The American Automobile Association (AAA) is a good auto insurance choice for those seeking reliable coverage with a strong reputation for customer service. It is rated an A (excellent) by A.M. Best and is rated the highest for customer satisfaction in many areas according to J.D. Power.
It provides its members with towing services, special retail and travel discounts, and deals on flights and hotel bookings. But AAA also offers several insurance products, including car insurance. Getting your roadside assistance and insurance needs from one provider may seem like an easy and obvious choice. But are there downsides?
Where AAA insurance falls short is that you need a AAA membership to get coverage. Some people won’t mind the extra charge, but it is a cost that needs to be factored in when comparing insurance companies. It is also good to be aware that AAA insurance coverage varies by region, so discount offerings and coverage options can be completely different for a New York driver versus and Montana driver.
Let’s explore what coverages and discounts AAA offers and whether its auto insurance could provide you protection while saving you money.
AAA pros and cons
- High customer service ratings
- Bundling and safe driving discounts
- Discounts offered if you opt to share your driving data
- Have to pay for a AAA membership
- Discount savings not available in all states
- Hard to navigate site without membership
Who Is AAA a good option for?
Paired with the membership, AAA is a solid auto insurance choice for those who want additional insurance perks, such as roadside assistance and discounts on travel and shopping. These perks include access to exclusive deals on hotels, rental cars, and entertainment, making it an attractive option for those who frequently travel or enjoy leisure activities.
AAA is rated A (excellent) by A.M. Best and has held the same rating since 2018. Between 2014 and 2017, AAA was rated A- (excellent); this is a good sign that the company has had a strong and consistent rating for the past decade.
Types of coverage | Coverages and options vary by location but may include:
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Discounts available | Available discounts vary by location, but may include:
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How can you access AAA | AAA website, Android app, iOS app |
Customer support | Varies based on your local club, but AAA provides an online tool to find your auto club |
Availability | Available nationwide in 50 states and Washington D.C. |
What insurance does AAA offer?
AAA auto insurance is available in all states. It does not offer home or renter’s insurance in New York and Louisiana, and auto insurance for Louisiana drivers is provided by ACIIE. This means New York and Louisiana drivers will miss out on the opportunity to bundle and save their insurance plans.
Depending on your location, the AAA auto insurance policy you get might be issued by the local auto club or partner auto insurance companies. That’s why coverage options may vary from one location to another.
Auto insurance options
While coverage may vary by location, you might find the following coverage types available through most AAA clubs:
- Liability protection: AAA clubs provide bodily injury and property damage liability coverage. Liability insurance helps you pay for injuries and damages you’re legally liable for when you get in an accident. Liability protection is required in most states.
- No-fault coverage: Also known as personal injury protection (PIP), this type of insurance is required in certain states. In these states, this coverage helps pay the cost of medical care regardless of who was at fault in the accident.
- Collision: Collision coverage helps you pay for vehicle repairs after getting in an accident with a stationary object or another vehicle. Collision insurance is often optional unless you’re leasing or your car is financed and your lender requires it.
- Comprehensive: Comprehensive coverage assists in paying for damage to your vehicle for reasons other than collisions, such as storm damage or theft. Comprehensive and collision are also known as full coverage and are optional unless you have leased or financed your car with a loan.
- Uninsured or underinsured motorist insurance: This coverage helps pay for damages to your vehicles caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver. Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage pays for damages the other driver is liable for but cannot pay.
- Medical payments: Medical payment coverage works with your health insurance to help pay for medical expenses resulting from injuries in an auto accident.
Optional AAA insurance coverages
AAA has add-on insurance options you could include to your policy to customize your coverage. Depending on your regional auto club, optional coverages may include:
- Car rental reimbursement: If your car is damaged in an accident and needs to be repaired, rental car reimbursement helps pay the cost of a rental car while your vehicle is at the repair shop.
- Enhanced total loss replacement: If your car is declared a total loss after an accident, enhanced total loss replacement helps to pay for its replacement with a new model.
- Loan or lease gap coverage: Gap insurance helps to cover the difference between the current value of the car and what you owe on the loan or lease if the vehicle is a total loss after an accident.
- Enhanced exterior repair: With enhanced exterior repair protection, you would get original exterior parts from the manufacturer rather than relying on aftermarket parts. Window glass and mechanical parts are excluded from this protection.
- Transportation network company coverage: This coverage is available if you join the ridesharing market through a company like Uber or Lyft. If you get in an accident, it helps to cover the gap between what your rideshare company covers and the actual cost of the damages.
Additional AAA benefits
As a AAA policyholder, you may be eligible for additional insurance benefits. These benefits also vary depending on your local AAA club. Still, they might include:
- Claim forgiveness: AAA offers three levels of claim and accident forgiveness depending on your insurance policy, continuous coverage, and claim-free status. Insurance claim forgiveness provides no increase in your premium following a claim process. The forgiven claim size increases with each level.
- Claim-free rewards: These rewards give you cash back or a renewal credit for every claims-free policy year, up to $50.
