CAA Membership

[speedyforme]

Just wanted to ask is the Basic vs Plus program worth the cost difference?

I have this special membership price for Basic = $61 or Plus = $99 all taxes included.

Is the difference in them worth the difference in cost per year?

Is CAA worth it for someone who drives approx 6,000km per year?

[BobyYoo]

i believe the difference is you get more towing with the plus. Also, the plus is transferable into your family member. The plus also have more kms distance towing.

depending on what type of car you have... Nobody can tell you what you need. have you ever needed to get your car towed in the past few years?

[malquin]

CAA Plus adds to the basic CAA plan:

* As a CAA Plus cardholder, you can have your car towed free of charge to the Auto Repair Service of your choice anywhere within a maximum distance of 160 km from site of breakdown.

* In case of extrication and if needed, the CAA Plus option extends coverage to a 2nd service vehicle for 1 hour.

* Out of gas? Don’t worry! With CAA Plus, you are entitled to enough free fuel to get to the closest gas station.

* With CAA Plus, you are entitled to a maximum reimbursement of $100 for the services of a locksmith (parts and labour) if these services are necessary to make your car operable. For identification, you must produce valid car registration and driver’s license at the time of service. Towing service will also apply if necessary.

* Increased travellers’ coverage! When you must interrupt your trip for more than 24 hours because of a mechanical breakdown which occurs more than 160 km from your home, CAA-Quebec will reimburse up to $200 per member during each membership year for unexpected expenses such as meals, hotel accommodations at the scene of disablement, or transportation to reach your destination or return home (expenses incurred within 72 hours of the incident). In case of an accident, fire or theft of your vehicle, CAA-Quebec will reimburse up to $800 per member-family during the membership year for the same unexpected expenses (incurred within 72 hours of the incident). All request must be submitted within 30 days of occurrence of one of the above-mentioned events.

[Friday5PM]

Just wanted to ask is the Basic vs Plus program worth the cost difference?

I have this special membership price for Basic = $61 or Plus = $99 all taxes included.

Is the difference in them worth the difference in cost per year?

Is CAA worth it for someone who drives approx 6,000km per year?

Do you have TD Gold Visa, you'll be enrolled in Autoclub (almost like CAA) at no cost (ask the bank for details).

[speedyforme]

Never had a need for towing although I did drive with a flat tire once and didn't know!

So my dad had CAA and called them to come over and replace my flat tire for me.

No TD Visa

I guess my basic question is, is the price difference worth the additional benefits? Cost-wise? Do tow trucks charge differently depending on distance or location?

Never had my car towed so I don't know the costs to have it towed. This is more of an insurance thing if for some rason my car breaks down in the middle of the night on a highway.

[JVM]

Do you have TD Gold Visa, you'll be enrolled in Autoclub (almost like CAA) at no cost (ask the bank for details).

It looks from their website that Autoclub is an additional fee, or is the website different from reality :)

http://www.tdcanadatrust.com/tdvisa/select.jsp

Thanks,

JVM

[Friday5PM]

It looks from their website that Autoclub is an additional fee, or is the website different from reality :)

http://www.tdcanadatrust.com/tdvisa/select.jsp

Thanks,

JVM

It's free, I have it and I used it before (the tow truck driver seems to be asking for tips though...:lol:), go in to the bank discuss the detail with the Rep.

[mocha'n'me]

If you use this link...

https://www.caasco.com/jsp_forms/joinpromo12.jsp

you can save a few more dollars by paying with a credit card. I think it's worth the extra money to upgrade to CAA Plus. You're better off if you ever have to be towed more than 10 km. And if you run out of gas they pay for it.

[Friday5PM]

oh ok, you have to keep your chequing bal of min 5K...

[JVM]

oh ok, you have to keep your chequing bal of min 5K...

Just to clarify, the TD Gold Elite Visa comes with free Deluxe Autoclub as well as a $99 yearly fee. The fee is waived if you have more then $5,000 in your chequing account.

[Friday5PM]

Just to clarify, the TD Gold Elite Visa comes with free Deluxe Autoclub as well as a $99 yearly fee. The fee is waived if you have more then $5,000 in your chequing account.

Yep, it gives you 1% cash back of all your purchases on the Visa card

[at1212b]

If you stay locally, the Basic is fine since 10km can take you pretty far and to a shop easy. But if you're worried if you're on a road trip, then the higher package would likely be better as it gets you 200km (had a friend who had to tow from Barrie down to Toronto). Its usually $2.50/km afterwards.

So you can either get to the comforts of home, or out of the boonies if need be far more economically.

