I like AAA for the road assistance benefit. Yeah, I COULD change my own tire, but its nicer to call AAA and have them do it. Recently I got a flat in the middle of the night on the freeway, didn't feel like crawling around under my car with traffic flying by so I called AAA. They dispatched someone and I was on my way in ~30 minutes, definitely worth the $60.

As posted separately or/and in combo, AAA offers more benefits than an "average traveler" can possibly take advantage of. For me, I have been an AAA Plus member for years. I primarily use services such as - maps, travel books (domestic), int'l driving permit, discounts, insurance (home and auto), annual car registration and license renewal. Bought my TSA-approved locks there recently, cause couldn't find it elsewhere.
I have yet to use their travel services (booking trips, hotels, cruises etc). Not a reflection of their quality service.
No one in my family is affliated with AAA, except as member(s).

Maps..... I love maps.

In my experience, discounts have been quite better than road assistance.
I live in SE Florida and switching home owners' insurance to a AAA provided company (Tower Hill Premium) made me save $1,900/y.

You make the point for AAA in the US. It is a good value for us, its what we have. I, for one, would not want to be w/o it.

Besides the towing, maps, tour books, etc the AAA membership has a "Show your card and save" program that offers discounts at many restaurants (Landrys, Hard Rock Cafe, Joes Crab Shack, etc), theme park admissions, eyeglasses and other service type places. The discounts vary by state but if you go to www.aaa.com it will ask for your zip code and then direct you to the AAA that covers the area you live in. Normally there is a show your card and save area/column (often abbr as SYC&S) that will show the discounts for businesses in your area and also nationwide (Tanger outlet malls is another nationwide offer). As mentioned earlier, the membership is on the PERSON, not the car so it is great for high school/college kids to use even if they are with someone who is having car trouble (the towing, lockout benefits, etc). Most states are $50-$80 for basic memberships, plus memberships are slightly higher and associates (spouses, kids) can be added for $20-$30 in most states. I'll get off my soap box now, I think you get my point.

I used to have AAA. The service in my area was poor due to too many tourist... maybe. I had a couple of occations when service took a couple of hours to reach me. I have not had them since then. I see them as a car assistance service and not a travel discount. There are other discounts that offer similar rates. Last week, I had a company discount for airport parking that was cheaper than the AAA discount. Bottom line, they are a car service company with other benefits. It is up to your needs and peace of mind...

You also have to realize that it is MUCH harder to get a license in Europe and that is why most drivers are skilled enough not to run out of gas in the middle of nowhere. Flat tires happen everywhere obviously. Also, not everyone owns or needs a car so if you are going to join an automobile club it better be worth your money.

I don't think it's well known that you can join AAA on the spot by calling their roadside assistance number, so if you're considering joining but aren't certain, you can still do it if your car breaks down and get immediate service like a normal member would.

I think that if your car is blocking traffic, AAA will send someone out to move it to a safe spot regardless of your membership status also.

AAA Plus has been extremely useful to us, just for their regular service alone. My daughter used her card to have her BFs car towed to our local repair shop following an accident about 45 miles away. We had our car towed more than 30 miles back to our local shop following a breakdown. Those two alone have paid for our membership the last few years!

But even better are some of the hotel rates I have seen lately. SPG offers some GREAT AAA rates. For next weekend, at the Swan in WDW, got the following rates for next holiday weekend (Mem Day): Couldn't get rack to come up, but Internet Only (non-cancellable) Rate was $309, AAA was $259 for same room with 5 day canx policy (lesser room types were much less). 3 nights alone piad most of our membership.

Hubby sometimes even uses his AAA for better rates than his company negotiated ones, when he needs to book himself (company would rather have him book thru agency, not allowing cheaper AAA rates, go figure).

Robin

I guess I'm the only person whose battery dies once in a while. I've used AAA for free jumps, and as an AAA Plus member, I too have used the 100 mile free towing. I just checked my card and I've had a continuous membership in AAA since 1976. I think that's the longest I've been a member of anything, and it's been well worth the price.

I don't need towing because

1. I get free towing from my car manufacturer for 3 years
2. My Chase (used to be Chase Freedom Card) Master Card has free towing. I wrote down the 800 number for towing directly on the card's back.
3. Some car insurance policies offer towing. Mine offers towing for $12/year, I think, which I declined because of the above 2.

Basic membership in AAA is $49. If I use the tow benefit once, it paid for itself. If I stock up on a few maps, get a hotel discount or two over the course of a year, it paid for itself. Value is in the eye of the beholder!

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.

It's a great gimic, a huge cash cow, and I only wish that I'd invented it.

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.