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Updated
You can’t exactly plan for every unexpected pitfall while you’re on the road. AAA roadside assistance offers around the clock coverage, whether you’re driving your car or someone else’s.
AAA roadside assistance plans cover drivers, not vehicles. So when you purchase coverage, you’re protected in any vehicle, even if you’re just a passenger.
Most plans include coverage for minor mechanical issues and sudden problems with your car, like:
AAA roadside assistance plans are available through regional motor clubs across the country, so coverage and exclusions can vary depending on your location. For example, with Auto Club South, the Premier membership will tow your vehicle up to 200 miles for free. With the Classic membership, you only get free towing for up to five miles.
The cost of AAA roadside assistance varies depending on your location and which plan you choose, but plans are often available for as little as $1 per week. For example, the Northeast AA Motor Club offers plans for $52, $92 and $129 per year for different membership tiers.
To get roadside assistance coverage from AAA, you’ll need to register as a member through your local AAA motor club.
No, you need to be a AAA club member to use AAA towing.
However, even if you’re stuck on the side of the road now, you could sign up online and call for a tow right then. But be aware that AAA charges an immediate fee if you request service when you sign up for a new membership or renew an old policy. For example, in Oregon, the instant service fee is $45 for a Classic membership if you call for a tow right after you’ve signed up.
Dawn Daniels
Staff Editor
I had AAA roadside assistance for years and I loved it. The biggest advantage was that it covered me, not my car. So I was able to use it when my friend’s car broke down while we were together and when my sister locked her keys in her boyfriend’s truck at a campground hours away.
I canceled my AAA membership when I switched to an insurer that offered roadside assistance as a policy add-on for cheaper. That insurer won’t cover me in someone else’s car, but my friends and I are older now and have more reliable vehicles, so breakdowns aren’t a regular occurrence. As a teenager and twenty-something who spent a lot of time in cars passed down from parents, AAA got me out of several scrapes that my new policy wouldn’t cover.
There are a few ways you can get in touch with AAA to request roadside assistance.
By phone
Call 800-222-4357 to speak with customer service and get a service vehicle dispatched to your location.
Online
Using the app
AAA roadside assistance plans often have a few coverage exclusions depending on your location and membership level:
AAA is one of the oldest and most recognized auto clubs in the country. Drivers can get 24/7 roadside assistance that can help solve almost any minor issue and provide towing for more serious problems.
If you’re looking for extra protection on the road, shop around for roadside assistance plans or compare car insurance policies that offer roadside assistance coverage.
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My vehicle is in my driveway and will not start. Suspect dead battery. Will AAA premium membership send assistance.
Hi Amos,
Sorry to hear about your car, you may need to contact AAA about the car so they can check if they can send assistance based on your location. Call 800-222-4357 to speak with customer service or if you have an app, add your location or allow the app to locate you.
Hope this helps
Cheers,
Joyce