Today I renewed my CAA membership for $69 and change. I had a teeny tiny credit from visiting one of the sponsors during the year so that was discounted from my fee.
As soon as I purchased my first vehicle I signed up for the CAA membership. Why?
There are a few main reasons:
- My parents always belonged to an auto club so it seemed natural
- I love the free maps and trip guides
- I know (knew) nothing about vehicle maintenance or repair
- I'm a single female and would not want to ask a stranger to change a flat tire for me in the middle of nowhere
I suppose those are valid reasons, but I have to wonder...how many people actually use the service?
I have been a member since August of 2006. I've already had one flat tire which I discovered after coming out of the doctor's office and a second flat tire a few days ago. The first situation caught me completely by surprise and I did end up calling CAA. They were really great and filled up the tire with enough air to get me to the tire shop where my tires were under warranty. The second flat happened just recently and I believe I mentioned it in a previous post as I noticed my gas mileage wasn't so hot. Again, I had a nail in the tire, but I was able to make it to the tire shop without calling for CAA assistance.
There are other situations whereby a membership may be a good idea. In cold climates, such as the lovely great white north, we sometimes have battery issues. Well a lot of the time, if you forget to plug in the block heater! So, the peace of mind is kind of nice.
Towing services are another reason to sign up for a membership. Depending on the type of auto club or tier of service, your vehicle can be towed free of charge or at a discounted rate depending on how far you are from the nearest service station. I'm actually recalling a time when I was driving in a thunderstorm and my parents car died in the middle of the street. We used the auto club that day but not before I got totally soaked.
Then there are the forgetful folks. You know, the ones who lock their keys in the car...well, the auto club can provide lock and key service should you find yourself in a locked out situation! I haven't done this myself but I have been with friends who have locked their keys in the car. And with the membership, I could call in the service for my friend, if needed.
Lastly, my most dreaded situation is running out of gas. Has this ever happened to you? It is utterly embarassing. An old boyfriend of mine (stubborn as an ox) decided that yes, we could make it home on empty. Hmmmm....not so much. We ended up in a merge lane, stranded. The auto club membership definitely would have been beneficial at that time. I'm pretty sure I would've hitched a ride home with the driver and left my boyfriend on the side of the road!! Hahaha...I guess that's mean. But it was awful!
Along with all of the services, many clubs offer partner discounts and more. I actually just picked up a personalized travel planner for my trip to Vancouver plus a couple maps and a city guide. All for free!
Sure, I'm a Proponent but what about the Opponents?
Now that I've written this post, I've completely convinced myself that the membership is worth the money however, maybe you think otherwise.
What are your thoughts on the auto club membership? Do you belong to one? How often have you used it? Have you ever had it cancelled and then found yourself in a compromised situation? Let's hear your stories!
For more information, check out:
AAA: American Automobile Association
CAA: The Canadian Automobile Association
Canadian Tire Roadside Assistance
Photo by Alicia Nijdam
7 comments:
I used to, and it was more useful in Calgary, when I wouldn't want to be trying to change a tire in midwinter.
But my best "out of gas" story takes place in Calgary and doesn't include CAA.
Picture yourself on Macleod Trail heading south in afternoon rush hour traffic in a very old Galaxie 500 with a broken gas gauge. As you approach the crest of a hill the car sputters and stalls and you roll to a stop in the right lane.
Returning from the gas station with your trusty jerry can you pour most of it into the tank and try the ignition. When the car still won't start after a few tries you pop the hood, remove the air cleaner and pour a tiny bit of gas in to prime the carb. Try the car. Success. Put the car back together and drive off, having held up traffic for at least a half hour!
This is why I'm very very glad I no longer drive beaters!
Actually, maybe that's the lesson.
If you drive beaters then having something like CAA or another auto club package is a wise idea.
If you drive a new or late model vehicle in good shape then you can probably give it a miss, unless you do a lot of traveling and make good use of their travel guides, motel discounts, etc.
Considering I'm pretty car-dumb, I like the security I get with AMA. I think it's $80/yr for me, and there a LOT of things I unnecessarily spend way more than $80/yr on...it's really chump change when you get down to it. In one year I have used them for 2 key lock ins (I d that way too much) and one boost when I accidently drained the battery. That would have come out to well over the $80 I paid had I called another company every time I needed their help.
Shevy - that is quite a story. I can totally imagine getting stuck on McLeod Trail...not fun!! And yes, I think you are right about the new car. If mine wasn't 10 years, I probably wouldn't actually need the membership. Thanks!
Erin - great point about the cost of those situations. I think the first year is $80 and then it decreases from there? If you get gas at Husky, they give you credits towards your next year.
i used to belong to AAA. we now belong to Allstate motorclub. i ran into a spate of locking my keys in the truck. so friggin helpful. Also, i ran a curb and blew a tire.
also a dead battery or two.
plus, it is a great excuse to call late in to work.
Allstate gave me a better deal than AAA (AAA is a HUGE opponent of mass transit. Don't know Allstate's position but.....)
I use AAA Montana..a little extra but I get 4 of either: tows, starts,gas delivery or lock outs per year. For the extra money, they will use two tow trucks to pull you out of a ditch with no extra charge, and they will tow you 100 miles, which I have used 3 times in 20 years. Also, if you are in someone elses car you can have it towed as one of your 4. It is well worth it here in MT, since freezing weather and snow can make any road trouble life threatening.
I also drive to and from California regularly and they have never failed me in any area. I say it is well worth it, ESPECIALLY if you drive beaters, for which my '89 Toytota all wheel station wagon qualifies!
Marnie
These decisions are pretty easy to make. Calculate or estimate the cost of the towing, tire changes, etc if you didn't have the service over a time period. Then calculate the cost of the Auto Club Membership over the same period of time. I had my friend do this, and he realized he payed the equivalent of $500 for two tows.
A rough estimate if you aren't averaging a use every year, you're probably not coming out ahead.
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