Not gonna lie, I get the AAA love, but I’ve seen insurance roadside actually come through faster in some cases. The phone maze is real, but once you’re in the system, they usually just dispatch whoever’s closest. And sometimes their network is bigger than AAA’s, especially in weird rural spots.
“I got stuck in Nevada once and had to pay out-of-pocket because my ‘coverage area’ mysteriously ended at the state border...”
That one stings. But I’ve had AAA leave me hanging for hours too—guess it’s a toss-up depending on where you break down. At least with insurance, it’s bundled in and you don’t have to remember another membership renewal... unless you like collecting cards in your wallet.
- I keep both, honestly. Maybe I’m just paranoid, but I’ve had AAA show up fast *and* leave me hanging for ages.
- Insurance roadside is hit-or-miss too... last winter, they sent a tow from 60 miles away when there was a shop literally down the block.
- The “coverage area” thing is real—my cousin had to pay out of pocket in the middle of nowhere Montana because AAA said nope.
- At least insurance is bundled, but I get nervous about their limits (like, 3 tows a year or whatever).
- Basically, I trust neither 100%, but hope one saves me when it counts.
I totally get where you’re coming from. I’ve had AAA save my bacon a couple times—once when my battery died in a sketchy parking lot, and another time when I locked my keys in the car (facepalm). But then there was that one winter night when I waited almost three hours for a tow, and by the time they showed up, I’d already called a friend to bail me out. Insurance roadside has been a mixed bag too. They were super fast once, but another time, they sent a guy from two towns over when there was literally a garage across the street.
Honestly, I keep both for peace of mind. It feels like whichever one you *don’t* have is the one you’ll need. The coverage area thing is real—my uncle got stuck in rural Idaho and AAA just shrugged. I guess it’s all about stacking the odds in your favor. You’re not paranoid at all; you’re just prepared. Better to have options than be stranded, right?
I hear you on the long waits. I’ve had AAA leave me hanging for hours too, and honestly, that’s not great when you’re stuck somewhere sketchy or it’s freezing out. Insurance roadside isn’t much better in my experience—sometimes they act like they’re doing you a favor just showing up at all. Once, I got a flat on the interstate and both services said it’d be “at least two hours.” Ended up changing the tire myself, which was a pain but faster.
If I had to pick, I’d go with whichever one actually answers the phone and gives a real ETA. But yeah, having both is smart if you drive a lot or have bad luck (like me). Neither is perfect, but at least you’ve got options when things go sideways.
Honestly, you nailed it—neither one’s a sure thing. In my experience, AAA is more consistent, but only slightly. Insurance roadside is usually just a third-party contractor anyway, and sometimes they’ll nickel-and-dime you for stuff AAA would cover. If you’re driving a lot, I’d say keep both, but don’t expect miracles. At the end of the day, having a spare and knowing how to use it saves way more time than waiting around for either service.
