AAA Auto Insurance Review: Should you buy in 2024?

What You Should Know About AAA

AAA is a trusted company — many drivers have used AAA roadside assistance and other perks for years. Regarding car insurance, AAA offers several types of car insurance, and the company also has add-ons for people who want more protection.

AAA doesn’t have the best customer reviews. In addition, the company offers car insurance coverage that is often significantly more expensive than other similar providers even if you just get the minimum auto insurance required in your state. These two things are why AAA may not be the best choice for car insurance for some drivers.

What’s wrong with AAA’s customer service?

Most AAA customers don’t express satisfaction with the company’s customer service options. Instead, many discuss confusing policies, difficulty speaking with a representative, and trouble finding a resolution to their problems. 

Only 39% of AAA policyholders say they’re satisfied with the company’s customer service, meaning 61% of AAA customers believe the company should improve its customer service options.

How does AAA handle claims?

Customers feel similarly toward AAA’s claims handling process as they do the company’s customer service. Most AAA policyholders say the company needs a better process for handling claims.

The top complaint on the Better Business Bureau website concerning AAA car insurance claims is that the company denied claims that should have been approved based on its regulations and individual policy.

Are AAA customers loyal?

Under 40% of AAA customers who filed a car insurance claim stated they were happy with their policy and would renew their car insurance policy again.

AAA is a good company and offers many options no matter how much car insurance coverage you need. Still, you should read customer reviews online to learn more about the company and see if the coverage and customer service would work for you.

AAA Insurance Coverage Options

There are several AAA clubs throughout the U.S., and each may offer products that differ slightly from others. To know the availability in your area, you’ll need to search for your local AAA club and read about that club’s car insurance coverage options.

While car insurance coverage with AAA may differ from one club to the next, some coverages likely extend to all, such as:

• Bodily injury liability. Suppose you’re at fault in an accident, and one or more people get injured. In that case, AAA’s bodily injury liability pays for the medical attention they need up to your policy limits.
• Property damage liability. If you’re at fault in an accident and one or more vehicles or pieces of property get damaged, property damage liability with AAA pays for the repairs up to your policy limits.
• Personal injury protection (PIP). If you or a passenger in your vehicle get injured in an accident, personal injury protection car insurance covers your medical bills and other expenses.
• Medical payments (MedPay). Like PIP, AAA’s MedPay insurance covers medical expenses associated with a covered incident.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. If you’re in an accident with a motorist who doesn’t have car insurance or doesn’t carry enough coverage, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage helps pay for your vehicle damages. 
• Collision coverage. If you’re at fault in an accident, collision insurance with AAA covers your vehicle repairs. If you’re in the same scenario and only carry liability coverage, you must pay for repairs out of pocket.
• Comprehensive coverage. If your vehicle gets damaged in a non-accident-related incident, such as inclement weather or vandalism, comprehensive insurance with AAA pays for your car repairs. 

While these coverages are standard with most car insurance companies, AAA offers its policyholders additional coverage options, including: 

• GAP insurance. If you owe money on a loan or lease and your car gets totaled, GAP insurance coverage helps pay the difference between what you owe on your vehicle and your car’s worth after depreciation.
• Rental car reimbursement. If your vehicle gets damaged in a covered event, rental car reimbursement pays for a rental car while your car is in the shop.
• Rental car coverage. AAA membership car rental insurance pays for any damage you cause to a rental car while you’re driving it.
• Rideshare insurance. If you drive for a rideshare company like Uber or Lyft, rideshare auto insurance ensures you’re protected if you get in an accident on the job. 
• Roadside assistance. Many people enjoy roadside assistance’s protection, especially if they get stranded. Roadside assistance helps with flat tire repair, fuel delivery, lockout services, and more.
• Non-owner insurance. If you drive a vehicle that doesn’t belong to you, AAA’s non-owner auto insurance coverage ensures you have proper liability coverage.
• Pet insurance. Pet insurance with AAA covers medical bills if your pet gets injured in a car accident.
• Accident forgiveness. It’s no secret that being in a car accident can cause your rates to increase. You can stop stressing about how an accident impacts your car insurance premiums with accident forgiveness.

