AAA Insurance Discounts: What Can You Get? (2022)
The American Automobile Association (AAA) is a company known for its helpful roadside assistance program, but it also offers car insurance coverage. When you become a member, you can qualify for many AAA insurance discounts and save money on your monthly insurance premiums. We take a deep dive to find out how much you can save with AAA discounts.
AAA Insurance Best Discounts: What Can You Get?
When shopping for car insurance, it’s always a good idea to compare rates from multiple providers, even if you think you’ve got the best option. That’s why we’ve taken the time to research and review the best AAA insurance companies in the country. We took a look at each provider’s coverage options, availability, pricing and customer satisfaction.
Read on to learn about AAA insurance discounts, then compare them to other providers to make an informed decision. Enter your zip code below to start comparing quotes. Or, call our team at (844) 246-8209 for a free, personalized quote.
Is AAA Worth It?
When we talk about AAA insurance, we’re actually referring to the more than 50 individual motor clubs under the AAA umbrella. Each state may have its own self-contained AAA insurance company, with all automobile clubs operating under the same guidelines. However, coverage options, customer service and AAA insurance discounts may vary slightly by state.
While AAA is known for helping drivers with flat tires, lockouts, fuel delivery, dead batteries, breakdowns and towing, the company also offers AAA insurance to members. You can become an AAA member for as little as $50 to $100 per year.
Is AAA Worth It
The insurer offers all the standard types of car AAA insurance, including:
- Bodily Injury Liability (BI)
- Property Damage Liability (PD)
- Collision AAA insurance
- Comprehensive car AAA insurance
- Medical Payment (MedPay)
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM/UIM)
Some rental cars also offer reimbursement, pet AAA insurance, gap coverage, and custom equipment coverage, which come in handy if you’ve had things like a stereo and rims installed after you bought the car.
AAA has earned above average customer satisfaction ratings. The car AAA insurance company also has an A+ rating on AM Best, which means it is in a good financial position to support customers. Overall, AAA is worth considering when shopping for AAA insurance.
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AAA auto insurance discounts
AAA Auto Club South claims that users save an average of $749 by switching to AAA, and AAA Insurance Reviews also cite big savings. You can look for the following AAA insurance discounts:
Member Discount: You get a discount based on your years with AAA before purchasing auto insurance.
Safety inspection discount: Get a safety inspection for your car through AAA and get a discount on your AAA insurance premium.
AAADrive/AAA Onboard Discount: This is AAA’s mobile app that tracks your driving habits and issues discounts based on safe driving.
Safe Driver Discount: When you are a good driver, you can save up to 20 percent on your auto AAA insurance policy. You must complete an approved defensive driver safety course.
Multiple Car Discount: Save up to 27 percent on auto AAA insurance premiums when you insure another vehicle. It should be noted that only certain coverages are eligible for this discount, and the car is regularly driven by policyholders.
Multiple policy discounts: You can save money when you combine multiple policies with AAA: bundle auto and home to save up to 15 percent, auto and condo to save up to 11 percent, auto and renters to save up to 3 percent, or Home and life to save up to 19 percent.
Pay-in-Full Discount: Get this discount when you pay your entire 12-month premium upfront.
Going Paperless: You can save on AAA insurance by signing up for paperless billing.
Loyalty: Get up to 5 percent off after one year of continuous AAA insurance coverage.
Safety features: You can get this discount for optional coverage when you have anti-theft features, motorized seatbelts, airbags and other safety features.
Homeowners: Save up to 37 percent when you own a home.
New Car Discount: Save up to 30 percent when you buy a car more than 3 years old.
Discounts for professionals: AAA offers discounts for drivers in certain occupations. Ask your local agent how you can get up to 7 percent off when you’re an engineer, scientist, medical professional, teacher or CPA.
Because AAA is made up of different auto clubs in different regions, discounts vary by AAA club and location. Be sure to do your research and contact a local AAA agent near you to get the most accurate list of available discounts.
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Getting a quote for AAA auto insurance
After becoming a member of AAA’s roadside assistance program, you can apply for AAA insurance at a local office, by going online or by calling your regional motor club. Since AAA insurance is made up of different businesses, the online quote process may vary between locations. We recommend checking local AAA insurance reviews to get a better idea of the process.
AAA auto insurance
AAA car insurance reviews
Now, this is the part that gets a little tricky. Since there isn’t just one company, AAA insurance reviews are all over the place. The company doesn’t have much of an online presence on TrustPilot, but it has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
For simplicity, we’ll go over some AAA insurance reviews from the three largest provider clubs: Auto Club of Southern California AAA Insurance Group (ACSC), Automobile Club Group and California State Automobile Association (CSAA) Insurance Group.
Top Recommendations For Auto Insurance
When searching for a great provider, we always recommend obtaining quotes from more than one company. The AAA insurance providers that topped our list are Geico, Progressive, and USAA. We looked into each company’s coverage options, customer satisfaction, and financial stability, and the results were impressive.
