The Ultimate Guide To Aaa Auto Insurance: What You Need To Know

AAA is a well-known name in the auto insurance industry, offering a range of standard coverages and optional extras. As a membership-based organisation, AAA provides auto insurance to its members, who can benefit from a variety of discounts and perks. AAA auto insurance is available through regional clubs, with features and options varying based on location. The company has been in the car insurance business for over 100 years and currently serves over 17 million members across the country.

AAA offers the standard coverages you would expect, such as bodily injury liability, property damage liability, uninsured/underinsured motorist, collision, and comprehensive. They also provide additional optional coverages, including rental car reimbursement, gap insurance, and accidental death benefits.

One of the key advantages of AAA auto insurance is the potential for discounts. Members may be eligible for a discount on car insurance, and there are also discounts for good drivers, multi-car policies, and good students, among others. Bundling auto insurance with other types of insurance, such as home or renters coverage, can also lead to savings.

In terms of customer satisfaction, AAA has received mixed reviews. While some customers praise the company for its affordable rates, others have expressed concerns about poor customer service and delayed claims payments. Overall, AAA auto insurance is a good option for those looking for savings through bundling and membership discounts, but it is important to note that the specific coverages and discounts available may vary depending on your location.

AAA auto insurance discounts

AAA has been serving America's drivers for over 100 years and offers a range of auto insurance discounts to its members. In addition to membership perks, which include a 5% discount on auto and home insurance, AAA offers multiple other discounts for policyholders.

Multi-Policy Discounts

AAA offers multi-policy discounts for houses, condominiums, cars, renters insurance, and life insurance. Here are some examples:

• Companion Home Discount: Save up to 12.7% on auto insurance when combined with a home policy.
• Companion Auto Discount: Save up to 12.5% on homeowners insurance when combined with an auto policy.
• Auto + Condo Discount: Save up to 11.2% on auto insurance and 20% on condo insurance when policies are combined.
• Auto + Renters Discount: Save up to 3.7% on auto coverage and 10% on renters insurance when policies are combined.
• Auto, Home, and Life Discount: Save up to 19% on auto insurance and 22% on homeowners insurance when combined with life insurance.

AAA Auto Policy Discounts

AAA also offers a range of auto policy discounts, including:

• Multi-Vehicle Discount: Save up to 15.7% when insuring more than one car on the same policy.
• Science and Engineering Discount: Save up to 5.6% after one year of continuous coverage with the AAA Loyalty Discount.
• Good Driver Discount: Save up to 20% by avoiding tickets and accidents and maintaining a clean driving record.
• Verified Mileage Discount: Save up to 9.1% by providing your vehicle's odometer reading when requested.
• Student Away Discount: Save 46.7% on select coverages if your student is more than 100 miles away from school without a vehicle.
• Good Student Discount: Save up to 10% on car insurance if you're a high school or college student with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Teen Smart (New Driver) Discount: Young drivers aged 16-26 who take an online safety class can earn a 24% discount.
• Driver Training Discount: Get a 10% discount by completing an approved driver training class.
• Car Club Discount: If you belong to a qualifying car club, you could earn a 5% discount.

Other Ways to Save on Car Insurance with AAA

In addition to the discounts mentioned above, there are other ways to save on car insurance with AAA:

• Increase your deductible: A higher deductible typically leads to lower monthly premiums.
• Update your policy regularly: Life events such as marriage, having a baby, or moving can affect your car insurance rates, so it's essential to review your policy regularly.
• Maintain a good credit rating: A solid credit rating can lead to lower car insurance premiums, as insurance companies associate higher credit scores with reliability and financial responsibility.

AAA auto insurance coverage

AAA offers a range of auto insurance coverage options to protect you, your passengers, other drivers, property, and more. Here is a detailed overview of the coverage provided by AAA:

Bodily Injury Liability Coverage

This coverage is required in most states and is the foundation of any auto insurance policy. It covers injuries to people other than the insured driver, such as pedestrians, passengers in the insured car, or people in other vehicles, if the insured driver is found to be legally responsible for the accident. It also provides legal defence for the insured driver if necessary.

Property Damage Liability Coverage

Property Damage Liability Coverage is also a fundamental part of auto insurance and is required in most states. It covers the cost of repairs if the insured vehicle damages someone else's property, such as another car, light posts, or buildings. Like Bodily Injury Liability Coverage, it also provides legal defence if necessary.

Personal Injury Protection

Personal Injury Protection, commonly referred to as PIP coverage, is available in certain states like Arkansas and Kansas. It covers medical expenses, work loss, and accidental death benefits for the insured driver, their family members, and passengers injured in the insured vehicle, regardless of who is at fault.

Excess Medical Payments

This optional coverage pays for necessary medical expenses that are not covered by another source, such as health insurance. It covers medical costs for the insured driver and the occupants of their vehicle, as well as relatives living in the same household if injured in a different car or as pedestrians.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage

Uninsured Motorist Coverage, often referred to as UM coverage, is important because there are still vehicles without insurance. It covers injuries caused by an uninsured driver or an unidentified hit-and-run driver. It also protects relatives living with the insured driver, the occupants of the insured car, and the insured as a pedestrian. Uninsured Motorist Property Damage is a similar coverage that pays for repairs to the insured car if it is involved in an accident with an uninsured or hit-and-run driver.

Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Underinsured Motorist Coverage, or UIM coverage, applies when the at-fault driver doesn't have sufficient insurance to cover the damages or medical expenses of the insured driver or their passengers.

