AAA is known for its membership-based roadside assistance service. For a flat, annual fee, and depending on membership level, you typically receive a set number of roadside service calls (most clubs include 4 per member per membership year) with towing and other benefits scaling by tier—however, exact entitlements vary by regional club and ZIP code. In 2025, typical base memberships (Classic/Basic) generally run about $60–$85 for the primary member, Plus plans around $100–$140, and Premier roughly $135–$180+, depending on your club. Many clubs also assess a one‑time new‑member enrollment fee (often ~$10–$20) and offer discounted first‑year promotions. Household/associate add‑ons are commonly available for an extra ~$30–$70 per person, by tier. Towing limits commonly follow this pattern: Classic short local tows (about 5–7 miles), Plus up to 100 miles, and Premier one tow up to 200 miles per year with remaining tows up to 100 miles; fuel delivery is usually member‑paid at Classic and included at Plus/Premier. Always verify specifics for your ZIP on your club’s comparison page (examples: AAA Club Alliance, AAA Northern California/Nevada/Utah, AAA Washington, AAA Northeast, Auto Club Enterprises).
Along with the peace of mind that comes from knowing you won’t be left stranded, a AAA membership could still be worth considering for its other perks. Whether you’re debating investing in a AAA membership or looking to get the most out of an existing membership, remember that AAA operates as regional clubs and availability varies by location and tier. Use your club’s comparison page to confirm details for your ZIP (Club Alliance; Northern California/Nevada/Utah; Washington; Northeast; Auto Club Enterprises). Here are nine commonly available perks you might not have realized came with AAA membership:
1. Retail Discounts
With AAA, you’re covered while you’re driving to the mall, but you also get benefits once you start shopping. Popular retailers and services offer ongoing member savings—for example, at many locations of The UPS Store, AAA members save 5% on UPS shipping and 15% on eligible products and services (offer details). Dining, entertainment, and attraction discounts are also common. For the most accurate list and any required codes, check your club’s local offers portal and, when in‑store, present your AAA card. To find out which discounts are available with a membership to your local club, visit AAA.com and enter your ZIP code if prompted.
2. Travel Discounts
AAA also has relationships with travel companies to help you save. Hertz offers AAA members up to 20% off base rates and typically includes a free additional driver when booked with AAA benefits (more). Hotel discounts are another common perk; as one example, Best Western advertises an AAA/CAA rate of 5% or more off the flexible rate (see Best Western’s AAA page). Compare against other memberships when you travel: AARP members, for instance, can get up to 30% off base rates at Avis with a free additional driver (AARP Avis), and Costco Travel often includes one extra driver at no charge with select brands. Availability is dynamic and typically excludes taxes/fees; blackout dates may apply and some rates require advance purchase or have different cancellation terms. For theme parks and attractions (e.g., Disney), check whether online purchase is required to receive the AAA price.
3. Travel Assistance
You can search to find all of these discounts yourself, but AAA also has travel agents available if you’re looking for help. They can provide pre‑trip planning (including TripTik routing, fuel prices, and construction alerts) and issue International Driving Permits—AAA is one of only two U.S. organizations authorized by the U.S. Department of State to issue valid IDPs (State Department). Many clubs include global emergency travel and medical assistance hotlines and Premier‑tier concierge services administered by third‑party providers (e.g., coordination facilitated by professional assistance vendors; see representative Premier benefits at AAA Club Alliance). These assistance lines typically provide coordination and referrals (e.g., medical or legal), while the costs of care or evacuation are your responsibility unless you purchase a travel insurance policy. Members can buy travel insurance through AAA partners such as Allianz, which adds covered benefits like trip cancellation/interruption, emergency medical and medical evacuation, and 24/7 assistance with a companion app (AAA + Allianz, Allianz TravelSmart). For international trips, consider enrolling in the U.S. State Department’s STEP program for destination alerts (STEP).
4. DMV Services
Your local DMV is not typically where you dream of spending an afternoon (or an entire day). Depending on your state, AAA is able to offer some DMV/MVD transactions in‑branch. Examples: Massachusetts AAA branches provide select RMV services to AAA members (MA RMV at AAA); in California, AAA participates in the DMV Business Partner program to process certain vehicle registration/title transactions (driver license/ID services are not handled by AAA in CA) (CA DMV partners, AAA SoCal DMV services); and in Pennsylvania, PennDOT authorizes agents/messengers (including some AAA locations) to handle title and registration work (PA Authorized Agents). Services, eligibility, fees, and whether an appointment is required vary by state, club, and branch. You may be able to complete a title transfer, register your vehicle, or even get select license/ID transactions where state law permits; for other items (like road tests or initial REAL ID), you’ll need the state office. You may be able to complete a title transfer, register your vehicle, or even get your driver’s license photo updated at your local AAA office.
