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Safety Connect versus AAA subscription

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by Washingtonian, Feb 6, 2019.

  1. Washingtonian

    Washingtonian Senior Member

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    My Safety Connect free subscription is good for another year, so I don't have to make a decision soon. But I believe it is $80. a year to subscribe to it. I just received an invitation to join AAA for $77.50 a year for me and my wife. A major difference is that AAA would cover all three of our vehicles while Safety Connect would only cover the Prime. I am wondering if it makes sense to purchase either of these. Some background: I have been driving for more than 60 years and have never subscribed to AAA, although I did obtain an international driver's license and some maps from them. The Prime is the primary daily driver and the other two, a 2000 Lexus and a 2002 4runner are driven maybe two or three days a month. The Prime is driven 2 or 3 times a week and has 8000 miles after two years. One positive on Safety Connect is that you can connect without a cell phone. I seldom carry a phone just driving around town. I keep a spare tire in my garage and plan to take it with me on long trips.
    Any ideas if either of these insurance plans is worth having?
     
    #1 Washingtonian, Feb 6, 2019
  2. schja01

    schja01 One of very few in Chicagoland

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    If you are a Sprint customer they will pay your annual AAA membership. Personally I have safety connect, AAA/Sprint and $4.95/6 month emergency road service on my car insurance policy. I figure one should work if I have a problem. :)
     
    #2 schja01, Feb 6, 2019
  3. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    AAA covers the driver, not the car. You could be in any of your cars, the neighbor's car, a rental, heck probably even a stolen car and they'd help you.
     
    #3 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, Feb 6, 2019
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  4. Usle

    Usle Active Member

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    Triple A is going to get a tow truck to you anywhere, immediately.
    Safety connect is going to hook you up with a Toyota dealer that might not be very close.

    Speaking for myself, the phone is in the car, Eudora is supplying the entertainment, and allowing phone calls.
     
    #4 Usle, Feb 6, 2019
  5. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    SafetyConnect was $139.50 a year when I bought my Prime, which is why I never activated it even for the free three-year period.
     
    #5 Lee Jay, Feb 6, 2019
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  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Well the nice thing about Safety Connect is the automatic collision notification if anything should happen and you don't have a phone with you or you're incapacitated. It also helps if you want to send for help (you see another collision or a robbery or any other emergency).

    But AAA does help cover you over multiple vehicles.
     
    #6 Tideland Prius, Feb 6, 2019
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  7. Bob Comer

    Bob Comer Active Member

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    I have both Safety connect and AAA. They don't really cover the same things, so I have no problem with that...

    Safety connect has the SOS button and collision notification for emergencies and the entune apps for my Prime Advanced. AAA covers me in whatever I'm driving at the time for roadside assistance / towing. (among other things)
     
    #7 Bob Comer, Feb 7, 2019
  8. royrose

    royrose Senior Member

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    Check out AAA discounts and see if you would use any of them regularly. We fly out of the Denver airport regularly and use The Parking Spot for off airport parking. We get a 15% discount with AAA.
     
    #8 royrose, Feb 7, 2019
  9. alexcue

    alexcue Active Member

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    Good Point @royrose

    Personally I have the AAA Plus service. It covers the motorcycle too, and gives me 100 miles of tow. They are quick when I've had to use them. Been driving cross country and had a battery issue. Had one for me in about 45 minutes and back on the road. Great peace of mind.

    Will decide if Safety Connect is worth it after my first 3 years. It's nice to know it's there if I needed it, though. Not to mention the app perks for the car. Yeah I'm spoiled.
     
    #9 alexcue, Feb 7, 2019
  10. CharlesH

    CharlesH CA HOV Decal #5 on former PiP

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    It's a good point that AAA Auto Club covers the driver in whatever vehicle they are in. As I understand it, you don't need to be the driver to use AAA. I specified "Auto Club", since one can also get car insurance from AAA, but that is a distinct (but somewhat related) entity, with a whole different set of services.

    I also have Safety Connect, for the automatic accident reporting (the dispatcher gets your GPS coordinates). And if you push the SOS button to report an accident you have witnessed but weren't involved in, the dispatcher will also have your location that they can forward to 911. Also I use Safety Connect for the Advanced Entune Apps (charge management, vehicle locator, remote climate control).
     
    #10 CharlesH, Feb 7, 2019
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