{"id":320912,"date":"2025-11-07T14:29:22","date_gmt":"2025-11-07T19:29:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/?p=138071"},"modified":"2025-11-07T14:29:22","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T19:29:22","slug":"aaa-membership-perks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/insurance\/car\/aaa-membership-perks\/","title":{"rendered":"9 Things You Didn’t Realize About a AAA Membership"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n

AAA is known for its membership-based roadside assistance service. For a flat, annual fee, and depending on membership level<\/a>, you typically receive a set number of roadside service calls (most clubs include 4 per member per membership year) with towing and other benefits scaling by tier\u2014however, exact entitlements vary by regional club and ZIP code. In 2025, typical base memberships<\/a> (Classic\/Basic) generally run about $60\u2013$85 for the primary member, Plus plans around $100\u2013$140, and Premier roughly $135\u2013$180+, depending on your club. Many clubs also assess a one\u2011time new\u2011member enrollment fee (often ~$10\u2013$20) and offer discounted first\u2011year promotions. Household\/associate add\u2011ons are commonly available for an extra ~$30\u2013$70 per person, by tier. Towing limits commonly follow this pattern: Classic short local tows (about 5\u20137 miles), Plus up to 100 miles, and Premier one tow up to 200 miles per year with remaining tows up to 100 miles; fuel delivery is usually member\u2011paid at Classic and included at Plus\/Premier. Always verify specifics for your ZIP on your club\u2019s comparison page (examples: AAA Club Alliance<\/a>, AAA Northern California\/Nevada\/Utah<\/a>, AAA Washington<\/a>, AAA Northeast<\/a>, Auto Club Enterprises<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Along with the peace of mind that comes from knowing you won\u2019t be left stranded, a AAA membership could still be worth considering for its other perks. Whether you\u2019re debating investing in a AAA membership or looking to get the most out of an existing membership, remember that AAA operates as regional clubs and availability varies by location and tier. Use your club\u2019s comparison page to confirm details for your ZIP (Club Alliance<\/a>; Northern California\/Nevada\/Utah<\/a>; Washington<\/a>; Northeast<\/a>; Auto Club Enterprises<\/a>). Here are nine commonly available perks you might not have realized came with AAA membership:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Retail Discounts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With AAA, you\u2019re covered while you\u2019re driving to the mall, but you also get benefits once you start shopping. Popular retailers and services offer ongoing member savings\u2014for example, at many locations of The UPS Store, AAA members save 5% on UPS shipping and 15% on eligible products and services (offer details<\/a>). Dining, entertainment, and attraction discounts are also common. For the most accurate list and any required codes, check your club\u2019s local offers portal and, when in\u2011store, present your AAA card. To find out which discounts are available with a membership to your local club, visit AAA.com<\/a> and enter your ZIP code if prompted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Travel Discounts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

