by "AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
Published 04/24/2017 at 14:42
by "AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
Published 04/24/2017 at 14:42
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STARS: 2
In most places in the United States, $99 a year will get you a AAA membership with up to 500 miles of free towing, roadside assistance, free gas, large discounts on hotels, etc. In addition to that, they will happily tow your car, and let you ride in the cab back to your home if you’ve been out drinking.
I’ve taken advantage of this a few times. Once on New Years where a cab/Uber to downtown and back home would have easily been over $100—12 mile ride, holiday rates—I decided to drive to the general area I’d be in, and call AAA 20 minutes before I was ready to leave. Worked like a charm. Small tip for the tow truck driver who was there quickly and my membership easily paid for itself in one day.
Just something to think about.
"PartyPooper2012" (PartyPooper2012)
04/24/2017 at 14:46, STARS: 1
initially it sounds like a good idea...
Then you add inclement weather where people are truly stranded and you’re the other name for Richard for taking up tow truck’s time and people’s lives... maybe
"Tripper" (tripe46)
04/24/2017 at 14:47, STARS: 1
lol that is a slick move. I usually just go with the $100 uber because I’m drunk. Then the next day I want to kick myself because I could have taken the train for $7
"Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell." (oppisitelock)
04/24/2017 at 14:52, STARS: 0
They did this on The League haha.
"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
04/24/2017 at 14:52, STARS: 0
True, but it’s still much better than driving home drunk. I’ve had two car-guy friends who recently got DUI’s and crashed their cars—idiots—but luckily they didn’t injure anyone. If they had another way to get home with their car, maybe that wouldn’t have happened. Obviously the big thing is to be smart, and plan ahead but people are good at being dumb, especially when booze is involved.
And if you’re near a big city, AAA has plenty of tow truck drivers, they use their own fleet and call on other fleets if needed
"fourvalleys" (fourvalleys)
04/24/2017 at 14:52, STARS: 2
On the flipside, AAA can vary by area.
In the three states I’ve had AAA, it’s been more than $99 per year, for a maximum of up to to 200 miles of towing.
I once needed a 3 mile tow in the Tow Truck Capital of Central America (Miami) and they called me back after two hours to say that they couldn’t find one and would have to reimburse me. It was on me to find someone.
I’ve also had to wait absurd amounts of time for a tow, in multiple cases 5+ hours. That’s probably more a function the local tow companies and of my location at the time, but it’s worth considering.
(^ e: In each case, they told me someone would be there within 45 minutes. An hour later, I got a call saying they couldn’t make it. Repeat for another hour or two until they tell me it’ll be later that day. Obnoxious.)
You get four service calls per year. Once you hit four, they’ll still give you service, but you’ll have to pay for it out of pocket. This includes any roadside service... jump-starting, gas delivery, towing.
Also, they can deny you service if they think you’ve been drinking. Will they? Who knows. Maybe.
Last thing, and maybe the most important - they will absolutely you mail you buckets of paperwork about signing up for AAA Insurance. I get a few pieces a week, and it’s unreasonable to think they aren’t otherwise selling/distributing personal information.
"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
04/24/2017 at 14:54, STARS: 0
Yep. Been there. I try not to drive to any events, because I’m not driving home drunk, but I reaaaally don’t feel comfortable leaving my car downtown overnight.... This was the best solution I could find for those few times I had to drive haha
"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
04/24/2017 at 14:57, STARS: 0
Hmm, I’ve gotten zero insurance paperwork... But yeah, totally a regional thing. Seattle is pretty lucky in that regard. Still good to have for real emergencies, the cost of towing if you don’t have it included in insurance, auto clubs, etc. Is just insane.
"Sweet Trav" (thespunbearing)
04/24/2017 at 14:58, STARS: 1
Yeah, its 250 miles for me. I wish it was 500. I’d do so many more autox events.
"Tripper" (tripe46)
04/24/2017 at 14:58, STARS: 1
Totally understand about not wanting to leave your car. I was visiting a friend in my college years, she said cars were getting keyed on campus a lot...so I slept in mine with a bat. Didn’t have any trouble though.
I’m the same way about NOT driving home drunk, however I go from “fun drunk” to “I want to go home right now, and I don’t care how much it costs! drunk” very quickly after midnight.
"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
04/24/2017 at 15:00, STARS: 0
Oh that’s a good idea, never even considered tows to the track...
