I get what you mean—my experience has been a mixed bag too. AAA’s come through for me a couple times, but there was one winter night where I swear I could’ve knit a sweater waiting for them. Insurance roadside, on the other hand, once surprised me by showing up in under 30 minutes. Maybe it’s just the luck of the draw... or maybe my car just likes to break down in the most inconvenient places. Either way, I keep both numbers handy, just in case.
It’s interesting hearing about your experiences with both. I’m actually in the process of buying my first insurance policy, and roadside assistance is one of those features I keep going back and forth on. I always assumed AAA was the gold standard, but now I’m not so sure. If insurance companies can sometimes be faster, maybe it’s worth just sticking with what’s bundled in my policy?
One thing I’m curious about—has anyone noticed a difference in the kind of help you get? Like, does AAA send their own people while insurance just contracts out to whoever’s closest? I’d hate to pay extra for AAA if it’s basically the same service. But then again, maybe AAA has more reliable coverage in rural areas? I don’t know... the whole thing feels like a gamble.
I’ve been down this road a few times (unfortunately), and honestly, I get where you’re coming from. I used to think AAA was the only way to go, but after a couple of years with them and then switching to my insurance’s roadside plan, I’m not convinced there’s a huge difference in who actually shows up. In my experience, both AAA and insurance usually just contract out to local tow companies or whoever’s available in the area. The truck that shows up isn’t branded AAA or anything—it’s just the nearest tow guy.
One thing I will say: AAA does seem to have a bigger network, especially if you’re out in the sticks. I broke down once on a backroad in the middle of nowhere, and AAA was able to find someone, but it took forever. My insurance plan (Geico) sent someone faster when I was in town, but I’ve heard stories about people waiting hours if they’re far from a city. It’s kind of a toss-up.
Coverage limits are another thing to watch out for. Some insurance plans only cover a certain number of miles for towing, or they’ll only pay up to a set dollar amount. AAA usually gives you more miles (depending on your membership level), but you’re paying extra for that. If you don’t drive much outside your city, maybe it’s not worth it.
Honestly, if you’re not super rural and don’t mind waiting a bit, the insurance add-on is probably fine. If you do a lot of road trips or drive in remote spots, AAA might be worth the peace of mind... but don’t expect miracles either way. Both have their flaws—sometimes you just get unlucky and end up waiting regardless of who you call.
I’d say read the fine print on both before deciding. And don’t assume AAA is automatically better just because of the name.
You’re spot on about the “who actually shows up” part. I used to think AAA had their own fleet everywhere, but it’s just the same local tow guys for both. Once, my car died at a rest stop off the interstate, and both AAA and my insurance gave me the same ETA—turns out, it was literally the same driver who contracts for both. The extra miles AAA offers can be handy if you travel a lot, but if you’re mostly in town, it really might not be worth the extra cash. Reading the fine print is key, like you said. It’s easy to get lulled by the brand name, but at the end of the day, you’re at the mercy of whoever’s on call in your area.
Honestly, I used to think AAA was like some superhero squad with their own trucks everywhere, but yeah, it’s just Bob from the local garage half the time. I get why people swear by AAA for those long-distance tows, but if you’re just running errands around town, insurance roadside is usually cheaper and does the same thing. The branding makes it feel fancier, but at the end of the day, you’re still waiting on whoever’s closest... and sometimes that’s not saying much. I’d rather save the cash unless I’m road-tripping a lot.
