Should I Consider Getting a AAA Membership?

It’s worth considering a AAA membership for its roadside assistance services, including towing, battery jumpstarts and fuel delivery. Additionally, a AAA membership can offer discounts on various services and travel expenses, although these can vary by region.

Keep reading to learn more about AAA membership, its benefits and whether it may be worth purchasing for your needs.

Key Takeaways AAA memberships offer 24/7 roadside assistance and access to numerous perks and discounts. Memberships are annual and split into three tiers: Classic/Basic, Plus and Premier. Higher-tier memberships are more expensive but also come with expanded benefits, like longer towing ranges and increased coverage for lockout services. Unlike insurance, AAA roadside assistance follows the individual and can be used as a passenger in someone else’s vehicle or when driving a rental car.

What Are AAA Memberships?

An American Automobile Association membership, abbreviated to AAA or "Triple A,” provides access to a number of roadside assistance services and other benefits to drivers, such as discounts on travel planning or car rentals. Keep in mind that AAA membership does not include insurance and will not cover you if you get into an accident.

AAA is made up of over 40 autonomous motor clubs, each with the independence to set its own prices and benefits. However, your membership is usable throughout the United States, Canada and many other countries.^[1][13]

How Does a AAA Membership Work?

AAA memberships are purchased in one of three tiers – Classic (or Basic, depending on your region), Plus and Premier. Starting at the Classic/Basic level, each subsequent tier features expanded benefits and a higher price. This allows you to tailor your benefits to your needs.

For example, AAA Oregon/Idaho members receive three miles’ worth of towing in Oregon and 10 miles’ worth in Idaho at the Basic tier, but they can upgrade to the Plus tier for up to 100 miles of towing coverage for only $43 more a year.^[2] We’ll discuss more about the differences between AAA tiers later on.

Unlike insurance, which follows your car, AAA memberships follow the individual. This means if you experience car trouble while riding as a passenger in a friend’s vehicle or a rental car, you can still utilize your AAA membership for towing and other included services.^[1] However, across all tiers of service, you’re only covered for up to four emergency service calls per year.^[3]

Additionally, you have the ability to add members to your plan, typically for a discounted rate.^[1] This can be beneficial if you have multiple drivers in your household, such as a teenager just getting their license and two commuting adults.

What Types of AAA Membership Plans Are There?

Below, we’ll discuss some of the coverage you can expect to receive at each AAA membership tier. Keep in mind that your specific benefits may vary based on your region’s motor club. Be sure to review the benefits offered by your local AAA club to see if they meet your needs.

Classic Level

AAA's Basic/Classic membership tier is the entry-level option and has the lowest price point of the tiers offered. It typically includes 24/7 roadside assistance with a limited number of covered towing miles, vehicle lockout and locksmithing services up to a covered dollar amount, flat tire changes and more.^[2]

Plus Level

At the AAA Plus tier, coverage expands to towing of up to 100 miles in some regions and increases limits on covered locksmithing services. Members at this tier may also get the cost of fuel covered when delivered and an additional truck and operator for up to an hour if they need their car winched from a normally traveled road.^[2]

Premier Level

The AAA Premier level is the highest available tier, featuring the most expanded benefits and highest annual price. With a Premier membership, you gain access to one tow per household up to 200 miles per membership year, while remaining tows remain covered for up to 100 miles. Additionally, you may be covered for higher costs of locksmithing and lockout services or gain covered locksmithing services for your home, depending on your region.^[2][4]

AAA’s Premier tier can also offer trip interruption coverage of up to $1,500 and complimentary passport photos.^[2]

How Much Do AAA Memberships Cost?

AAA membership costs can vary from region to region, as each auto club has the ability to set its own prices. As an example, here are the membership costs for the Auto Club Group (ACG), which operates in 13 states, two U.S. territories and one Canadian province:^[5]

Membership Level	Annual Cost
Classic	$68[6]
Plus	$98[7]
Premier	$128[8]

In comparison, here are the prices for the same tiers offered by AAA Oregon/Idaho, which covers the state of Oregon and southern Idaho:^[2]

Membership Level	Annual Cost
Basic	$67 (plus a $20 one-time enrollment fee)
Plus	$110 (plus a $20 one-time enrollment fee)
Premier	$149 (plus a $20 one-time enrollment fee)

What Are the Benefits of a AAA Membership?

Specific benefits offered by a AAA membership will vary by region. However, many common roadside assistance services covered by AAA can include:

Towing	Lockout services
Winching	Spare tire installations
Battery jumpstarts and testing	Replacement wiper blades
Fuel delivery	Minor auto repairs

Keep in mind that the extent of AAA’s emergency roadside services will also vary by tier. For example, if you’re on the Classic or Basic tier and you need your car towed to a destination 20 miles away, you may need to pay the towing service for the additional mileage not covered under your tier out of pocket.

In addition to roadside assistance, AAA members also get a variety of discounts and benefits. With over 80,000 available discounts, AAA members can often get reduced pricing on:^[8][9]

• Fuel
• Car repairs
• Shopping
• Dining
• Travel
• Car rentals
• Entertainment
• Electronics
• Window tinting
• Gym membership
• Pet insurance
• Gift cards
• Furniture

AAA members can also get access to other types of services aside from roadside assistance, including identity theft monitoring, career assistance and weather alerts.^[10] Some perks may only be available to those of higher tiers, such as complimentary passport photos at the Premier tier.^[2]

Does AAA Have Approved Repair Facilities?

There are over 7,000 AAA-approved repair facilities across North America. The technicians at these facilities are Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified or factory trained, meaning they meet the industry standard for high-quality auto repair. AAA also inspects these facilities to ensure they meet its own standards.^[11]

You can utilize AAA’s auto repair facility locator to find the closest approved repair shop in your area.

How To Use My AAA Card

You can either present your physical AAA card or a digital version in the AAA app or your phone’s wallet app when making purchases for discounts or to confirm your membership when receiving roadside assistance. Keep in mind that you must utilize the card with your name on it when making a service request, as services are only covered for those who are listed on the membership. You may need to show a valid form of identification, like a driver’s license, to confirm your membership.^[12][13]

How To Renew a AAA Membership

AAA memberships are annual, and you can either renew manually or enroll in auto-renewal. Renewal can be done through AAA’s website, the AAA app or a phone call with AAA Member Services for your regional motor club.

You may only be able to renew up to 45 days prior to your membership’s expiration.^[14] However, if it’s the middle of the year and you would like to upgrade to a higher membership tier, you can typically do that at any time and receive the expanded benefits within 10 days.^[15]