Know AAA: Member News & Benefits

Two moves for AAA Colorado offices
Flood insurance
3 new savings opportunities
Student auto skills
AAA’s top picks for new vehicle technology
Your Roadside Assistance Benefits

© Henrick Jonsson

MEMBERSHIP

Two moves for AAA Colorado offices

AAA Colorado is pleased to announce the recent move of its Durango office to a new location at 16 Town Plaza, in the Town Plaza Shopping Center. This new location allows AAA Colorado to better serve members in the Durango area.

Grand Re-Opening ceremonies are planned for May 18–20. Tony DeNovellis, President and CEO of AAA Colorado, will be joined by members of the Durango Chamber of Commerce on May 19 at 12:15 p.m. to help celebrate this event.

The Durango office provides a full-service travel agency offering air, car and hotel reservations, and cruise and tour vacation packages; as well as an insurance agency offering auto, home and life insurance. You can reach the same great staff at the same phone number (970-247-2273). Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

Please plan to visit the new location May 18–20 to enter drawings for various giveaways, and meet AAA Colorado management and staff. Refreshments will be served.

April saw the opening of a new location for AAA Colorado AutoSource, AAA’s car leasing and buying service. The new showroom at 2680 S. Platte River Drive in Denver, will allow AutoSource to keep an inventory of 60-75 cars at a time. AutoSource agents are also available at most branch offices throughout the state or visit www.AAAautosource.com for more information.

INSURANCE

Flood insurance

If the area in which you live suffers a flood, it’s important to know your homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. Flood insurance must be purchased separately and a 30-day wait period is required between the date of purchase and the date it goes into effect. Contact a AAA insurance agent for more information and a free quote.

© Jason Stitt

DISCOUNTS

3 new savings opportunities

New AAA discount partners include The Parking Spot airport parking and shuttle service, and Canopy Airport Parking—both located just minutes from Denver International Airport. The Parking Spot offers 15 percent off published daily parking rates, outdoor parking and valet service, free bottled water and newspaper upon arrival. Canopy offers $2 per day off published parking rates, indoor/outdoor and valet parking options, and “green” vehicle charging stations.

Another new discount partner, COCAT Emergency Restoration, offers non-stop 24-hour emergency services for home and business in case of fire or flood damage. Members save $150 off trip charges.

AUTOMOTIVE

Student auto skills

The Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills competition is just one of the many ways in which AAA works with the automotive industry and local communities to build awareness of career opportunities in the automotive service industry and to ensure the development of a quality workforce that is equipped to respond to increasingly sophisticated auto repair challenges.

On Saturday, May 7, 2011, 10 two-person teams from Colorado high schools will compete in the state finals at the NAPA Denver Distribution Center. Teams race against the clock to correctly diagnose and repair a deliberately “bugged” 2012 Ford Mustang. A combination of an online exam and hands-on competition scores determine each state’s championship team that will go on to compete in the National Finals on the front lawn of Ford World Headquarters, Dearborn, Mich.

The Student Auto Skills competition identifies and supports the best young auto talent in the country with scholarship opportunities and other prizes.

AUTOMOTIVE

AAA’s top picks for new vehicle technology

All-electric vehicles (Nissan Leaf)
Plug-in hybrids (Toyota Prius, Chevy Volt)
Turbocharging and supercharging (Ford's EcoBoost engine in the F-150)
Inflatable rear seatbelts (Ford and Mercedes-Benz)
Start-stop technology (Mazda's I-stop)
Variable valve timing (Ford, GM, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda and BMW).
Enhanced stability control and rollover protection
Cleaner diesel engines (VW’s TDI engines and Mercedes-Benz BlueTec)
Alternator recharging programs (Toyota and BMW)

AUTOMOTIVE

Your Roadside Assistance Benefits

AAA Colorado’s Roadside Assistance service is the most frequently requested member benefit. In the event of an auto breakdown, here’s what to do and what your coverage includes.

Roadside Assistance is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Your membership is not linked to a specific vehicle—you can request roadside assistance for any eligible vehicle you are driving or riding in, even if it’s not yours. The vehicle must be safely reachable from a normally traveled road or established thoroughfare, such as a county-maintained road.

For identification, safety and security purposes, AAA Colorado requests that the member is with the vehicle at the time of disablement, and when the service vehicle arrives. A valid membership card and identification may be required, and benefits are non-transferable.

AAA Roadside Assistance will be provided from the nearest AAA contract facility. If the 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, AAA Colorado will assist you in obtaining lodging or alternative transportation.

Requesting Roadside Assistance

By phone: In metro Denver, call 303-753-8800. Elsewhere in Colorado and throughout the United States, call 800-AAA-HELP (800-222-4357).

Online: www.AAA.com.

Please have the following information ready:

Your name and membership number.
The make, model and color of the vehicle.
The exact location of the vehicle (a street address, if available).
The nature of the trouble—for example a flat tire, won’t start, in ditch, etc.
A phone number where you can be reached.

What vehicles are eligible?

Basic/Plus membership — Four-wheeled motor-driven vehicles of the passenger, pleasure or recreational type (including vans, campers and motor homes), regardless of license plate designation, if services can be safely delivered. Dual-wheel campers/motor homes will be provided all services except towing, extrication/recovery and tire service. Dual-wheel unloaded pickup trucks are provided all services except tire service. Rented passenger and commercial vehicles, except taxis and limousines, are eligible for service.

Plus RV/Motorcycle membership — 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.

HOW OFTEN CAN YOU CALL FOR SERVICE?

Each primary and associate member is entitled to up to four Roadside Assistance events during their membership year. Members may obviously call for additional assistance, but after four calls the member must pay at the scene or, at AAA Colorado’s discretion, be billed for each additional event.

Please keep in mind that Roadside Assistance should not be used as a substitute for proper vehicle maintenance, and charges may apply to certain services, as explained on page 87. A member who does not pay this bill may become ineligible for benefits and subject his or her membership to cancellation.

Alternate service

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

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

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

Roadside Assistance Services

When you call for assistance, 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.

Services beyond the benefits listed below will be charged the prevailing hourly or mileage rate of the contractor in that geographic area—if this is 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, and the name on the check must match the member name. Please note that snow removal is not a service offered by AAA Colorado.

Mechanical Adjustments: An attempt may be made to get your vehicle operational.

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) or 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.

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, payable at time of service.

Extricating/Winching: For AAA Basic members, AAA will cover extricating/winching service including one truck and operator at the scene of disablement. For AAA Plus and Plus/RV members, the services of a second truck and operator at the scene of disablement are covered for up to one hour if necessary.

Towing: AAA contractors will tow an eligible vehicle four miles for AAA Basic members, or 100 miles for AAA Plus members, in any direction from the point of disablement or back to the responding facility, free of charge. Additional mileage charges will be at the member’s expense, payable at the time of service, based on the contractor’s rate per mile in the geographic area.

GET THE MEMBERSHIP GUIDE
A glovebox-sized membership guide outlining AAA Colorado’s Roadside Assistance policies and all other member benefits is available at all AAA Colorado offices or download it from www.AAA.com/auto (look for the Membership Guide).

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