How Long Does It Take AAA To Respond To Roadside Assistance Calls?

When you’re on the road, many things can happen. You can run out of gas, a tire might get punctured with no spare lying around, or your vehicle could experience a breakdown. In instances like this, you’d wish you had someone to call, especially if it happens on a highway going through the Arizona desert or during your off-road trip. 

That’s why AAA is available for all drivers. If you have phone reception, you could call them, and they’ll sort things out. However, not everyone wants to pay for a membership, especially when it’s unclear how long it takes for help to arrive. So, let’s dive into the topic and discuss things in-depth. 

What is AAA?

The American Automobile Association (AAA) is a federation of vehicle clubs that provides roadside assistance and other advantages to its members, like discounts and other perks.

If your car breaks down or you are involved in an accident or a hit-and-run, AAA can assist you in removing your vehicle from the scene and recommending an approved repair facility. They can also help you out if you’re out of gas and even call a tow truck to your location if something is wrong under the hood. 

AAA Membership And The Benefits It Provides

Because the AAA is a federation of vehicle clubs rather than a single organization, each club will offer the same membership categories and privileges, but membership rates will differ between states and counties. Base-level AAA membership will typically cost between $40 and $80 per person annually, while higher tiers could set you back by about $165 per person.

There’re multiple membership advantages, but they, to some extent, depend on your current membership tier. That’s why you’ll find a list of membership tiers with services attached below.

AAA Classic Tier ($38-$74 per year)

Here expect to receive the following services:

• Assistance if your battery dies on the road
• Help if you run out of gas
• Replacing a flat tire(-s)
• Assistance with car lockouts ($50 maximum)
• Towing services from three to 7 kilometers (max of four times per year)

Tier AAA Plus ($60 - $124/year)

Even though this tier is even more expensive than the basic one, you receive a couple of additional benefits:

• Free gasoline delivery
• Car lockout services with a $100 upper limit
• Towing services for up to 100 kilometers (max of four times per year)

AAA Premier Tier ($77 - $164 annually)

The last membership tier encompasses all the services mentioned above, along with the following:

• Lockout services for your car or house (maximum increased to $150)
• Towing services for a distance of up to 200 miles (max of one time per year)
• One-day vehicle rental with towing for free
• Trip disruption insurance ($1500 maximum)

How Long Does It Take AAA To Respond To Roadside Assistance Calls?

While there’s no exact answer to this question, the statistics show that AAA receives around 700 calls per day and responds to all of them. The response time varies based on various factors, including the time of day, the location of the breakdown, and the severity of the problem. Usually, it takes them about 12 minutes to show up at your location, but sometimes you have to wait up to an hour before help arrives. 

So, depending on the situation and the mentioned factors, you may have to wait for quite some time. However, it’s clear that client or member satisfaction is vital to AAA, and they will respond to your call as quickly as they possibly can. 

A Few Tips About AAA

If you are a member, there are several things you should know before calling AAA road service. These tips allow the organization to respond to your call faster or make things easier for you. So, make sure you do the following: 

• Keep your AAA membership card with you at all times. You can use your card to help a friend if you are in a vehicle together. The same holds if the roles are reversed.
• Provide detailed location description. Give the street name or route number if you are on the road. The more information you can provide, the faster AAA will pinpoint your location and send help.
• Renew on time. You can renew during the call, or even increase your membership status if you can’t access the much-needed service.
• Have your car insurance. If you are involved in a car accident, you should contact your insurance agent first. While AAA can help with the aftermath, they won’t pay for repairs.

Summary

The customer decides if they want to be a member of the AAA or not. While it’s certainly a benefit when such a helping hand is a call away, you may not need their services that often, and some higher-tier subscriptions cost a significant amount. On the other hand, if your vehicle does experience a breakdown, it’s nice to have an extra layer of security just in case. 

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