I’ve had AAA for years and honestly, I’m not giving it up any time soon. Maybe I’m just too cautious, but after that one time my battery died at a trailhead in the middle of nowhere, I realized how limited my insurance’s roadside coverage really was. They only towed me 7 miles—AAA would’ve gotten me all the way home. Plus, I don’t trust insurance companies not to jack up my rates over something minor like a flat tire call. For me, the extra cost is worth sleeping better at night.
Plus, I don’t trust insurance companies not to jack up my rates over something minor like a flat tire call.
I get where you’re coming from. I had a similar moment last winter—my car wouldn’t start after work, and the temp was in the teens. My insurance roadside plan sent a tow, but they only covered up to 10 miles. The nearest shop was 15 miles away, so I had to pay the difference out of pocket. That’s when I started looking into AAA. I also worry about insurance companies counting every little call against me. Sometimes peace of mind is worth a few extra bucks.
Honestly, I’ve had AAA and my insurance roadside, and both have let me down at the worst times. Last time I locked my keys in the car, AAA took two hours. Insurance was faster, but yeah, I’m still paranoid they’ll use it as an excuse to hike my rates. At this point, I just keep a spare key duct-taped under the bumper... probably not the safest, but hey, desperate times.
I can understand the frustration. Waiting two hours for AAA when you’re locked out is rough, especially if you’re somewhere unfamiliar or it’s late. I’ve been doing a lot of research lately since I’m about to pick my first auto insurance policy, and honestly, stories like yours make me second-guess the value of these roadside assistance add-ons.
You mentioned,
Insurance was faster, but yeah, I’m still paranoid they’ll use it as an excuse to hike my rates.
That’s actually one of my biggest concerns. I’ve read mixed info about whether using roadside through your insurer can impact premiums. Some people say it’s “no-fault” and won’t count against you, but others have said even a tow can show up as a claim on your record. It seems to depend on the company and maybe even the state you’re in. It’s not exactly reassuring.
As for the spare key trick—honestly, I get why you’d do it. I’ve considered those magnetic lock boxes that stick under the car, but then I worry someone will find it. There’s always a trade-off between convenience and security... Sometimes I wonder if just carrying an old-school hide-a-key is better than trusting a service that might or might not show up.
It seems like neither option is perfect. AAA has the reputation, but their response times are all over the place from what I’ve read. Insurance roadside is convenient but comes with that lingering fear of rate hikes or weird claim history issues down the line.
I guess at the end of the day, maybe redundancy is key? If one fails, you have a backup plan—even if that backup is duct tape and hope.
I’ve been in that spot—two kids in the back, groceries melting, and AAA nowhere in sight. That was enough for me to stash a spare key at my sister’s house (not under the car, I’m too paranoid). I’ve also used my insurance’s roadside once, and it did show up as a “service event” on my policy documents. Didn’t notice a rate hike, but it still made me uneasy seeing it there. Redundancy really is the only thing that gives me peace of mind... even if it means bugging family or hiding keys in weird places.