AAA or AMA for roadside assistance?

[anytwowilldo]

My understanding is that AAA only provides moto towing with their Premium 200 mile package. I upgraded to that just for moto towing. I do know that response times vary. Years ago, it took a week to get our vehicle towed from South Lake Tahoe to Sacramento after a transmission failure. I was very surprised that it took so long but was told that they only make that run once a week. The SUV was transported on a car carrier with many others going that way.

 

[Jung]

AAA seem to have gone downhill. They left me stranded in Malibu recently. A flatbed came out, but didn't have straps to tie the bike down! Despite multiple assurances that help was on the way, that was the best it got. After waiting nearly 6 hours, I had to walk 5 miles, take a hundred dollar uber back home and collect the bike in my van the next day. They did, at least, refund the uber...

 

[self_moto]

Had terrible experience with AMA every time (3 times had to use them, only one time it worked out) when I needed help, so cancelled my membership altogether. Using AAA now, with premium package, will see how it goes.

 

[Gary856]

I've had to use AAA (premium membership) for my various bikes a bunch of times. When it's in the city or on local freeways for simple stuff like out of gas they show up fairly quickly, often within 10-15 minutes. Outside cities I've been pretty unhappy with their response time. Often they couldn't provide an accurate time frame, giving vague ETA like maybe 2 hrs or more since there's heavy demand for assistance (which they seem to say all the time), or that they have to find moto-tow capable trucks which aren't many, and that vagueness adds to the anxiety when I'm broken down in desolate spots with the daylight fading. The tow drivers, when they finally show up, are usually cool and fun to talk to. I began to think it's unrealistic to expect better response time because how little they pay contracted tow companies and drivers.

 

[HadesOmega]

What a nightmare my AAA towing experience. I was riding my electric motorcycle and ran out of power on a mountain road. I callee AAA for a tow and theg couldn't find any drivers for like an hour. Time goes by and my phone is running out of power. Tow truck never shows so I call my sister to take me home and I tow my bike myself with my trailer. I call them and ask where the tow truck was and they pretty much forgot about me. All I'm saying what if I was in a life threatening situation. I filed a complaint after that. So AAA motorcycle towing kind of rubbish for me so far.

 

[bpw]

If its a life threatening situation you probably shouldn't be calling a tow truck...

Response times are always going to be over an hour when your outside a major metro, no matter who you call. I think keeping expectations reasonable goes a long ways, a tow truck isn't like an Uber. Fastest/best service will likely always be calling a tow company direct and paying for the tow, but that is $$$$

I figure with AAA being huge, the tow companies are less likely to blow them off than some small tow insurance provider (like AMA or whatever) that they almost never work with.

 

[OaklandF4i]

If its a life threatening situation you probably shouldn't be calling a tow truck...

Response times are always going to be over an hour when your outside a major metro, no matter who you call. I think keeping expectations reasonable goes a long ways, a tow truck isn't like an Uber. Fastest/best service will likely always be calling a tow company direct and paying for the tow, but that is $$$$

I figure with AAA being huge, the tow companies are less likely to blow them off than some small tow insurance provider (like AMA or whatever) that they almost never work with.

This, so much.

I also guarantee folks who have actually ever paid for tow service out of their pocket without insurance, AAA or otherwise, will understand it's not just a couple hundred dollar expense. Its a lot more typically, so it makes it a bit easier to have some patience when you know you are saving hundreds of dollars and if its a long tow... you don't even want to think about it.

 

[budman]

This, so much.

I also guarantee folks who have actually ever paid for tow service out of their pocket without insurance, AAA or otherwise, will understand it's not just a couple hundred dollar expense. Its a lot more typically, so it makes it a bit easier to have some patience when you know you are saving hundreds of dollars and if its a long tow... you don't even want to think about it.

I gave up on both earlier this year and called local (King City).

Dude showed up with a truck and a moto trailer in 45min. A little more than the 30 minutes I was told, but that is because he thought the trailer would be better and he went home to get it.

The $600 stung, but no doubt it saved a bunch of time. As Gary mentioned the typical tow driver is cool to chat with. I had 4 hours to do that.

 

[OaklandF4i]

I gave up on both earlier this year and called local (King City).

Dude showed up with a truck and a moto trailer in 45min. A little more than the 30 minutes I was told, but that is because he thought the trailer would be better and he went home to get it.

The $600 stung, but no doubt it saved a bunch of time. As Gary mentioned the typical tow driver is cool to chat with. I had 4 hours to do that.

tow truck drivers are often the best. I once spent two days traveling with a Mexican tow truck driver hauling my Land Rover south from San Ignacio in Baja, after being extracted from the Viscaino Desert, to La Paz where parts could be flown in. I've got GREAT stories from that trip.

 

[budman]

2 days would allow for some good stories.

 

[self_moto]

This, so much.

I also guarantee folks who have actually ever paid for tow service out of their pocket without insurance, AAA or otherwise, will understand it's not just a couple hundred dollar expense. Its a lot more typically, so it makes it a bit easier to have some patience when you know you are saving hundreds of dollars and if its a long tow... you don't even want to think about it.

I think towing companies are mafia pretty much, so they should be kicked to curb by better business (hopefully I will see that happen in my lifetime).

As an example - was looking for towing company when bike broke down (AMA - wasn't helpful at all.. all these questions over phone while you have worst reception possible - what bike is it, what's the mileage on bike, what color - at this point I just hanged on them, and starting looking for tow truck myself) - towing companies are happy to tow you for $600, but wont lift a finger if you ask them to tow you for $100-150 (obviously for less distance - i.e. closest town)

And then they will complain - aaah, all these democrats/republican/lgbt/immigrants/etc. are killing our business. They totally deserve what's coming their way

 

[John2023]

I've had AAA roadside services for decades now. Have not had to use that service for my motos but have used it a few times for my autos and felt they did a good job.