I wouldn't be wihout AAA. there Trip tik maps are better than any on line mapping service because they also tell you of construction, speed traps, etc. Just recently my purse (containing wallet with AAA card, keys and phone) was stolen while shopping in a local mall. AAA had a locksmith at my car within an hour to make a new key (computer chip key no less) for me.

YOur card is good for any car you're in, so it's good for rentals, borrowed cars, or even a friend's car if its disabled and your travelling with your friend. This is a great benefit for college students! I know I used my card when I was in college coming home with a friend whose car got stuck in the snow.

I do find their travel agency pricey and dont use it.

We get great discounts for movie tickets, car washes, and other destinations with our membership too.

That's my 2 cents. AAA should pay me.

In addition to all the above ...

AAA has a "progressive discount" at Tanger Outlet Centers (scan your card at each outlet you visit and get gift cards), and they also have AAA-only discount coupon books for the stores.

There is also a prescription discount card that will save you a few dollars on any prescriptions not covered by your insurance.

I love the AAA Tour Books. They're small and packed with info, and if you're traveling light, it's easy to tear sections out of the book to put in your backpack or purse.

What can I add? Not a member for many years, but after joining at age 70 not long ago have been glad I did. Free maps, dead battery, flat tires, discounts...all helpful.

ozarksbill

A comment about the yearly cost - there is also a Premium membership. Here in CA it is $79 per year, but may be different in other parts of the country.

The higher cost gets you more benefits - like longer tows (up to 100 miles I think), and such.

Even the basic membership is great. When my car gets older, I'll probably get upgrade the membership. My friends have locked their keys in their cars, so it's come in handy in the last year!

And speaking of hotel discounts, I'm in Oregon right now on business. I'm just in a basic business hotel, and when I checked in, she asked me if I had AAA. She then knocked 10 bucks off the rate when I showed her the card. So it definitely pays itself off!

We've had AAA road service all our lives and when we were younger (and poorer) we often had to use their road service. Once our car seized up in the Grand Canyon and we had to be towed to Flagstaff, AZ. Due to Mapquest I hadn't used their triptik service in quite a while until our last trip. I was surprised to receive not one, but two (we were two cars traveling) triptiks printed out like books that took us door to door from our B&B straight to our hotel in the next city. No one got lost and the directions were excellent.

Ditto to all of the above. One item I didn't see mentioned is that they have Trip Tik available online. I do alot of road travel for work in areas I am unfamiliar with. The online access to get the mapping is better than other online mapping that I have used (not naming names, but some have had me get off exits that didn't exist!). In addition, the online mapping also includes the extras that the hardcopy ones do such as tolls, construction, etc.

It doesn't sound like anybody here is concerned about the enviroment or the way AAA treats its contractors (which might have something to do with how fast they get to you vs a commercial call). Next time they come out to rescue you, ask him how much he's getting paid, & then decide if that's a living wage. And then ask yourself how they can expect any kind of quality of service for that kind of dolla. There's a reason there's such a high turnover.

I'm another one who had dreadful experiences with AAA. Never asked for service on a rental car, but with my own car I had 2 and 3 hr. waits for service, was once hung up on by a surly employee, and had other negative encounters.

I don't doubt that others have had good experiences, but I could never recommend AAA, just never.

Pocahontas: Seems quite odd that you would make the effort to register and top this really old thread for your one and only post??

Were you fired by AAA by any chance??

BTW - in my neck of the woods the AAA contracts are really sought after by all the towing companies/garages.

One need for service will pay for your year's membership. It's a no-brainer. If you have children under 25 it is a great mind easer for them to be on your policy also.

I've been a member since 1977 and have used a variety of the club services.

If you don't mind the fact of where some of your money goes (lobbying efforts which may or may not be public-transport project friendly) then I think the services are worth the cost.

Just recently got my 30% off a new pair of prescription sunglasses at Lenscrafter as well...and more maps...

We've had AAA for years.
It's most useful when you have teen drivers.
I have had my car unlocked on Christmas day, gotten a jump several times, had a flat tire changed at a way side station in the middle of Wisconsin.

Also, they don't charge for travelers checks like banks do. And they also do free passport photos.

We have a family plan that adds all the kids - even the 31 year old who recently needed a tow in Los Angeles. He could not believe how quickly they arrived and said we had just saved him about $200.00
Most police will no longer open your doors for you, but AAA will.
Oh, and we got a significant discount on our car rental in Albuquerque. We were able to go with Hertz rather than a cut rate agency, because the discount made it less.
Oh, and I saved 10% on my sons last pair of glasses. They asked me if I had AAA.
After that I ALWAYS ask if there is an AAA discount.

I also got 30% off my prescription glasses, and considering they cost $450 to begin with, I saved $135! They also have numerous other discounts both on retail stores and online.
http://tinyurl.com/kg5qw
And their roadside service is excellent. Not to mention their Triptiks.

Janisj,
Yes I'm aware that the contracts are sought after. However I would guess that if you asked the same contractor what his costs are he couldn't tell you. Not everyone in business should be. You get what you pay for ( & shouldn't expect the royal treatment for $15-25.) No never have been fired from anything. Daughter worked in AAA office & quit b/c of the head in the sand attitude. Oh yeah, they keep most employees under the required hours so they're never eligble for benes. Hmmm, who does that remind you of? Anybody?

Oh yeah, old it maybe but I'm new to this posting game.

I'm another one of those who loves AAA and uses its services. I love the free guidebooks and maps and get them any time I am traveling. I certainly found the trip tik useful on our 11 day road trip this summer. I don't book vacations through them and haven't used the tow truck services since high school, but like having it now that I have a teenage driver. I also like being able to pay my DMV renewal fees there. I find it worth the annual fee.

Pocahantas... welcome to Fodors. It is probably better if your first post is not so negative. Most people use this site to ask travel questions. You must have done a search on AAA here to pull up this old thread and then complain about the company. I am sorry to hear you don't like AAA and someone you know is getting shortchanged; however, reviving an old thread probably won't change that. I hope you find this site useful as I have for getting good travel advice and conversing with nice people. Have a good day.

oops, sorry.. I spelled your name wrong Pocahontas

OK I can see I'm bucking the tide here. In my origional post I mentioned a concern for the enviroment. Does anybody here know where your membership dollars are spent? And then I was asked if I had been fired from AAA & I referred to the treatment of their employees. I think consumers have to make choices based on some measure on conscience, not just what is the best deal. I realize it is probably too late to do anything about global warming but I still feel I must make informed choices. There are alternatives to AAA that most are not aware of, some that will let you customize the dollar amount of coverage you want ( as was mentioned earlier, GE, Allstate Roadside, & probably for another $6 on your existing car insurance) and some that contribute to the enviroment. (see www.betterworld.com) I am not trying to raise anybody's hackles here (but I'm wondering if this is really a AAA sales group) but we are the biggest consumers of oil & producers of pollution. I don't think it's asking too much to make informed choices. And I am kinda curious too how such an old thread came up on everybody's radar?