can you tell me about "aaa"

[jessrose18]

I can recieve 10 bucks off of a aaa membership from work. Just starting to look at the benefits. I understand travel discounts, and it says auto insurance discounts. Are the auto discounts usually worth switching for? And is the tow and roadside assistance a real perk? I initially looked at it due to the fact that I can recieve a aaa discount on a hotel I was looking to book, are there also airfare discounts? Thanks for any info about how you used aaa!

 

[java]

We love AAA
These are the "perks" we have used

Trip Tiks- basically turn by turn maps for any driving trips you take
Discounts on amusement park tickets
FREE JUMPS!! (we've used it about 4 times in 3 years)
Change a tire! *again used twice
Hotel Discounts(*usually around 10% off the price but every little bit helps)

We've gotten a lot of use out of our membership.
I wouldn't say mostly for the auto discounts although the towing and tire change and jumps are great perks that we've used. And we've never waited long for them either.

 

[cjnix29]

I will never be without AAA. I haven't had to have my car towed, thank goodness, but I have had to have someone come when I locked my keys in my car...several times! There are discounts to all kinds of things...zoos, amusement parks, stores, in addition to the travel discounts. As far as the auto discounts...that really depends on you. I had a quote from AAA and compared that to my current auto policy. It was about $500 cheaper, but there were different coverages that I wanted to have, that I wouldn't get with the AAA. AAA doesn't have an insurance company itself, but rather had companies it uses. It is always worth a shot to shop your insurance around, that is for sure. I've been a member since I got my drivers license, and will have it until I no longer have one!

 

[SandrA9810]

Way back when we first got the truck, we were always calling AAA. See the van had keyless entry, so it wasn't a big deal to lock the keys in the car. The truck did not have keyless entry... needless to say, we had to call Gary's twice while at Disney for locking the keys in the truck (all in the same weekend).
AAA is also good because it travels with the person, not the car. So if you're on a road trip in a friend's car, you can call for help without any charges. We also had to use them to tow the van to the auto shop we use, rather than the closest one to the house. You get the first 5miles free, and 5$ for each additional mile. It cost 50$ to do it, but that was a lot cheaper than paying it OOP for the whole tow.
Waiting for them to show up can be a pain sometimes, but I don't think it would be any different than calling a towing company.

The other discount perks are great too. You don't even have to book through AAA to recieve the discount at hotels. Even with Disney, they'll add it in to your reservation if the discount is available.
If you drive a car, you should have some sort of roadside assistance program. But AAA has been out there for a long time, with lots of happy customers.

 

[3boymthr]

In addition to the trip-tiks you can get regular maps. Great tool when planning a trip and since they cost about $5 each at a store this can add up to be a huge savings if you do a lot of traveling.

You can also get discounts at Campgrounds if you camp.

I love the discounts on event tickets. Not just amusement parks, but movie theatres, and circuses, etc.

Also retail stores have discounts thru AAA. Every time I go to the outlets I can pick up a free coupon booklet which can save tons of money.

And for road service don't forget if you run out of gas or lock your keys in your car they'll come out.

The tows alone though are totally worth it. I've had to use their tow service about 7 or 8 times. Totally free each time. I was told I would have had to pay about $75 - $100/tow depending upon the type of tow truck that has to come out.

 

[PrincessMama605]

I love AAA! I have used it several times over the years for tows, once when I was in an accident and my car was totaled. Another time my key snapped off in my ignition and I had to have it towed to the locksmith. I think you can even call them if you run out of gas.

It gives me peace of mind when I'm traveling, plus you get discounts on lots of things. You get free maps and can book travel through them as well. Definitely worth the cost!

 

[bettymae1121]

Forget the discounts, AAA is da bomb just for roadside assitance. We've saved hundreds just in tows. I can't handle changing a tire on my own and don't know how to jump a car, so if I get stuck and DH can't come get me, I can just call AAA and they'll send someone.

I do recomend you get the extra coverage that gives you more miles for tows, the basic coverage doesn't give you many miles, and if you're far from home or your mechanic/dealership, that can add up pretty fast.

 

[ShiPooOwner]

Love AAA! Wouldn't be without it. They are saving us a huge amount of $$$ (hundreds) for switching from our former auto/homeowners insurance company. Have used TripTiks many times and although not recently (knock on wood), we also have used their towing service and discounts at various places.

 

[MommaluvsDis]

I just used it to get 50% off my family protraits at JC Penney Portrait studio! I saved $89! Go to the AAA website and print the coupon to take with you. You must put your membership number in to access the coupon.

