AAA?

Not sure if this is the right forum, but anyone here have/use AAA? I've had it for almost 40 years, and about five years ago, upgraded to Premier service, which gives you the free 200 mile, two free 100 mile and several of the 5 mile tows.

My starter battery in my 2014 Prius finally died after 9 years and 150k miles. Got my money's worth. But taking all day for a two truck to come to my house (in suburbs, not far), to take to my mechanic to check the car out and replace the battery. I'd do it myself if it was any of my regular, non-hybrid cars.

I called just before 1100 hrs, ETA 1315 hrs. Just got call, some sort of mistake, now coming at 1545 hrs. Four hours for a tow? And for the Premier service? Glad this isn't one of my daughters stuck somewhere.

Just curious if anyone else here has dealt with this issue. My mechanic just told me that he's seeing this a lot with AAA.

 

As a part time tow truck driver; AAA pays shit for calls. A lot of times what they pay will barely cover the cost per mile cost of the truck let alone pay the driver. As a result they call around to their list of area providers to find someone to take it. They have to keep expanding their circle until someone does. That company may just sit on it till another roadside assistance company calls with a 2nd nearby or a call that can be used as a back haul. To keep the lights on tow companies have to have steady customers that provide regular business like IAAA or Copart. So the tower will take the AAA calls on a return run from moving an IAAA wrecked car. Say while the driver is unloading the IAAA car, Copart calls with another junker to be moved. They pay double AAA so AAA is to the back of the line.

If you are lucky to have a AAA exclusive tower in your area you may be in luck but those are getting few and far between. A final note is AAA isn't going to give a very high priority to a broken down car in your driveway compared to a family stranded at roadside. Right, wrong or indifferent that's the way it is.

If the weather is crappy forget about using your roadside assistance; cash calls go to the head of the line, motor clubs might be taken the next day or next week.

One way around it is to call a tower yourself, pay the bill out of pocket and submit it for reimbursement to AAA. If it's not outrageous they will pay the full amount

We are a body shop, repair shop and tow service. I can turn wrenches in the shop for $100/hr or do a $30 fuel delivery for AAA that takes an hour. Which makes the best business sense?

 

Thearborbarber’s response is consistent with my experience, and makes sense. I’ve had aaa for over 20 years. Their service respond pretty quickly to breakdowns in traffic, but locked keys in cars and dead batteries (both in parking lots) take a while. Still, it’s good to have the option, and they’ve helped anybody I’ve been with to show my card (strangers, friends, etc). They also have given me the best rate on car insurance the past three terms.

 

I have had AAA premier service for years. I was broke down on the side of the road in August in Georgia. AAA said it would be two hours for tow. It was a 100 degrees and my wife can't take the heat. I called a tow company I had used before and I asked them if they had a wrecker available. They said yes. I asked them if they took AAA. They said yes and they would be there in 20 minutes. They towed my car and charged it to AAA. That was my standard OP from then on. I called AAA and jacked them up about this. I can find a wrecker on the first call but you did not want to use them because they charge you more. AAA sent me all kinds of free stuff and lower the renewal price for the next renewal. I am thinking about switching to Allstate service but I don't know if they would be worse or not. They are alot cheaper. LOL.

 

I do know that AAA will choose the closest tow shop, but the tow shop won’t put you on priority. I’ve also gotten huge attitude from tow guys when I want to fulfill my 100 mile tow. I’ve heard of guys getting turned down for trying to utilize their 100 mile tow also.

It would be a great idea for them to choose the fastest, but it’s mostly on the closest tow shop in their system.

Quick story:
My wife and two of her girlfriends broke down about 40 miles from the house. Told the tow guy they needed a tow home and he was a little too excited to do so. I was already en route so they took my truck home and I rode home with a very disappointed and cranky tow truck driver.

 

I don't blame the two truck driver. And I tipped him, as I usually do, because I know AAA is looking for lowest bidder. I guess I incorrectly expected more for Premier service. The main reason I have premier is because one of my daughter's lives about a half hour away, and I camp/hunt a lot so I want the free 200 and 100 mile towing service, if I ever needed it. I figure if I used it one time, it would cover the AAA annual fee for several years.

 

I’ve used them a couple of times with a 97 Silverado. Still have it and have used them for discounts on rentals and hotels. Funny enough, sometimes AAA rate at hotels is cheaper than GOV rate.

 

AAA also gives you a pretty decent discount at NAPA.

Also it seems everyone under the sun has some type of roadside assistance (like you auto insurance, verison, your credit card company, etc.). They don't actually administer the roadside assistance; instead they contract with a company like Agero. They pay slightly better and may get better response time but in in-climate weather all motorclubs go to the end of the line.

 

I use them for battery replacements. Their AGM batteries in my area are a good $60 cheaper than the auto parts stores.