AAA vs. Good Sam

[pomfritz]

I am in NorCal and looking for a plan. I have been with Good Sam with good results. I called CSAA and they said the Westy is considered an RV. In order to get the 200 mile tow to your choice of destination we would have to get the AAA Premier membership at $119 for one person, $74 for additional.

They do have an AAA Plus RV level but that only give 100 mile tow to you choice and that designation is only used in Utah. She said the Premier in Calif would be good for an RV. It also includes three other tows at 100 limits. Pretty sure you use up 4 tows in a year they'll non renew you.

[crukab]

I don't know what the Good Sam towing is about, but I've had AAA for 15+ years, since my wife & I are 5+ years memebers-- we get 5 tows each, plus our kids are on it, 4 tows each, thats 18 tows a year for $212, well worth the $$. Never had any issues, plus I use about 3-4 tows a year hauling Dead Buses home, no Regi (or engine/trans ect. )
and never had a issue, I guess the tow drivers are more laid back up here.
_________________
Tom

My Pops:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604100&highlight=
I know you will always be with me, rest in peace with no more pain. 8/13/14.....

In the yard right now:
'51 Dodge 5 window truck
'65 Bug
'66 Singlecab
'82 Rabbit Truck Diesel from CALI
'86 Doublecab W/T
'91 Vanagon carat/wolfsbrg.Tiico
'88 Dodge Ram pickup
'11 Jetta Wagon

[WM971252]

[Milkythecerealkiller]

I am insured by USAA and have their roadside assistance. My wife and I were camping clear off the beaten path and ended blowing a tire. The spare wasn't worth a try since I blew the tire trying to baha the van up some trecherous moguls; wasn't happening in my gutless 2wd 1980 camper. We hiked down the mountain and called for a tow the next day. It was only a total of about 30 miles (25 on trails) but took nearly 7 hours to tow the van out. I explained what happened to my insurance company and they agreed to pay for the entire tow even though they clearly state that they only cover tows on paved roads. The bill was $650. If you have the opportunity to get their insurace by being military or having an immediate military family member I highly recommend them-they are awesome!

[RCB]

Holy smokes now Im really confused Good SAM told me one thing and a few other posters another thing. Ive got some homework to do B4 I decide. Thankx for the feedback folks...

[DAIZEE]

I had an ugly situation in one of my last tows in N.Y. State. I carry CAA PLUS (for years) and they emphasize that it is valid in the States. In Ontario if you have used up your free tows then they give you a preferred rate for a tow. So I assumed that same in States. NOPE

I got dinged with a $300.00 for 6 miles tow. Long story over a few days and I finally got the tow driver/owner of shop he towed me to and he wouldn't look at it! to drop the price to $100.00 but I had to pay for the 2nd tow but I negotiated FIRMLY. Think he only reduced the price because I was so upset and called him a vile robber taking advantage of me. Don't really care why he dropped the price, he needed to.

I'm quite disillusioned with CAA due to being in the dark about your coverage in the States if from Canada. I now carry a MC Roadside Assistance. May decide not to renew CAA.
_________________
'09 2.5L Jetta 5 cylinder, 5 spd, super turbo, see thread in H2O Cooled Jetta, etc...
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 98 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (sold)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold)

[seabright_sc]

Trip Interruption reimbursement (in case of mechanical breakdown, not just accidents) brought be back to AAA+ from good sam's. Hope I never have to use it though.

[Bercilak]

Here's a link to the California DMV's Recreational Vehicles and Trailers Handbook, showing types of RVs on page 13. Van campers and conversions are specified as a type.

Not sure why AAA wouldn't cover it though; they've towed my Westy several times with no complaints. Better check, I guess, and see if the issue is that I haven't had a LONG tow.

Thanks for the tip, Jon. Good to know before I go!

B.

[r39o]

[rlamb]

I used to have AAA, and they worked well for me. Now I have full collision ($500 deductible) and roadside assistance from progressive for $60 per SIX MONTHS! They'll tow me to the nearest shop, even if that happens to be 40 miles away, which can happen here in MT.
_________________
1984 Westfalia - Ford Cologne 2.8L conversion
2003 Passat GLX Wagon (4Motion)

[Jon_slider]

> Same here in Maryland.

cool, but a westy would not be covered in California

the original poster of this thread is in California
_________________
My Soapboxes: Inflation; Handling; Gearing; Decoupling; Swepco

[JN99]

[dobryan]

[Jon_slider]

> Westies are covered under the standard policy "because they're not too heavy or too unbalanced" (apparently the chief issues with the RVs) and thus can be towed on a standard tow truck or flatbed.

maybe thats true in Oregon, but not in California.

