For more than 100 years, AAA has had America's back by offering both emergency roadside assistance and general convenience. Today, AAA provides vehicle services, vacation packages, travel planning and resources, insurance policies, financial services and an extensive list of discounts and rewards.
Although we have expanded and diversified our offerings, roadside assistance is still what AAA is best known for and the main reason many people become dedicated AAA members. AAA is one of the most trusted names in roadside assistance with services like vehicle towing, tire changes and vehicle lockout assistance. Whether you have run out of fuel in the middle of nowhere or need our help to test your battery as a preventative measure, we are there for you.
Read the full article or skip to a specific section:
- Choosing AAA Over Other Insurance Companies
- What Coverage Does AAA Roadside Assistance Provide?
- AAA vs. Car Insurance Roadside Assistance
- What Makes AAA Roadside Assistance Stand Out? — The Benefits of AAA
- You're Never Alone on the Road With AAA
Choosing AAA Over Other Insurance Companies
So why do so many people choose AAA over other companies?
The answer is simple: despite our memberships including several perks, a major one is that no one provides roadside assistance better than AAA. As a AAA member, you are eligible for roadside assistance.
After reading this piece that examines AAA vs. roadside assistance from auto insurance providers, you'll be eager to peruse the AAA membership options, including our 24/7 roadside assistance and other services. What's more, if you're looking for the benefits of AAA's roadside reputation and our trustworthy auto insurance options, you may wish to choose us for the complete service delivery.
What Coverage Does AAA Roadside Assistance Provide?
AAA's goal is always to be there for you, whatever your situation. Whether locked out of your car in a grocery store parking lot or stuck on the shoulder with a flat tire, AAA offers a well-rounded selection of services to assist you. AAA even has your back when you're on vacation, offering the same roadside assistance anywhere in the United States and providing discounts on rental cars to help ensure you reach your destination with peace of mind.
Some of AAA's most popular roadside assistance services include:
- Towing: If you need a reliable towing service, you shouldn't worry if you're a AAA Member. While all members get free towing services, the AAA membership levels dictate the extent of the service. For AAA Classic members, AAA will tow your vehicle up to 5 miles for free, and you get four free tows annually covered under your membership. AAA Plus members get their vehicle towed for free up to 100 miles annually, while AAA Premier members receive extended towing for up to 200 miles annually.
- Fuel delivery: Our fuel delivery service is another excellent perk AAA members can enjoy. While AAA Classic members must pay for the fuel, all three membership tiers get free delivery, with Plus and Premier members getting free fuel included. The service provides enough fuel to get your vehicle to the nearest service station.
- Tire change: Whether out on the open road or pulling out of your driveway — realizing you have a flat tire is never fun. Changing a vehicle tire is tricky business, and requires experience and training to do safely. In these situations, AAA is only a call away. We'll send a technician to your aid free of charge for all membership tiers.
- Vehicle entry: Even with modern technologies, there is still the chance that you could get locked out of your car, which could be anything from a slight annoyance to an urgent emergency. In these scenarios, we'll dispatch a technician to provide our AAA Lockout Service to help you regain access. If you require the skills of a professional locksmith, AAA will reimburse Classic members $50* and both Plus and Premier will receive up to $100* back for the locksmith service.
- Extraction/Winching: Worrying about pulling your vehicle out of a muddy trap or a ditch can be a headache no one needs. That's why AAA offers members free extrication or winching services — one per year for Classic members and two per year for Plus and Premiier members.
- Accident protection: Even without AAA car insurance, you are covered with a certain level of automobile accident protection with your AAA membership. Classic members receive up to $200* coverage in the event of an accident, while Plus and Premier members receive up to $600* and $1,500*, respectively.
- Battery service: All AAA members receive free battery jumpstart and other key services regardless of their membership tier. One of our technicians will test your battery and charging system and use a jump box — a safer option vs standard jumper cables — to jumpstart the battery if needed. If the battery won't start, members can purchase a new battery and have it installed for free from our roadside technicians or get a tow to their preferred auto repair location. A discount is available for members who choose AAA brand car batteries.
- Bicycle assistance: Whether you are an avid cyclist or simply heading out for a bike ride, if you get a flat bicycle tire, become too exhausted to continue cycling, incur a minor injury that does not require an ambulance, call AAA to request our bicycle roadside assistance.
- RV and motorcycle assistance: If you select the AAA Plus or AAA Premier membership, you can add RV and motorcycle roadside assistance to your membership for an additional $35*.
All these services and more are offered to AAA Members as part of the annual membership price Unlike other roadside assistance providers who often charge extra for similar essential roadside services — such as towing, fuel delivery, battery jump-start and extrication — AAA is dedicated to providing each member with well-rounded vehicle care services.
AAA vs. Car Insurance Roadside Assistance
In comparing AAA roadside assistance to that offered by other major brands, it's easy to see that AAA's benefits far outweigh others. For avid drivers as well as for those who drive occasionally, AAA provides the services you need without hidden fees.
