AAA Insurance Review: Coverage And Cost (2024) (2024)

Written by:

Dash Lewis, Writer

Written by: Dash Lewis Content Writer

02/09/2024 02:48 PM

Key Points:

• AAA offers full coverage car insurance with extras in most locations across the country.
• AAA is composed of multiple auto clubs and options can differ depending on your location.
• Our rate data shows AAA is more expensive than the national average.

You’re probably already familiar with AAA as a roadside assistance company, but did you know that you can get AAA car insurance, too? AAA insurance reviews tell us that covering your vehicle with an auto policy may be worth the small roadside assistance fee.

As a part of our research on the best auto insurance companies in the industry, we did a little digging into what AAA offers. AAA car insurance members have good experiences according to reviews and can take advantage of some unique perks.We also recommend other reputable auto insurance options so you can find the best car coverage for your needs.

AAA Insurance Overview

Overall, we rate AAA 4.5 out of 5.0 and rank it among our top 10 picks for car insurance. AAA performs highest in our coverage and technology categories. Below, you can see how we rated AAA in multiple categories.

While AAA is known for roadside assistance, it also offers car insurance. Coverage includes all the state-required types plus additional options. AAA is made of multiple auto club organizations across the country, so you’ll see the coverage options and discounts that apply in your area.

AAA Pros And Cons

Before we get into the specifics, here are a few overall pros and cons of AAA car insurance.

About AAA

AAA started as the American Automobile Association in 1902 Chicago. The association created maps and hotel guides, as well as high school driving curricula and pedestrian safety programs. Today, it operates over 1,000 travel agencies, rates lodgings and restaurants, publishes tour guides, and provides discounts for club members at thousands of businesses.

When we talk about AAA auto insurance, we’re really talking about over 50 individual businesses under the AAA umbrella. Each state can have its own AAA car insurance company that is self-contained, and all the companies all operate under the same guidelines. However, there may be slight differences in coverage options and customer service by state. Most AAA insurance reviews, for example, are for individual locations rather than the company as a whole.

AAA Industry Ratings

Since AAA is spread out over multiple car insurance companies and groups, looking at just one doesn’t give you the whole picture. However, three of AAA’s auto insurance groups appeared on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) list of the top 25 companies by insurance premiums written in 2022. Below, you can see each company’s private auto annual written premiums for 2022 along with its Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings.

If you add these three together, the total amount of AAA car insurance premiums written sits above major players like Nationwide, according to the NAIC.

AAA Car Insurance Coverage

AAA auto insurance is available to AAA members, and it doesn’t cost much to become a member. You can get an AAA membership for about $80 to $150 per year.

The provider offers full coverage for cars in line with other popular insurance companies today.

Here’s what that means:

• Bodily injury liability (BI): Covers other drivers’ medical expenses after you cause an accident
• Property damage liability (PD): Pays for damages to other people’s vehicles after an at-fault accident
• Collision insurance: Protects your own car if you end up in a car crash
• Comprehensive coverage: Takes care of damages caused by theft, vandalism, or the environment
• Medical payments (MedPay): Covers some of your post-accident medical expenses in at-fault states
• Personal injury protection (PIP): Helps out with your medical costs in no-fault states
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM): Pays for vehicle damages and medical expenses after an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver

While you can get AAA roadside service in any location, you can’t get AAA auto insurance in every county. You have to live in a county where AAA sells direct insurance plans. The easiest way to check on that is to search online for coverage in your area.

AAA Plan Enhancements

Your local AAA club may have additional coverage options. For example, AAA car insurance plans through Auto Club South come in three varieties: Essential, Advantage, and Ultimate.

• Essential: This plan ensures your policy won’t increase for small claims–under $250 if you were at fault, and $750 if you weren’t.
• Advantage: AAA tacks on a full accident forgiveness option that kicks in after you’ve been insured with the company for five years without a claim.
• Ultimate: You can have one claim forgiven from the start of your plan and get up to $50 as a credit on your renewal each policy term. At this level, your deductible also shrinks by $50 per claim-free policy term.

