Comment on My elderly parents' car broke down a couple hundred miles away. How can I get them and their car home (or fixed) with a minimum of cost and hassle?

• Mcdolan@lemmy.world ⁨8⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

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  • Okalaydokalay@lemm.ee ⁨8⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    They said in the comment I replied to

    but as far as I can tell, for it to be useful either I’d have to be with them or one of them would have to be a member of my household and an “Associate Member” on my account, none of which is the case.

    But with AAA, it’s not about payment. I’m not sure if you know or not, but AAA is a membership service some people pay for annually in North America and it provides access to towing.

    In my case, I pay about $50 each year and have 3 slots for the year to get towing, battery service, gas delivered if I run out of gas, tire changes if I get a flat, among other tow services. If I need one, I call in to AAA and they contact a local tow truck driver to come on behalf of AAA but they are not employees of AAA. There is no payment needed when the tow truck driver arrives under this service as AAA handles that on their end from membership fees from members.

    But when the tow truck driver arrives, someone on scene with the troubled vehicle needs to show proof that they are the AAA member who called for the tow truck driver. If no one has that AAA card to prove membership, the tow truck driver can leave without doing anything for the vehicle.

    So my comment was suggesting that one of OP’s parents downloads the AAA app to their phone which may be treated the same as the plastic card and they can provide that when the tow truck driver arrives as if they are OP and called for the tow, themselves.

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