I could name a handful of horror stories that we knew CAA could have helped us with. We have had a few car accidents and even when the car would not even start situations. One of the worst case scenarios was my husband and I were out with my two girls and we were on our way home when we decided to make a quick stop to pick up some supplies. We parked the car and when we tried to start it again to drive home, nothing happened. Nothing. It was dead silent. We had no idea who to call since we were across the city. We called around and found someone who would tow us across town to our usual mechanic. You would not believe the price tag of the service. It was approximately $300+. If we signed up for CAA we could have used their towing services and saved us a lot of stress and money.
Another scenario which happened which I found was a bit fishy is when our car died on a red light one early morning. A tow truck just appeared. I guess they wait at the popular intersections until someone needs help. He towed the car to a no name mechanic, which is a few streets away from our usual mechanic. He would not tow us to our usual mechanic because he gave us some poor excuse. I bet he made a deal with the no name because he gets a cut from the work that was done to the car.
My Mother In Law joined CAA once she started driving. I am glad she did join after hearing so many of her horror stories like flat tires, car not starting because she left it running, left her keys in the car one too many times, and even car accidents. She was usually alone when she is out driving so if she was caught in a situation, she does not need to panic. She just calls CAA.
Winter driving is now around the corner and that means possibility of accidents, getting stuck, or even the car not starting. Who wants that in the middle of winter? Don't think that just installing winter tires would be enough. Anything could happen because the vehicle could lose control on black ice (nasty stuff) so having roadside assistance would come in handy if you find yourself off the road or getting a flat tire. If I was driving in the middle of winter I don't think I could change the tire even if I was an expert. We have harsh winters in Canada so even if I feel I could change the tire, there is also a possibility the vehicle's components might fail and I could make it worse than it should be. I could stay safe and warm in the car and wait for help instead of battling the bitter cold and try to change the tire myself. I think it is better to be safe than sorry.
If you are a new driver, new to the neigbourhood, or in need of a new mechanic and not sure where to get your vehicle serviced or inspected. CAA can point you to the right direction with a list of CAA Approved Auto Repair Facilities. There are too many shady and over priced mechanics that makes a fortune off innocent hard working people.
Becoming a CAA Member gets you access to towing services, battery replacement, flat tire service, emergency fuel & delivery, lockout services and even Member-exclusive savings and rewards. Roadside Assistance from CAA is available 24/7*, 365 days a year. Yes, they are open on Christmas Day, New Years, and even 2 am in the morning, so you can be safe to know they are always there to help when you need them. CAA is affordable because the Basic Memberships start at just $69**. A small fee each year to ease some stress during difficult times.
Not only does becoming a CAA Member helps you on the road but also gives you exclusive access to savings and discounts opportunity at many of your favourite retailers. That is great news when you can save on holiday shopping at places like PayLess Shoes, the Banana Republic Factory Store and GAP Factory Store. I could save quite a bit since I love going to those stores all year round.
CAA South Central Ontario is a not-for-profit auto club which also offers travel deals, home insurance, travel insurance and auto insurance. There are more than 1.9 million CAA members in South Central Ontario and over 5.9 million members in Canada.
* Certain exclusions, limitations and restrictions apply. Please see Terms & Conditions for coverage details.
** Plus HST
Disclaimer - I received compensation for this post. All opinions are my own. Events mentioned are true.
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