AAA Auto & Home Insurance Review: Strong Service and Decent Rates for AAA Members
AAA Auto & Home Insurance Review: Strong Service and Decent Rates for AAA Members
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AAA, primarily known for its roadside assistance service and auto club memberships, also offers insurance to members in most states. You may be able to save money with AAA — its auto and homeowners insurance rates are generally affordable. In addition, AAA has a reputation for dependable customer service, which could make your life easier if you have to make a claim in the future.
ValuePenguin rates companies in terms of prices, extra coverage options, customer service and unique value. Those metrics are combined to provide a clear picture if a given company is right for you.
AAA insurance: Our thoughts
Auto insurance bottom line: Drivers may be able to save money with AAA auto insurance, and it offers lots of coverage options and discounts. People who already have or are interested in an auto club membership may be able to find a good rate, but you may find a better deal elsewhere if you're in a different auto club.
Homeowners insurance bottom line: AAA homeowners insurance is not as widely available as the company's car insurance. Rates tend to be affordable, especially with bundling discounts. However, homeowners who need extra coverage like replacement cost or identity theft protection should look elsewhere.
There are dozens of AAA auto clubs throughout the United States, and many of them offer several types of insurance, including car, home and life insurance. AAA auto clubs are independently run organizations with varying degrees of connection with one another, and so are their insurance arms.
This means that the discounts, benefits and coverage options can vary significantly by location, and the only way to be sure of what's available in your area is to contact your local office.
How does AAA compare to other auto insurance companies?
In some places, "Triple A" simply acts as a broker, where the company collects your information and refers you to another insurer, like Progressive or State Farm, to actually sell you insurance. When AAA acts as a broker, you still receive discounts for being a AAA member. This process is especially common for homeowners insurance.
However, AAA sells auto insurance directly in most places, and their policies are often better than average in terms of cost and benefits, with well-regarded customer service and a smooth claims process that can help you get back on your feet quickly after a loss.
AAA homeowners insurance offers affordable rates but a relatively small variety of coverage options. Home insurance from AAA is not available in as many locations as their auto insurance policies, and in some places it is only available if you bundle it with auto coverage. Bundling policies can lead to significant savings on both, so it's worth getting a home insurance quote if you're already considering AAA for your car insurance.
AAA insurance policies almost always require you to be a AAA auto club member to purchase coverage. In exchange, AAA insurance typically offers a discount on your policy that covers or exceeds the cost of its club membership. In this sense, you can think of AAA membership benefits as being part of your AAA insurance policy, as many of the benefits a AAA auto club membership provides are sometimes provided by an automobile insurance policy.
For example, AAA members receive roadside assistance, which other insurance companies offer for an additional fee.
AAA auto insurance
Does AAA offer affordable auto insurance rates?
Auto insurance from AAA is cheaper than average. In California, a full-coverage policy from AAA costs $158 per month — 4% cheaper than average.
The cost of car insurance with AAA varies depending on which state you're in.
Because AAA is actually a federation of automobile clubs from various states, the coverage that gets advertised as "AAA car insurance" is provided through a number of state-specific insurers. Each of these state insurers has its own underwriting process and local market conditions that will impact your quote for auto insurance.
Keep in mind that if you live elsewhere, your rates will likely be somewhat different.
Find the Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes in Your Area
Monthly car insurance premiums in California
Insurer | Full coverage | With accident |
|---|---|---|
| AAA | $158 | $250 |
| Geico | $145 | $236 |
| Progressive | $159 | $328 |
| State Farm | $197 | $377 |
It's also worth noting that AAA is one of the more generous insurers when it comes to accidents. Progressive and State Farm raised their rates far more than AAA for a driver who had at least one recent accident on record. This may be an advantage if you're worried about a recent accident impacting your auto insurance costs.
AAA insurance discounts
Another advantage of choosing AAA for your car insurance is the wide range of discounts that you can qualify for. These include everything from bundle discounts for purchasing other types of insurance to incentives for customer loyalty and safe driving.
