Getting stranded on the side of the road is one of the worst experiences. Not only are you not going to reach your destination, but on top of the diagnostic and repair costs, you’ll have to account for the towing fee.
A membership with the AAA provides roadside assistance, a service that will tow your vehicle and transport you to the desired location, whether it is your home, dealership, or a local mechanic.
However, there are some restrictions based on the membership plan, which is why we’ve made this breakdown of Triple-A’s towing policy.
The American Automobile Association, known as AAA or Triple-A is a federation of motor clubs in North America. The organization has been around since 1902 when nine motor clubs joined forces to advocate for better road infrastructure and driver safety.
The modern AAA has a lot to offer to its customers under the roadside assistance banner.
The call center technicians will try to help you solve the problem yourself, but if you’re unable to or the issue is too serious, a team will arrive at your destination to help with a jumpstart, tire changes, lockouts, and towing if necessary.
The trusted car repair service provides 7,000 approved auto repair shops where members can receive a discount on repairs, an extended warranty on the labor and parts.
The services AAA provides are based on a membership plan and are restricted to the territories of the United States and Canada. Currently, AAA offers three types of membership: Classic, AAA Plus, and AAA Premier. The membership costs are as follows:
New members also have to pay a $20 admission fee. One adult associate can be added to the membership for $31. Dependent associates cost $33 per person, with no restrictions on the number of associates as long as they qualify.
The classic membership provides 7 miles of free towing from the location of your vehicle. A member can call the towing service up to 4 times during a membership year. Discount on rental services allows you to continue driving while your vehicle is being repaired.
You can even request an emergency fuel delivery, which is free, but you’ll have to pay for the fuel delivered.
The technicians can inspect and jumpstart your battery, or offer you a brand new battery of sufficient power and capacity at a fair market price. Should you get locked out, the AAA covers up to $60 towards parts and locksmith labor.
The flat tire service includes inflating and installing the spare tire, if available.
The technicians will also perform minor mechanical first aid if the problem can be solved on location. The extrication service involves winching a vehicle that has become stuck.
There are situations that do not fall under the winching service such as snowbound or flooded streets. The classic membership provides 1 service vehicle and 1 driver for this task.
The mid-tier plan offers significant improvements over the Classic membership, primarily in the towing benefits. With the AAA Plus, you get a 100-mile towing range and up to 4 service calls during a membership year.
Apart from the discount, the rental service will up-class the rental vehicle for free.
The emergency fuel delivery now includes enough fuel to reach the nearest station – for free. The winching service includes up to two service vehicles and two drivers, as opposed to one of each in the classic plan. The locksmith budget is increased from $60 to $100, while the rest of the benefits remain mostly the same.
The Premier membership plan is the best AAA has to offer. On an annual plan, you’ll receive 4 service calls, three 100-mile range tows, and one 200-mile range tow for the household.
The benefits of the Classic and Plus membership include an increased budget for locksmiths services of $150 and a 1-day complimentary midsize rental car. The rest of the services are of the same tier as the Plus membership.
The RV/Motorcycle roadside assistance service is available as an option with any of the standard membership plans. The annual cost is an additional $41 and provides up to four extra service calls for motor homes, motorcycles, camping trailers, camper vans, and any non-commercially used trailer.
The service has a $500 limit per call and an annual limit of $1,000. Expenses beyond these amounts will have to be covered by the member.
The most frequently asked question in regards to the AAA membership is the cost of extra towing miles. Because AAA is a federation of motor clubs, the costs will vary depending on your location.
The cost of each extra mile ranges between $4 and $11, which is a significant gap. The best way to find out the accurate cost is to check the official AAA website for your state.
This section will put the differences between the membership plans side-by-side, and then we’ll discuss which membership plan is the most beneficial for you.
| Membership | Classic | Plus | Premier |
| Free Service Calls | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Towing Range | 7 miles | 100 miles | 1 x 200 miles 3 x 100 miles |
| Emergency Fuel Delivery |
Free Delivery Paid Fuel |
Free Delivery Free Fuel |
Free Delivery Free Fuel |
| Lockout Coverage | Up to $60 | Up to $100 | Up to $150 |
| Flat Tire Change | Included | Included | Included |
| Winching Service | 1 Service Vehicle 1 Driver |
2 Service Vehicles 2 Drivers |
2 Service Vehicles 2 Drivers |
| Car Rental | Discounted Rate | Discounted Rate Free Class Upgrade |
1-Day Complimentary Midsize Car |
| Carfax Service | 20% Discount | 20% Discount | 1 Free Report 40% Discount |
The AAA membership is no different from any other – you want to minimize the costs while getting sufficient service. The only difference is that going beyond what an AAA plan covers can be very expensive, especially if you’re caught in the middle of nowhere on a 7-mile towing limit.