"Urambo Tauro" (urambotauro)
04/24/2017 at 15:00, STARS: 0
I’ve got a AAA membership, but I haven’t called for a tow in years. It paid off much more before I learned to take better care of my car lol.
"Sweet Trav" (thespunbearing)
04/24/2017 at 15:02, STARS: 1
Haha, no tows from the track when you blow up. ROFL
"Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero" (sampsonite24)
04/24/2017 at 15:05, STARS: 0
looking up the illinois rate its 114 dollars a year but that gets you 1 tow up to 200 miles and 3 tows up to 100 miles per year. hardly seems worth it
"Tekamul" (tekamulburner)
04/24/2017 at 15:07, STARS: 1
The rate may cover most places, but in a lot of places AAA is crap.
I’m in a state that is generally very rural. If you go through AAA, the tow wait times can be 3+hours, rather than just calling some little shop and having them show up in a few minutes.
AAA response seems to be below the lowest priority.
"If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee)
04/24/2017 at 15:07, STARS: 0
Do you think they can look you up without the card? I lost mine and every time I request a replacement it never arrives...
"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
04/24/2017 at 15:09, STARS: 0
Does it not come with any other benefits? A lot of people don’t use them simply because they don’t know about them, but the other things add up.
That said, look up local tow rates. A quick Google search showed an average tow at 40 miles is $125-275.
"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
04/24/2017 at 15:10, STARS: 0
Yes, by phone number and/or name. That’s how I always get service
"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
04/24/2017 at 15:11, STARS: 0
Fair. I’m guessing (hoping) if it’s a little local shop they wouldn’t charge you an arm and a leg too
"Tripper" (tripe46)
04/24/2017 at 15:12, STARS: 0
Definitely, I’ve even given my info to a friend who pretended to be me. Didn’t have the card or an ID. Got his car towed home fo free.
"If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee)
04/24/2017 at 15:19, STARS: 0
I think I may have left the card in the glove box of my old car when I sold it...
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
04/24/2017 at 15:20, STARS: 2
My car insurance has free towing, but I feel like maybe they’re not the best people to tell that I’m drunk and need a ride home.
"benjrblant" (benjblant)
04/24/2017 at 15:20, STARS: 1
My AAA card says “Member for 32 years.” Thanks Dad!
"Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap" (ddadragon)
04/24/2017 at 15:22, STARS: 2
Yep. Hope I never have to use it but it’s nice to know. Also if you lock your keys in the car and don’t have someone who isn’t at work to bring you your spare keys, they can pop your door open.
"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
04/24/2017 at 15:23, STARS: 0
Haha yes I would steer clear of that one. Unless you’re hopelessly optimistic and thought you could spin it as being “a responsible driver who deserves lower rates”
"PartyPooper2012" (PartyPooper2012)
04/24/2017 at 15:24, STARS: 0
how about leave your car where it is and take a cab/uber home?
How about phone a sober friend and have him drive you and your car home?
I’m not your parent so I won’t lecture you. I am just saying people run their business models catered to the business they wish to be. Taxi drivers make money driving drunks and carless people around. Tow truck drivers drive broken cars around.
You jumping in with tow truck for “free” robs him of his time and potential revenue he can make elsewhere. Sure AAA will pay him something, but it’s probably nowhere near what he might make towing a broken car or clearing an accident.
"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
04/24/2017 at 15:25, STARS: 1
I’ve done that! I was equally impressed/disturbed by how easy it was to unlock with basic tools.....
"Sweet Trav" (thespunbearing)
04/24/2017 at 15:25, STARS: 1
It saved our bacon with that shitty Blazer we had. Towing a trailer with her bike on it, trans blew about 70 miles from our house, had to have my dad come bring the trailer back, but the tow back would have been $250 plus.
"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
04/24/2017 at 15:30, STARS: 1
If you want to leave your valuable car miles from home in a dangerous area feel free. I’m not saying this is optimal, simply that it’s unquestionably better than driving drunk, for those rare occasions where you’re in a bit of a pinch.
No clue on how they’re paid from AAA. I will say the drivers contracted out by AAA have been some of the most pleasant I’ve ever dealt with—professional, timely, knowledgeable—so I try to always tip well.
"Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap" (ddadragon)
04/24/2017 at 15:30, STARS: 0
Oh yeah. It’s not hard at all. Especially if it’s a more basic car or an older car.
"PartyPooper2012" (PartyPooper2012)
04/24/2017 at 15:37, STARS: 0
Could also leave your car home before you go out.
Plus - why do you go out drinking in dangerous area?
"fourvalleys" (fourvalleys)
04/24/2017 at 15:40, STARS: 0
This is because AAA pays the tow company very little. I broke down once and needed a 15 mile tow once to drop my car at the shop. I asked the tow truck driver to make a 2 block detour along the trip so I could get another car (rather than being stranded at the shop) and he gave me a firm no, since he was only being paid about $13 for the tow.
I gave him money for dinner and he made the detour.
"deekster_caddy" (deekster_caddy)
04/24/2017 at 15:42, STARS: 0
Wow, they increased the miles to 500? Glad I don’t drive a tow truck anymore, that would suck!
"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
04/24/2017 at 15:47, STARS: 0
You’re not getting the point. This isn’t something to do every time. Just something to keep in mind for those rare occasions where you happen to have your car with you.
Seattle isn’t particularly dangerous, but I still would never leave my car parked there unless I was nearby, it was at a friend’s, or it was in a monitored garage. Same for LA, San Francisco, NYC, Miami and any other city.
"PartyPooper2012" (PartyPooper2012)
04/24/2017 at 15:53, STARS: 0
OK. I got you. I am not picking a fight or argument. I was now just curious what a tow truck driver gets paid when they are responding to AAA call.
Now granted, they could be sitting idly by making nothing. Or in my area, a hook up is $79 alone. Add up the miles you need to be towed and you could be looking at few hundred dollars out of pocket.
I found this old article talking about just this.
Allegedly tow truck driver gets paid about $30 bucks compared to $70 they would without AAA. I am guessing this would be the hook up fee.
So if I were a tow truck driver, I would still get paid - just half my hookup fee, but I would have AAA sending me the business. All in all it’s not that bad I guess.
I am just hoping AAA pays for miles too. 500 miles (free) to a tow truck driver is not free at all. Fuel, insurance, tolls, business overhead. It adds up.
"Milky" (jordanmielke)
04/24/2017 at 15:53, STARS: 1
You’re really trying to make your name legit in this conversation.
"Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief" (flynorcal)
04/24/2017 at 15:56, STARS: 0
AAA is “roadside assistance” not “trackside assistance” so if you go to attempt that and you want to be sucessful, get the local track tow to drop you on the side of the road someplace away from the track and pull off your number plates, etc, and get it right the first time as once you’re in their system from your initial call you can’t change you mind later about where you “broke down” and you’ll be totally stuck. Roadside assistance from your insurer, however, seems to be a bit more open minded than AAA.
"PartyPooper2012" (PartyPooper2012)
04/24/2017 at 15:56, STARS: 0
I guess. The unknown to me was whether or not tow truck driver is at a loss responding to his drunk behind. I guess not really. Still makes a bit of money so now I don’t feel so bad
"Sweet Trav" (thespunbearing)
04/24/2017 at 15:57, STARS: 0
Most of my races happen in parking lots. So I think I would be OK. Just push it into a space and say I coasted in...
"Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief" (flynorcal)
04/24/2017 at 16:04, STARS: 0
Oh that’ll be just fine. It’s when you blow your ability to drive home from a track where it gets tricky. The local operators know any tow from the track will almost certainly be long distance and they’ll avoid picking anyone up that they can. The short jobs create far more revenue than one 4-5 hour tow and return trip. If it’s A/X the odds of someone needing a tow are so small they probably would pick you up, numbers and all, from a running event.
"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling)
04/24/2017 at 18:10, STARS: 0
WA has this problem as well. I don’t get it, since in CA they’d appear almost anywhere really quickly. The Auto Club of Southern California was the best, but that’s probably because they are the oldest.
With my new car I’ve never needed them, but I think the insurance discount basically offsets the membership cost before any other benefits.
"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling)
04/24/2017 at 18:11, STARS: 0
If you need the distance, that’s a deal.
"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling)
04/24/2017 at 18:14, STARS: 0
I found insurance through their partnership with Safeco was pretty reasonable. Not as ridiculously cheap as the Interinsurance Exchange in Southern California, though. That was seriously cheap insurance.