I save a ton of money with AAA+Hertz+coupon codes from the FT Hertz forum. Many times I can get a Hertz car for less than Budget.

Plus you get:

• Debit Card Acceptance
  
• $5,000 Limit on Liability to Vehicle
  
• No Charge for Additional Drivers (who are AAA card holders)
  
• Primary Personal Liability Protection ($25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident and $10,000 property damage)
  
• No Saturday Night Keep Required for weekly rates
  
• $1 Per Day Off NeverLost®

Several years ago I received a similar - second account $10 for a year promotion. I took it. Now I pay for myself and each of my kids. The reason is simple. To protect my kids. Today many newer cars come with years of emergency road side service but what they don't come with is the protection if your kid is not in their car. What I need is peace of mind that when my kids were in someone else's car if they got stuck they could call AAA. The fascinating thing with AAA is that the person is covered not the car. That's helped my daughter who had a flat tire on a one lane road in God knows where Georgia at 10PM , and my other daughter at 2AM with a dead battery.

Last year I was visiting my daughter in STL when my son called to tell me my battery was dead. He was 17 just got his license and not covered at the time. The reason I hadn't put him on was because my membership was going to be up in a couple of months and the guy in my local office said the program wasn't prorated so I should wait. Buzz wrong answer. This discussion took place a week before my car died. I immediately called that AAA office told them my story and asked what to do. We put my son on immediately for all of $4 (they did prorate) and they sent a tow truck. I can tell you now I am a AAA lifer.

I save a ton on Hertz rentals, I get maps, my 96 Pontiac always needs something, and I got 4000 *wood points. It's worth what they charge.

It's been well worth it for me, as I've used it when my husband locked his keys in his truck, when my old car decided to die, well, you get the picture. In addition, I've gotten many free maps, TripTiks, and I normally always book the AAA discount for hotel rooms. That alone is normally worth the cost of membership.

^ ^ It is also worth it for my family, even though we haven't had a service call for about 5 years. We get 20 to 30 maps a year, many triptiks, tour books, notary services, international driving licenses, foreign travelers' checks, etc.

AAA perks
 

Another AAA benefit is the home and car insurance. I have better home insurance than I could get anywhere else (more comprehensive) and we combined it with the car insurance, which is cheaper than we could find anywhere. They are big in CA and are relatively new to TX.

Has anyone actually been asked for their AAA card when using the AAA rate at a hotel or car rental?

Don't forget the amusement park discounts if you have kids and/or are a kid at heart. :D

This past spring, Sea World and the Wild Animal Park in San Diego were offering "triple" AAA discounts (I just now saw the cleverness of this discount). We saved something like $12 to $20 per person on the tickets just by showing our AAA card at the parks. That's a lot easier to than trying to find the local AAA office or calling local grocery stores looking for discounts!

Maybe once in the last 2 years.

I haven't been asked to show the card when using the rate at a hotel, and I normally use that rate.

I've almost never been asked to how my AAA card at hotels, but the parking lot I use at EWR asks every time.


Regarding AAA insurance, does anyone know how they compare with USAA?