AAA car insurance basics

AAA automobile insurance is sold through AAA membership and underwritten by different insurers depending on your state — there is no single "AAA insurance company." AAA negotiates rates with carriers like Infinity, Bristol West, and others, and which company covers you depends on where you live. You buy the policy through your local AAA club, and AAA handles the membership and roadside information piece separately from the actual insurance coverage.

The insurance itself works like any other car policy: you choose coverage limits, pay a premium, and file claims when you have an accident or loss. What sets AAA apart is the bundled roadside information — towing, lockout service, fuel delivery, and jump starts — included with membership. You also get discounts on the insurance premium itself if you are an AAA member, though the size of that discount varies by state and by the insurance carrier handling your policy in that state.

AAA membership costs money separately from the insurance premium. A basic membership typically runs $50 to $150 per year depending on membership level and your region. That membership fee is distinct from what you pay for the car insurance itself.

Key Takeaways

  • AAA insurance is underwritten by different carriers in different states, so the actual insurer behind your policy depends on where you live.
  • Roadside information is included with AAA membership, not automatically with the insurance — you pay a separate membership fee for that benefit.
  • AAA members receive discounts on the insurance premium, but the discount amount and which coverage types may have access to varies by state and carrier.
  • You can compare AAA quotes against other insurers to see whether the membership fee and discount justify the total cost for your situation.

Which insurance companies underwrite AAA policies by state

AAA does not insure cars itself. Instead, it partners with licensed insurance carriers that vary by region. In California, for example, AAA policies are underwritten by Infinity. In the Northeast, Bristol West handles many AAA policies. In other states, you might see carriers like Safeco, Nationwide, or regional companies. When you get a quote through AAA, you will see which carrier is actually issuing the policy in your state.

This matters because the underwriting carrier determines claim handling, customer service, and the specific coverage options available to you. The roadside information and AAA membership benefits stay the same, but the insurance company behind the scenes is different. If you have had a good or bad experience with a particular insurer in the past, knowing which carrier backs AAA policies in your state helps you decide whether to quote with them.

You can ask your local AAA club which carrier underwrites policies in your state before you get a quote. That way you can research that company's claim satisfaction ratings and customer reviews separately.

Coverage options and what they cost

AAA offers the standard coverage types: liability (bodily injury and property damage), collision, comprehensive, uninsured motorist, and medical payments. You choose your limits for each — for example, 25/50/25 liability or 100/300/100 — just as you would with any other insurer. The cost depends on your driving record, age, vehicle type, location, and the limits you select.

AAA members receive a discount on the base premium, but that discount does not explore equally to all coverage types in all states. Some states allow AAA to discount liability coverage heavily; others restrict how much discount can be applied to certain coverages. The quote you receive will show the member discount applied to your specific policy.

Optional add-ons like roadside information are included with membership, but you can also add coverage like accident forgiveness, safe driver discounts, or usage-based insurance programs (where a mobile app tracks your driving). These vary by state and by the underwriting carrier.

AAA membership and roadside information

AAA membership includes roadside information at no additional cost beyond the membership fee. That means towing (usually up to 100 miles), lockout service, fuel delivery, jump starts, and winch-out service if you get stuck. You call AAA's roadside number, give your location, and a service provider comes to you. Response time varies by location and demand, but AAA aims for arrival within an hour in urban areas.

The membership itself is separate from the insurance. You can be an AAA member without buying insurance through them, or you can buy their insurance without joining AAA (though you would lose the member discount). If you already belong to AAA for other reasons — travel discounts, maps, trip planning — adding insurance through them layers on the insurance discount without paying twice for membership.

Membership levels vary. Basic membership covers you and one vehicle. Plus membership extends towing distance and adds additional service calls per year. Premier membership offers longer towing and more calls. The roadside information benefit is the same across levels; the difference is in how far they will tow and how many times per year you can use it.

Discounts available to AAA members

The primary discount is the AAA membership discount on the insurance premium itself. This typically ranges from 5 to 15 percent depending on your state and the underwriting carrier, but the exact amount is not fixed. Some states cap how much discount AAA can offer; others allow deeper discounts. Your quote will show the discount applied.

Additional discounts may include safe driver discounts (no accidents or violations in a set period), bundling home and auto insurance, paying in full rather than monthly, paperless billing, and completing a defensive driving course. Some of these are standard across most insurers; others are specific to AAA or the carrier underwriting your policy. Ask about all available discounts when you get your quote.

Usage-based insurance programs, where you install an app that monitors your driving habits, can also lower your premium if you drive safely. AAA offers these through some carriers in some states. If you drive infrequently or have very safe habits, this can be worth exploring.

How to compare AAA quotes with other insurers

Get a quote directly from AAA through your local club or their website. You will need your driver's license, vehicle information (VIN, current coverage if you have it), and driving history. The quote will show the base premium, the AAA member discount, any other discounts applied, and the final monthly or annual cost.

Then get quotes from at least two other major insurers — State Farm, Geico, Progressive, or others available in your state. Use the same coverage limits and deductibles for each quote so you are comparing apples to apples. Write down the final cost for each, including any discounts.

Compare not just price but also what you are getting. With AAA, you are paying for membership (which includes roadside information and other AAA benefits beyond insurance). If roadside information is valuable to you and you use AAA for other things, the total package might be worth more than a slightly lower insurance-only premium elsewhere. If you just want the cheapest car insurance and do not care about AAA membership, another insurer might win on price alone.

Filing a claim with AAA insurance

When you have an accident or loss, you report the claim to the underwriting carrier, not to AAA itself. Your policy documents will list the claims phone number. You can also file online through the carrier's website or mobile app. Have your policy number, driver's license, and details of the incident ready.

The claims process is handled by the insurance company underwriting your policy, so the timeline and experience depend on that carrier. AAA does not process claims; it sells the policy and provides membership benefits. If you have questions about claim status, you contact the insurance company directly, not AAA.

Roadside information claims (towing, lockout, etc.) go through AAA's roadside number, which is separate from the insurance claims line. Keep both numbers in your phone or glove box.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be an AAA member to buy AAA car insurance?

No. You can buy the insurance without membership, but you will not receive the member discount on the premium. The membership fee is separate, so if you are not already a member and do not use AAA for other services, the discount may not offset the membership cost.

What happens to my roadside information if I cancel the insurance?

Roadside information is tied to AAA membership, not the insurance policy. If you keep your membership but switch insurers, you keep roadside information. If you cancel membership, roadside information ends regardless of whether you keep the insurance.

Can I use AAA roadside information if I buy insurance from a different company?

Yes. Roadside information comes with AAA membership, so as long as you are a member, you can use it regardless of who insures your car. You do not have to buy insurance through AAA to use the roadside benefit.

How do I know which insurance company actually underwrites my AAA policy?

Your quote and policy documents will clearly state the underwriting carrier's name. You can also call your local AAA club and ask which carrier handles policies in your state. This information is important if you want to research that company's claim satisfaction or customer service ratings.

Is AAA insurance more expensive than other companies?

Price varies by location, driving record, age, and vehicle. AAA may be cheaper, more expensive, or the same as competitors depending on your specific situation. That is why comparing quotes across multiple insurers — including AAA — is the only way to know what you will actually pay.