AA membership - thoughts?

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hangon

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#177805 14-Aug-2015 16:40

I have been an AA member for 10+ years, I don't see I'm using its road side assist now I have mazda on call for my new car, which is valid for 5 years I think.

I'm also a southern cross member so free eye tests at OPSM (Specsaver did take photos for me but their glasses are bah)

AA fuel card is free anyway

I do get $50 off comprehensive car insurance with AA, but if I "switch to youi" or another insurer, that'd be the last straw. I had no claim bonus for life but it doesn't seem to make a difference on premium.

The 2 free "safety check" per year is more like sale pitches to me. Had several AA service centre quote ludicrous charges ($800+ for coil packs n plugs 2 hour labour...)

Anyone in the same boat having second thought whether AA member is still worth it?

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#1366489 14-Aug-2015 16:47

I signed up recently because my car is getting on a bit and I often drive as a loan female. However, with a new car I probably wouldn't bother. I get $5 discount on my house insurance!!

hangon

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#1366491 14-Aug-2015 16:52

jmh: I often drive as a loan female.

had me there for a sec...

the discount I had was on comprehensive car insurance, currently every AA online quote gets another $50 off... on top of any AA member discount.

pdath

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#1366492 14-Aug-2015 16:53

I've been an AA member for nearly 20 years. The longer you are a member the cheaper the membership gets. We've got our car insurance with them as well. I've got the "plus" membership as well, which covers accommodation and towing if you break down away from home. I can't see me ever giving it up. AA are a very good advocate for motoring users in NZ.

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#1366502 14-Aug-2015 17:16

Next year it'll be 30 years for me. Barely had to use it, but I'd rather have it than not. You'd have to weigh it up yourself as everyone is going to have their own views and priorities.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

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jmh

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#1366510 14-Aug-2015 17:30

hangon:
jmh: I often drive as a loan female.

had me there for a sec...

the discount I had was on comprehensive car insurance, currently every AA online quote gets another $50 off... on top of any AA member discount.

Sorry to disappoint - lone. Could have been an interesting story!

Aredwood

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#1366538 14-Aug-2015 18:56

I was a member for 3 years approx. Until I had a breakdown and they would only pay $30 of the tow cost. And it was the very first time I had called them out. So for me it is cheaper to just pay the full cost of any towing.

Although I can see that membership is good for those people who keep on locking their keys in the car. Or leaving the lights on.

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reven

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#1366547 14-Aug-2015 19:35

Been a member for 12ish years, pretty cheap yearly, used it about 5 times.

The discount for long term membership is a pretty big incentive to stay (which is why they do it). I dont see myself giving it up anytime soon.

Ive switched all my insurance to Youi though, they were cheaper.

Mark

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#1366550 14-Aug-2015 19:43

I think AA is worth it, been a member for about 20 years (UK and NZ), used them three times this year .. picked up a nail while on the motorbike, the big old heap truck ate it's starter motor, and then had headlight problems on the small car. Hate to think how much a tow would have cost for all that!

jamesrt

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#1366598 14-Aug-2015 20:31

AA membership is effectively an insurance policy; like all other insurances, you pay and hope you never need it.

However, recently, we needed them in a big way - the wheel literally fell off our car whilst we were driving down the road [picture for the curious]. A $5 bolt shattered - that's what learner drivers hitting the kerb too hard too many times will do, apparently!

At any rate, the AA-provided tow-truck drove us and the car back to our house (to collect other car), and then onto our regular garage to drop the car for repair. He was probably on the job for an hour or so between arriving at the scene and before he left us at the garage. Plus his travel time to get to the scene probably made it a 90 minute job for him. On a Sunday afternoon.

All covered by our AA membership.

Worth it if you really need it!

(And yeah, there's also been one key locked in car and a flat battery callout this year, too. Clearly having a bad year for driving!)

mattwnz

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#1366621 14-Aug-2015 21:02

Several insurance companies have low cost or free roadside rescue, as part of the car package, so I haven't had it since they introduced that. Plus the roadside rescue covers the car, and not just the driver, like AA does, which is quite biggie if you have two or more drivers. My new car has free 5 year roadside assistance, so don't have any need for any anymore.

alasta

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#1366910 15-Aug-2015 14:01

I cancelled mine a few years ago because I'm quite happy to use my vehicle manufacturer's roadside assistance in the unlikely event that I ever need it.

The AA advocates for the interests of motorists but I spend more time on foot or on the bus than in a car, so my interests are not necessarily broadly represented by the AA.

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cr250bromo

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#1366948 15-Aug-2015 15:27

alasta: I cancelled mine a few years ago because I'm quite happy to use my vehicle manufacturer's roadside assistance in the unlikely event that I ever need it.

The AA advocates for the interests of motorists but I spend more time on foot or on the bus than in a car, so my interests are not necessarily broadly represented by the AA.

My car is getting on for 20 years old so I am still a member of the AA, but only for the roadside assistance.

I did a quick google for recent AA surveys, one survey had 6030 respondants and another 1057. In both cases less than 0.004% of their membership base. All the AA really represent are 1.4 million members who want a roadside assistance service. I can't see how their 1.4 million members could possibly all have the same views that the AA claim to advocate for. Yet they use my membership fees to do this.

/ben

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#1366962 15-Aug-2015 15:57

I'm 10 years sober according to my card...!

I keep it because (a) compared to UK AA it's so cheap as to be almost free so why not and (b) you never know...

pdath

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#1366971 15-Aug-2015 16:01

portunus:
alasta: I cancelled mine a few years ago because I'm quite happy to use my vehicle manufacturer's roadside assistance in the unlikely event that I ever need it.

The AA advocates for the interests of motorists but I spend more time on foot or on the bus than in a car, so my interests are not necessarily broadly represented by the AA.

My car is getting on for 20 years old so I am still a member of the AA, but only for the roadside assistance.

I did a quick google for recent AA surveys, one survey had 6030 respondants and another 1057. In both cases less than 0.004% of their membership base. All the AA really represent are 1.4 million members who want a roadside assistance service. I can't see how their 1.4 million members could possibly all have the same views that the AA claim to advocate for. Yet they use my membership fees to do this.

/ben

One Government can't represent the views of all the citizens of a country either - buy you still need a Government or there would be anarchy. Just like with Government, you can attend local AA meetings, stand as a representative, etc. It helps if you understand how the AA became formed. I think the AA do a great job promoting the needs the the NZ motorist, but you are free to have a different opinion.

http://www.aa.co.nz/about/the-aa/

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E3xtc

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#1367708 17-Aug-2015 07:36

I have been with AA for over 30 years. All their ancillary "benefits" are usually just noise - "free" stuff, that is usually given free in other ways (eg other memberships or coupons etc), "discounts" on insurance which have never worked for me as have been able to get better/cheaper policies elsewhere. Each time the renewal comes around I question whether it's worth me hanging on to it...but give in just at the last minute, with no real reason why> :\

Have not used any AA benefit for a number of years now (thankfully); but like that which has already been mentioned - its effectively like an insurance policy, or a parachute in case something goes pear shaped.

Sitting in the fence here...might fall off one day

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