Problems with AAA and wrecker service

[Stewart Long]

I live in Franklin, TN, 16 miles south of Nashville, TN and have had to call for AAA wrecker service twice in the last month and been told I have 2-1/2 hours wait while sitting in heavy traffic with my 1965 GTO and another vehicle.

 

Not only do you have to stand in line and answer stupid identification questions to a pre-recorded message but the anguish of getting rear ended is unbelievable.

 

Yes I know its a metropolitan area that is growing by 100 people per day and yes I expect there is going to be somewhat of an hour delay but to be told that I have to sit I harms way for 2-1/2 hours and pay $300.00 annual fee for the privilege is a little much.

 

When I finally gave up and called Harpeth Towing a local towing outfit that used to have a AAA contract the dispatcher told me that she would have a wrecker out to me in 30 minutes and she did and then proceeded to tell me that AAA has become bad business to do any contract negotiations with because they do not pay wrecker services.

 

When the driver got me loaded up and we were on the way he told me that AAA has only 2 wreckers for the entire county of Williamson County (the richest county in the entire state of Tennessee) and Harpeth Towing has 15 trucks.

 

So I got my GTO home, paid the driver $99.00 and a $20.00 tip for helping me get into the garage; called Grundy the next morning and they said scan it into an email and send it, and I did and within a week I had my $99.00.

 

In talking with so many other people they are having the same problem and its not just here its in Florida and out in rural areas.

 

Their excuse when I visited the AAA store and complained is that they can't get companies to sign up with AAA. Wonder why if you don't pay them.

 

I only have this AAA membership for my truck and trailer and GTO for touring but the erosion of trust now is overwhelming and I am seriously thinking of dropping them.

 

Is any of our other members of AACA having troubles with AAA wrecker service in your area and out on the road going to and coming home from tours?

 

Thanks.

 

Stew Long

[John_Mereness]

There is a lot of pressure via shareholders that procurement units to spit pennies and unfortunately at times and in the wrong hands goes a little too far and actually hurts the business - same goes with procurement units that do not foster relationships.  The point being that the pressure is so on via large corporations to maximize profits, .... and ultimately the end result should be everyone in the chain also looking to maximizing efficiency so it ALL works. As to AAA, I have never had a problem - super efficient in the Greater Cincinnati area. 

[ted sweet]

Had similar issues in upstate ny. tried to use Hagerrty's towing service and was just as bad plus they won't rerimburse for using an outside tower.

[capngrog]

So far, I've only needed the AAA towing service a couple of times, so I consider myself fortunate.  Both times the AAA response has been good, and I'm satisfied with their service ... so far.

 

Somehow I perceive that there may be "vigorous" competition between regional towing services,  and occasionally(?) folks will not heap praise upon their competitors.  Have you checked with AAA as to how many wreckers they actually have on call in the Williamson County Area?

 

Cheers,

Grog

[padgett]

Must say am nearing 50 years with AAA (now have Premier which costs about 10% of my insurance costs & mainly for 250 mile towing - Florida is a big state even from the middle) and have never had an inordinate wait. But then is little I cannot fix myself (carry spares) and avoid high traffic density areas and times. Does make me wonder if the better plans get better service.

 

Was offered road service by my collector insurer and by the Good Sam Club but wanted on single plan that cold cover regular cars, collector cars, and travel trailer.

[John348]

I have the AAA gold service which is 100 miles of towing, If I use it once every few years or so it is a lot. I have had had both experiences long waits and fast to arrive. I have waited most of the time for at least an hour. The last time I used them was for a friend of mine a few weeks ago on Long Island, to get his 62 Buick Skylark up to my house to look at the brakes  As soon as I got off the phone with them about a minute later I had a call from the driver who told me he would be there in 10 minutes. It just so happened that he was a few miles away and just dropped off a car. It is all luck of the draw, In rural areas it all depends on the area that they cover. As Mr P pointed in Florida there is a lot of rural real estate between densely populated areas, and it a not a big state, it is a HUGE state. 

