Deadline for Real ID long since passed here in Virginia. We got ours. 

Stephen

Mobile

> On Mar 11, 2021, at 3:24 PM, Mark Belanger <mbelanger@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 
> You can take care of vehicle registration and other things at many AAA
> offices. I haven't gone to a DMV in years, though I finally will with the
> Real ID changes coming soon.
> 
> 
> -MB
> 
> On Thu, Mar 11, 2021 at 10:41 AM David McNeely <davmcneely40@gmail.com>
> wrote:
> 
>> Mark, what do you mean by the comment about living in California, and not
>> having to deal with DMV about renewals and other things?
>> 
>> On Thu, Mar 11, 2021 at 10:01 AM Mark Belanger <mbelanger@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> I once saw a sticker that said, "Insurance is a side bet against
>>> yourself,"
>>> which I found rather funny. It's like any "insurance," which you pay for,
>>> but rarely use. When I needed it (dead battery in an airport parking lot,
>>> mysterious engine failure, running out of gas due to wonky gas gauge), I
>>> sure was happy to have it. Plus, living in California, it's almost worth
>>> it
>>> just to not have to deal with the DMV for renewals and what not.
>>> 
>>> Additionally, I think you're looking at it wrong. Sure $3K is a lot of
>>> money, but you're not spending it at once. If you look at your
>>> alcohol/steak/guilty pleasure bill over 30 years, I'm sure you wouldn't be
>>> happy with the number either. I've definitely gotten more out of AAA than
>>> I've spent, but it sounds like your mileage varies (pun intended).
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -MB
>>> 
>>> On Wed, Mar 10, 2021 at 5:27 PM Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net>
>>> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> I recently posted about wondering about condition and life of spare tire
>>>> in your clamshell.  Many great tips and experiences posted, thank you.
>>>> 
>>>> So...what about AAA?  Many people recommend.  I got a 1 year membership
>>>> gifted to me a few years back; I loved it!  Never used it.  Except for
>>>> their excellent paper maps!  I picked up gobs of them.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> I think a 1 year membership is about $100.  I've owned my Vanagon 30+
>>>> years.  So doing the math, that's like $3000.  Wow...that sure buys a
>>> LOT
>>>> of batteries.  And wire brushes and grease to treat electrical terminals
>>>> throughout Vanagon.  And, I keep my eye on the fuel gauge and estimate
>>>> travel ahead.  Flat tires?  Sure, having a reliable spare tire and even
>>> a
>>>> crummy stock Vanagon jack to lift, and spending a few bucks for a better
>>>> lug wrench works wonders.  So far, we are way more money ahead!  Not to
>>>> mention the downtime of waiting for the truck to arrive.
>>>> 
>>>> But, twice in my experience, bad things happen.  Once blown out front
>>>> wheel bearings; another time was a snapped ring terminal on big red
>>> wire to
>>>> starter motor.  Okay, bummer.  So then you pay the big bucks for the
>>>> flatbed ride of shame.
>>>> 
>>>> That's the thing, though.  Instead of paying over and over each year for
>>>> something like AAA, you do your maintenance, and in the worst case
>>> scenario
>>>> you bring out the cellphone and the credit card for the tow.  Still, way
>>>> more money ahead.  Yes, they will have the fuel; yes, they can do the
>>> jump
>>>> to battery; yes, they can tow if that is the only alternative.  All the
>>>> independent tow guys got this stuff.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Thoughts and opinions?
>>>> 
>>>> Rich
>>>> San Diego
>>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> --
>>> ________________________________________________________________________
>>> Mark Belanger - mbelanger@gmail.com
>>> 
>> 
> 
> --
> ________________________________________________________________________
> Mark Belanger - mbelanger@gmail.com