Originally Posted by jtkauai
I was an AAA member for perhaps 25 years. One day I had a look instead of blindly renewing (again), and realized that for $5 a year I had towing on my auto insurance, that the maps aren't worth it, and that none of the other benefits are of much value to me. Now, I haven't been a member in about 5 years and looking back, haven't missed it at all. Furthermore, AAA rates for accommodations and other travel services are virtually never the best rates.
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All very true, but I still conservatively estimate that my AAA membership pays for itself at least three or four times over in a typical year....and that's without having ever used their towing benefit. Sometimes the AAA rate is the best rate at a hotel, sometimes its not. Then there's the bond card! I can count on the fingers of one hand the time I've needed it for a traffic stop...but in all cases, I was glad I had it!
In 25+ years of travel, I figure I'm a couple thousand bucks ahead because of my AAA.