That's the basics from what I can see.

[Friday5PM]

I've had a TD Emerald card for about 6 months but am interested in getting the auto club coverage by upgrading to the Gold Elite card. Does anyone know if this will be reported to the credit bureau as having cancelled my Emerald shortly after getting it, or would the account be rolled over so that it appeared as a single entry on the credit report?

I'm going for a mortgage in the next few months and don't want to disturb my 790 credit rating.

I think the credit rating is based on your payment habit, if you always pay it off (good) or pay the min of the balance (not so good) and of course bankruptcy (bad) . Talk to the bank rep, just to be double sure, or you can get the Elite and keep the Emerald for backup.

[gman]

I guess my basic question is, is the price difference worth the additional benefits? Cost-wise? Do tow trucks charge differently depending on distance or location?

Never had my car towed so I don't know the costs to have it towed. This is more of an insurance thing if for some rason my car breaks down in the middle of the night on a highway.

If you stay locally, the Basic is fine since 10km can take you pretty far and to a shop easy. But if you're worried if you're on a road trip, then the higher package would likely be better as it gets you 200km (had a friend who had to tow from Barrie down to Toronto). Its usually $2.50/km afterwards.

So you can either get to the comforts of home, or out of the boonies if need be far more economically.

That's the basics from what I can see.

10km is nothing and not exactly 'locally'. A trip from Markham east to Richmond Hill is over 10km already.

From Scarborough to Airport is 35km one way. If you need to tow from Airport to closer to your home and with $2.50 per km extra after 10km, it will be over $60.

[MP3_SKY]

I have it since 4-5 years ago. My car is not new and I once struck on snow and I feel like no one is able to help.

Since then I get the CAA Plus just for peace for mind. So far, I used for battery assistance (find out that it's my alternator), then next day I tow my car to my own mechanic which is 35km away. One time I park at downtown parking and the parking lot attendant forget the turn off my healdight and my car is dead after I go back to get my car at 11pm....called CAA to boost it for me.

You are allow to call CAA 4 times a year and I probably used only 4 times out of the 4-5 years, just a good peace of mind.

[speedyforme]

Thanks guys, it seems like Plus is a better choice because even though I don' travel very far or often, I do sometimes go all the way to Niagara to Vaughan to Richmond Hill so I guess the peace of mind is worth it.

[BobyYoo]

Thanks guys, it seems like Plus is a better choice because even though I don' travel very far or often, I do sometimes go all the way to Niagara to Vaughan to Richmond Hill so I guess the peace of mind is worth it.

the plus is good if you have alot of member in your family, you could share the towing.

last time, i needed a towing in the highway, my car was towed by the highway tower. i called my sister, she gave me her caa number and i gave it to the tower. 1 week after, caa reimburse the amount.

I believe normally, the owner of the caa have to be there when towing the car, but that is easy to go around that system

[Dealz-4-U]

You are allow to call CAA 4 times a year and I probably used only 4 times out of the 4-5 years, just a good peace of mind.
really? I thought i read somewhere it was 6 max calls/year... cant remember

[Kai Viti]

Is CAA worth joining? I'd say yer, just for peace of mind that no matter where you break down, you can call for help. Most calls would be for dead battery or flat tires. It's not often (hopefully) you'll need a tow.

With Basic, I believe you're allowed 2 tows per membership year. Not sure, you get more with Plus.

One of the other great benefits of CAA are the free maps & Tour Books, should you ever want to do a road trip. Also, discount at certain motels/hotels.

Basic or Plus? I've always had Basic & in all my years with them, only had to pay once for extra mileage on towing to my dealer & that's only because the tow truck didn't know the direct route to the dealer's & I wasn't riding with him.

Since you mentioned you don't drive much & don't venture far from home, chances are if you break down, you'll be within GTA. Sounds Basic to me!

[urameatball]

I have CAA Plus because it covers motorcycles, and I feel better when I'm on one of my many many road-trips... oh, that and my car is 13 years old.

If I didn't have a motorcycle and stayed within the city limits throughout the year, basic membership would do the job.

Haven't had to use it yet, but that maybe because I do check-ups on my car very regularly. Either way, it's peace of mind.

[dealmeone]

I have the plus plan and it really depends on your situation and circumstance. The plus plan covers (amoung other things) longer distance towing. You could save the cost of a few years worth of CAA charges with just one tow across the city (as I found out last summer!).

You might need it, but then you might not. It's better if you don't need it as you never get back the lost time of a break down, but when you do need it, you are glad that you had it because on top of the cost of the tow, you are probably going to be dealing with the cost of a repair at the same time.