 

Again it is all luck. I was in Florida getting what was my Fathers 53 Chevy back on the road after 20 years of storage. The new fuel pump failed and I was stuck. I made the call and was told they were busy and it would be at least 2 hours. Fortunately I was in the parking lot of a restaurant/saloon. So what is one to do???? After a 3 hour of sitting at the bar he arrived, car still  could not run, and now I could not walk, a straight line. So in the long run I was lucky and the wait was expensive, but at least I found something to do.

 

If you are not local the advantage to any of these services is you have a phone number to call anywhere you are in the country. As long as everyone is safe while waiting, it is only time

 

Have a Great Thanksgiving

John   

Edited November 26, 2019 by John348 (see edit history)

[John_S_in_Penna]

2 hours ago, Stewart Long said:

...have to sit I harms way for 2-1/2 hours and pay $300.00 annual fee for the privilege is a little much.

 

I have had a couple of dissatisfying experiences with AAA.

I don't like the fact that the AAA "clubs" have merged, and the

small-town, more personal ones are now part of big regional clubs.

If I call their toll-free number for emergency service, I prefer to

get someone local who may know me and knows the area.

 

However, now I call a local AAA-registered towing company directly

and am sure to get a company that I know is good.  In some

places you may not be able to call the towing company directly,

or some garages think you can't, but persist and you may find

that such a method works for you.  If one AAA towing company

tells you that you can't call them directly, call another and see.

 

AAA "clubs" vary in price.  I pay less than $100 a year for their

"Plus" service, which provides up to 4 long-distance tows a year.

(The limit I think is 50 miles per tow.)  They have a higher-level

service, too, which I think provides for longer tows.  However,

the price is nothing like $300 a year.  That price seems very high.

 

You could check about towing through your antique-car 

insurance carrier.  Hagerty has various levels of service depending

on how much you pay.  Their highest level covers, I believe,

ALL the cars in the household, even regular cars.  Check to see

whether, in an emergency, you can use someone other than the

companies pre-approved on their list.

 

Good service is something every customer loves, and it

benefits the business as well.

Edited November 26, 2019 by John_S_in_Penna (see edit history)

[Ben Bruce aka First Born]

I have no AAA or otherwise. I have been driving since 1953 and have been towed maybe six or eight times. I am WAY ahead.

 

  Ben

[Trulyvintage]

Any group service you subscribe to that appears to offer “ free “ or “ at cost”services will - by design - have a network of less than desirable providers.

 

If you owned a truck - would you lose money by towing for AAA or other roadside assistance providers ?

 

You get what you pay for - sometimes you don’t like what you get.

 

 

Jim

Edited November 26, 2019 by Trulyvintage (see edit history)

[JACK M]

2 hours ago, padgett said:

 

Was offered road service by my collector insurer and by the Good Sam Club but wanted on single plan that cold cover regular cars, collector cars, and travel trailer.

 

I have the good Sam Club for the same reasons you suggest.

They will do all of the chores you mention.

One glitch, If you are towing a car hauler, (or any other trailer other than a camper) without a vehicle or boat loaded it may not get towed.

I have been known to put my Honda Elite in the hauler when I plan to travel any distance empty.

 

I have a friend that owns and drives junk. He actually keeps track of what he can get out of AAA. He knows what is 100 miles from his house to the tenth and has his crap hauled home regularly.

He will even switch license plates with current ones to get a nonrunner hauled. Even stuff that has not run in years.

AAA will never make a profit off of this guy.

Edited November 26, 2019 by JACK M (see edit history)

[Guest]

This was about three years ago, but yes, I sure did have a problem with AAA here in Northern CA about 2 p.m. on a weekday afternoon.  Car had a transmission issue, so I pulled off into to a travel stop off the interstate in the San Francisco Bay Area.  I wanted the car towed back to Sacramento (roughly 60 miles), figured no problem since I have AAA Plus, which covers up to 100 miles of towing.

