AAA - is it worth it?

pdora

pdora

Senior Member
I have been a member of the American Automobile Association since 1984 and have called them only once in 1985. It's a peace-of-mind thing.

Now that I have acquired my first antique car, I am suddenly more interested in their services.

The basic package covers 4 5-mile tows per year.
The next package covers 4 100-mile tows per year.

Am interested in observations on AAA service from the perspective of the antique car owner.

Experiences with AAA service?

Do they know how to handle a senior car?

Trip continuance feature?

Thanks
 
Last edited:
Hi,
I have used my AAA four times over the last two years. Two times to carry my 29 coupe home, I had no problem with the haul, just ask that they send a flat bed hauler.
John Wing
Houston, Texas
 
I had AAA in Jackson, Michigan. I went to insure my 1986 VW Wasserboxer Syncro AWD I had just picked up from a Vee Wee Dealer in Lancing, Michigan. The VIN did not exist. And the Van did not exist even though the agent and I both stood there leaning on the critter in front of the AAA office in Jackson, Michigan.

Seams the VW got to the States faster than the VIN did. It was eventually straighted out. You pay for what you get. I currently have State Farm on everything. I treat the 'A' as if it's just another car, insured my 1930 40-B Roadster for the replacement value at $12,000. [Good enough].

skip.
oldpictures016.jpg
 
Last edited:
I recently had a fuel line break on my 2009 Toyota 200 miles from home. They sent a flatbed hauler which would have been fine for an A. Were there 10 minutes after I called.Took it to my nephews garage and he fixed it.

Since then I took a 1300 mile trip in the A. Did not need AAA, but like you said,peace of mind.

I have the deluxe plan that also covers motorcycles.
 
I use www.hagerty.com to insure my Jeep and Model A. There rates are reasonable. The other club memebers use them also. I have the AAA Plus R.V. coverage just in case a tow is needed. Hagerty has a basic tow with there package. I am not sure on distance.

Hank
 
We've had AAA for years and have used it once for a blowout. It's a peace of mind thing - even without a long distance towing option, the Model A could be taken somewhere where it would be safe until other arrangements could be made. Also, most motels give a 10% discount to members, helping to offset the cost. :)
 
I wold recommend it if not just for peace of mind. Over the years many horror stories. I used to work part time for a service provider for AAA, very few AAA offices have their own trucks. A pre-loading TIP would probably gt you a little more consideration by the operator in his loading and securing of the vehicle. I would recommend the plus RV membership, 4 calls up to 100 miles, they have an even higher membership (premiere) which gives 5 tows (1 for up to 200 mi). Towed a fellow one time and he said he had had AAA for 20 yrs and this was 1st time he had used it. I said this was an expensive tow. We both laughed. The good thing about AAA is that it is NOT cqar dependant, any card holder, any car, unlike some clubs where service is assigned to a specific vehicle. JMO
Paul in CT
 
Re: AAA - is it worth it? YES.

member since 1972.

free maps all the time.

Model As on the flatbed only twice.

modern cars towed many times.

Vancouver hotel reservations through AAA were cheaper than Orbitz.

money well spent.
 
FWIW AAA has many more features than just towing. Travel arrangements , etc.
Have used them a couple of times for towing and even though I was trucked more than 100 miles it was less than a regular truck by far.
 
We have had the Platinum Plan which covers 200 miles of towing for several years. If you tour much in your Model A, it is great peace of mind. We have been on a couple of tours where other club members broke down and both got towed over 100 miles to their great satisfaction.
As others have said, there are lots of other advantages and special fares available to you also. I think some of the other folks were confused that you were asking about their insurance.....the two services are separate and you do not need their insurance to get the membership, so don't confuse the two.

Terry
 
My AAA "Gold?" policy includes the instructions "Flatbed only for Model A Ford" in their computer.
The higher level membership gives 100 miles on the flatbed which is 90 miles more than my Hagerty policy will provide.
AAA tow vehicles are more likely to have "Franchise Tow" permits for bridges and parkways in the NY Metro, and I guess other metropolitan areas requiring franchise towers on highways.
I LOVE the "free" maps and rassistance.
 
Don't forget that NAPA Auto Parts gives a discount to AAA members. Some years, the discounts contributed significantly to the membership fees for me.

SimS
 
I've been a AAA member probably since the 70's-again peace of mind. I use them for maps and tour guides,discounts at motels and museums, lots of free notary stuff,NAPA discounts, occasional towing, registration and titling.

My wife drives alone alot for her work and I like knowing there's help available to her.

(On my A, I have a AAA badge-porcelain- from the Kelly/White Deer Auto Club-got to be from the 30's-there have never been more than a few hundred souls in K-WD townships, so I can't imagine how many AAA badges there were-I have seen 2. Kind of cool.)
 
I have been a AAA member since 1976.
I crashed the first week. My fault. They ignored the first one.
Since I have had a couple or four tows on modern cars but never my antique cars.
I have been in 4 car clubs since 1986. , and hundreds of tours.
I see club members using AAA a lot without a complaint.
The only problems I have ever heard is when the truck driver hesitates to touch the antique cars because he is new to the business and thinks the antique car is worth millions of $$$!.
We had that happen 2 months ago on a nice 1953 MGTD that broke a timing chain.
The young guy just went nuts at the thought that he could damage the car.
The lady assured the flat-bed driver that her old MG was worth the same as her much newer Toyota. That changed his attitude and all went well as he hauled her and her passenger and the MG about 50 miles to her home and unloaded it right into her garage.
You gotta watch them if they tie around the rear axle. Some will pull too hard and almost pull the ball cap off the back of the trans on a model A or T or early V8.
 
Thanks to all for the useful info and advice.

I opted for the top membership, at least until I gauge the reliability of my car.

PAD
 
We've had AAA for years; haven't had to use it very often, and never had to use it for the antiques (knock on wood).

Have also used the map and travel services, as well as hotel bookings.

Well worth the annual membership.
 
Have had AAA for many years. Good investment like mentioned above. Many advantages other than just towing. I used mine to tow my company vans when they broke down. Also my wife tends to lock her keys in her car. They come out and let her in. Also last summer we went on line and had them chart a trip across the country. They gave us the route with maps and tour books for all states along the way. Get the more expensive membership.
 
I've been a AAA member since 1975; membership I chose covered 100 miles towing. This year, for the first time since becoming a member, had my A hauled home 128 miles; AAA sent a flat bed and the 100 miles was covered by AAA; my Grundy insurance covered and riembursed me for the 28 miles ( $ 196.00).

I'm more than happy with both my AAA and Grundy Insurance.

Ron
 
Like others I have the 100 mile version as 5 miles doesn't get me where I want. Besides the other services, I've used it to get a car from my garage to a place to do work. Always requested a flat bed and operators have taken extra care because it was a collector vehicle.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top