AAA - my new American $50 friend

[trailmix 77]

So I just put a membership application/payment in the mailbox for the automobile association and it made me think.

In Canada if we had a dead battery or the car broke down, there was always someone to call for rescue - here - there is AAA

We did join CAA before we left Alberta, Calgary to Florida is a long car trip and I figured if the car broke down we would have no idea who to call (and it did break down!) So now i'm thinking, if the car broke down here - who would we call? Really my Husband does the driving, so if he needed car help and he called me to find a tow truck or something, who would I call - I have no idea.

It's just something I guess you kind of take for granted when you are on 'home turf'.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

I'm with you - my husband does all the driving (since I never learned l) and he would know, but I certainly wouldn't

I realized recently - I don't actually know a cab company to call even - I see plenty around, but in an emergency, I probably wouldn't remember a name.

I don't know about anyone else, but I find I kind of hang back and let Don handle a lot of stuff...he knows who to call, he knows the names of places etc etc.... whereas I used to know all that back home. Very definitely taken for granted

[SapphireDreams 71]

Even though I get really annoyed with him, R always makes me figure things out on my own. Tough love I guess, LOL.

Just the other day I asked him where the DMV is and he wouldn't tell me and made me look it up. He won't be around all the time so I need to be able to find my way around without him. Luckily, I've spent lots of time alone in NYC and find the transit system easy to navigate... but it can be pretty overwhelming!

Sometimes I get really overwhelmed by the thought of getting a job in Manhattan and just working and living in and around the city like it's normal. Should be interesting.

[beans 7]

I've never had CAA. Jeremy is mechanically inclined so he could help me. And when in doubt I would just dial #TAXI but who knows if that service works in the states lol.

[reeses16 8]

Don't you love AAA? They have saved me a lot of headaches. Unfortunately I had to have my car towed twice- hit and run accident & a breakdown (the car couldn't turn left or right!) on Thanksgiving Eve. Both times they came quickly and there was not extra paperwork, reimbursement, etc. to deal with.

[JillA 2]

I got auto insurance with Geico when I moved here, and they have emergency assitance as part of their regular package so I just call some 1-800 # and a tow truck is supposed to come find me!

[carslo 0]

The Geico works even in Canada, my daughter's b/f lives in Seattle and we are in Vancouver area. The ignition on his Focus became locked with visiting us, and all he did was phone Geico and they sent a truck and towed his car to the Ford dealership. BTW this is a frequent problem with the Focus model - but there has not been a recall.

My BCAA memebership is up for renewal this month and I have been debating whether or not to renew it for another year, as it would still be usable in California this topic has clarified things in my mind - Yes renew.

Janet

Edited May 4, 2009 by carslo

[CDAgirlMI 51]

Living in Canada, I have CAA membership. Have been a member for years now. I will always re-new it every year. I've had to use their services 4 times since October(loooong stories there!). 3/4 times I didn't pay anything, as it was included with membership.

I would totally recommend CAA/AAA.

Plus, I have my travel insurance with them as well.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I always had CAA in Canada and used it a number of times - everything from being locked out, to running out of gas in the middle of the night (didn't account for the strong headwind!) to flat tires to a broken water pump. Would never leave home without it - in fact, one of the lock outs occured when in the US and I was able to call AAA and they honoured my CAA account. We have AAA here and Joe had to use it once when the computer system on his car locked and he couldn't get the car out of 2nd gear - on I-75. They towed it to his garage at no charge. I had to use it once for a dead battery and appreciated their assistance. I feel much more comfortable knowing that I have it available if I do need it.

[Hugglebuggles 60]

I guess I've been living on the edge! I don't have CAA... I have dear 'ol daddy

In the US my fiance's parents own an automotive business... So I think I will still have a rescuer in the future. But does it really only cost $50 to join AAA? That may be worth it!

[Marilyn. 340]

I guess I've been living on the edge! I don't have CAA... I have dear 'ol daddy

In the US my fiance's parents own an automotive business... So I think I will still have a rescuer in the future. But does it really only cost $50 to join AAA? That may be worth it!

yeah 50 bucks will give you 4 calls for the year.. and you can get a second membership for your SO for about $25.. and they would get 4 calls too..

[trailmix 77]

I guess I've been living on the edge! I don't have CAA... I have dear 'ol daddy

In the US my fiance's parents own an automotive business... So I think I will still have a rescuer in the future. But does it really only cost $50 to join AAA? That may be worth it!

Actually it's $64 for the primary and $30 for the spouse, but I got this discount offer thing in the mail.

I'm sure if you mentioned it they would give you the discount.

[Marilyn. 340]

I guess I've been living on the edge! I don't have CAA... I have dear 'ol daddy

In the US my fiance's parents own an automotive business... So I think I will still have a rescuer in the future. But does it really only cost $50 to join AAA? That may be worth it!

Actually it's $64 for the primary and $30 for the spouse, but I got this discount offer thing in the mail.

I'm sure if you mentioned it they would give you the discount.

here in Cali it is $47 for the primary (with a $20 fee for new members) and it is $24 for the spouse

but like you said if you get the offer in the mail, the new member fee is only 2 bucks...

[Ling Ling 22]

So is CAA more like AAA or more like AA in the UK?

In the UK, AA will come out and actually try to fix your car before they tow it.

AAA in the US, will bring gas, jump start a battery, change a flat, send a locksmith, or tow your car; but that's all.

Also, I don't think AAA actually has their own fleet, just an operator who will locate and dispatch

a service for you. When I was younger (and didn't have a radar detector) I appreciated the fact that

you could use the AAA card as a bond card, so if you received a ticket, you could offer the AAA card, and retain your license.

They also offered a free world atlas, and free trip routing. I think AAA is a bit outdated today...but Your Mileage May Vary.

[Carlawarla 1]

We too got a discount coupon in the mail and thought it might be wise to get AAA. We did so for a year. We used, or tried to use it twice. What a joke. Once was when we were in Florida in fact. They contract out to local garages etc. so they had trouble even finding one in our area. We had numerous phone calls and one operator even said he could get to us, but not until later that evening because he was "busy". One of our rear tires was stuck in a ditch, and we needed a tow out.

We called this 1-800 number, and after 5 hours of waiting and numerous phone calls, we just accepted a pull out by someone passing by. (We had lots of people stop by however we told them, we're good to go, we have AAA!) ha.

The second time we had to use them was in Missouri, and it was because our car wouldn't start, we later found out it was a battery issue, and again, we got a run-around when we called and a wait time of who knows when because again they couldn't find a service person in our area. WTH?

I think the local operator gets paid by AAA probably months after they perform the service, and perhaps with a lot of paperwork, so maybe they just don't like to do it, or they're not affiliated.

I had CAA in Canada and never had any trouble. Now we have a new car, and the manufacturer offers a 3 year roadside assistance package.