How much is a AAA membership?

You probably already know that AAA members gain access to roadside assistance services including tows, fuel delivery, and help with flat tires and dead batteries. But did you know that the American Automobile Association also offers a range of regional discounts on purchases and travel?

Read More: AAA Auto Insurance Review

So how much is AAA really costing its members? And do the benefits of AAA make it worth purchasing in addition to regular auto insurance coverage?

With this guide, let’s take a look at how much AAA costs based on your state and plan as well as what you get for being a member.

Once you know if AAA is right for you, enter your ZIP code in the free tool above to compare car insurance rates and find a coverage plan that matches your budget.

How much does it cost to be a AAA member?

If you’re just looking for a quick estimate, here’s how much an average driver can expect to pay for AAA annually:

• AAA Basic/Classic costs about $57 on average
• AAA Plus (more on the perks of this option below) costs about $94 on average
• AAA Premier costs about $121 on average
• Adding a family member to your existing AAA membership costs about $50 per person annually

The exact cost of AAA membership varies depending on your state. This is because AAA is made up of over 40 different clubs, with different pricing and member benefits.

Read more:

• How to Cancel Your AAA Membership
• AAA Life Insurance Review
• Is AAA the same as Auto Club?
• What sort of insurance can I get with a AAA membership?

With over 60 million members, AAA offers reliable roadside assistance services such as towing and battery replacement. That said, to get the most out of AAA, you’ll want to take advantage of discounts from various retailers and travel destinations.

How much does AAA cost in my state?

While you will have to pay more if you opt into AAA Plus or Premier — or if you want to add family as associate members, the table below provides an overview of AAA Basic/Classic’s yearly cost for each state.

Can I become a AAA member for free?

There is no free membership program offered by AAA, but if you’re looking to save money on your membership here are a few options worth considering:

• Look out for coupons or other promotional discounts on your AAA membership
• Visit your local AAA branch and ask them about membership discounts or rewards
• If you’re a student or live in the same house as someone who belongs to AAA, you may be able to join as an associate member as part of a family member’s plan
• If you join AAA after being referred by a friend, both of you can receive a modest membership discount
• Check with your employer to see if they offer paid or discounted AAA membership as a perk — or see if they’d be willing to set up a corporate membership program

What is AAA Plus?

Costing a bit less than twice as much as the Basic/Classic option, AAA Plus provides AAA members with enhanced roadside assistance benefits. For example, AAA Basic/Classic includes four tows up to seven miles each year. And AAA Plus increases this towing limit to 100 miles for all four tows. AAA Plus also provides members with free fuel delivery and a lockout limit of up to $100 (twice that of the Basic/Classic option).

AAA also offers AAA Premier memberships to members who pay around $30 – $40 more per year than AAA Plus members. Premier is to Plus as Plus is to the Basic/Classic plan: Higher caps on towing distance and lockout payments as well as some additional perks.

Is AAA Plus worth it?

Whether AAA Plus — or Premier for that matter — is worth the added cost depends on how much you travel and how likely you are to take advantage of the perks of AAA membership. In general, here’s who would benefit from each tier of AAA membership:

• AAA Basic/Classic: Drivers who are looking for reliable roadside assistance coverage and don’t frequently travel far from home
• AAA Plus: Drivers who commute or regularly travel within 100 miles from their home and plan to take advantage of the perks and discounts AAA provides
• AAA Premier: Drivers who love to travel or commute long distances for work and plan to get the most out of their AAA membership

What are some alternatives to AAA roadside assistance?

If you’re looking for an alternative to AAA’s roadside assistance offerings, you should consider these roadside assistance programs from some of the largest auto insurers in the United States with the best rates:

• Allstate Roadside Assistance
• Farmers Towing & Roadside Assistance
• Geico Emergency Road Service
• Progressive Roadside Assistance
• Nationwide Roadside Assistance (Basic or Plus)
• State Farm Emergency Roadside Service

While roadside assistance policy from an auto insurance company may be a better option for you than AAA if you don’t think you’ll take advantage of the perks and discounts offered by the latter, you may want to avoid requesting roadside assistance through your insurance company too often.

Money expert Clark Howard cautions that roadside assistance calls to your insurance company may be treated as at-fault claims, meaning it’ll be more difficult and expensive to change your auto insurance coverage if you decide to switch your insurance company.

What to Consider Before Joining AAA

• AAA offers three tiers of membership. Basic/Classic is the least expensive at around $57 annually while Premier is the most expensive at an average of $121 each year
• In addition to roadside assistance, AAA offers a range of discounts and perks for members, making it ideal for people who travel often
• Most major auto insurance companies offer roadside assistance programs that may be a better option for you if you doubt you’d take advantage of the perks and discounts offered by AAA

Before you decide if AAA roadside assistance is right for you, try our free online quote tool to compare rates and find the most affordable auto insurance coverage in your area.