AAA also has relationships with travel companies to help you save. Hertz<\/a> offers AAA members up to 20% off base rates and typically includes a free additional driver when booked with AAA benefits (more<\/a>). Hotel discounts are another common perk; as one example, Best Western advertises an AAA\/CAA rate of 5% or more off the flexible rate (see Best Western\u2019s AAA page<\/a>). Compare against other memberships when you travel: AARP members, for instance, can get up to 30% off base rates at Avis with a free additional driver (AARP Avis<\/a>), and Costco Travel<\/a> often includes one extra driver at no charge with select brands. Availability is dynamic and typically excludes taxes\/fees; blackout dates may apply and some rates require advance purchase or have different cancellation terms. For theme parks and attractions (e.g., Disney<\/a>), check whether online purchase is required to receive the AAA price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Travel Assistance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You can search to find all of these discounts yourself, but AAA also has travel agents available if you\u2019re looking for help. They can provide pre\u2011trip planning (including TripTik<\/a> routing, fuel prices, and construction alerts) and issue International Driving Permits\u2014AAA is one of only two U.S. organizations authorized by the U.S. Department of State to issue valid IDPs (State Department<\/a>). Many clubs include global emergency travel and medical assistance hotlines and Premier\u2011tier concierge services administered by third\u2011party providers (e.g., coordination facilitated by professional assistance vendors; see representative Premier benefits at AAA Club Alliance<\/a>). These assistance lines typically provide coordination and referrals (e.g., medical or legal), while the costs of care or evacuation are your responsibility unless you purchase a travel insurance policy. Members can buy travel insurance through AAA partners such as Allianz, which adds covered benefits like trip cancellation\/interruption, emergency medical and medical evacuation, and 24\/7 assistance with a companion app (AAA + Allianz<\/a>, Allianz TravelSmart<\/a>). For international trips, consider enrolling in the U.S. State Department\u2019s STEP program for destination alerts (STEP<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. DMV Services<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your local DMV is not typically where you dream of spending an afternoon (or an entire day). Depending on your state, AAA is able to offer some DMV\/MVD transactions in\u2011branch. Examples: Massachusetts AAA branches provide select RMV services to AAA members (MA RMV at AAA<\/a>); in California, AAA participates in the DMV Business Partner program to process certain vehicle registration\/title transactions (driver license\/ID services are not handled by AAA in CA) (CA DMV partners<\/a>, AAA SoCal DMV services<\/a>); and in Pennsylvania, PennDOT authorizes agents\/messengers (including some AAA locations) to handle title and registration work (PA Authorized Agents<\/a>). Services, eligibility, fees, and whether an appointment is required vary by state, club, and branch. You may be able to complete a title transfer, register your vehicle, or even get select license\/ID transactions where state law permits; for other items (like road tests or initial REAL ID), you\u2019ll need the state office. You may be able to complete a title transfer, register your vehicle, or even get your driver\u2019s license<\/a> photo updated at your local AAA office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Identity Theft Protection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Many AAA clubs offer members free or discounted identity theft protection<\/a>. At many clubs this benefit is powered by Experian (formerly \u201cProtectMyID,\u201d now presented under Experian\u2019s broader IdentityWorks branding)\u2014members often get a free basic monitoring tier with optional paid upgrades (Experian for AAA members<\/a>; example club page: AAA identity monitoring<\/a>). Typical features include credit monitoring (single\u2011bureau at entry level; tri\u2011bureau at higher tiers), dark\u2011web\/credential monitoring, fraud resolution, and an insurance policy that reimburses eligible out\u2011of\u2011pocket expenses\u2014often \u201cup to $1,000,000\u201d at paid tiers\u2014subject to sub\u2011limits and exclusions. The FTC and NAIC emphasize that this insurance generally covers remediation costs (e.g., legal fees, lost wages), not every type of financial loss (FTC guidance<\/a>; NAIC<\/a>). Review your club\u2019s current plan details and the insurance certificate before enrolling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Notary Services<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A membership can also be useful if you need a signature notarized. Some AAA locations have notary services (often with member\u2011preferred pricing); availability, fees, and document types vary by club and state law (example: AAA Club Alliance notary<\/a>). State law may cap fees\u2014for instance, California sets a maximum of $15 per signature for common notarizations (CA Secretary of State fee schedule<\/a>). Note that Remote Online Notarization (RON) is now authorized in most U.S. states, expanding after\u2011hours options through online providers; AAA itself may not offer RON\u2014check your club\u2019s page\u2014and verify your state\u2019s RON rules (NNA: RON by state<\/a>). Even if you aren\u2019t very close to a AAA location, the notary service perk can still be valuable if you need to complete a DMV transaction, like a title transfer, that requires notarized signatures. You may be able to take care of the entire process at your local AAA office. For extended hours alternatives, many The UPS Store<\/a> locations also provide in\u2011person and some online notary options (pricing varies by store).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Passport Photos<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re traveling internationally (hopefully with some AAA discounts) AAA offices can often take your passport photos for you. Pricing, eligibility (members vs. nonmembers), and any free\u2011or\u2011discounted sets vary by club and branch, so check your local club page or call ahead. It is possible to take passport photos yourself<\/a>, but with strict rules for lighting, framing, and background, many travelers prefer an in\u2011office photo service to avoid retakes or rejections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Insurance Discounts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your membership can also help you get discounts on home, auto, and life insurance. Depending on your location, Auto Club or CSAA Insurance may be available in your area. If Auto Club Insurance is available, it might be worth requesting a quote because it made our list of the Best Car Insurance Companies<\/a>. AAA Insurance<\/a>, like the membership clubs, is run regionally, which means you\u2019ll want to search for reviews of your local club\u2019s insurance before purchasing. Across major carriers, common auto discounts include multi\u2011policy (bundling home\/condo\/renters), multi\u2011vehicle, safe driver\/accident\u2011free, good student, defensive driving, and anti\u2011theft\/vehicle safety device credits; nearly all large insurers now offer telematics\/usage\u2011based programs (names include Drive Safe & Save, DriveEasy, Snapshot, Drivewise) that can influence renewal pricing based on driving behavior and mileage (State Farm discounts<\/a>; GEICO discounts<\/a>; Progressive discounts<\/a>; Allstate discounts<\/a>). For homeowners, mitigation\u2011based credits are increasingly important and can be mandated by state rules\u2014California requires insurers to recognize wildfire hardening\/defensible\u2011space measures in rating plans (CA Safer from Wildfires<\/a>), while Florida law mandates windstorm mitigation discounts verified by inspection (FL \u00a7627.0629<\/a>). Also weigh coverage terms that act like pricing\u2014e.g., separate percentage hurricane\/wind deductibles common in coastal states (Insurance Information Institute<\/a>)\u2014so you compare total cost of risk, not just premium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. Financial Services<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

AAA even offers benefits that can help you invest and manage your money. As a member, you may be able to access high-yield deposit accounts that are FDIC insured just the same as traditional and online banks<\/a> are. Other savings vehicles like CDs and IRAs may also be available, but again, it\u2019s important to compare your local club\u2019s reputation for this service with other companies. Check out our reviews of the Best Certificates of Deposit<\/a> and Best IRA Accounts<\/a> to help you find the right provider.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practical tip: regardless of provider, verify insurance and where your money sits. Bank\/credit\u2011union deposits are insured to $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, per ownership category by the FDIC\/NCUA (FDIC<\/a>). Brokerage cash may be swept to program banks for FDIC coverage or held in a money market fund (not FDIC\u2011insured); SIPC protects custody if a brokerage fails but not investment losses (SIPC<\/a>, Investor.gov on money market funds<\/a>). If you prefer fixed terms, compare bank CDs with brokered CDs (FINRA<\/a>), or consider U.S. Treasury bills available via TreasuryDirect or brokerages (TreasuryDirect<\/a>). For IRAs, follow the IRS\u2019s current\u2011year limits and distribution rules (IRS Pub. 590\u2011A<\/a>; IRS Pub. 590\u2011B<\/a>).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check with your regional AAA club to find out which of these perks (and more!) are offered in your area and what they cost for your ZIP and membership tier. Start with your club\u2019s comparison page: Club Alliance<\/a>, Northern California\/Nevada\/Utah<\/a>, Washington<\/a>, Northeast<\/a>, Auto Club Enterprises<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What’s Next?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n