Alternative to AAA?

[emilymad]

Are there any alternatives to AAA? Our renewal is up and the basic coverage is $106 but that only includes towing for up to 3 miles. To upgrade to the better package it is $176. Both of our cars are 6 years old so we better having some coverage. Do they ever offer discounts to renew?

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

We have something from all state and you only pay if you use them. Let me google it.


https://goodhandsroadside.allstate.com/ghrs/ghrweb/common/ghrTerms.html

 

[happily single]

Why is your plan so high? If its because you have multiple people on the account I would delete them. I get AAA as a gift every year, but I know for the Gold or Plus account it is less than $50 for me.

 

[1Mouse2RulethemAll]

I would ask your car insurance company if the only thing you are using AAA is towing coverage. Many insurance companies offer it and some credit cards offer it too. My car insurance is $6/mo for towing up to 12 miles.

 

[whatname]

I've been wondering if there is an alternative also. Our renewal rate was the same as yours. This was for the plus membership for me and dh. I'm pretty sure we have not gotten our money's worth out of it in years, since we really haven't been towed. Of course, as soon as we drop it, we will need towed.

I have thought about just going down to the basic membership. I don't know how much that is, but if I ever need a tow, the difference in price of membership and the tow charge might be the same. I have also thought about dropping dh. I don't know that we both need to be on it.

I do know that rates are different, depending on where you live in the country. When we lived in the south, the rates were much cheaper.

 

[sunshinehighway]

I have aaa gold. Its only a little over $100 per year for two people.

 

[Fire14]

I have basic membership here in OHio with Myself and Dh on plan costs 89.00/year. One freaken tow home would have paid for plus plan and I had to have both cars towed within 2 wks of each other. That's not including the battery jump and the locked keys recues. I'm praying I'm done calling AAA for year.

 

[teCh0010]

Allstate Motor Club RV Road Help is the best deal out there. The towing benefit is "unlimited" to the nearest capable repair facility. Some of the BMW GS motorcycle riders have been able to get towed to a BMW motorcycle repair facility hundreds of miles away for free since it was the closest capable repair facility.

It covers all of the driving members of your household, and it covers them in almost anything with wheels. I think it is $99 per year.

 

[ssawka]

I think DW and I pay $90 a year for the two of us, but we get a lot more benefit out of it than just towing. When we signed up for AAA auto insurance, our premiums were cut in half! That covers our membership 10Xs over. We also take advantage of hotel discounts, and I only buy Rockport shoes for myself. That is at least $20 right there with the 20% off discount.

As for the Plus thing, I had to have a car towed a while back. The tow truck driver was telling me that if I had the Plus, the difference in the milage would have paid for it. I told him that this is the first time I needed a tow in about 10 years, so the way I see it, I am still ahead not paying for the Plus service.

 

[njmom47]

We have AAA for 4 cars (soon to be 5). We had Allstate for a time, but dh got a new (for him) car and kept locking his keys in the car and they dropped us because there was too many calls in such a short time!

 

[daemom]

My husband drives a company owned vehicle so we felt like he didn't need coverage with AAA. I renewed for just myself and a few weeks after that they sent me "free" memberships for my husband and our DS who is 20.

 

[emilymad]

Thanks for all the responses! I will look into Allstate. Both DH and I are on the membership. We do use it for hotel discounts occasionally. We have been getting the basic plan but it only covers towing for 3 miles which is pretty useless. The plus membership is the $176 a year.

 

[tar heel]

Our basic is $76 for two drivers - renewed it last week. The number of cars is not relevant, at least it isn't here. I dropped back from the "Plus" membership because we're no longer driving a van with 200,000+ miles as our primary car.

It's rare for us to go a year without using AAA for something. It will be interesting to see if that's the case now that we're both driving newer cars. I also always try to pick up the new maps and tour books.

 

[tar heel]

BTW, I didn't renew the month our membership was up and they called and offered me a free month, two if I put it on auto renew.

 

[dbarker]

Check with your insurance carrier. We have Nationwide and they have Roadside Assistance as a perk.

 

[labfan]

Are the AAA rates based on where you live? I have AAA Plus and it's only $87 a year.

 

[DisneyBill]

You may wish to take a look at goodsam. I've read many good reviews about their service in the RV world, and according to their website the platinum membership seems to offer a lot at a reasonable price. At least for first time subscribers.

 

[AngieMouse86]

My mother and I have roadside assistance though Sprint. It's $4/month for each of our lines.

I've used them a few times for lockouts and jumps, my mom has used them many times for tows.

I'm happy with the service. Never waited more than an hour for a truck (usually 30-45 mins). I forgot how many miles the towing is, but its a reasonable distance. I've actually been considering a AAA membership, to augment the Sprint one, just in case I need a longer-distance tow (I travel a lot but have an older car); can use 1 service to get so far, then the other to get further.

I believe the introductory level AAA membership is $50 here, plus $20 for first-time registrants.

 

[Dismom55]

My AAA has always paid for itself with the discounts I get in Hotels and car rentals, I will not put the miles on my car for the drive to Disney and we find it cheaper to drive to Disney and rent a car than fly not to mention the hassle of what can and cannot be packed in a suitcase. But then I do not over $100 for my membership either. I also did not have to pay anything for the two tows needed for my husbands car when my son was driving. So I think I got my money worth either way for this year and I know I will for next year as we are going to Disney next year.

I have always heard that the alstate plan is less in cost, never had it myself tho.