If you owned a car when you became a zipcar member, and then you sold your car, did you continue your AAA membership or drop it?

I've gotten rid of my car, and now I'm trying to decide if it's worth maintaining my AAA membership in case of a problem on the road with a zipcar.

What have other people done?

Thanks!

-- Anonymous, July 26, 2003

Answers

I travel enough that it is worth having a AAA membership just for the discount hotel rates. Sometimes the chains offer really good deals beyond the usual 10% discount. E.g., for one event I went to earlier this year, the AAA deal was about $30/night less than the negotiated conference rate at the same hotel, and included a full breakfast every morning, too.

-- Anonymous, July 26, 2003

I agree with Sandra. While one flat tire is worth the AAA membership, the trave benefits are also worth the membership. Amtrak give 10% discount, and I really like the AAA maps and tour books.

-- Anonymous, July 27, 2003

Consider also switching to http://www.betterworldclub.com/ , which is like AAA, but without the pro-car lobbying.

-- Anonymous, July 27, 2003

DUMP IT!!!

AAA lobbys for the automobile and highway industries, and against a wide range of environmental protections. While most members think that AAA is simply providing towing and jump-start services, their membership dues are also being used to promote things such as new highway construction, and to fight pro-environment efforts such as public transportation, open space preservation, the Clean Air Act,

For more details, check out: http://www.nrdc.org/amicus/01win/aaa/aaa.asp http://www.betterworldclub.com/newsroom/articles/Harpers_May2002.htm http://www.nrdc.org/amicus/01win/aaa/aaa.asp http://www.gristmagazine.com/maindish/nijhuis021103.asp http://www.tompaine.com/feature2.cfm/ID/4259

Like I said, DUMP IT!

-- Anonymous, November 04, 2003