Additionally, you have the option to add these AAA auto insurance services:

• Enhanced total loss replacement: This option expands your collision coverage to pay for a new model car replacement if your car is totaled, instead of the market value of your car.
• Loan/lease gap: This gap insurance covers the difference in price between your totaled car and the amount you have left on your loan or lease.
• Enhanced exterior repair: With this option, exterior parts on your car will be replaced with parts from the original manufacturer, not aftermarket parts. This excludes mechanical parts–the only way to get replacement original equipment manufacturer (OEM) mechanical parts is through a manufacturer warranty or extended warranty.
• Transportation Network Company: This provides rideshare insurance for people who use their cars in the gig economy.

Check your local AAA club website and AAA car insurance reviews from customers in your area to see what might be available to you.

Are There Any Perks To AAA Insurance?

One of the main perks of AAA auto insurance is that you can also enjoy AAA roadside assistance. AAA is a household name in roadside assistance, and the company offers robust coverage. For example, you can get your car towed to a mechanic even if you haven’t been in an accident.

All AAA roadside assistance plans include towing, locksmith services, tire changes, jump-starts, battery charges, fuel delivery, and some trip interruption assistance. The highest plan, Premier, extends coverage for RVs and trailers. It also includes a $100 reimbursem*nt for a home locksmith, travel accident insurance, concierge services, and one day of an emergency rental car reimbursem*nt.

AAA Car Insurance Cost And Discounts

Each group that offers AAA car insurance coverage sets its own prices. This is because each company operates independently. However, there are several factors that can influence the overall price of your insurance premium, including:

• Age, gender, and marital status
• Vehicle make and model
• Driving history
• Driving record

Our cost research shows that AAA car insurance rates can be more expensive than the industry average depending on the auto club in your area. The table below shows annual cost estimates for two AAA groups. The cost estimates are based on a 30-year-old male driver with a clean driving record and good credit driving a 2020 Honda CR-V. We’ve also included the industry average costs for comparison.

The cost estimates for the Auto Club Enterprises Insurance Group and CSAA Insurance Group are above the national average rates for comprehensive coverage. For further comparison, our team has compiled estimates of average auto insurance rates from leading providers. You can see Auto-Owners and USAA offer the cheapest full-coverage insurance.

AAA Auto Insurance Discounts

While our average cost data shows AAA can be expensive, you may get a lower car insurance quote with available discounts. Below are the discounts that Auto Club South offers:

• Member discount: You get a discount based on your years with AAA prior to purchasing auto insurance.
• Safety inspection discount: Get a safety inspection for your car by AAA and receive a discount on your insurance premium.
• AAADrive: AAA’s mobile app tracks your driving habits and issues discounts based on safe driving.
• Multiple car discount: Save on auto insurance premiums when you insure a second vehicle. It should be noted that only certain coverages are eligible for this discount, and the cars must be regularly driven by policyholders.
• Multiple policy discount: You can save money when you combine multiple insurance products with AAA, like home, auto, condo, renters, or life insurance policies.
• Pay-in-full discount: Earn this discount when you pay your entire 12-month premium upfront.
• Going paperless: You can save on AAA auto insurance by simply signing up for paperless billing.
• Autopay: Get a discount for signing up for autopay.
• Safety features: You can earn this discount for select coverage when you have anti-theft features, motorized seatbelts, airbags, and other safety features.
• New car discount: Save when you purchase a car that’s a recent model year.
• Prior insurance tenure: Get a discount for having no lapse in coverage.
• Good student discount: Students with a GPA of 3.0 or better get this discount.
• Student away discount: Families with a student living 100 miles from home without a car get this discount.
• Defensive driver discount: Get a discount for completing an approved driver training course.
• New young driver discount: This applies when you add a driver under 20 to your policy.
• Anti-theft discount: Get a break on rates for having an anti-theft device.

Because AAA is made up of several different auto clubs in various regions, discounts vary by AAA club and location. Make sure to do your research and contact a local AAA agent near you to get the most accurate list of available discounts.

Getting a Quote for AAA Auto Insurance

After becoming a member of AAA’s roadside assistance program, you can apply for auto insurance either at a local office, by going online, or by calling your regional motor club. Since AAA car insurance is made up of separate businesses, the online quotes process can vary between locations. We recommend checking out local AAA insurance reviews to get a better idea of the process.

