Comments on: Breakdown – Is Triple A(AAA) Worth The Money?

By: wilner

wilner — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 14:12:59 +0000

If you do a lot of long-distance driving especially in remote areas where there is no through traffic AND you don’t know how to fix your own car OR don’t have time to fix your own car, then probably AAA is worth it.
Twice a month, I go out to our hangar, a 150-mile round trip and having AAA is nice insurance in case I need a tow. Recently, I started out, but soon and suddenly lost power. I coasted to a stop and tried to restart. No go. I thought I was out of gas since the gauge was low, but refilling with a spare can of gas did not help. I metered out the battery and it was fine. Then I took off the distributor and cranked the engine, watching to see if the position of the distributor rotor changed: it did not. That told me that the timing belt was broken. Fortunately, I had a spare timing belt with me, but I left some of my tools at home, so I couldn’t replace it anyway. So I called AAA, and they towed it to my mechanic (they won’t tow it to a house, only a mechanic’s shop). Sure enough it was the timing belt to the tune of $450 (all new belts and tune up). I could have done the work myself, but oh well.

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By: Amica

Amica — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:58:11 +0000

Yea, peace of mind is worth of money and it may happen that repair costs may exceed total amount of insurance premiums paid (although, I don’t wish it to happen to me). And I agree with Eric about rise of insurance premiums in case of using roadside service. Some companies treat you as a risky and more expensive driver, that’s why they increase rates.

By: Adrian

Adrian — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 11:25:58 +0000

Piece of mind is really difficult to express in $s… so I rather say it is worth it. I’ve noticed, that if I am not preparing for the worst it is more likely to happen with me. Thinking through this I am more willingly paying for my breakdown cover.

By: Pattie

Pattie — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 05:20:16 +0000

AAA is well worth the $ for the peace of mind it offers, not to mention the actual services. I have Roadside Assistance offered through Kia, and a toll-free number, but the one time I “tried” to use it, I was on hold for no less than 45 minutes, and I finally gave up. To have any sort of incident that requires roadside assistance, and to get help within 30 minutes or less, is well worth the money spent. Even if you don’t use your membership, and you’ve paid for the year, just knowing it’s there is “priceless.” They’ll bring you gas, which you do not have to pay for, and depending on your plan, can get towed up to 100 miles, which will get most people quite a distance with a broken down vehicle. You almost can’t put a price on that.

My children were added to the family plan when they got their licenses, and it’s nice to know that no matter where they are or with whom, they’re covered even in someone else’s car. No more “we locked the keys in the car,” or the ever popular “we ran out of gas” because their AAA membership covers them no matter whose auto they’re in, as long as they’re present when the tow truck comes, their membership works. You can’t put a price on the peace of mind that brings.

Rock On!!

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Mon, 05 May 2008 23:07:25 +0000

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By: Tim Diehl

Tim Diehl — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 04:27:26 +0000

i agree. we’ve beem card carrying members for years. and i’m likewise glad that everything worked out for you all…esp since you were doing all this to watch my kids! you happy rocks all…well, rock!

By: The Happy Rock

The Happy Rock — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 03:56:17 +0000

@Eric – Thanks for the tip about the insurance company. That is one people should ask when they call about roadside coverage on their auto policy.

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Sleep Your Way To Better Finances | The Happy Rock — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 03:21:18 +0000

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