Do you offer towing that's more free than my AAA?

[Automan Empire]

In the local auto repair market, there are a few shops that offer "free towing." Some are large enterprises that can do it because of economy of scale. Most, though, are bandits, that for $30 to a desperate owner-operator will get a captive client who they can hose for several hundred above market price for repairs. In other words, no such thing as a free tow.

We often get calls asking if we offer a tow service. I explain no, but if they need a tow truck we can refer them to a guy who is a local owner-operator who offers very competitive prices and sterling service.

Oftentimes, customers who have seen FREE TOW ads will proceed to ask several simpering questions about why WE don't offer free towing. They don't want to listen to the no-such-thing-as-a-free-lunch lecture, they'll keep on with a whiny, oh, you DOOOOOOOOOOON'T offer free towwwwwwwww? repetition.

Finally, after a ridiculously unnecessarily long call, holding me away from ready-to-go work, they finally say, "Should I just call AAA?" By this time, I'm usually pretty exasperated, and roar, "If you HAVE AAA, CALL AAA!!!!!!!!!"

Seriously, WTF makes people think I have a tow service that is more free than their AAA?

[PepperElf]

yeah, call aaa first if you have it. it's like free for the first 5 miles... needless to say it came in *really* handy when my car broke down within 5 miles of the dealer/repair shop i normally used

[Kheldarson]

My family's with USAA...we get free towing for the first 17 miles. Handy to find out when I was out in the middle of nowhere with a funky transmission. >.<

[ditchdj]

I avoid AAA like the plague. Why???? That's because your insurance company will treat you like a DUI offender if you file "too many" claims with AAA. So that "free" tow will end up costing you thousands in the long run in extra surcharges, and that's IF your insurance company doesn't drop you altogether. I read about it in a news article a couple years ago. That's because any claims you file with AAA goes on public record.

[Sonoma]

I just keep emergency roadside service coverage on my car insurance. Just a few $ each month, but they'll tow me, do unnlocks, fuel delivery, whatever's needed. The only downside is my insurance company doesn't contract with the tow company I've used in the past, so I just pay for the tow, then my insurance company reimburses me. Had to use it twice, and never had a problem with it.

[ditchdj]

Each insurance company is different about how many times you use it before they start to cornhole you for it. I'd try calling them and asking straight up about it.

[protege]

needless to say it came in *really* handy when my car broke down within 5 miles of the dealer/repair shop i normally used

AAA has saved me a few times.

First time was with the Tercel. I'd blown out a tire, and when I moved the car to change it...it promptly got stuck in the mud Had no choice but to call them, and pull me out Second time, was when I still had that damn Mazda. The adjuster for the timing belt had failed...throwing it off the pulleys and stalling the car. Stranded my ass across town. Most recently, AAA took my dead MG back to the garage after it broke down...on its maiden voyage! I'm sure I could have made it the 5 miles back to the garage, but I really didn't want to risk damaging the engine.

[ditchdj]

All right here's the story about the connection between your car insurance and filing roadside assistance claims....

https://www.pinnaclemotorclub.com/me...une_121505.pdf

I guess going through AAA is fine for now.....

[ta2ooed1]

And this is one of the many reasons I love my MINI! Came with free roadside assistance

[PhotoChick]

I think what the article is saying is you get penalized when you have it through your insurance. NOT AAA.

[One-Fang]

I don't get AAA.

I mean, I don't "get" it. Why...?

Do people drive really rundown cars or something? I mean, personally, I have no need for AAA (married a mechanic), but in the 17 years or so I've known him, I've had to call him I think twice for car related trouble. About once in 10 years I *might* use AAA if I had it. Why would anyone pay for that?

Or is mech-hubby just keeping my cars running smoothly or something? I just don't understand needing AAA. If you need it, you really need a better car (yes I know some people can't afford a better car, they probably can't afford AAA either).

[cinema guy]

Because machinery goes wrong.

Or more specifically: because someone slashes two tires on your car and you are stuck in a car park 100 miles from home, it is late on a Sunday night and without them you have no chance of getting anywhere. Because something breaks on your wheel and your car grinds to a halt on a roundabout between two motorways and you are stuck 50 feet above ground level. Those two happened to my own car and a friend's car on the same trip to a convention. Fortunately we both had breakdown cover.

And not everyone can marry a mechanic.

[Auto]

I avoid AAA like the plague. Why???? That's because your insurance company will treat you like a DUI offender if you file "too many" claims with AAA. So that "free" tow will end up costing you thousands in the long run in extra surcharges, and that's IF your insurance company doesn't drop you altogether. I read about it in a news article a couple years ago. That's because any claims you file with AAA goes on public record.

You didn't read your link very carefully.

The towing company was a GEICO subsidiary and the monthly membership was billed to her GEICO insurance premium. And GEICO considers an assistance call to be the same as an accident claim. Which gets reported on insurance industry databases used to set premiums and decide who the best customers are.

The article specifically mentions joining AAA instead because it doens't report anything to any insurance company.

[Chromatix]

I don't know about AAA, but the British equivalent AA has (or had, my information is old) a couple of very neat features.

1) They cover a vehicle if *any* of the occupants is a member. I'm sure there are caveats, such as for commercial vehicles, but for private cars this is certainly true.

2) They have a family plan. So you can cheaply make your children members.

The practical upshot of those two put together, is peace of mind that your children won't be stranded in the middle of nowhere (or on a dangerous motorway hard-shoulder) if they go on a trip with somebody else.

[Kheldarson]

Or is mech-hubby just keeping my cars running smoothly or something? I just don't understand needing AAA. If you need it, you really need a better car (yes I know some people can't afford a better car, they probably can't afford AAA either).

Because you're driving back from a job fair several hours from home only to have the transmission suddenly cut out?

Granted I drive an older car and the transmission hadn't been replaced even once until now (that hurt my bank account so much...), but was kinda worried.


Or there was the time I misjudged how much gas I have left cuz my car lies to me.