Know AAA: Automotive

Automotive—AAA Colorado offers a wealth of automotive services, beginning with AAA's famous roadside assistance program that follows the member, not the vehicle. Other services include Approved Auto Repair and Auto Body Repair facilities, automotive products at AAA Colorado offices, and auto sales and leasing through AAA Colorado AutoSource. All can be accessed through www.aaa.com, including AutoManager, which manages the maintenance of your vehicle.

Roadside Assistance Benefits

Outlined on these two pages are the benefits of AAA Colorado's Roadside Assistance service—the most frequently requested member benefit. It's important to understand this service so in the event of an auto breakdown you'll know just what to do and what your coverage does and does not include.

Roadside Assistance is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is designed to assist you when the eligible vehicle you are either driving or riding in becomes disabled. A key point is that the benefits of Roadside Assistance go with the member, not the car—meaning you are covered in an eligible vehicle you are riding in even if it's not yours. AAA Colorado membership entitles you, the member, to up to four service events each membership year.

The member must be with the vehicle at the time of disablement. For identification purposes, it is recommended that the member be with the vehicle when the service vehicle arrives. A valid membership card and identification may be required, and benefits are nontransferable.

If fees are necessary, your personal check for up to $250 will be accepted by any independent contract facility providing Roadside Assistance or repairs for AAA members. A valid membership card and identification must be presented at the time of payment. The name on the check must match the member name.

Scope of service

As part of your membership, AAA Roadside Assistance will be provided from the nearest AAA contract facility. Your service call will include a trip to the disabled vehicle, where the service operator will attempt to make your vehicle operable. Your vehicle must be safely reachable from a normally traveled road or established thoroughfare, such as a county-maintained road.

When your vehicle cannot be made operable upon providing the services covered by your membership, AAA Colorado will help you find the nearest open place of repair. If a repair facility cannot be located, we will assist you in obtaining lodging or alternative transportation.

Charges for services that exceed the benefits listed will be at the prevailing hourly or mileage rate of the region where service is provided.

Roadside Assistance facilities are independent businesses and are not employees of AAA. Responsibility for loss, damage or unsatisfactory workmanship remains with the Roadside Assistance facility providing the service. AAA Colorado will assist by mediating unresolved issues.

Proper vehicle maintenance

Roadside Assistance should not be used as a substitute for proper vehicle maintenance. Each member may request Roadside Assistance as often as needed. AAA provides up to four service calls for each primary and associate member during a membership year, except for charges required of the member for certain services (as explained in these guidelines). After four service calls, the member will pay at the scene or, at AAA's discretion, be billed for each additional call. A member who does not pay this bill may become ineligible for benefits and subject his or her membership to cancellation.

Eligible Vehicles

Basic/Plus membership—Legally registered light passenger vehicles (i.e. sedans, SUVs, minivans and pickup trucks up to one ton capacity). Dual-wheel light passenger vehicles are eligible for all services except inside tire service. Rented passenger and commercial vehicles, within size limits above, except taxis and limousines, are eligible for roadside assistance.

Plus RV/Motorcycle membership— Legally registered motor homes, pickup trucks with campers, travel trailers and motorcycles. Non-travel trailers such as utility, animal, watercraft, lawn equipment, ATV and automobile trailers are not covered.

Roadside Assistance Services

The following services will be provided to place your vehicle in a drivable condition. If these attempts are unsuccessful after a reasonable effort by the service provider, the towing service provision will apply. Snow removal is not included in your membership. Roads that are not maintained by the city, county or state are excluded.

Mechanical Adjustments—An attempt may be made to get your vehicle operational. Please keep in mind that our service providers are not mechanics.

Jump Start—An attempt will be made to jump start the disabled vehicle.

Flat Tire Change—Your spare tire will be installed to enable the vehicle to be driven.

Fuel Delivery—Fuel will be delivered to the vehicle at current pump prices for AAA Basic members, and free of charge for AAA Plus and Plus/RV members. Enough fuel will be delivered to enable the vehicle to reach the nearest open service station. Specific brands or octane ratings cannot be promised. Priming of diesel vehicles is not included.

Lockout Service—If keys are locked inside the vehicle, the service provider will attempt to gain entry to the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

Locksmith Service—If the ignition key to the vehicle is lost or broken, the locksmith will attempt to make a replacement key. Coverage is for the first $50 of locksmith services for AAA Basic members, and the first $100 of locksmith services for AAA Plus and Plus/RV members. Costs beyond this coverage will be at the member's expense and payable at time of service.

Extricating/Winching—Extricating/winching will be provided when the vehicle is within 100 feet of a normally traveled thoroughfare and can be safely reached from the thoroughfare. Coverage for AAA Basic members is for one truck and one operator for up to half an hour; coverage for AAA Plus and Plus/RV members is for up to two trucks and two operators for up to one hour. Additional costs beyond this coverage will be the responsibility of the member and payable at the time of service.

Towing—The disabled vehicle will be towed to the member's destination of choice. For AAA Basic members, the first four miles of towing are covered; for AAA Plus and Plus/RV members, the first 100 miles of towing are covered. Towing beyond this distance will be at member's expense and payable to the service provider at the time of service. The prevailing contractor mileage of the geographic area will be charged.

Alternate Service

If you have followed the procedure to obtain assistance, and AAA assistance is not available, or AAA provider access is restricted (such as on toll roads or limited-access highways), AAA may provide reimbursement for covered services at the prevailing regional commercial rate.

On restricted-access roads, the reimbursement amount may be limited to the cost of towing the vehicle to the nearest exit or responding garage, at your discretion.

If AAA assistance was available but not requested, the assistance may be limited to the amount AAA would normally have paid.

To request reimbursement for Roadside Assistance, submit the original receipt to AAA Colorado within 90 days of service. AAA may adjust or deny reimbursement for service provided by individuals or companies not normally engaged in providing roadside assistance for AAA organizations.

A glovebox-sized brochure outlining AAA Colorado's Roadside Assistance policies and all other member benefits is available at www.aaa.com and all AAA Colorado offices.

How to Obtain Roadside Assistance

Metro Denver: 303-753-8800

Elsewhere in Colorado and throughout the United States: 800-AAA-HELP (800-222-4357)

Online: www.aaa.com, click on Roadside Assistance

When calling for Roadside Assistance, please have the following information ready: your name and membership number; the make, model and color of the vehicle; the exact location of your vehicle (street address if available); nature of trouble—flat tire, won't start, in ditch, etc.; and a phone number where you can be reached.

 

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