AAA’s towing policies

The Collision Standard next contacted AAA national regarding their towing contracts and policies.

Christie Hyde public relations manager, expertise: automotive and traffic safety programs, AAA located in Heathrow, Florida, said that they “only work with national media because the questions” Collision Standard is “asking are very specific to the state of Oregon. You would need to work with your local AAA club there in Oregon. We can’t speak on their behalf, because a lot of policies regarding tow truck driver providers and contractors are done at the local level. We don’t have anything to do with them at the national level.”

On Hyde’s recommendation we contacted Marie Dodds, Director of Government and public affairs for AAA Oregon / Idaho.

Dodds: We’ve looked at your [Collision Standard’s] website. There is already some negative information up there about AAA when we have never even talked to you. So you can imagine I am a little hesitant to talk with you. You don’t appear to be a bona fide media outlet but rather a pre-biased website.

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(In the June issue of the CS we printed accusations sent to us by a body shop owner who reported that a Triple A tow truck driver instructed a potential shop customer that if he didn’t take his vehicle to a shop that is a part of a major auto collision repair chain, the City of Portland – who was at fault in this particular accident – wouldn’t pay for the repairs. CS was very clear that what was printed was an accusation passed on by a shop owner, not a statement of fact.)

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CS: We want to be fair and even handed with everyone.

Dodds: You haven’t been fair up to this point. Some of your information is totally inaccurate.

CS: We are just passing on information that people have relayed to us.

Dodds: I don’t know how we are going to be quoted.

CS: We just want to know what is true.

Dodds: If you can show that you are willing to be fair. If you have specific questions. . .

CS: I do. Does AAA have contracts with tow companies?

Dodds: Yes, if the tow truck is a Triple A driver, then of course there is a contract.

CS: Yes, absolutely. But given that contract, is the tow truck driver required to take the damaged vehicle to a specific shop?

Dodds: No, absolutely not! That’s not true in the least.

CS: So the tow driver can take the vehicle to any repair shop he or the owner chooses?

Dodds: Yes, as long as it’s within the guidelines of the AAA membership. Certain memberships have 100 miles of towing limitations. Others have 25 miles of towing. So if you have the basic membership and you are stranded on the coast and you want to go to a dealer that is 200 miles away – that we can’t do. But if it falls within the membership guidelines you can have your vehicle towed to wherever you want it to be towed. Let’s leave it at that.

CS: Thank you.

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