I swear by AAA+ and would not do without it. It has saved my butt a few
times when I broke down in the middle of nowhere.  One use can easily pay
for the annual membership fee. However I have learned to make sure to get a
firm quote on the additional per-mile charge from the towing company up
front. (Generally I'll ask who is being dispatched, and then call the
company directly just to confirm that they received the AAA dispatch and to
check on their rate.)  As I understand it, the towing service can charge
more for additional mileage than they might charge an uninsured person, to
help offset the lower than standard rate that AAA pays them for the covered
miles. (I don't know if this is "officially" allowed but it's commonly
done.) The lower rate that AAA pays also explains why it can be difficult to
get a tow during times when the towing companies are already backed up with
regular-paying customers (i.e. during a snowstorm).  The towing companies
tend to make sure they can service all of their "paying" customers before
agreeing to take a road service club call. Knowing this, I don't get too
upset if AAA takes an hour to show up, especially during inclement weather
or off hours.  

- Ron Salmon
  The Bus Depot, Inc.
  www.busdepot.com
  (215)  234-VWVW

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