Tow companies and AAA rely on a section of California law that defines an RV as a vehicle with a bed.

As far as using Oregon AAA in California, you definitely can.

But a California tow driver will look at your AAA card, and if the words PLUS RV are not on the card, he will bill you by the hour, he will not honor the mileage tow of your plan. At least that is my experience.

the best option, to be towed in Cali, is to have PLUS RV from out of state.

Cali AAA is a total scam when it comes to westy towing in Cali.

I dont know if a Westy is an RV under Oregon Law..

The only downside to using out of state AAA in Cali, is you lose the 1 day free rental car benefit provided by an in state Cali AAA card.
_________________
My Soapboxes: Inflation; Handling; Gearing; Decoupling; Swepco

[PDXWesty]

I've had nothing but stellar service from AAA for the last 17 years. I'd recommend them. It can vary slightly by region as I understand, but a Westy is not an RV up here.
_________________
89 Westy 2.1 Auto

[JN99]

[Jon_slider]

I just got screwed by AAA Northern California on a 68 mile tow, the driver billed 190 dollars per hour, for the round trip. Total cost 412.10!!!

It turns out that in NorCal you cannot have RV coverage, at all. You can have AAA Premier, which covers the first $300

The Tow truck driver, and AAA confirmed, told me my Westy is an RV because it has a bed and a stove.

AAA does not cover RV's under their 100 mile Plus plan, nor under their 200 mile Premier plan.

Ignore the website which lists Premier Plus RV, that does not apply to NorCal, only to Utah.

I decided to renew my New Mexico AAA Premier Plus RV membership. I used a New Mexico address for the membership, but a California address for the Mailing address.

I tried to get AAA Nor Cal to refund the $112.10 the tow driver asked for. AAA said NO, because they dont cover RV's under the mileage plan. Like the Tow truck driver said.

I will be submitting my towing bill to AAA New Mexico, will let you know if they reimburse it..

btw, the reimbursement form online, is only for California. New Mexico has to mail it to me.

Moral of the story, IF you have a Westy, in NorCal, you are NOT covered for mileage towing as you might have thought. Go Ahead, call AAA and find out for yourself.

Very sleazy of AAA Nor Cal.

PS, AAA Southern California ALSO will screw you on a Westy tow.. they do not offer Premier Plus RV.

instead they offer this:
"$300 RV Towing Reimbursement — Get $300 covered towards the tow of your RV."

so for a 68 mile tow, the driver will bill his time, at 190 an hour, to drive the round trip, even though you are not being towed round trip..

Moral.. DO NOT BUY AAA in California for a Westy!

Also, I just called Good Sam and told them of my experience with AAA and asked what they would do for me if I wanted to be towed 68 miles to the mechanic of my choice.

They said they only tow to "nearest network facility", and if its 20 miles away and I want to go farther, I pay the driver for the balance. Good Sam Told Me They Have NO coverage for my needs, which is to tow my Van from my house, 68 miles, to my mechanic of choice.

good luck with Good Sam

the best way to get AAA Premier Plus RV, is to buy it in a market where it is offered, such as Utah, or New Mexico. They dont really care what mailing address you use, as long as you give a Utah or New Mexico residence address, which they do not verify.

I actually own a home in New Mexico, so I feel legit. They asked if I spend at least half my time there, I said not at the moment, I travel a lot. They covered me anyway. They do not ask for a driver license btw, mine is from California.
_________________
My Soapboxes: Inflation; Handling; Gearing; Decoupling; Swepco

[BillWYellowstone]

I am insured with Geico, and they have towing as part of the policy. Had to have my 35' motorhome towed 130 miles last fall. They took care of it with no issues. I also have Good Sam membership, but not the extra RoadsideAssist. Coachnet is also a fantastic service.

My experience with AAA is fraught with exceptions and limitations.
_________________
Live Fulltime in motorhome
Have 86 Westy Camper 2.1 rebuilt
Work in Yellowstone NP year round.

[DAIZEE]

I am one of the resident experts on towing >>>2010 thru August 2011. I now carry 2 Road Side Assistance and as all the old problems have been solved, hopefully no new ones. I joined my MasterCard Road side Assistance program for less than my CAA PLUS with more benefits. Right now CAA PLUS is giving me the rest of this year PREMIUM for a few bucks to try it out. I'm thinking of dropping down to CAA BASIC tho no decisions made yet.

What is Good Sam? Inquiring Cdns want to know
_________________
'09 2.5L Jetta 5 cylinder, 5 spd, super turbo, see thread in H2O Cooled Jetta, etc...
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 98 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (sold)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold)

[RCB]