The best AAA membership discounts and savings opportunities
If you’ve ever joined a travel loyalty program or held a cash-back credit card, you’ll be familiar with the basic structure of the WOWPoints program.
Start by linking a credit or debit card supported by a major payment processing network to your AAA account. It makes it easy for AAA to track your WOWPoint earnings and allows you to easily redeem your rewards.
Next, navigate to AAA’s online shopping portal through your local club’s website. In addition to any advertised savings, you earn double or triple WOWPoints on most purchases. AAA works with select major retailers and travel merchants.
You can only redeem WOWPoints for purchases made with participating merchant partners. WOWPoints are always worth $0.01 each upon redemption, regardless of what you redeem them for or which merchants you redeem them through.
First, visit AAA’s online shopping portal and select the Pay With Points option. Find the merchant you want to support, then specify the number of WOWPoints (or dollar value) you want to redeem. Click “Shop with Points” to be taken to the merchant’s website. Complete the transaction using your linked credit or debit card. On your next statement, you should see a credit for your redemption amount.
If you’re rebuilding credit or don’t yet qualify for a premium cash-back or travel rewards credit card, collecting and paying with WOWPoints lets you realize the real benefits of a credit card rewards program without going through the often arduous application process.
Pro tip: Another way to help rebuild or boost your credit score is to sign up for Experian Boost. This free program from Experian gives you credit for on-time utility payments, which typically don’t count toward your credit score.
AAA also offers plenty of discounts and savings opportunities that don’t require WOWPoints. These are some of the most valuable and widely available, but specific discounts and savings opportunities may vary by geography and are subject to change or discontinuation at any time.
1. Locksmith Services
Besides roadside assistance and towing, AAA’s locksmith discount is arguably its most valuable and relevant benefit. For reference, the average cost to call a locksmith is about $150, according to Fixer.
AAA’s locksmith discount covers part or all of the cost of calling a locksmith for a home or vehicle lockout (or both) up to a defined benefit amount. Benefit amounts and type of locksmith services vary by membership level and regional club.
For Classic members, AAA’s locksmith benefit is a minimum of $50. For higher-level members, it’s worth $100 to $150, depending on the level and club. This benefit is available to members who have been locked out of their vehicles due to stolen keys.
On the Classic and Plus tiers, the locksmith benefit does not apply to homes. But Premier members enjoy complimentary home lockout services up to $100 in a single visit each year. These include drilling, rekeying, key duplication and lock changes.
Note that home lockout service only covers the member’s primary residence, not any outbuildings. It may come into play if you carve yourself out of a detached garage, but it’s still pretty generous.
2. General retail
AAA Club partners with dozens of specialty and general-purpose retailers to reduce members’ shopping costs. For in-store purchases, you must have your AAA membership card handy.
Here’s a sampling of what you can expect from typical retail deals. I found these deals through my local auto club, so yours may differ:
- Up to 75% off select online courses with Udemy
- Up to 45% off purchases at Under Armor outlets and website
- Up to 40% off on Lowe’s home appliances
- Up to 40% off Home Decor at Home Depot
- Up to $200 off select items at Walmart.com
- Up to 20% off select Samsonite luggage
- Up to 15% off sunglasses at Ray-Ban
Some featured retailers offer quick WOWPoint earnings on top of instant discounts. For example, I found a great deal on Puma purchases through my local club: up to 50% off select sneaker purchases plus quadruple (4x) WOWPoints on all eligible purchases.
3. Dining
AAA’s dining discounts help members save money on vacation and business trips. AAA has two different types of dining discounts: instant discounts with participating restaurants and deep discounts for use at any participating chain restaurant location or certain independent restaurants on branded gift certificates or gift cards issued by Restaurant.com.
Restaurant.com gift certificate availability varies by location but can be very attractive. My local club runs a deal promising a $4 for $25 certificate, which is over 80% savings.
To find eligible restaurants in your area, search for “restaurants” in the discount search bar or scroll down to the restaurants row in the All Discounts view. And when you dine out, don’t forget your AAA membership card.
Instant discounts are usually a percentage of your bill. In my area, AAA’s instant restaurant discounts include:
10% off food and non-alcoholic beverages at Hard Rock Cafe
10% off food and non-alcoholic beverages at Rainforest Cafe
10% off food and non-alcoholic beverages at the Oceanaire Seafood Room
10% off food and non-alcoholic beverages at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
10% off your total bill at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville
4. Food and drink
Instant discounts help, but the best way to save money at restaurants is to skip eating out altogether. Fortunately, AAA offers many instant savings opportunities for grocery and beverage purchases made online and in-store.
Some deals are more practical than others: Edible holiday gifts (great for your Cyber Monday shopping list) coexist with off-the-shelf supermarket staples. Most of the deals are available online only. For in-store discounts, present your AAA card at the point of sale.
