Is AAA Worth It for Your Budget?

AAA, also known as the American Automobile Association, is a popular auto club that provides services like roadside assistance, travel planning, and discounts to its members. But with membership fees starting around $56 per year, is joining AAA worth it for your personal budget?

This comprehensive guide examines the costs, benefits, services, and value AAA offers to help you decide if it's a smart investment for your money.

Understanding AAA Services

What Does AAA Provide?

AAA is primarily known for its emergency roadside assistance, which sends aid for services like:

• Towing
• Tire changes
• Jump starts
• Lockout service
• Fuel delivery

However, it offers several other key benefits beyond just roadside help:

• Travel planning and discounts - Members gain access to exclusive travel deals on hotels, flights, car rentals, tours, and more. AAA also provides free travel guides, trip planning tools, and maps.
• Insurance discounts - AAA members can save up to 15% on car insurance with select providers. Savings opportunities on life, home, and identity theft insurance are also available.
• DMV services - Renew your license and registration, request a new title, or conduct other DMV business at your local AAA branch.
• AAA Discount Rewards - Members earn points for purchases from AAA that can be redeemed for gift cards, merchandise, and travel rewards.
• Member-only savings - Gain access to special discounts and AAA rates at thousands of retailers, hotels, restaurants, theme parks, and other establishments.

Clearly, the range of benefits spans far beyond just roadside assistance. But how much do these services actually cost with a AAA membership?

Is AAA Worth It? A Cost-Benefit Analysis

AAA Membership Costs and Plans

AAA offers different membership levels based on your coverage needs:

• AAA Classic - Starts at $56 per year. Includes 4 free roadside assistance calls per member.
• AAA Plus - Starts at $83 per year. Includes 100 miles of free towing, extricated services, free car battery service, and more.
• AAA Premier - Starts at $111 per year. Unlimited towing up to 200 miles and other upgraded services.

Higher tier plans cost more but provide greater roadside assistance benefits. Additional members on the plan typically cost around $38 extra per person.

There are also added fees like an $18 service charge if you run out of your allotted tows and call for additional service. Cancellation may carry a fee as well.

Key factors that influence AAA's pricing include:

• Your location - Clubs in major metro areas tend to cost more.
• Vehicle type - Plans for RVs, motorcycles, and luxury vehicles cost extra.
• Distance from home - Upgrades provide farther towing distances.
• Family size - Additional members raise the price.

While $56-$111 per year is not negligible, keep in mind a single tow can cost $50-$100 without AAA. The membership often pays for itself after just one or two roadside assistance calls.

Next, let's examine the key pros and cons of AAA to weigh if it provides good overall value.

How to Make the Most of Your AAA Membership

Pros of AAA Membership

AAA membership offers many valuable perks and protections:

Convenience of Roadside Assistance

Instead of fumbling with pay-per-use towing services after a breakdown, AAA members simply call the hotline and prompt aid arrives. The ability to quickly summon help provides major peace of mind.

Cost Savings

Between discounts on insurance, hotels, attractions, and other AAA program benefits, members can potentially save hundreds of dollars per year. This offsets the membership fee.

Higher Quality Service

AAA has stricter contractor guidelines than some low-cost towing alternatives. You may receive faster response times and higher caliber assistance.

Access to Travel Bookings and Planning Tools

AAA’s trip planning resources, tour bookings, and exclusive travel deals can help you save money and stress when booking vacations and business travel. Members also enjoy savings on passport photos, international driving permits, and customized maps.

AAA Branded Credit Cards

Members can acquire AAA branded credit cards that offer perks like 3% cash back on travel and gas purchases and free additional roadside assistance calls. This further optimizes the value of membership.

No Annual Fee for Additional Members

Spouses, children, and other household members can be added to your AAA plan for around $38 per additional person per year. Considering regular membership costs over $56, adding family at no extra charge creates huge savings for multi-driver households.

Ongoing Loyalty Rewards

The AAA Discount Rewards program lets you earn points for purchases that translate into discounts on future membership renewals, gift cards, merchandise, and travel bookings made through AAA.

Cons of AAA Membership

However, there are some potential drawbacks of AAA to note:

Membership Costs Can Add Up

While the starting rates of $56-$111 per year are reasonable, costs creep up with extra members, further distances from home, and upgraded coverage tiers. Be sure to select the right coverage level for your needs.

May Still Carry Fees

Even with AAA, you could face charges like the $18 service fee for requesting additional tows beyond your allotted number per year. There are caveats to “unlimited” towing distances as well. Read the fine print carefully.

Availability of Services Varies

AAA is a vast network, but service availability, pricing, and quality can vary between different club chapters and contractors. Research AAA reviews in your local area before purchasing.

Not Accepted Universally

While AAA is widely accepted, some repair shops, hotels, and other establishments may not honor AAA discounts. Verify that desired providers accept AAA ahead of time.