 

Well, since they couldn't make my tow and return to the Bay Area before rush hour started, I was told that no trucks were available to make my out-of-area tow until after 7 p.m.  Fortunately, I was not on a travelway close to traffic, and there was a restaurant nearby.  The car and I safely returned home about 9:30 p.m. that night, some 7 1/2 hours after I made the initial call.

 

AAA probably has a decent response time for "local" tows, but watch out for those "out-of-area" ones.  AAA should probably disclose this policy, but I'm not holding my breath...

[padgett]

have the Premier Service (250 miles towing) with RV it was $160/year. Now that I do not have an RV it is $130.

That is a small fraction of what I pay for automobile insurance for the herd. And personally think of it as insurance + other services ( can still get a triptic).

 

As Matt might say, if a buck is an issue maybe a Corolla would make more sense.

[Marty Roth]

We have the Premier Service which includes 250 miles towing, and also have RV coverage which covers our car haulers because they have (minimal) living quarters inside.

Our plan covers me and my wife, and also our grandson, and covers anyone else's vehicle where we may be a passenger

The few times we actually needed the service, we were served relatively promptly with absolutely no issues.

I inadvertently dropped the free roadside &  towing coverage I had with my ATT cell phone service when we modified our plan, but it was not a very good plan anyway!

My towing coverage with my Antique Auto Insurance through J C Taylor costs a grand total of $12/year. That $12 single charge covers all of my antique vehicles on the policy, tows up to 50 miles per occurrence, and is always the fastest service I could imagine. I've never had a problem with their service, and they always provide a ROLL-BACK for the antique cars.

Taylor is also a strong supporter of AACA and our many functions.

 

[edinmass]

When driving cars that are important to you, just call the largest towing companion the area directly. Ask for their best driver and roll back, explain you would like service RIGHT AWAY and will pay extra for the service. It's not worth getting killed on the side of the road........too many rear end accidents on the highway and back roads. Yup....I pay an extra fifty when I get towed, and thats not too often........last week I had a flat on a major car. Called a top of the line tow company, and was back at the shop in less than half an hour. I NEVER, EVER, change ANY flat on the side of the road anymore.......modern or antique. 

[Billy Kingsley]

When our Jeep was running... barely...we ended up having to call AAA I believe three times. I was satisfied with them, never had to wait more than an hour. Of course, the Hudson Valley is pretty well populated and there's a lot of competition between towing companies. Might have played a role, that is beyond me. The fact that it had quit running on the main road, blocking it, probably played more of a role. 

[46 woodie]

The AAA service is great if you have a dead battery, flat tire etc. in front of your house or some other isolated area such as a parking lot. If you break down on a public road it's a different story. In my area, Long Island, the problem is that the police know that the AAA service can take a while. They will tell you that your disabled car can not disrupt the traffic flow and they call any tow that can respond quickly. The last thing a police officer want's to do is wait around for an hour, babysitting your disabled car. Then it's your problem to call AAA and try to get reimbursement . The responding tow companies know this and inflate their rate, knowing they have you "over a barrel" and AAA will only give you a portion of what you paid. My neighbor had a flat and needed to be towed (flat bedded) and was charged $150 and got under $50 from AAA.

[padgett]

Another reason not to live in NY and have a car. The rues are different here (1986 Florida slogan).

[DAVES89]

Twice this last year I had issues with the "Red" [water pump and then ignition module] and had to be towed. First time I called my insurance company [Farmers] and waited almost 2 hours while they "tried" to find a tow truck. I got tired of waiting and just called one and paid the bill and turned it in to my agent who got me full reimbursement. The second tiime I broke down I just called the two company and turned in the bill and once again received full reimbursement. Both tows were about 70 miles one way. I called the tow company close to my house as I figured they would come willingly knowing after getting me back the tow operator would also be close to home. No complaints about Farmers once I learned how to work the system...