There are various AAA discounts on food gifts, meal subscriptions, groceries and beverages. For example:
Up to $60 off your first five freshly prepared meal orders
$35 off your first Purple Carrot Meal subscription box
50% off your first Hello Fresh Meal subscription box plus 15% off the next 52 weeks
15% off Pear’s Gourmet Coffee
50% off your first order with Sun Basket, an organic meal-delivery service, plus 10% off the next 12 orders
Buy four, get one free on select orders with Lindt, the gourmet chocolatier
10% off in-store purchases at Kelly’s Coffee & Fudge Factory
5. Pet products
My family has cats (yes, plural), which means we’re constantly looking for ways to cut down on the costs of cat ownership. AAA’s pet discounts are a good place to start, and virtually all are available online. For partners with physical stores, simply present your AAA membership card at the point of sale.
Some examples of pet discounts include:
- 10% off select pet health insurance policies for life with Healthy Paws (other pet health insurance companies, such as Pets Best, may also offer AAA member discounts)
- Up to 20% off dog and cat food at Petco
- Up to 10% off select pet boarding services (may vary by location)
- Free shipping on all pet medication purchases from VetShop and PetCareRx
6. Electronics
Electronics is one of AAA’s most discounted categories, with deals of 50% or more off name brands like Lenovo, HP, and Dell. Before you hit the stores on Black Friday, check AAA’s website for the latest deals. And if you visit stores in person, don’t forget your AAA membership card.
You can expect a variety of deals from AAA’s electronics partners, including:
- Up to 50% off list price on select Lenovo products and services
- Up to 35% off list price on select HP products and services
- Up to 30% off list price on select Samsung products
- Up to 10% off list price on select Dell products and services
In the past, I’ve seen AAA member discounts on wireless carrier plans and services for gamers, including GameFly’s free 30-day trial.
7. Automotive
As you might expect, AAA has a lot of automotive discounts. There are two types: discounts and freebies included in AAA’s membership plan levels and instant discounts with automotive partners such as auto repair shops and parts retailers. Exact deals vary by plan.
Excellent
- Roadside fuel delivery is subject to distance restrictions and payment of actual cost of fuel used
- $50 toward windshield repair or replacement
- 20% off Carfax reports ordered online, a savings of nearly $8 off full price
- Up to 25% off Hertz rental cars when a member’s vehicle coverage is under repair
plus
- Free roadside fuel delivery with no payment required on fuel itself
- Discount on AAA-branded car battery purchases (usually $25 off) and free battery installation
- 20% discount on Carfax reports ordered online
- Up to 25% off Hertz rental cars for eligible repair periods on the member’s primary vehicle
Premier
- One free battery replacement per year (no charge for battery or installation), valued at $100 or more
- Free roadside fuel delivery with no restrictions and no out-of-pocket payments
- One complimentary Carfax report per year and 40% off subsequent reports
- One day free on Hertz car rental, then up to 25% off when the member’s vehicle is in the repair shop
Examples of automotive partner discounts and deals include:
10% off qualifying purchases at Napa Auto Parts stores and online (see Napa website for more)
Exclusive member pricing on Battery Tender Chargers, which keep batteries charged during extended periods of inactivity (only available through select clubs, such as AAA Carolinas)
Exclusive member pricing on AAA Mobile Battery Service battery testing
Geico Insurance: 4.6 Stars
Geico has become a household name over the years – and with good reason. One of the largest insurance providers in the country, Geico provides extensive resources and great coverage for drivers. The company offers policy discounts for safe drivers and rate decreases for dedicated customers. You can bundle your auto and renters/homeowners insurance, and you can find coverage for your rental property, motorcycle, ATV, boat, and more.
AAA benefits
AAA members have access to many benefits and discounts at certain retailers. That is what makes membership attractive to many.
AAA benefits
Among other things, AAA members can save on:
- ship
- to eat
- Electronics
- Entertainment
- General retail
- Health and wellness
- Hotels
- Locksmith Services
- pet products
- Rental car services
- sporting events
- Travel insurance
Certain offers may vary by location and are subject to change or discontinuation at any time.
Methodology
In an effort to provide consumers with accurate and unbiased information, our expert review team collects data from dozens of auto insurance providers to compile a ranking of the best insurance companies. Companies receive scores in each of the following categories, as well as an overall weighted score out of 5.0 stars.
- Industry Standing: Insurers with strong financial ratings and customer-first business practices receive the highest scores in this category.
- Availability: We consider availability by state as well as exclusions for certain groups of drivers.
- Coverage: This rating is based on the types of insurance available, maximum coverage limits and add-on policies.
- Pricing and Discounts: Our research team reviews sample quotes for different drivers in each state. Companies with low prices and many car insurance discount opportunities get the best scores.
- Customer Service: We at J.D. We comb through customer reviews and consumer feedback studies from experts like Power.
Technology: With mobile apps, advanced online services and telematics, auto insurers are more likely to meet customer needs.