Upselling Other Products

AAA representatives may try to upsell you into upgraded coverage levels, additional insurance products, and more. Stick firm to only purchasing what you need.

Buyer Beware With Travel

While AAA offers travel booking tools and discounts, you can sometimes find even cheaper deals through dedicated travel booking sites or directly with hotels and airlines. Shop around before booking vacations through AAA.

To summarize, AAA can provide outstanding benefits, but also has some limitations. Analyzing the trade-offs can help decide if membership is worth your money.

Is AAA Ultimately Worth the Cost?

Whether or not AAA is “worth it” depends entirely on your personal vehicle usage, driving habits, travel tendencies, and financial circumstances.

For frequent drivers prone to roadside issues who take several major trips per year, the benefits likely outweigh the membership fee by a wide margin. The peace of mind of easy roadside assistance access alone is extremely valuable.

But for someone who works from home, lives in an urban area with quality public transportation, has new reliable vehicles under warranty, and only travels locally, AAA is much harder to justify.

Run through these key questions to gauge if AAA makes sense for your budget:

• How often do you drive? Daily long distances or only short local trips?
• How old are your vehicles? New or prone to breakdowns?
• Do you take frequent road trips? If so, how far away?
• Are other coverage options like roadside assistance through insurance sufficient?
• How many additional drivers would be covered under your plan?
• How often would you use the travel discounts and booking tools?

Generally, AAA membership produces the highest value for those driving older vehicles, in rural or suburb areas often far from home, who travel frequently throughout the year. Families with multiple covered drivers also maximize benefits.

Urban dwellers who bike or use public transit more often will find less value from AAA. Budget-focused singles and couples or those with new reliable vehicles may also pass on membership if cost savings do not exceed $50-$100 per year.

Use the above analysis as a guide, but evaluate your personal situation. In many cases, AAA can provide comfort, convenience, and savings that make the annual fee absolutely worthwhile.

FAQs

Still deciding if AAA is a smart budget choice for you? Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:

Do I have to pay for each individual tow with AAA?

No, your allotment of free tows per year is included (4 for Classic, 5 for Plus, unlimited for Premier). But fees can apply after exceeding tows based on your plan.

Can someone else drive my car and use my AAA membership if I'm not present?

Yes, as long as they are a registered additional driver under your membership account.

Does AAA offer home lockout service in additional to auto lockout help?

AAA Plus and Premier plans include free lockout service for home and auto. Classic plans only cover auto lockout service.

What is the maximum distance AAA will tow my car?

Up to 3 miles for Classic plans, 100 miles for Plus, and 200 miles for Premier. Extra charges may apply past these distances.

If I run out of gas, will AAA bring me more fuel?

Yes, AAA will deliver a few gallons of gas to get you to the nearest filling station if you run empty. Service fees may apply.

Can I use AAA roadside assistance if I'm driving a rental car instead of my own vehicle?

No, AAA benefits only apply directly to registered owned/leased vehicles under your membership account.

Does AAA offer Senior discounts?

Yes, AAA provides a 10% discount on membership dues for seniors age 65 and older who renew continuously without lapses.

Are AAA's travel deals and hotel bookings really cheaper than other websites?

AAA packages and rates are not always the absolute lowest cost, but they are competitively priced and offer added convenience through one source.

If I'm a member can I add coverage for my parents or children that live in another state?

Yes, AAA members can add associates that live anywhere in the US. Rates may vary slightly by location.

Does AAA charge more if I have an electric vehicle versus a gas powered car?

No, AAA does not charge extra based on your vehicle fuel type. The same membership rates apply across vehicle types.

Examining these common questions can provide further insight into how AAA services work and whether they align with your needs and priorities.

Making a Final Decision on AAA Membership

Here are some final tips when deciding if you should get AAA:

• Do the math - Estimate your annual driving miles, potential discounts used, and likelihood of needing tows to calculate if AAA would pay for itself each year.
• Check competitor options - Compare AAA with potential alternatives like roadside assistance through insurance or independent providers.
• Look at bundles - You may save by bundling AAA with car or home insurance rather than paying for policies separately.
• Ask about discounts - See if any occupational, affinity, or alumni groups you belong to offer deals on AAA membership for extra savings.
• Consult reviews - Research AAA reviews specifically for your local area to ensure quality service, since this can vary.
• Compare plans - Classic plans offer solid basic coverage while Plus and Premier provide more inclusions and additional peace of mind for longer distances.
• Consider your needs - AAA is most valuable for those who drive frequently, own older vehicles, and take regular long-distance trips.

For many drivers, joining AAA provides significant financial savings, superior convenience, and peace of mind. But carefully weigh the benefits against the membership costs based on your personal circumstances using this guide. Analyze how often you would tap into their services and if the fee would quickly pay for itself in avoided repair and travel costs.

While not always necessary, AAA membership can provide outstanding value and is often worth the investment for the right consumer.

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