[60FlatTop]

I live in a small town and the local AAA provider drivers know me. We have done some fancy stuff moving non-running cars I sold to a convenient place to load them, a few times.

Hardest thing was being 60 miles from home and trying to explain the different between a flatbed hauler and a tow truck for my '60 Electra. Especially when my ears were still ringing from blowing up the battery while holding on to the terminals. But that's a story better told by my wife.

[TTR]

I've been a AAA member close to 20 years, have needed their roadside assistance 3 or 4 times in past +/-10  years, twice needing a tow for vintage car, one for +/-35 miles (during heavy Xmas traffic on Dec. 24th in Los Angeles area) and another +/-80 miles (from Westlake to Riverside) on late Sunday afternoon and every instance has included prompt and professional service.

Only "disappointment" I've encountered was maybe 6-7 years ago, after calling AAA to arrange that +/- 80 mile flatbed tow back home due to a suspension problem I fortunately discovered on a parking  lot after nice lunch break. I was told by the call center person that the (pre-agreed flatbed) truck will take +/- 2 hrs to arrive and calmly expecting that, I walked back to the great Italian restaurant where friend and I had just enjoyed superb lunch right prior to discovering the looming disaster.

Once I re-entered the restaurant, I promptly ordered another glass of the same excellent Pinot Noir I had little while earlier with the meal and almost immediately after receiving it, my phone rang with the flatbed driver informing me that he's already in the parking lot, forcing me to gulp down that great (almost a $20/glass, IIRC) wine I had expected to take my sweet time with to enjoy. 😞

 

P.S. All AAA service providers I've spoken with, including those helping me, have said they make decent money with those contracts and based on information I've received, comparing the assistance/services I've needed over the years to paying directly out-of-pocket for same incidents, I believe costs at this moment would've been about same. 

 

P.P.S. edinmass' mention of changing tires on the side of the road reminded me of the my worse experience from years ago when hauling one of my cars to Monterey Car Week events in a enclosed trailer, prompted by having a 90+ year old good friend wanting to come along and share the week up there, even thought he wasn't really a "car guy". 

Well, ended up getting a flat on the trailer in the middle of nowhere on I-5 with heavy traffic backed up for miles, moving along slowly and outside temperature at about 108*.

Not only that, but the tire needing replacement was on the left (next to traffic) and making things worse was that my dear friend kept getting in-and-out of the truck cab (with A/C on) to that scorching heat and pacing around next to me (between the traffic and trailer), offering his help should I need any.

Probably the only time during our over a decade and a half long friendship I almost lost my patience and temper with him.  😟

Edited November 28, 2019 by TTR (see edit history)

[michaelmackay]

On 11/26/2019 at 6:43 PM, Stewart Long said:

I live in Franklin, TN, 16 miles south of Nashville, TN and have had to call for AAA wrecker service twice in the last month and been told I have 2-1/2 hours wait while sitting in heavy traffic with my 1965 GTO and another vehicle.

 

Not only do you have to stand in line and answer stupid identification questions to a pre-recorded message but the anguish of getting rear ended is unbelievable.

 

Yes I know its a metropolitan area that is growing by 100 people per day and yes I expect there is going to be somewhat of an hour delay but to be told that I have to sit I harms way for 2-1/2 hours and pay $300.00 annual fee for the privilege is a little much.

 

When I finally gave up and called Harpeth Towing a local towing outfit that used to have a AAA contract the dispatcher told me that she would have a wrecker out to me in 30 minutes and she did and then proceeded to tell me that AAA has become bad business to do any contract negotiations with because they do not pay wrecker services.

 

When the driver got me loaded up and we were on the way he told me that AAA has only 2 wreckers for the entire county of Williamson County (the richest county in the entire state of Tennessee) and Harpeth Towing has 15 trucks.

