AAA Car Insurance Review | Rating, Customer Experience, and Pricing

The American Automobile Association's car insurance policies are able to cover a wide variety of unfortunate events, though consumers should be aware that policies vary state by state. These include the three standard coverage types–liability, collision, and comprehensive–as well as medical payments, excess medical payments, bodily and personal injuries, uninsured or underinsured motorist, and uninsured collision. AAA’s emergency roadside service (AAA Accident Assistance) is one of the most of-quoted reasons for becoming a club member, thanks to its excellent reputation for dependability and efficiency. By calling a toll-free number, members receive roadside assistance and their car is towed to the closest auto repair shop on the preferred provider list. AAA’s service also includes calling a family member, filling out a claim, jump-starts, emergency fuel delivery, and making arrangements for a rental while repairs are underway. AAA policyholders also receive additional compensation if they’re involved in an accident more than 100 miles away from their home. The company will also reimburse rental and public transportation expenses, and if two AAA members are in an accident, the $250 deductible is waived automatically. Other member benefits include travel guides and maps for long-distance trips. Some areas also offer extra coverage for a fee, such as gap insurance, non-owners insurance, pet coverage, and accident forgiveness. To be sure what is covered where you live, you’ll need to directly contact your local AAA provider.

AAA features a mobile app with some insurance-related elements, such as a digital proof of insurance, as well as quotes and bill paying capability in some locations. Because we used the AAA of Southern California to write about the association's coverage and discounts, we chose to look at the Southern California club for customer experience as well. Southern California’s National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) only has one registered complaint, which is excellent as compared to the national complaint index of 1.55. The AAA of Southern California has an excellent A+ with the BBB, though as of February 2019, there were also over two dozen negative customer reviews, averaging one star out of five. As there are over 50 independent AAA associations in the United States, so make sure to research the one which applies to you. The AAA as a whole has an average 6.0 score on Trustpilot, although the page has only six reviews and remains unclaimed by the company.

We consider an insurer’s financial strength and financial history as a critical part of a consumer’s decision-making process, though this is often neglected during research. The reason for this is simple—a company’s financial strength speaks directly to its ability to pay out claims. The American Automobile Association was founded in 1902 and, because does not write insurance policies directly, we looked at one of the strongest underwriters it partners with. The company has underwriters with A.M. Best rating ranging from an excellent A- to a superior A+, and itself rates A+ with the organization. Additionally, it ranked third in J.D. Power’s U.S. Insurance Shopping Study for 2016.

The American Automobile Association features numerous discounts for its car insurance customers. The company's car insurance discounts are split into three categories. The first is multi-policy discounts, which includes discounts for bundling a car insurance policy with a home, condo, renter, or life insurance policy. The second, auto policy discounts, lists discounts for getting multiple car insurance policies, belonging to a select association of professionals or alumni, or having at least one year of continuous automobile insurance with AAA. And the third, vehicle & driver discounts, includes discounts for driver performance, preparation, and student status. However, consumers should be aware that AAA does not offer discounts specifically for teen drivers. Though AAA banks much of its reputation on travel discounts for businesses such as airlines, rental car companies, and hotels, consumers should make sure to check their quoted policies by area, since other companies may offer comparable or better discounts for budget travel. If you want more info about top car insurance companies, read our review of the Top 9 of 2018.