Based on your AAA membership tier details, you can enjoy the benefits of towing, minor mechanical repairs and fuel delivery without paying separate fees for every service. Instead, it's all covered under your membership.
Not all roadside assistance companies work the same way, which is why we've compiled the following comparison of AAA vs. other insurance companies' roadside assistance to help you make an informed decision.
Geico Roadside Assistance vs. AAA
Geico's roadside services are the closest to AAA's in terms of value, which is why the AAA vs. Geico comparison is so popular.
Geico offers its customers services similar to AAA's Plus membership:
- Towing up to 20 miles from your breakdown location to the nearest repair facility
- Battery jumpstart
- Tire changes if you have a functioning spare
- Extrication services
- Lockout services are limited to $100*
- Fuel delivery
- The chance to include additional riders for other vehicle types
However, unlike AAA, roadside assistance is all that Geico offers for the price. Moreover, like many insurers, Geico does not provide the service directly but uses third-party service providers to assist their policyholders.
Even if you're not planning on using services other than roadside assistance, AAA is the better option since you automatically get a host of discounts and insider access to other services in addition to roadside services.
Although Geico's roadside assistance-only service starts at $14* per year, you need to factor in that it is an add-on to your existing insurance and restricted to your insured vehicle. AAA brings you more bang for your buck for these and other reasons.
Allstate Roadside Assistance vs. AAA
Similarly, Allstate offers most of the same roadside assistance services as AAA does, including:
- Towing up to 10 miles for the Advantage membership and 100 miles for the Elite package
- Battery jump-start services
- Fuel delivery, though you pay for the fuel
- Flat tire services
- Lockout services
Allstate offers several different roadside package options, including:
- Two membership tier options
- Insurance add-on coverage
- Pay-per-use
As an insurance add-on, it will cost you $25* per vehicle annually, while the first-year Roadside Advantage membership is $89*, and the Roadside Elite is $164*. Following your first year, the membership costs climb to $105* and $179*, respectively.
What is more, Allstate's pay-per-use is typically upwards of $100*, with limited services included in the price — for instance, a single tow will start at $154*. If you use Allstate's per-occurrence service for a battery jump and end up needing a tow, you'll pay two separate fees.
The cost to add additional members is similar to AAA. However, you should consider the increased renewal cost and how many call-outs you receive based on the number of members on your plan. And although the Allstate cost includes certain additional benefits and discounts, they are somewhat limited compared to those included with your AAA membership.
State Farm Roadside Assistance vs. AAA
State Farm offers clients a low annual fee of approximately $30*, but their roadside assistance doesn't include much without additional costs. State Farm offers roadside assistance as an insurance policy add-on, and it includes the following services but with several restrictions and conditions:
- Towing to the nearest repair location
- Tire change services
- Delivery of gas, oil or battery — not including the cost of the items
- Lockout services
- Battery jumpstart services
It is crucial to note that only the first hour of service is covered per call-out, and there are extra charges for any additional time beyond that. This means if you're with State Farm and call for roadside assistance for a tow, the first hour will be free, but you'll have to pay more if it takes longer than that to secure the vehicle and tow it to the nearest service station.
You'll also need to remember that the closest service station may be many miles away, depending on where your car breaks down. Additionally, it may not service all types of vehicles, which means towing the car farther, which will take longer and cost even more.
With AAA, you know precisely what services are included in your membership tier and how far you can have your vehicle towed, no matter how long it takes to get there, which can save you a lot in the long run.
What Makes AAA Roadside Assistance Stand Out? — The Benefits of AAA
Aside from the regular services you'd expect from roadside assistance, AAA offers a host of additional benefits and discounts to all members, so that you can make the most of your membership.
Some of the popular benefits that make AAA stand out include:
- Efficient service: AAA ensures you won't have to wait hours for service by positioning tow trucks in high-traffic areas so someone is ready to help you as soon as possible.
- Transparency: AAA is dedicated to transparency, which is why we provide all members with exceptional detail regarding our services and obligations. We clearly state what we will and will not cover so you know exactly what you're signing up for and won't be caught off guard with surprise costs.
- Mobile app: The AAA mobile app makes it even easier to access AAA services, including calling for help and checking estimated arrival times.
- DMV services: Access to select DMV and MVD services are included in your AAA membership and offered at many AAA locations, so you won't have to wait in line at your local motor vehicle authority. Instead, you can walk into a AAA location and take advantage of convenient services like renewing your vehicle's registration.
- Discounts and rewards: AAA offers its members many types of exclusive discounts at service stations, auto repair shops, NAPA Auto Parts, and more.
- Multi-car coverage: AAA 24/7 roadside assistance is available to help you whether you’re driving, riding as a passenger, or using a vehicle other than your own.
You're Never Alone on the Road With AAA
As a AAA member, you’re never alone whether it’s day or night, emergency or simply stuck at home. Our roadside assistance covers most vehicles alongside bicycle coverage for extra convenience.
Learn more about AAA AAA Roadside Assistance services, and become a AAA Member to take advantage of the benefits today!
*The prices stated in this post are current as of the time of publication.