- Disappearing deductible: This benefit offers gradually decreasing collision and comprehensive deductibles, the amount you might pay out of pocket before your insurance benefits kick in. When offering this benefit, AAA would reduce this amount with every claim-free year.
How much does AAA cost?
When I requested a quote through AAA for coverage of my 2020 Toyota Prius and 2015 Toyota Sienna in California, my quote came out to $228 per month for six months — this is $28 more per month than the current plan I have with Geico. Plus, Geico offers $45-per-day car rental coverage, and Progressive offers $35 per day. Switching would cost me $336 more per year on top of paying for a AAA membership.
However, policies and premiums vary by region and even zip code. Local differences between clubs add to other factors that affect car insurance premiums. These factors include your age, gender, vehicle use, and the make and model of your car.
Another element that affects the cost of AAA auto insurance is that you must be a member to qualify. Membership is available to the general public, but it isn’t free. Depending on your membership tier, the cost ranges from $64.99 to $124.99 per year.
AAA discounts offered
AAA has a wide range of discounts available that would reduce your premium if you qualify. Available discounts vary based on location but here are some of the most common discounts mentioned on AAA’s site:
Discount type | How to get it | Savings |
Vehicle safety discount | If your vehicle has safety features such as airbags, anti-lock brakes, or stability control, you might qualify for a discount. | Not stated |
Anti-theft device discount | Vehicles with anti-theft devices may be eligible for a premium reduction. | Not stated |
Defensive driver discount | For drivers 55 and older who complete a Mature Driver Improvement course. | Not stated |
Good driver discount | Discount based on how long you’ve been driving and your driving history. | 20% |
Good student discount | Be in high school or college with a 3.0 average or higher. | 10% off |
Student away discount | For students attending school 100 miles or more away from home while keeping their car at home. | Not stated |
Multi-car | Have more than one vehicle insured with AAA | 15.7% |
Bundling discount | Use AAA for other insurance coverage, such as home or life insurance. | Up to 15.7% on auto insurance and up to 20% on home insurance |
AAA Drive | Telematics system for user-based driving and measures your driving habits. | 5% automatically and up to 25% on policy renewals |
How does AAA’s quote process work?
Learning how to get car insurance through AAA doesn’t take much time. In many states, you could get a car insurance quote online. However, some local clubs may require you to speak with an agent to finalize your policy.
I was able to request a quote online without needing a AAA membership. I needed to provide my address, make and model of my vehicles, and easy details about my driving history and daily commute. Without a AAA membership or login, the website was hard to navigate since it prompted me to sign up for a membership on every page, making it hard to see the other content.
I appreciated that you were able to apply discounts at the time of your quote. Options included being a part of an alumni association with your four-year university, having an advanced degree in education, engineering, or science, or being a medical professional, lawyer, or certified public accountant (CPA). They also automatically applied a multi-car discount and good driver discount to my rate.
Once you’ve customized your car insurance coverage and are satisfied with the quote, you could finalize your coverage and make your first payment. Keep in mind that paying your policy in full may qualify you for an additional discount.
FAQs
Is AAA auto insurance worth it?
AAA insurance is worth getting a quote from especially since it might be cheaper than your current car insurance coverage. When I pulled quotes for AAA, Progressive, and Geico, I discovered AAA was $30 cheaper per month than Progressive, but it was still more expensive than my current Geico plan. Other drivers might save more depending on their area or if they use a telematics usage-based app for more savings.
Is AAA the same as USAA?
Despite the similarities in names, AAA is a separate entity from USAA. AAA stands for the American Automobile Association, an association made up of 32 local motor clubs that provide roadside service, insurance policies, travel services, banking products, and more. It's commonly referred to as "Triple A."
Unlike AAA, which is available to the general public, USAA is a membership organization that caters only to military service members and their families. It offers financial services such as bank accounts, investment products, and insurance policies.
Does roadside assistance increase AAA insurance premiums?
Using AAA roadside assistance should not increase your AAA insurance premium. Roadside assistance provided to AAA members is a separate program from AAA auto insurance. Getting a towing service or help with a flat tire would not affect your insurance premiums.
Is AAA membership the same as having AAA car insurance?
Becoming a AAA member doesn’t mean you have car insurance. AAA members are entitled to benefits like towing services, battery jump-starts, fuel delivery, and travel discounts. Being a AAA member is also required to be able to buy a AAA insurance policy, which you’d get separately and at an additional cost.
Bottom line
If you are shopping around for car insurance and are already a AAA member, AAA auto insurance may be beneficial. The same might be true if you consider becoming a AAA member to take advantage of its roadside assistance and benefits.
AAA car insurance offers multiple coverage options and has discounts that may help reduce your premium. Depending on your specific case, this may make your premium with AAA competitive compared to other providers. However, it’s essential to account for the AAA membership cost.
If you’re unsure if AAA suits you, you could compare what it offers to the coverages and premiums the best car insurance companies may provide.