AAA Approved Repair Shops Now Available Coast To Coast Number of Texas Locations Nearly Doubled To Meet Members Needs.

Automotive Writers/Travel Writers

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 16, 2003

AAA, the nation's largest organization for motorists and other travelers, announced this week it has completed expansion of its Approved Auto Repair network to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the 10 Canadian provinces.

Expansion of the service, including 270 shops throughout Texas, means AAA members and the public can easily identify more than 7,500 quality repair facilities across North America. Every facility is required to prominently display the AAA Approved Auto Repair, or Canadian Automobile Association Approved Auto Repair Service sign. Each is regularly inspected and approved by AAA's staff of certified automotive technicians and meets the association's strict criteria for quality workmanship and exceptional customer service.

"The AAA Texas Approved Auto Repair network has grown considerably," said Pat O'Reilly, AAA Texas AAR Manager. "The network has nearly doubled to more than 260 shops where members can obtain quality auto repairs."

AAA has been operating the Approved Auto Repair Program for years in many areas, but undertook final expansion during the past two years in an effort to better serve motorists and traveling members.

Facility names and locations can be found at www.aaa-texas.com.

The program serves the public through the knowledge that every participating shop has met AAA's requirements for customer satisfaction, trained technicians,

proper tools and equipment, cleanliness and ethical business practices. AAA clubs maintain a list of all approved facilities and most shops advertise their participation in phone directories and other publications. New car dealerships, franchised car repair shops and independently-owned facilities all take part in the program.

AAA and Canadian Automobile Association members receive additional benefits from AAA Approved Auto Repair, which are summarized in the program's member "bill of rights."

These are:

-- Dispute Resolution - AAA will investigate any dispute between

a member and an approved facility. AAA's decision will be

accepted as final by the facility. Members are not bound by

AAA's decision and may seek recourse through other avenues.

-- Safety/Maintenance Inspection - When a member's vehicle is

serviced by an approved facility, upon request and at no

charge, the facility will inspect items on the vehicle that

most frequently contribute to roadside breakdowns. Members

will receive a written recommendation of any needed

maintenance or repairs.

-- Written Estimate - Members will be provided with a written

estimate of the cost of all work to be performed on their

vehicle.

-- Warranty - Repairs, including parts and labor, will be covered

for a minimum of 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes

first, unless otherwise noted on the repair order.

-- Returned Parts - All replaced parts will be returned to AAA

members, if requested, with the exception of those that must

be returned to the manufacturer under a warranty or exchange

program.

Convenient, continent-wide access to trustworthy and reliable repair facilities should prove especially valuable to millions of drivers planning automobile trips this spring and summer, AAA Texas' O'Reilly said.

AAA Texas, LLC, an affiliate of the AAA, has been serving Texans since 1902. Today, more than a million AAA Texas members benefit from the organization's roadside assistance, travel agency, insurance, financial products, automotive products, trip planning services, and traffic safety programs. Information about these products and services is available on AAA Texas' web site at www.aaa-texas.com.