 

So I got my GTO home, paid the driver $99.00 and a $20.00 tip for helping me get into the garage; called Grundy the next morning and they said scan it into an email and send it, and I did and within a week I had my $99.00.

 

In talking with so many other people they are having the same problem and its not just here its in Florida and out in rural areas.

 

Their excuse when I visited the AAA store and complained is that they can't get companies to sign up with AAA. Wonder why if you don't pay them.

 

I only have this AAA membership for my truck and trailer and GTO for touring but the erosion of trust now is overwhelming and I am seriously thinking of dropping them wrecker service brownsville tx.

 

Is any of our other members of AACA having troubles with AAA wrecker service in your area and out on the road going to and coming home from tours?

 

Thanks.

 

Stew Long

I’ve been kicking this around for some time just wondering how many would be up to a Tow Truck/Wrecker/Service Truck Group Build? Like to have at lease 10 to start the dates I have in mind are October 2023- February 2024. Rules are any scale kit and must be unstarted or less than 10% started you can add aftermarket stuff including Resin. Donor kits and Donor parts are welcome as well. Trucks kits can’t not be any bigger than 1 ton and El Camino, Rancheros, Station Wagons, Vans and Pickups are welcome. Thanks and hope we can get this off the ground.

[Jim Skelly]

34 minutes ago, michaelmackay said:

I’ve been kicking this around for some time just wondering how many would be up to a Tow Truck/Wrecker/Service Truck Group Build? Like to have at lease 10 to start the dates I have in mind are October 2023- February 2024. Rules are any scale kit and must be unstarted or less than 10% started you can add aftermarket stuff including Resin. Donor kits and Donor parts are welcome as well. Trucks kits can’t not be any bigger than 1 ton and El Camino, Rancheros, Station Wagons, Vans and Pickups are welcome. Thanks and hope we can get this off the ground.

This isn't the Model Cars Magazine Forum:

 

Forums - Model Cars Magazine Forum

[Paul Dobbin]

An old thread, but a good one.  As a 40+ year member of AAA,   I can't complain.   Run out if gas, get a flat, have

an accident, breakdown, or dead battery?    Getting off the road to safety is optimum of importance.  

You have to understand they're busy too and they sometimes have more people in distress than they have trucks available at a moments notice.   As a driver of many pre-WWII vehicles, I've used them across the country several times with always acceptable wait times, but good service when needed.

I even had the 35 Chrysler Airflow picked up in Texas with a broken rear axle while competing in the Great American Race.   They towed the broken car 100  miles closer to Dallas to a facility where the car could be fixed for a later pickup.   (Talk about accomodating service)     Another time while towing our 34 Ford to a AACA Tour on a trailer behind the diesel pusher RV, the fuel cut off solenoid failed.   We were on the roadside almost 3 hours before they found a truck big enough to tow our motor home.   When he came, he was great and towed us 25 miles to our   campground where we had a week to fix it.   Driver would not take a $100 tip, because AAA paid him $900 to tow me.  (He as not a contracted tow company for AAA)  (I called a fellow AACA member at the campground and he came and towed the trailer and car to the campground.   (Pays to be a Member if AACA too)

Edited May 15 by Paul Dobbin (see edit history)

[PWN]

Allstate is what I use and it has been better than I expected. Easy to contact, quick service and you can track the tow trucks progress on your phone.

 

AAA spends too much money lobbying for Big Oil and new road construction.

[Trulyvintage]

AAA and other roadside assistance 

plans do not pay enough for tow

truck operators to pay expenses.

 

So they have desperate businesses 

participate that operate below cost.

 

If they actually charged members

a membership fee for quality

roadside assistance - they would 

have no members.

 

Rising operating costs combined

with increased abuse of the service

plan intent makes quality service 

impossible to provide in just about

every market.

