lifesaver if you ever drive outside city limits. My car’s not fancy, but it’s old enough that I don’t want to gamble on being stranded somewhere rural.
Honestly, if you’re super tight on money and never leave town, maybe insurance roadside is fine. But I’d rather skip one coffee a month and know I’m covered without worrying about my premiums inching up over a dead battery or flat tire.
And yeah, keeping track of that card is its own adventure... but at least AAA never gave me grief for using their service.