5. Identity Theft Protection
Many AAA clubs offer members free or discounted identity theft protection. At many clubs this benefit is powered by Experian (formerly “ProtectMyID,” now presented under Experian’s broader IdentityWorks branding)—members often get a free basic monitoring tier with optional paid upgrades (Experian for AAA members; example club page: AAA identity monitoring). Typical features include credit monitoring (single‑bureau at entry level; tri‑bureau at higher tiers), dark‑web/credential monitoring, fraud resolution, and an insurance policy that reimburses eligible out‑of‑pocket expenses—often “up to $1,000,000” at paid tiers—subject to sub‑limits and exclusions. The FTC and NAIC emphasize that this insurance generally covers remediation costs (e.g., legal fees, lost wages), not every type of financial loss (FTC guidance; NAIC). Review your club’s current plan details and the insurance certificate before enrolling.
6. Notary Services
A membership can also be useful if you need a signature notarized. Some AAA locations have notary services (often with member‑preferred pricing); availability, fees, and document types vary by club and state law (example: AAA Club Alliance notary). State law may cap fees—for instance, California sets a maximum of $15 per signature for common notarizations (CA Secretary of State fee schedule). Note that Remote Online Notarization (RON) is now authorized in most U.S. states, expanding after‑hours options through online providers; AAA itself may not offer RON—check your club’s page—and verify your state’s RON rules (NNA: RON by state). Even if you aren’t very close to a AAA location, the notary service perk can still be valuable if you need to complete a DMV transaction, like a title transfer, that requires notarized signatures. You may be able to take care of the entire process at your local AAA office. For extended hours alternatives, many The UPS Store locations also provide in‑person and some online notary options (pricing varies by store).
7. Passport Photos
If you’re traveling internationally (hopefully with some AAA discounts) AAA offices can often take your passport photos for you. Pricing, eligibility (members vs. nonmembers), and any free‑or‑discounted sets vary by club and branch, so check your local club page or call ahead. It is possible to take passport photos yourself, but with strict rules for lighting, framing, and background, many travelers prefer an in‑office photo service to avoid retakes or rejections.
8. Insurance Discounts
Your membership can also help you get discounts on home, auto, and life insurance. Depending on your location, Auto Club or CSAA Insurance may be available in your area. If Auto Club Insurance is available, it might be worth requesting a quote because it made our list of the Best Car Insurance Companies. AAA Insurance, like the membership clubs, is run regionally, which means you’ll want to search for reviews of your local club’s insurance before purchasing. Across major carriers, common auto discounts include multi‑policy (bundling home/condo/renters), multi‑vehicle, safe driver/accident‑free, good student, defensive driving, and anti‑theft/vehicle safety device credits; nearly all large insurers now offer telematics/usage‑based programs (names include Drive Safe & Save, DriveEasy, Snapshot, Drivewise) that can influence renewal pricing based on driving behavior and mileage (State Farm discounts; GEICO discounts; Progressive discounts; Allstate discounts). For homeowners, mitigation‑based credits are increasingly important and can be mandated by state rules—California requires insurers to recognize wildfire hardening/defensible‑space measures in rating plans (CA Safer from Wildfires), while Florida law mandates windstorm mitigation discounts verified by inspection (FL §627.0629). Also weigh coverage terms that act like pricing—e.g., separate percentage hurricane/wind deductibles common in coastal states (Insurance Information Institute)—so you compare total cost of risk, not just premium.
9. Financial Services
AAA even offers benefits that can help you invest and manage your money. As a member, you may be able to access high-yield deposit accounts that are FDIC insured just the same as traditional and online banks are. Other savings vehicles like CDs and IRAs may also be available, but again, it’s important to compare your local club’s reputation for this service with other companies. Check out our reviews of the Best Certificates of Deposit and Best IRA Accounts to help you find the right provider.
Practical tip: regardless of provider, verify insurance and where your money sits. Bank/credit‑union deposits are insured to $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, per ownership category by the FDIC/NCUA (FDIC). Brokerage cash may be swept to program banks for FDIC coverage or held in a money market fund (not FDIC‑insured); SIPC protects custody if a brokerage fails but not investment losses (SIPC, Investor.gov on money market funds). If you prefer fixed terms, compare bank CDs with brokered CDs (FINRA), or consider U.S. Treasury bills available via TreasuryDirect or brokerages (TreasuryDirect). For IRAs, follow the IRS’s current‑year limits and distribution rules (IRS Pub. 590‑A; IRS Pub. 590‑B).
Check with your regional AAA club to find out which of these perks (and more!) are offered in your area and what they cost for your ZIP and membership tier. Start with your club’s comparison page: Club Alliance, Northern California/Nevada/Utah, Washington, Northeast, Auto Club Enterprises.
What’s Next?
- Interested in the discounts available for AAA insurance? Read our review of homeowners insurance offered by AAA.
- Have an older car that’s more likely to leave you stranded? Learn what to do if your car breaks down
