From ballparks to roadside help: How one CAA Member saved $600

For CAA Member Steven Hepburn, baseball has always been about more than just the game itself. It’s about community, shared experiences, and finding reasons to bring people together. So it’s not surprising he’s a diehard Titans fan who is big on getting his friends out to the game. “I love baseball,” Steven says. “Being able to watch baseball in Ottawa and having the Ottawa Titans here is a fantastic thing.” 

And he can double down on his love of the game with his CAA Membership. Over the past 12 months, Steven saved $619 through a combination of insurance savings, sports ticket discounts, fuel rewards, and automotive services. Saving up to 30 per cent on Titans tickets has been an easy win for his friend group, too.

For the Titans’ home opener on May 8, he purchased 17 tickets so friends could enjoy the game together. Thanks to the CAA discount on home game tickets, the outing was affordable for everyone involved.

“It was super cheap for them to join, and it was a ton of fun,” Steven says. “We did that all last season, too. We’d have big groups of people join for Ottawa Titans games.”

The savings extend beyond ticket prices. Steven has also enjoyed perks at the stadium, including free popcorn (available exclusively on May 8) and exclusive giveaway items for CAA Members, such as clappers and other swag.  

Steven's sports fandom does not stop at baseball. While he admits hockey is not his primary passion, he is always open to catching a game when discounted tickets are available. Through CAA Rewards, he has also enjoyed savings on Ottawa Senators games and other live sporting events around the city. “Any chance to get some tickets, I’m down to see any type of sporting event,” he says.

A Membership rooted in family

Steven’s connection to CAA goes back long before he started collecting savings on entertainment and travel. His grandparents first introduced him to CAA when he turned 16. “My grandfather was a Class A mechanic his whole life,” Steven explains. “The four grandsons, on our 16th birthdays, each got a CAA Membership that they paid for until we were out on our own.”

For his grandparents, the Membership represented peace of mind. Even if they could not always be there to help fix a car issue themselves, they wanted to know their grandchildren would always have access to roadside assistance and support when they needed it most.

That sense of reliability sticks with Steven today. Even after he purchased newer vehicles that included roadside assistance through warranty programs, he continued relying on CAA.  

“One time, I called the roadside assistance provided by my vehicle, and they were like, ‘Are you a CAA Member? Because you should call, it’ll be faster service,” Steven recalls with a laugh.

Beyond roadside assistance, Steven has also used CAA’s automotive services to make seasonal vehicle maintenance easier. He has booked mobile tire changes directly to his home, allowing technicians to swap tires conveniently in his driveway. “Both times I’ve done it, they’ve been super punctual and on time,” he says. “And then I think I save $10 each time because I’m a CAA Member.”

Making travel simpler

Over the years, he has also used CAA to obtain passport photos and international driving permits ahead of overseas adventures. He first used the service before taking a road trip through Ireland in 2018 and more recently for a 2023 trip to the Dominican Republic. “Both times it was super simple to get the international driver’s licence, [and] do it all at once at the CAA,” he says.

Closer to home, Steven continues to use the CAA app regularly to find new discounts and experiences. He appreciates how easy the app makes it to discover savings opportunities before trips and outings. “In today’s economy, it’s always good to be able to save money,” Steven says. “CAA makes it super simple.”

For anyone debating whether a CAA Membership is worth it, Steven believes the value speaks for itself, especially during a time when many Canadians are watching expenses more carefully. “I didn’t realize that I had saved almost $700 over the last year,” he says. “That’s pretty significant!”