Collision Coverage

Collision Coverage is often required by lenders and covers physical damage caused by a collision with another vehicle or object, regardless of who is at fault. It pays for repairs or the actual cash value of the vehicle if it is deemed a total loss.

Comprehensive Coverage

Comprehensive Coverage is optional but beneficial if your car is exposed to certain risks. It covers damage to your vehicle caused by incidents other than collisions, such as natural disasters, fire, fallen objects, animal damage, theft, vandalism, and more. It also covers windshield and window repairs.

Rental Reimbursement Coverage

Rental Reimbursement Coverage pays for rental car expenses when the insured vehicle is being repaired due to a covered loss.

New Car Added Protection

This coverage ensures that repairs or replacement of a new vehicle are covered without depreciation in the event of a covered loss.

Automobile Death Benefit

The Automobile Death Benefit provides a payout if death occurs due to a car accident.

AAA insurance complaints and customer satisfaction

AAA insurance policies are only available to AAA members. The company offers three membership levels (Classic, Plus, and Premier), each with benefits like roadside assistance, vacation planning services, and retail discounts.

AAA has a rating of 2.3/5 from WalletHub users. WalletHub editors give the company a rating of 3.4/5, based on customer reviews, sample insurance quotes, and ratings from organizations like J.D. Power and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). AAA's NAIC rating is 15.46, indicating that the company has received more complaints than the average car insurance provider of its size. Customer complaints tend to focus on poor customer service and delayed claims payments.

Some customers have praised AAA's customer service, with one reviewer stating that "no matter what the claim is, someone is always available to help". Another reviewer praised the company's "top-notch" customer service, stating that the process of filing a claim was easy and that the representative was very helpful.

However, other reviewers have criticized AAA's customer service, with one person stating that the company "treats you like a dog" and that it is "hiding things" if customers cannot speak to someone at the corporate headquarters. Another reviewer claimed that AAA's customer service representatives are "useless" and "know nothing about insurance".

There have also been complaints about delayed or non-existent towing services. One reviewer stated that they waited three hours for a tow truck that never arrived, while another claimed that they waited 24 hours for a battery jump/replacement. There have also been issues with AAA's app, with one reviewer stating that it is "completely useless in geolocating you if you're out a ways".

In terms of pricing, some customers have complained about unexpected increases in their premiums. One reviewer stated that their premium increased by $899 for two autos and $600 for their home, despite having no claims. Another reviewer mentioned that their premium increased by over $1000 a year for "excess mileage".

On the other hand, some customers have praised AAA's affordable rates, with one reviewer stating that the company's rates are "pretty affordable". WalletHub's research also places AAA in the second quartile in terms of price.

AAA roadside assistance

AAA is well-known for its roadside assistance program, which has been in operation for over 100 years. The program offers protection and peace of mind to its members, who know that they are safe and covered in any road-related emergency.

The service covers a range of issues, including towing, jump-starting a dead battery, flat tires, fuel delivery, and locksmith services for locked vehicles. AAA technicians are trained to identify and address vehicles' most common mechanical problems and will make minor adjustments to get the vehicle running again.

To receive roadside assistance, members need their AAA Membership card and a photo ID. While most roadside services are included in the membership, some may require an extra charge depending on the membership level. Members are entitled to up to four service calls per membership year, with a charge applying after the fourth call.

In addition to its renowned roadside assistance, AAA also offers auto insurance to its members, with opportunities to bundle and save on multiple types of insurance.

AAA insurance ratings

AAA insurance is generally only available to members of the AAA club, but the perks and discounts might make joining worth it. AAA auto insurance comes from separate, regional insurance companies that operate under similar names and logos. AAA club membership works in the same way, and you may need to become a member of your regional club to get auto insurance. This comes with a fee, but the resulting discount on your auto insurance may make it worth it.

AAA auto insurance pros include:

• Multiple insurance products offered.
• May receive an auto insurance discount for being a member of AAA.
• Discounts for being an alum of certain schools.
• Discounts for having certain factory-installed safety equipment.
• Discounts for owning a car with approved theft prevention devices.
• Discounts for having continuous auto insurance coverage from AAA.
• Discounts for meeting AAA's standards for a safe driver.
• Discounts for earning good grades if you're a student.
• Discounts for having a student on your policy who keeps their car at home while they're away at school.
• Discounts for completing a driver training course.
• Discounts for insuring more than one vehicle with AAA.
• Discounts for buying multiple insurance products from AAA.
• Discounts for paying your premium in full.
• Discounts for paying electronically and setting up automatic payments.
• Discounts for being in the military.
• Discounts for being a AAA employee or member.

AAA auto insurance cons include:

• Insurance products differ depending on where you live.
• You may have to change AAA insurance providers if you move states.
• May require AAA membership.

AAA insurance is rated 3.4/5 by WalletHub's editors, based on customer reviews, sample insurance quotes, and ratings from organizations such as J.D. Power and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). AAA customer reviews highlight the company's affordable rates, but its NAIC rating is 15.46, which means AAA has received more complaints than the average car insurance provider its size. Customer complaints tend to focus on poor customer service and delayed claims payments.

NerdWallet's ratings are determined by its editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates discounts, website transparency, financial strength, complaint data and more. The Automobile Club Group received a rating of 4.0, CSAA Insurance Group received a rating of 3.5, and the Auto Club of SoCal received a rating of 4.5.

Frequently asked questions