Are AAA Perks Worth The Membership Price?
It's a stereotype that's nearly as old as the automobile itself. If your car has a mechanical issue, for example, a dead battery, or you run out of gas, the go-to move is to call AAA for assistance. AAA, short for the American Automobile Association, started back in 1902 as a collection of nine regional motor clubs. Today, AAA has expanded to 32 motor clubs nationwide, and it offers three different levels of service.
At its most basic level, a AAA membership covers flat-tire changes, locksmith services for keys locked inside a car, emergency fuel delivery (members may be required to pay for the fuel itself), jump starts, and towing your vehicle to a nearby repair shop to remedy more complex malfunctions. All of these perks are included in the "Classic" plan, but more deluxe plans also exist in the "Plus" and "Premier" tiers.
For a higher annual fee, those plans deliver additional member benefits, such as towing to a repair facility located a further distance away from your breakdown location — up to 200 miles away for the Premier plan. Additionally, Plus and Premier members receive a larger credit toward locksmith services (sometimes including home lockouts, too), plus free emergency fuel in addition to the standard free fuel delivery.
How much does AAA cost?
At this point, you might be wondering how much exactly a AAA membership costs. The annual fee actually varies depending on the state or region where you're located; however, in general, the cost is $64.99 for the Classic plan, $99.99 for the Plus plan, and $124.99 for the Premier plan. Members can also add an additional driver to the plan for ~$35 to $45 per year and/or coverage for a motorcycle for a similar extra cost. To be clear, even though the cost of an annual membership is based on your home location, the plans are valid nationwide. If you live in one state, but have an issue on a road trip to a different state, your coverage is still intact.
Part of the reason AAA is so ingrained in Americans' thoughts as the de facto provider of roadside assistance is that, indeed, the federation of motor clubs did enjoy a virtual monopoly for many years. Nowadays, many car insurance companies also offer roadside assistance as an add-on to their auto insurance policies. Sometimes, roadside assistance is bundled into more deluxe policies, along with other extras like accident forgiveness.
Some of these plans start as low as $16 a year extra, though a more typical range is $20 to $150 per year. Note that the services offered by insurance companies and/or the number of claims per year may be more restrictive than what AAA offers. At the risk of sounding vague, the attractiveness of roadside assistance offered by insurance companies will best be determined by contacting your particular insurance company or consulting its website.
Your credit card or new car warranty may have you covered
In addition to auto insurance companies, some premium credit cards also come with free roadside insurance, just one of the little-known credit card perks you can take advantage of as a cardholder. As well, certain car manufacturers may also include complimentary roadside assistance for new car owners (though you'll still want to reconsider buying a brand new car for financial reasons). In the case of credit card-provided roadside assistance, do read the fine print because some cards will only dispatch a vetted good Samaritan to your location, but you will have to pay for the actual services rendered. Other credit cards pay for services, but only to a point (like $50 maximum in the case of Chase's Sapphire Reserve card).
As an example of automakers that offer free roadside assistance, owners of Stellantis vehicles (i.e., Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram) receive free jump starts or towing service to the nearest authorized dealership for a period of five years or 60,000 miles after initial purchase. Note, other services like fuel delivery and spare tire installation can also be arranged for an additional cost. On the other hand, owners of new Honda cars receive a much more generous roadside assistance program, including lockout service, free emergency fuel, and spare tire changes. However, the policy is only valid for the first three years or 36,000 miles.
It's a recurring theme in this article, but you'll want to check your owner's manual or other documents to learn if your vehicle's manufacturer offers roadside assistance, for how long, and what is covered.
AAA membership has other perks, like discounts
So far, we've focused on the roadside assistance aspect of a AAA membership and compared it to alternatives like credit card and new car warranty coverage. Yet, AAA offers its members other perks besides helping them if stranded. Much like joining the AARP, AAA members are also entitled to discounts at a large variety of businesses and services, including restaurants, hotels, movie theaters, car rental, auto repair, and even cruises.
Additionally, if you still prefer old-school maps and personal advice over electronic mapping apps, your local AAA office will be happy to help with travel planning. Some locations also offer services like a notary, passport photos, and discounted international driving permits for travel abroad.
So is becoming a AAA member worth the annual cost? Well, it depends. It's definitely worth investigating whether your auto insurance company, premium credit card, or car manufacturer offers roadside assistance. And if so, is the coverage comparable to AAA and at what price? According to consumer insight provider J.D. Power, the average price to tow a car is $109, so some sort of roadside assistance coverage could easily pay for itself at your very first breakdown.