AAA offers substantial discounts for drivers who consolidate their insurance at AAA. Despite the car-centric name, the organization is also a reputable provider of other types of insurance, like home, condo, renters and life insurance. For instance, we found that AAA's life insurance offers competitive coverage in its own right.
Insurance bundle discounts at AAA
Bundle | Max auto discount | Max other discount |
|---|---|---|
| Auto and home | 15.7% | 20% off home |
| Auto and condo | 11.2% | 20% off condo |
| Auto and renters | 3.7% | 10% off renters |
| Auto, home and life | 19.4% | 20% off home |
Even if you aren't interested in anything other than auto insurance from AAA, there are still many other discounts to consider:
- Multi-vehicle discount: Save up to 27.3% when insuring two or more vehicles.
- Select professionals/alumni associations: Save up to 7.4% for qualifying professions.
- Loyalty discount: Save up to 5.6% with at least one year of continuous coverage.
- Good driver discount: Save up to 20% on all coverages for safe habits.
- Verified mileage discount: Save up to 19.1% (depending on vehicle’s annual mileage) for supplying current odometer readings when requested.
- Student away discount: Save up to 46.7% on select coverage when your driver-age student is away at school 100-plus miles from home without a vehicle.
- Driver training discount: Save up to 4.7% on select coverage upon completion of an approved course.
- Car club discount: Save up to 5% if you belong to a qualifying car club.
AAA auto insurance coverages and benefits
There are numerous AAA auto clubs throughout the U.S., and many of them sell and provide car insurance through different regional companies.
For example, drivers in Northern California, Arizona and parts of Pennsylvania, among others, can buy insurance from the California State Auto Association (CSAA) Insurance Group. But AAA members in Southern California, Texas and northern New England are covered by the Auto Club Enterprise Group.
This means that the exact coverages, benefits and discounts offered will vary based on your location. However, all AAA insurance agencies offer the most common coverages, which include:
- Bodily injury and property damage liability
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist
- Medical payments/personal injury protection
There are also several noteworthy auto insurance coverages and benefits limited to particular areas. Keep in mind that these are sometimes included in a standard policy or added on for an additional fee:
- Gap insurance: Covers the difference in cost between your car's replacement cost and the amount you owe on your lease or loan if your car is totaled in an accident.
- Rental car reimbursement coverage: Pays for a rental car while your vehicle is being repaired after an accident. Some providers also allow you to use rideshare services instead of a rental car.
- Rental car coverage: Protects you if you damage a car you've rented.
- Nonowners insurance: Provides liability coverage for people who don't own cars, if they do ever drive.
- Pet coverage: Pays for the costs of your pet's medical care if it is injured in a car accident.
- Accident forgiveness: Keeps an accident from raising your insurance rates if you're an otherwise safe driver.
AAA auto club membership: Required but useful
AAA usually requires you to be an auto club member in order to buy insurance. In a sense, the benefits and features of a AAA auto club membership are included in your car insurance.
The main benefit of a AAA membership is roadside assistance, which includes jump-starts, towing, emergency fuel delivery and minor roadside repairs if your car breaks down on the side of the road.
AAA members also receive extra benefits when they are in an accident more than 100 miles from home. The membership covers the costs of a rental car, hotel room or other accommodation until they can continue on their trip.
In addition, AAA negotiates discounts on behalf of its members at thousands of businesses nationwide, including hotels, rental car companies and airlines. This can be one of the biggest perks of AAA membership for people who travel often. If you purchase your trip through AAA, you'll be covered by AAA's travel accident insurance, which covers you if you're hurt in an accident.
AAA homeowners insurance
AAA homeowners insurance quote comparison
AAA's home insurance quotes are also cheaper than its competitors'. Homeowners with inexpensive homes stand to save the most, as AAA's rates were 13% cheaper than average and the lowest rate we found overall. As coverage amounts increased, the gap narrowed, but AAA was the cheapest option for all of the dwelling amounts we analyzed.
Keep in mind that you're often required to have AAA auto insurance to purchase AAA home insurance.
