8 ways to maximize your AAA membership in 2024

AAA memberships provide great value—so much so that even longtime members may not be using theirs to the fullest.

You already know the basics about Roadside Assistance and AAA savings on shopping and travel. But did you know you can add other people in your household to your AAA membership at a fraction of the cost of a separate membership? Or that a Premier^® membership provides a free 1-day rental car when you have to be towed?¹ We look at perks you may not realize you have, plus some common situations where an upgrade may be right for you.

1. Take another look at your potential towing needs

All primary members get 4 free calls per membership year for emergency towing or other Roadside Assistance needs, but the distance they can be towed for free depends on their membership level.

• Members at the Classic level of benefits get 3 to 7 miles per tow (depending on territory)
• Plus^® members get 100 miles per tow
• Premier^® members get 1 tow with up to 200 miles per household and tows up to 100 miles on remaining service calls

If you're planning a road trip with long distances and limited services, or you have a commute that takes you farther from home, look at how many miles you might need in a worst-case scenario and compare that to the towing benefits on your current membership level. And keep in mind that while the independent service provider can tow the vehicle back to its facility for free no matter how far away, if the facility can’t fix your breakdown, or you prefer to go to another facility, you may still need another long tow. 

For example, if your car breaks down while road-tripping in southern Utah and local shops can't fix the problem, you may need to be towed hundreds of miles to the nearest dealership or specialist. Out of pocket, long-distance towing can cost $5 or more per mile, so a AAA membership upgrade could end up saving you hundreds of dollars.

• Go to My Account to check your membership level
  

2. Add associates to your membership

You can add eligible people in your household to your existing membership as associate members. Each person you add will get their own AAA membership card and their own set of Roadside Assistance calls at at a fraction of the cost of a new membership.²

You can add your spouse or another adult and each of your children.³ Give yourself peace of mind knowing each family member has their own card and their own tows.

• Go to My Account to add associates to your membership

3. Buying a used car? Let AAA help

AAA members can take advantage of the AAA Car Buying Service. Find the car you want from a certified dealer and feel confident in the price you’re paying.

Members at the Classic and Plus level of benefits get 20% off CARFAX vehicle history reports; members at the Premier level get 1 free CARFAX report each year, plus 40% off subsequent reports.

AAA members in California, Texas, New Mexico, Hawai‘i, and Alabama can also take advantage of savings on an 86-point inspection at a AAA Approved Repair facility, letting them have a prospective used car purchase checked out by a trusted shop. Classic and Plus level members get a discounted rate, while Premier members get a $45 mail-in rebate.

In Virginia, Premier members get 50% off the price of a Vehicle Inspection Program service at any AAA Tidewater Virginia Car Care Center.

• Browse AAA Car Buying Service for new and used cars
• Find a AAA Approved Repair facility

^{AAA Car Buying Service is only available to AAA members. Outside of Southern California, AAA Car Buying Service is managed by TrueCar, Inc. Only car buying research tools are available in Hawai‘i.}

4. Use your Premier benefits to the fullest

In addition to a 200-mile tow for your household each membership year, if you’re a member at the Premier level of benefits, you’ve got access to Concierge Services whenever you’re planning a trip more than 100 miles from home (or more than 25 miles from home for members of AAA Hawai‘i). Arrange reservations for theaters, sporting events, golf tee times, and other events, plus get health club referrals, schedule a limo or car service, and more.

You can also take advantage of 24-hour travel assistance during your trip if something goes wrong, such as lost bag assistance, emergency airline and hotel reservations, prescription medication replacement, legal referrals, and more.⁴

Closer to home, Premier members get a 1-day complimentary standard rental car if their car is towed by AAA within their local club’s territory. If you need a rental for longer, members are entitled to discounted daily rates from AAA preferred providers, plus a complimentary 1-car class upgrade.

Premier members can also take advantage of home lockout service, up to $100 in locksmith services to pick or drill the lock to gain access to your home from the outside.⁵

• Premier members can use these benefits by calling the Membership, Travel, Other Services phone number on the back of their AAA membership card.

5. Use the battery service that comes to you

AAA provides a convenient battery testing and replacement service that comes to you and your car. If your battery fails the test and needs replacing, our technician can professionally install a AAA battery⁶ and recycle the old one. AAA also offers a nationwide 3 year free replacement warranty.

• Call 1-877-516-0528
• Check battery prices

6. Save with discounts you didn't know you had

AAA savings go beyond the theme parks, hotels, and car rentals you're probably familiar with. You may already be buying things AAA has discounts for, but not getting the savings, such as:

• Gas, with Shell
• Auto parts, with NAPA Auto Parts
• Meal kits, with HelloFresh, Home Chef, and Green Chef
• Computers, with Dell, HP.com, Acer, and Lenovo
• Gifts, with 1-800-Flowers, Harry & David, and the Popcorn Factory

And that's just a handful of AAA discounts available to members—there are also gym memberships, organic groceries, glasses, gourmet steaks, luggage, emergency supplies, and more.
 

• Check out 25 AAA discounts you're probably missing out on
• Browse our full list of savings

8. Plan a trip with help from AAA Travel Advisors

Working with AAA travel professionals is another way to get the most from your membership. Advisors may be privy to deals that most people don't know about, and will have a better idea of the best and worst times to travel, what a trip should cost, and which offers are actually deals. If there are unforeseen circumstances, an advisor can also help rebook plans and recoup expenses. 

• Contact a AAA Travel Advisor online