 

" Abuse of service " is the use of 

the plan to transport disabled 

vehicles that didn't break down

on the road unexpectedly 

and newly purchased/sold vehicles

to a mechanic or a new owner.

 

Folks do that instead of paying

out of their own pocket for that

type of service.

 

Jim

[Dave Wells]

On 11/26/2019 at 7:50 AM, ted sweet said:

Had similar issues in upstate ny. tried to use hagerrty's towing service and was just as bad plus they wont rerimburse for using an outside tower

Ditto - same experience with Hagherty. Dropped them, but AAA isn't much better. 

Hope I don't get run into or freeze to death next time I need to call them.

[Soupiov]

Have had AAA for many years but the last time I needed a tow I had broken down on a NY State Parkway that licenses tow truck operators and they are the only ones who can pick up on the Parkways.  The local AAA operator did not have a license so after hours of phone calls with them they finally admitted that I could use the state licensed tow operator and get reimbursement from AAA but they would only reimburse me for the charges to get off the parkway.  After that I had to have the AAA operator take over for the rest of the tow which meant that I had to load and unload the car twice and the wait for hours for the AAA tow operator.  The paperwork for the reimbursement was tedious and the refund did eventually show up but I was certainly less than satisfied.  The tow truck operator who picked me up from the parkway said he used to tow for AAA too but, while the State regulates what he can charge for tows off the parkway, AAA would not reimburse him at that rate so he dropped them.  Let's be honest, they are not in it for you or the tow truck operators they use, it's always the bottom line!

[Terry Bond]

Never ceases to amaze me how a 4 year old thread can come back to life. 

Terry

 

[TTR]

1 hour ago, Trulyvintage said:

AAA and other roadside assistance 

plans do not pay enough for tow

truck operators to pay expenses.

 

So they have desperate businesses 

participate that operate below cost.

 

If they actually charged members

a membership fee for quality

roadside assistance - they would 

have no members.

 

Rising operating costs combined

with increased abuse of the service

plan intent makes quality service 

impossible to provide in just about

every market.

 

" Abuse of service " is the use of 

the plan to transport disabled 

vehicles that didn't break down

on the road unexpectedly 

and newly purchased/sold vehicles

to a mechanic or a new owner.

 

Folks do that instead of paying

out of their own pocket for that

type of service.

 

Jim

 

Please see my comment/reply in this thread 4+ years ago and now repeated below:

 

On 11/27/2019 at 5:47 PM, TTR said:

I've been a AAA member close to 20 years, have needed their roadside assistance 3 or 4 times in past +/-10  years, twice needing a tow for vintage car, one for +/-35 miles (during heavy Xmas traffic on Dec. 24th in Los Angeles area) and another +/-80 miles (from Westlake to Riverside) on late Sunday afternoon and every instance has included prompt and professional service.

Only "disappointment" I've encountered was maybe 6-7 years ago, after calling AAA to arrange that +/- 80 mile flatbed tow back home due to a suspension problem I fortunately discovered on a parking  lot after nice lunch break. I was told by the call center person that the (pre-agreed flatbed) truck will take +/- 2 hrs to arrive and calmly expecting that, I walked back to the great Italian restaurant where friend and I had just enjoyed superb lunch right prior to discovering the looming disaster.

Once I re-entered the restaurant, I promptly ordered another glass of the same excellent Pinot Noir I had little while earlier with the meal and almost immediately after receiving it, my phone rang with the flatbed driver informing me that he's already in the parking lot, forcing me to gulp down that great (almost a $20/glass, IIRC) wine I had expected to take my sweet time with to enjoy. 😞

 

P.S. All AAA service providers I've spoken with, including those helping me, have said they make decent money with those contracts and based on information I've received, comparing the assistance/services I've needed over the years to paying directly out-of-pocket for same incidents, I believe costs at those moments would've been about same. 

I haven't needed any roadside assistance since, but based on my past experiences, I'll continue to pay for our AAA membership, should a need arise.