Find Cheap Homeowners Insurance Quotes in Your Area
We didn't factor in any discounts when collecting rates, so you may be able to reduce your insurance cost even more, depending on what discounts are available in your area.
Annual home insurance quotes by dwelling coverage amount
Company | $150,000 | $200,000 | $350,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAA | $954 | $1,222 | $1,842 |
| Amica | $1,221 | $1,433 | $2,375 |
| Allstate | $1,286 | $1,431 | $1,875 |
| State Farm | $1,535 | $1,774 | $2,354 |
AAA homeowners discounts
The discounts available on homeowners insurance from AAA differ significantly across the country, but there are a few common ways to save. Providers usually offer a discount on your homeowners insurance premium if you are a AAA member or purchase AAA auto insurance.
Some homeowners, including those in Southern California, Texas and northern New England may find more substantial discounts on their homeowners policies, including:
- Claim-Free: Save up to 13% for not making a claim for three or more years
- Protective Devices: Save up to 15% for installing smoke detectors or a burglar alarm
- Retirement: Save up to 10% if you are retired and 55 years old or older
- Age of Home: Save up to 40% depending on the age of your home (newer homes get bigger discounts)
- Home Renovations: Save up to 23% for recent renovations, such as new pipes
- Hail-Resistant Roof: Save up to 35% for a roof that is resistant to hail damage
AAA homeowners insurance coverages
AAA homeowners insurance is not as widely available as its automobile insurance policies. As with AAA's auto insurance policies, there are a number of insurers that sell insurance under the AAA brand.
AAA home insurance also comes with fewer coverage options. Homeowners can expect to find the standard coverages associated with home insurance, including coverage for your home's structure and roof, your personal property and liability coverage in case someone is injured inside your home.
Some AAA home insurance providers also offer extended coverages for an additional fee. Frequently available options include additional protection for valuables , umbrella insurance and protection against natural disasters, such as earthquakes.
AAA Insurance customer service reviews and ratings
AAA's service is consistently well-rated by its customers.
It received a positive complaint rating of 0.55 from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, meaning that the company received fewer complaints than the average company of its size.
In reviews, consumers praised its stress-free claims process and the speedy roadside assistance service.
That's important because it shows that you can count on AAA to help get your life back to normal quickly if you're in an emergency situation.
AAA is also a financially stable company according to AM Best — AAA insurance agencies received ratings ranging from A+ (superior) to A- (excellent). This suggests that consumers can depend on the company to pay out claims.
However, some consumers expressed concern over increasing rates, as well as difficulty in the process of canceling their insurance policies. That could be something to consider if you tend to shop for insurance frequently or move often.
Frequently asked questions
Is AAA insurance affordable?
Yes. AAA's rates for car insurance tend to be competitive with other insurers like Geico, State Farm and Progressive. However, there are dozens of separate AAA auto clubs around the country, so rates can vary significantly based on where you live.
Does AAA sell homeowners insurance?
Yes. AAA sells homeowners insurance in many places it sells auto insurance, though its home insurance is not as widely available or full-featured as its auto coverage.
Is AAA a good insurance company?
AAA is a good insurance company, especially for car insurance. However, you are required to buy a membership to AAA in order to join, so keep that in mind before you buy a policy.
Do I need to be a member of AAA to buy insurance?
Yes. You are required to be a member of AAA to buy a car or home insurance policy through AAA.
Methodology
To compare the cost of AAA car insurance with the cost at its competitors, we analyzed the company's statewide average rates in California for two drivers with full coverage: one with a clean driving record and one with a recent at-fault accident. We collected quotes from AAA, Geico, Progressive and State Farm.
ValuePenguin's analysis used auto insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services. These rates were publicly sourced from insurer filings and should be used for comparative purposes only — your own quotes may be different.
For home insurance, we compared sample rates for a home in the Austin, Texas, area. Quotes are from AAA and three major competitors: Amica, Allstate and State Farm. We collected quotes for four different coverage levels to understand how AAA's prices compare for homes at several price points.
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.