The classic plan is the cheapest, but that doesn’t make it less valuable than the other plans. The people who will benefit the most from the classic membership are daily work commuters, and generally, drivers that cross most of their miles within the city.
The 7-mile towing range should be enough to reach the nearest dealership, and if not, you’ll only have to pay for a few extra miles at most. The rental benefits may not be necessary as the car can be temporarily replaced by public transport or carpooling.
The busy city streets can be too dangerous of a place to change a tire, which can be done by the AAA technicians, free of charge.
The AAA membership plans have been carefully designed so that each tier offers a reasonable amount of benefits. The plus plan, it’s the balance between cost and services provided.
Having the perk of the 100-mile towing range is a big deal if you’re commuting between towns or frequently traveling to the countryside. The rental up-class is a nice addition and allows you to continue with your life undisrupted.
The Premier membership is the best package AAA has to offer, with the primary benefit being the annual 200-mile towing service range. This plan is perfect for a family that frequently travels and prefers to do so with their vehicle.
Should you experience a problem with the vehicle, the free midsize car will allow you to travel around the area while you’re waiting for repairs.
Considering that the Carfax vehicle history report costs $40, if you or someone close to you needs to use that service, you’ve practically upgraded from Plus to Premier plan for free.
The RV/Motorcycle plan is great if you’ve got a motorhome or a camper trailer. It’s offered as an option with the standard plans but really works best with Plus or Premier membership.
However, the classic plan is excellent for a person that drives a car in the city but uses a bike for long-distance travel.
Because the RV/Motorcycle plan works as fixed-price coverage, you can get your bike towed over greater distances, or combine the plan with Premier or Plus to transport both your trailer and main vehicle to the same destination.
As the policy is tied to a person rather than a vehicle, you can have your friend’s car towed whether you were a driver or a passenger. All you need is your membership card and an ID, and the call will be deducted from your annual free call limit.
Towing a vehicle without the owner present isn’t the norm with AAA, as they need someone to act as a responsible party and monitor the transportation process in case of damage.
However, if you’re in a rush and have to leave your vehicle behind, explain the situation to the AAA call center. You might need to give them information regarding the membership and vehicle ownership as proof.
The answer is simple – just call their support line at any time and explain your situation. Alternatively, you could use the AAA mobile app or request assistance through an online form on the official website.
For a family member to use your card, whether it’s your wife or children, they have to already be a part of your membership plan through an Associate member feature.
If you end up in a situation where you need a tow, the membership will more than pay for itself. With that in mind, if the driver does a quick and good job of towing your vehicle, you should tip them, especially if you’re on a classic membership, as drivers will often choose not to charge you for the extra few miles.
The AAA policy states that unregistered vehicles will not be towed, which includes both no tag, or expired tag vehicles.
The AAA Classic plan should allow you to call the tow service immediately upon joining, effectively covering pre-existing breakdowns. The same does not apply to the Plus or Premier membership, as those have a far greater towing range.
In case you’re purchasing, or upgrading to the Plus or Premier plan, you’ll get the standard 7-mile range during the first 7 days, and the full benefits of the membership after that.
It’s not uncommon for a vehicle to break down on the driveway, and AAA understands that, which is why their service covers tows from your residence to a mechanic. The one exception is the winching service, which does not apply to vehicles stranded on city streets that are unable to deal with snow or flooding.
The Triple-A allows for 4 free calls during a year, regardless of the membership plan. The RV/Motorcycle plan is sold as an upgrade and provides 4 additional calls for motorcycles, motorhomes, RVs, and non-commercial trailers.
The Triple-A emergency gas service provides just enough gas that you can reach the nearest gas station. The amount depends on the distance to the gas station as well as the fuel consumption of your vehicle. For Plus and Premier members, the gas is free, but Classic members will have to pay for it themselves.
We’ve talked about the differences in the article, but the main difference between the two is the towing range. Basic membership offers up to 7 miles, while Plus membership increases the range to 100 miles. There are also other perks, like free emergency fuel, a greater locksmith budget, and enhanced winching service.
Yes, AAA will change the tire with your spare and inflate it if necessary. However, if your spare tire is unusable or you simply don’t have it, your vehicle can be towed instead.
Triple AAA membership plans are designed so that every tier offers a good balance between price and perks. The federation has a few rules, but they’re set to protect the driver, their car, and the principles of the AAA, rather than mislead the member with fine print.
If you’re not already a member, I strongly advise joining the club and ensuring your safety on the road!