Used it for 2 "locked my keys in my car" calls, one tow, 10 or 20 % discount, I forget which, at Pizza Hut....I use it all the time!

 

[kaytieeldr]

The first time you lock your keys in the (rental) car 2,500 miles from home at 4 AM - not that I know anyone who's ever done that , you'll be happy you spent the money on membership!

 

[jessrose18]

So, the tow and roadside apply to any car we drive, not just cars we own? We often drive husbands dads truck, his dad owns and insures it. Thanks. Sound's like a good deal, might look into where a local aaa office is and get more info. Thanks everybody.

 

[Schachteles]

I would never not have it, I have had to be jumped once, they came out and changed a dead battery on my truck, we have had keys locked in cars of FRIENDS that we were able to use our membership to get taken care of, Disney discounts. Doesn't WoD give a 10% AAA Discount? I need to check into that with a trip coming up.

 

[kkwis2]

We left and came back to AAA. Left it because it got really pricey and early in our marriage we had NO extra money. Came back and hope to always stay (though it does still kill me to pay $100 every year for it).

Last time we went to Disney, we arrived at the airport early in the morning, changed the kids into their clothes in the van (left them in PJs for the 2 1/2 hour drive to the airport) and left the van in parking lot. We came back to a very dead battery that only a tow truck could start with one of their "special" battery starter things. I paid for itself right there!

we also always use the Trip-tiks. I am trying to get better about asking about AAA discounts. I recently learned that Gap Outlet gives a 10% (I think) discount off every purchase. Every little bit helps!

 

[erincon23]

So, the tow and roadside apply to any car we drive, not just cars we own? We often drive husbands dads truck, his dad owns and insures it. Thanks. Sound's like a good deal, might look into where a local aaa office is and get more info. Thanks everybody.

Your membership goes with you, not with the car you drive. So it's good for any car you're in. We had it for a while (unfortunately, didn't renew because DH is out of work), but got an extra card for our new driver teen (extra members are an extra cost) -- if he was in a friend's car and there was an incident, they would have come out and taken care of the friend's car because DS was a member. That was worth it for us. We also got great discounts at Lenscrafters (much better than our Blue Cross insurance) and at hotels -- I initially bought it because we were driving to NC from IL, and we saved the entire cost of our membership on hotel discounts.

Erin

 

[Crazy Hakim]

Another AAA Fan here! Got it the day my daughter started driving (11 years ago) and never regretted it. Lock keys, flat tires, dead batteries, engine problems. You name it. Well worth the annual fee just for that, the discounts, maps, and rest are just extra perks. Even better if you can get a membership discount. BTW, I have always been a Plus member, just extends certain coverages. And after daughter got married, she broke off and got her own membership.

 

[thebeesknees]

We've found that AAA has better prices on rental cars, depending on where we are going, as well. The last couple of times we've rented a car, we've saved almost $100 compared to the Hotwire rates - awesome! I love to get the tour books before we take a trip and find out which places take the discount. Landry's gives you a 10% discount for showing your card, and I can get 10% at Target online, too.

 

[Schachteles]

We've found that AAA has better prices on rental cars, depending on where we are going, as well. The last couple of times we've rented a car, we've saved almost $100 compared to the Hotwire rates - awesome! I love to get the tour books before we take a trip and find out which places take the discount. Landry's gives you a 10% discount for showing your card, and I can get 10% at Target online, too.

GREAT to know about Landry's!

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Use it one time for a flat tire or jump (or even running out of gas) and you will never go without it.

I also use it for discount tickets to US/IOA. About 3 years ago they had a special for Annual Passes for 2 years for $200 each. Loved that. Disney discounts aren't as great.

I have been a member for as long as I have been driving-36 years!

Maps and that are a bonus. I never even remember to ask sellers if they accept a discount.

 

[Fire14]

We've found that AAA has better prices on rental cars, depending on where we are going, as well. The last couple of times we've rented a car, we've saved almost $100 compared to the Hotwire rates - awesome! I love to get the tour books before we take a trip and find out which places take the discount. Landry's gives you a 10% discount for showing your card, and I can get 10% at Target online, too.

can u tell me how to find rental car discounts? everytime i ask aT aaa office they just tell me about hertz.

 

[Purseval]

We have AAA plus which will tow you 100 miles instead of the 5 or so AAA standard does. Since the membership is for you and not your car I can be a good samaritan if someone at work gets a flat or locks their keys in the car. I get my Universal Studios Annual Pass through AAA also. It has too many perks to list and I've been a member since 1986 with no regrets.