If you want the cheapest policy, you may need to stick with a liability-only car insurance policy. This minimum coverage helps you drive legally, but it won’t cost as much as other options.

Many drivers, especially people who owe money on their vehicles or have newer cars, choose a full coverage auto insurance policy, including liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, to ensure their vehicle stays protected. If you know you’ll want full coverage on your car, compare AAA auto insurance quotes to ensure you don’t pay too much.

Speak with a AAA representative or find a local insurance agent for more information about the coverage you may need. There’s no need to pay for unnecessary coverage, but you don’t want to buy a bare-bones policy only to learn you needed more coverage after an accident.

What is a AAA club membership?

You can’t purchase AAA car insurance unless you have a membership with the company. A AAA membership costs anywhere from $60 to $120 annually, and the membership comes with many perks and advantages.

AAA is most well-known for its roadside assistance coverage. Roadside assistance with AAA includes jump-starts, flat tire repair, towing, emergency fuel delivery, minor roadside repairs, and more. If you drive a lot, a AAA membership could be extremely helpful.

However, AAA offers more than just roadside assistance. As a AAA member, you can get discounts on hotel rooms, rental cars, flights, and more. In addition, the company negotiates discounts on behalf of its members to find the cheapest travel options in any area.

Additionally, if you purchase a trip through AAA’s discounted options, you’re also covered by the company’s travel insurance. This coverage protects your trip if you lose something, have to cancel for certain reasons, or need assistance during travel. 

What other insurance does AAA sell?

Along with auto insurance, AAA sells the following insurance products:

• Home
• Condo
• Renters
• RV
• Flood
• Life
• Umbrella
• Educators

If you’re looking for another insurance product, like home insurance, you could save money by bundling insurance policies with AAA.

AAA Insurance Rates Breakdown

You’ll never know how much you’ll pay for insurance with AAA until you get a AAA car insurance quote. While you can get average car insurance rates by age and other factors, your rates could be impacted differently.

Most of the best auto insurance companies consider specific factors when determining a policyholder’s coverage rates.

With AAA, you can expect the following factors to impact your overall rates:

• Age
• ZIP code
• Driving history
• Credit score
• Car make and model 
• Desired coverage

You should get a direct quote from AAA if you’re curious about how much you would pay for car insurance with the company. Still, you can use averages to understand better how much a car insurance policy with AAA would cost.

The Average Cost for AAA Coverage

The national rate for car insurance with AAA is $2,409 annually or $201 per month. This cost is nearly 60% higher than the national average for car insurance, which is $1,539 annually or $129 per month.

AAA’s rates are more than double USAA’s rates for similar coverage. USAA is only available to military members, veterans, and military families, but if you think it may be the right choice for you, visit our USAA auto insurance review. In addition, AAA’s rates are the highest compared to most popular car insurance providers aside from rates for teen drivers.

AAA Rates for Teen Drivers

While AAA’s rates on auto insurance for teenage drivers are not the highest of any company, they’re much higher than the national average.

AAA female teen drivers pay nearly 20% more than the national average of $490 per month. Male teenage drivers pay 25% more than the national average, at $591 monthly. 

AAA Rates for Adult Drivers

Females who purchase a AAA policy will pay nearly $1,000 more than the national average for car insurance. 

Similarly, men who purchase a AAA policy pay nearly $1,200 more for coverage annually than the national average.

Auto insurance for young adults with AAA costs over $1,000 more annually than rates for a similar demographic with GEICO auto insurance. According to studies, AAA young adult driver rates are the most expensive of any well-known insurer.

AAA rates for adult drivers are more than 50% higher than the national average for the same demographic.