AAA Car Insurance Reviews

Since there isn’t just one company, AAA auto insurance reviews are scattered all over the place. AAA has a 1.5-star rating on Trustpilot, but the reviews don’t say which AAA club they apply to. Most AAA reviews are also about the roadside assistance experience.

For simplicity, we’ll go over some AAA insurance reviews from three of the provider’s largest clubs: Auto Club of Southern California Insurance Group (ACSC), Automobile Club Group, and California State Automobile Association (CSAA) Insurance Group. We’ll compare scores from the BBB, the 2023 J.D. Power U.S. Claims Satisfaction Study℠, and the 2023 J.D. Power U.S. Insurance Shopping Study℠.

*These numbers are subject to change as customers file more complaints. They are correct at time of publishing.

That there isn’t an equal distribution of AAA insurance reviews or complaints. This might be because people think they have AAA car insurance, and not Auto Club Group insurance or CSAA insurance. Each regional business has its own website, so there isn’t just one place online that unifies driver reviews.

We still read reviews, and were able to find common themes among them. Positive AAA insurance reviews on the BBB and Trustpilot mention thorough, quick customer service. Negative ones are mostly roadside assistance, not auto insurance. However, some complaints about insurance coverage cite issues with payment or canceling service.

One AAA review on ACSC’s BBB page describes lacking information on the website. The customer wanted to check what their insurance premium was online, but the website didn’t contain that information. It also didn’t contain a viewable copy of the AAA auto insurance policy.

With such a large group of related businesses, it can take a long time for corporate AAA policies to be enacted everywhere. You’d expect the insurer would provide digital copies of policies online, but it might not in certain states.

AAA Car Insurance: Our Take

We rated AAA 4.5 out of 5.0 stars and named it the Best Discount Options. Its variety of auto insurance coverage and long list of discounts make it a strong choice for vehicle protection beyond roadside assistance.

At the end of the day, it seems like your experience with AAA may be dependent upon where you live, so it’s important to look up local AAA car insurance reviews. Websites, quote processes, and claims can all differ between AAA companies, so doing your research on your club is important. It also makes sense to check out the provider’s auto insurance if you’re already a AAA roadside assistance cardholder. Compare multiple quotes to find the cheapest car insurance.

Top Recommendations For Auto Insurance

If you’re searching for the best rates, we always recommend obtaining quotes from more than one company. The auto insurance providers that topped our list are Geico and Progressive. We looked into each company’s coverage options, customer satisfaction, and financial stability, and the results were impressive.

Geico Insurance: Best for Basic Coverage

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.

Compare: Geico Vs. Progressive

Progressive Insurance: Best for Usage-Based Insurance

Another household name, Progressive is known across America for its commercials featuring Flo and the Name Your Price^® tool. But the company’s success doesn’t just stem from great advertising. Along with considerable coverage and add-ons like custom parts protection and rideshare coverage for Uber and Lyft drivers, Progressive insurance offers a highly rated usage-based mobile app that gives you discounts for driving safely.

Read more: Progressive auto insurance review

AAA Insurance Reviews: FAQ

Below are a few frequently asked questions about AAA insurance:

How We Rate Auto Insurers

Our review team extensively researches auto insurance providers to deliver informed and unbiased assessments of leading companies. We evaluate several key rating factors that are important to consumers to determine which providers are the best in the industry:

• Reliability: It’s important that an auto insurer is able to meet its claims obligations. Companies with a strong financial strength rating from AM Best score best in this category. Established insurers with a long history of reliable service also receive positive marks.
• Availability: Insurance companies that offer wider availability to consumers in terms of state availability and few eligibility requirements are more likely to meet consumer needs.
• Coverage: To determine our coverage score, we look at the number of coverage options available as well as coverage limits and deductible options. Our ratings also take into account additional services and benefits like roadside assistance.
• Pricing: Cost can be difficult to compare between insurers because so many factors impact annual premiums. The cheapest insurer for one driver may not be the cheapest for another. To determine our cost score, we look at insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services, discount opportunities, and consumer reports.
• Service: We comb through customer reviews on sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to learn about customer experiences. Insurers with a low volume of complaints score well in this area. We also consider the claims process, giving higher ratings to car insurance providers that offer a smooth experience.
• Technology: Providers with an online quote tool, easy-to-use claims app and a usage-based insurance app score best in this category.

Dash Lewis Content Writer