AAA Northeast review: Towing

On 6/4/2026 I called AAA for a tow at 1:59pm in Coventry, CT for my broken down jeep. A truck was dispatched and the timing was about 90 minutes - which is a little long but understandable.

After three hours waiting I called to check-in. After four hours waiting I called. Finally someone from AAA called me to assign it to a new company. Still I waited.

I sat on the side of the road in the baking sun for hours - then I sat there into the evening cool freezing. In total - I waited for seven hours - SEVEN hours. Despite my numerous calls - it took seven hours. I understand there is an option to leave the vehicle - but it was a five speed manual and had already popped out of gear earlier and was on a hill - so I was afraid to leave it.

There is an opportunity for AAA to address this. I assume like a fast food restaurant you have the amount of time that has lapsed since someone calls for a tow. Only one person from AAA called me during those seven hours - the other calls all came from me. When you see a multi-year AAA plus member's call going unaddressed for hours - someone should be taking action. The last woman I spoke with finally engaged a manager when I told her it was cold and dark and I was still sitting there. She at least took the right next step to bring in a manager which got things moving. I'm sure I had gone from understanding to totally pissed at that point as well.

In my eyes this is pretty simple - you have calls come in, you monitor them, you take actions. No one should have to sit on the side of the road for seven hours in the world we live in today. I had three different flat beds pass me...people offered me food and drink that had passed me multiple times I had sat there so long...a guy got out and tried to help me fix the problem. Strangers showed more concern - AAA just needs to do better.