A 35-year-old female will pay nearly $2,270 annually or $190 per month for car insurance coverage. The national average is $123 per month. For a 35-year-old adult male, car insurance costs around $2,271 annually or $191 per month, while the national average for an adult male is $124 per month.

GEICO offers rates $1,100 cheaper for this same demographic. 

AAA Rates for Senior Drivers

AAA has the highest rates of any company in terms of auto insurance for older adults.

Female seniors pay $2,110 annually or $176 per month for coverage, while the national average is $111 per month. Similarly, male seniors pay $2,116 annually or $177 per month, while the national average per month is $114.

GEICO rates are more than $1,000 cheaper than AAA rates.

AAA Rates After a Speeding Ticket

Expect higher-than-average car insurance rates if you have a speeding ticket on your driving record, as with most insurance companies. However, AAA’s car insurance rates for people with speeding tickets on their records are higher than normal.

The national average for people with a speeding ticket on their records is $1,818 annually or $151 per month. AAA charges $3,204 annually or $267 a month. This price is $1,800 more than a State Farm auto insurance policy.

AAA Rates After an Accident

Car insurance rates change after an accident, especially if you don’t have accident forgiveness. AAA rates are much more expensive than the national average for people with an accident on their driving record.

AAA charges $3,433 annually or $286 per month for people with an accident on their driving record. The national average for car insurance for this demographic is $2,123 or $177 per month.

Rates with State Farm are nearly $1,900 cheaper than AAA’s.

AAA Rates With a DUI

DUI or DWI conviction significantly impacts your car insurance rates. Most people who need auto insurance after a DUI see an increase within a few months.

AAA’s rates for people with a DUI on their record are extremely high at $5,129 annually or $428 per month. The national average for someone with a DUI is $2,619 annually or $216 monthly. Therefore, AAA’s rates for this demographic are nearly double the national average. 

Allstate offers coverage for people with a DUI, around $2,100 less than AAA’s. Additionally, State Farm rates are nearly $3,400 less. 

AAA Rates for Drivers With Poor Credit

If you have bad credit, your credit will likely impact your rates. AAA does not offer cheap auto insurance for drivers with bad credit.

While the national average is $230 per month, AAA’s rates are $405 per month, nearly $3,000 more than GEICO’s rates for the same demographic.

Liability-Only Coverage With AAA

A liability car insurance policy is the cheapest insurance you can get to drive legally in your state. Unfortunately, AAA’s rates in this category are still high.

AAA charges $190 per month for minimum coverage car insurance, but the national average for this type of coverage is just $122 monthly.

Full Coverage With AAA

A full coverage auto insurance policy can be expensive, but it offers peace of mind for virtually every scenario.

AAA charges $213 per month for full coverage, while the national average for this coverage is $135. USAA and GEICO both charge significantly less for a similar policy.

AAA Discounts Available

AAA has car insurance discounts its policyholders can benefit from, including:

• Discounts based on education
• Discounts based on occupation such as discounts for nurses and discounts for firefighters
• Discounts for using Anti-theft devices
• Loyalty discounts
• Safe driver insurance discounts
• Good student discounts
• New young driver discounts
• Student away at school discounts
• Discounts for taking a driver training course
• Multi-car discounts
• Multi-policy discounts
• Paid-in-full discounts
• Automatic payments

You’ll need to check with a AAA representative to see how much you could save on your policy with the abovementioned discounts. Some discounts could help you save up to 25% on your car insurance. 

What is AAADrive?

AAADrive is another way policyholders can save money on coverage. With AAADrive, you can allow AAA to monitor your driving habits. If you drive safely, the company could lower your insurance premiums. 

AAA uses its mobile app to monitor your stops, starts, overall speeds, driving time of day, weekly distances, and more. However, AAA won’t increase your insurance rates if your driving techniques don’t correlate with cheaper rates. If you stay accident free, your rates will stay the same or improve.