State Roadside Rescue vs AA Roadside Service

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timmmay

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#157126 20-Nov-2014 16:23

Considering just their roadside service which do you think is better? I'm not concerned about the other benefits of either organisation for now, or coverage of the car vs the person. I've been with AA ten years, but they're twice the price of State.

How are both for service coverage in rural areas? We're doing a road trip around the lower north island soon, while the car's reliable I'd like to know that I can get service if I need to, even if it's a few hours drive from a big city.

mattwnz

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#1180224 20-Nov-2014 17:01

Doesn't one cover the person, and the other cover the car. I use the state one and it is good, and I think one that covers any driver that drives the car is better. The one that covers the driver maybe better if you drive multiple cars. I have used state in a rural area such as in the Wairarapa, and they just use local contractors if they don't have their own staff in the area. Though you can sometimes have a bit of a wait, but that is life.

timmmay

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#1180226 20-Nov-2014 17:07

Yep state covers the car, AA the person, not really too bothered about that. Good to know you used State in a rural area, bit of a wait is fine so long as someone shows up eventually!

kingjj

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#1180251 20-Nov-2014 17:39

Does the State offering have access to an App? AA Roadside Service has an App which is great for booking assistance. It can get your location from your GPS, you input a few details and than you can track who has been assigned and their ETA. No need to go through their call centre. I haven't used the AA in a while, but I know my Brother has used them a few times in rural North Canterbury and he's never waited more than an hour.

nolanz

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#1180255 20-Nov-2014 18:02

Many years an AA member, and I guess people who join such organisations tend to be more careful, so I have had little return over the years, but recently I was travelling down country with my neighbour in his car when the battery died completely on the Desert Road of all places. He was not an AA member, but because I was in the car, the AA sent out a local contactor with a new battery. No charge to either of us except for the new battery.

scuwp

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#1180288 20-Nov-2014 18:53

Don't you have to have your insurance with state to use their service?

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

Geektastic

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#1184525 27-Nov-2014 22:53

timmmay: Considering just their roadside service which do you think is better? I'm not concerned about the other benefits of either organisation for now, or coverage of the car vs the person. I've been with AA ten years, but they're twice the price of State.

How are both for service coverage in rural areas? We're doing a road trip around the lower north island soon, while the car's reliable I'd like to know that I can get service if I need to, even if it's a few hours drive from a big city.

Only ever used the AA here in NZ (used the RAC in the UK).

Outside cities I find them haphazard because they fob you off on some local contractor which means (unless it's really simple like a flat or a jump start) I'm up for a tow to a Toyota dealer.

Fortunately, Toyota seem to make good cars so only had to call them a couple of times: the 12v battery in my Alphard Hybrid died and Toyota put a calcium battery in which did not survive 6 months because the hybrid has a low charge cycle designed for lead acid batteries. Hence several totally flat battery days! However we just got the guy from the local garage - no shiny AA liveried van etc.

Was better when they used to salute members too....!!

ckc

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#1184531 27-Nov-2014 23:08

I'm only with AA partially for the roadside service. An AA membership pays for itself with a three day Thrify car hire. I'm sure there's others, but over the last year I've saved four times my membership on car hires.

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Geektastic

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#1184548 27-Nov-2014 23:44

ckc: I'm only with AA partially for the roadside service. An AA membership pays for itself with a three day Thrify car hire. I'm sure there's others, but over the last year I've saved four times my membership on car hires.

Owning 3 cars I have not had to hire one in NZ for some while...!

The free eye tests are handy though.

ckc

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#1184678 28-Nov-2014 09:20

Can't fly my car to Dunedin. ;)

Geektastic

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#1184959 28-Nov-2014 15:16

ckc: Can't fly my car to Dunedin. ;)

No - you can drive it there...!

I remember as a child going on holiday with my parents to St Tropez by putting the car on the train in London and taking the sleeper. It was a great way to travel - all the fun of private cabins and stuff on the train (which as children we found exciting) and then in the morning you get the car off and head straight for the hotel!

Not sure if you can still do that.