CAA offer quite good services for a reasonable price but not everyone requires the service every year. If you maintain your car well and kept it in good condition by doing regular repairs, you may not need to sign up for CAA service. If you have a pretty old beat up car and you find your car difficult to cope with the cold Canadian weather, then of course you would want to sign up for CAA roadside assistance just in case you are stranded in the snow during a winter storm.
However, the CAA truck drivers do take a long time to come rescue you during winter time and you may end up with calling for a private towing service and paying them in cash. I have had friends who couldn't get access to CAA service during winter times because their trucks are overbooked and they can't spare any truck to help me out or i have to wait too long in the cold just for them to arrive. if you are interested in their services, below are the types of services offered in their membership:
Accident Tows
Your CAA Membership covers you for service in the event you are in an accident. CAA will make an effort to accommodate the towing of the vehicle. Under certain circumstances police may require that the vehicle be removed immediately by an independent towing company. In these situations, the Member may submit for a refund. As a Member, you must be present for service. An original official receipt and a legible copy of the accident report must be submitted with any requests for a refund along with the name of your insurance company and applicable coverage. To be eligible for reimbursement, a receipt and/or accident report must bear the Member’s name.
Battery Service
Battery Service can come to you to help you get on your way. If you are experiencing problems with your battery, our mobile Battery Service will test, boost, or replace your battery.2 Plus, Members enjoy exclusive pricing on CAA Premium Batteries with a 6-year warranty.3
Lockout Service
If your keys are locked in the vehicle, service will be sent to gain entry. If your keys are lost, broken, or we cannot gain entry into your vehicle, CAA provides up to $50 for locksmith service (where available) for Basic Members and up to $100 for Plus Members. In cases where the vehicle cannot be made operable, towing services will be provided (manufacturer restrictions may prevent completion of service). Locksmith service refund is comprised of ignition work and/or the making of one ignition key. Please note: the registered owner must be present while their vehicle is being serviced by a locksmith.
Emergency Gas Delivery
When you run out of gas, a limited supply of gasoline will be delivered to your disabled vehicle to enable you to reach the nearest open service station, or in accordance with towing service provisions, a tow will be provided to a facility where fuel is available. Specific brands or octane ratings cannot be promised. Basic Members will be charged the current pump price for the gasoline. For Plus and Premier Members, there is no charge.
Flat Tire Service
If you get a flat tire, your vehicle’s spare tire will be installed, as long as it’s inflated and serviceable. Before calling CAA, please ensure that any specialty key to remove the lug nuts is available. Service does not include repairs, additional trips to deliver a repaired tire, installation or removal of tire chains, mounting, dismounting or shifting of tires and seasonal tire changeovers. To avoid damage, certain vehicles will require a tow to a garage as proper installation requires that the wheel lug torque be set to the recommended specification for your vehicle. Proper maintenance of a vehicle is paramount to ensure our service providers can provide efficient, seamless service. In the event that the service cannot be rendered safely due to poor conditions or maintenance, the driver reserves the option of towing the vehicle to safety to avoid possible damage.
Extrication Service
Your vehicle will be extricated when it can be safely reached from a normally travelled or established thoroughfare. If special equipment, additional manpower or vehicles are required, the associated costs may be at your expense. Plus Members are automatically covered for an additional vehicle and operator for up to 1 hour at the scene. The service vehicle must have clear and safe access to the disabled vehicle; service cannot be rendered in plowed-in, snowbound or ice-covered alleys, streets, lanes or driveways.
Mechanical First Aid
Minor/temporary adjustments or emergency repairs not requiring parts or supplies will be made in an attempt to enable your vehicle to operate safely under its own power. If the vehicle cannot be placed in safe driving condition, the towing provision will apply.
Emergency Repair Cheque Acceptance
CAA Roadside Assistance contractors will accept your personal cheque of up to $400 CAD per occurrence for emergency auto repairs when no other means of payment is available. This service is limited to emergency repairs that must be carried out in order to make the vehicle operable. A valid membership card must be presented at the time of payment.
Towing Service
Towing will be provided if attempts to make your vehicle safely operable at the roadside have been unsuccessful. Flatbeds or dollies will be used when required. Basic Membership includes towing within a 10 km radius of the point of breakdown, or any point of your choice along the direct return route. Plus Membership includes towing up to 200 km. A charge per kilometre will be applied by the service facility to any additional mileage that exceeds your coverage. (Service coverage varies by territory.)
Extreme Weather Conditions
During extreme weather conditions, CAA responds to calls on a priority basis, providing service first to those Members whose vehicles are blocking roadways or posing a threat to public or personal safety. Under severe conditions, we reserve the right to suspend service to Members whose vehicles are in a place of safety. Your patience and understanding under these circumstances is appreciated.
Bike Assist
As people make a shift towards a greener lifestyle by using their bicycles more, we have CAA Bike Assist – Roadside Assistance for your bicycle. If you run into a problem that cannot be fixed on the spot, CAA will transport you and your bicycle to wherever6 you need to go. It’s included as part of your membership 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Roadside Assistance “Maximums”
Primary and Associate Members are entitled to four (4) road service calls6 each during a membership year. Service calls cannot be shared or carried over to the next membership year. Once the number of calls has been exceeded, CAA will continue to provide services at a preferred rate; however, the Member must pay the contractor at the time of service on a cash-on-demand basis.
