AAA opinions

[CMW0021]

I am sure this has been asked before but with the search function currently disabled, figured I would ask. I am looking for feedback on AAA and whether or not you feel it is worth the cost of membership outside the vehicle breakdown issues. I have a company car and have roadside assistance through my company so I wouldn't need it for that. Where have you seen success at using the discount? Why do you continue to renew your membership or why did you decide to non-renew. Thanks for the feedback!

 

[geckodani]

Well, it recently saved me 25% on a last minute Disney reservation, and we were also able to get discounted Sea World tickets.

 

[amcnj]

Check out their site and see what discounts there are and determine if you would make much use of them. I imagine the main portion of their fees go to the auto end of things, so if you are not really using those services, it would take a lot of discounts on other things to break even.

 

[Ginny Favers]

I'm an AAA member, but I've found that the last few times I've booked, I could do better with other offers. I haven't had to use them for towing or anything, but the main reason I keep it is because I'm afraid the second I cancel, I'll need it.

 

[jgreco]

My membership expires this month after 12 years I'm not sure I'll renew it.

My roadside assistance will cover most "car" related issues. My only concern is DS's car, although he had a flat tire and after waiting 2 hours, DH finally went to go change it for him (DS is now well versed on how to change a tire) but it is annoying that we pay for a service that we can't seem to use.

As far as the discounts, I've had better luck with other websites and/or booking directly through the hotels. Theme park ticket discounts were not significant enough to cover the cost of membership unless I bought an Annual Pass. I can't remember the last time I got any sort of benefit from my card.

 

[AliceandAriel]

Has anyone used their AAA card for tickets to Disney? Did you need to have the card with you? My Dad is a AAA member, and aside from Undercover Tourist, I haven't really seen any better way to possibly save on tickets.

 

[Eureka]

IMO, just having AAA for roadside assistance is plenty benefit. For what we pay a year, it's worth the security. We have needed a car towed from our driveway to a shop several times in the past few years before buying a new car, and one time we had a tire blow out on I-684 in New York and they took care of us. Other than that, we don't use it much. I did get a AAA discount when booking our Universal hotel for this summer and try to remember when we travel to ask for discounts elsewhere, but to me that is just icing on the cake.

 

[jmartinez1895]

we love our membership. In fact about a month after we signed up I went to the garage and my carr would not start so I called them and they sent someone right ove to jump me off. I love having the peace of mind of knowing that if something happens I will not have to worry about coming up with the money to pay a tow truck because if your car breaks down it is not going ot be a moment that is convenient ( that is the way my life goes anyway)

 

[Sagginit]

i just got it in jan. i asked here for opinions and got great feedback. less than a week after i got my card i locked myself out with my car running the first time i have ever done this. they were fairly fast for a sunday afternoon (about 30 min from when i called). they got me in quick and were really nice. the only frustrating thing was i got transferred to a local office that took almost 10 minutes to answer the phone.

i have not used the discounts yet but my mother used to use them all the time before she got aarp.

 

[Swimalie]

Has anyone used their AAA card for tickets to Disney? Did you need to have the card with you? My Dad is a AAA member, and aside from Undercover Tourist, I haven't really seen any better way to possibly save on tickets.

We used AAA for booking our trip. We did not need to show the card at Disney but had to give our membership number when booking through their agent. We got AAA just for the trip and cancelled after I started getting unwanted calls and mail solicitations. I am private with my contact information and the fact that they were sending us stuff in the mail and calls made me cancel it. We also bought a new car and it has roadside assistance. A friend of mine had a dead battery in a parking garage and they refused to jump her due to it not being on a street or driveway.

 

[wallawallakids]

I have AAA and used it many times and I will keep it up always. My largest benefit of it happened two years ago when I was hit head on by a drunk driver. My 3 week old car was totaled. AAA towed it for no charge. If I didn't have AAA I would have been charged not only for the tow, but for storing the car at the yard they towed it to. AAA covered everything and I did not pay a cent. The tow alone was over $500. Made my decision to keep it easy. I have also used AAA to jump start my car this year after one of my children left the interior car light on for a few days. No problem. They were there in 20 min, jumped started it and I was set to go. No charge. I have used AAA for maps and travel books (free.) I also always use them when we visit DL. DL has very few discounts and with AAA I always get 10% off room only prices or a good discount on ticket and room packages. It saves me a lot at DL. I have used them once for WDW at 10% off the room package but usually the discount does not go as far there. More useful at DL. Also, you get AAA discounts at places like Barnes and Noble. You just need to show your card. I have also always gotten a AAA discount when we stay in Marriott. It is a good savings. I am using that before our cruise in April and I use it on our yearly trips to Portland OR when we visit family. In my mind, it is all very much worth the $50/yr fee. HTH

 

[Pigeon]

Many of the offers vary locally, so what works for someone in a different area may not work for you. I would look at what my local chapter offers and make my decision that way.

We get it for the roadside assistance and I think that's worth the peace of mind. When I've had to call them, and it hasn't been a lot, they've been great.

The place I use the discount most is Payless Shoes as I get my kid's tap and ballet shoes there. I've also used it for discounted movie tickets and a few other things.

 

[pens4821]

I have AAA and will always keep it. Just have the basic membership, which only allows for 3 miles towed at no charge. Luckily the couple times I've used it we've been close to a repair shop we know. Have also used them for keys locked in a car at about 3 AM, and a few jump starts.

It's also good for discounts that you wouldn't think of, and I often forget to look at the site and see where they offer discounts. I saved over a hundred dollars at sears optical from a AAA discount.

 

[mcuoghi]

Like some of the other posts said, I like having it for the security of having the roadside assistance. But we also use our AAA membership for lots of discounts too. The local aquarium, the zoo, Six Flags, Sesame Place, and even the local movie theaters offer discounted tickets through AAA. The only downside is that you have to go to the local AAA office to purchase them.

 

[msmama]

I got a flat tire in the middle of nowhere ONCE and it is now completely worth it for me to have.

This was back before cell phones (wow, made me feel old) so it's probably not as important as it used to be, but still well worth the security (I've only used it maybe twice in the last ten years).

If you do regular hotel says it may help. It helps on some local places and stores, but I don't count on it for that. Off hand I know that Payless and NY and Co usually give discounts with AAA.

 

[CMW0021]

Thanks for the info. This has helped. I think I will try it for one year. We are taking the train to NYC and Amtrak offers a 10% discount. This would cover over half the membership so it would be worth it for one year. Thanks!

 

[jke2013]

If you are a dunkin donuts fan, I believe you get 10% off when you show your AAA card. I also get .03 off each gallon of gas at Noco (not huge, but every penny helps).

 

[buzz2400]

aside from road side assistance, you can get free maps local and state and travel books. Also I find it beneficial when traveling you go to a hotel and they give you a discount if you have AAA. Also this past year parents switched insurance companies and they gave them a discount for having AAA. Also get discount tickets for most amusement parks. I will always have AAA. They will also map out routes for you if you are traveling. Get free travelers checks. You can go to AAA office and renew your driver's license (for a small fee) (I was also told that anyone can go there even non members). the best thing about this is that you don't have to wait in very long motor vehicle lines and they also let you see the picture so if you don't like it, they will take the picture again.