AAA insurance review 2023

AAA car insurance

The American Automobile Association, commonly known as AAA, may be a good insurance choice for drivers looking for regional agents and additional perks. Each geographic region has its own AAA club, though, which can make consistent information about AAA difficult to find. AAA car insurance offers all the standard coverage and limits that would meet state requirements, including bodily injury and property damage liability. Along with standard coverage options, AAA offers add-on coverage, like gap insurance and car rental coverage. To build the best car insurance policy, drivers should check with their regional club to find out what options are available.

Throughout its history, AAA has worked tirelessly to improve road safety, producing driver textbooks and advocating for pedestrian protection. Today, AAA also offers a unique membership program that gives members access to convenient services, special offers and discounts for everything from travel to home maintenance and dining. However, our AAA Insurance review shows that the company's average rates tend to be higher than the national average and its third-party customer satisfaction reviews are variable depending on the region. These factors kept AAA from achieving a higher Bankrate Score.

Pros and cons of AAA car insurance

If you’re getting car insurance quotes, you probably know that comparing rates helps find the best-priced option. Considering price is important, but other metrics can help you identify if a company will be a good fit for you, including third-party reviews and coverage offerings. Here are some perks and drawbacks that we identified in AAA car insurance:

AAA car insurance cost

On average, a full coverage car insurance policy with AAA costs $2,562 per year, according to 2023 average rate data from Quadrant Information Services. This is above the national average cost of car insurance, which is $2,014 per year. The average cost of minimum coverage with AAA is $681 per year, compared to the national average of $622 annually. Keep in mind that car insurance is an individualized product. A number of different car insurance rating factors, such as your location, the type of vehicle you drive, your driving record and your annual mileage, are typically used by insurance carriers during the quoting process to determine your personalized rates.

AAA car insurance rates by driving history

Your driving history plays a major role in how much you pay for car insurance. Incidents like at-fault accidents and speeding tickets tend to make insurance companies think you’ll be more likely to engage in risky driving behavior and file claims in the future, which means you’ll usually pay higher rates. Bankrate has tracked driving history rates over multiple years, but we have chosen to leave DUI rates out of our AAA Insurance review. This is because not all insurance carriers will extend coverage to drivers with DUIs, and because regulations about coverage limits if you have a DUI vary by state. If you have a DUI conviction and are interested in AAA car insurance, contact your regional club to find out if you are eligible for insurance.

AAA car insurance quotes by age

The age of the drivers on your policy also impacts your rate. Younger drivers pay among the highest rates, but these drivers can generally find cheaper car insurance if they stay on their parents’ policy until they move out and establish their own household. Below, we show AAA’s average rates compared to the national average rate across a range of ages, with younger drivers shown both on and off their parents’ policy. Note that 16- and 17-year-old drivers are not legal adults and generally can’t own their own car insurance policy.

Average cost of car insurance for drivers on their parents’ policy

Average cost of car insurance for drivers on their own policy

AAA car insurance discounts

Taking advantage of discounts can be an advantageous way to lower your car insurance premium. Keep in mind that AAA is made up of individual regional clubs; the discounts in your specific region may be different from discounts offered elsewhere. Some AAA car insurance discounts include:

AAA car tools and benefits

For full access to all of AAA’s services, policyholders must purchase an AAA membership, but remember that perks will vary based on your regional club. Among the more well-known services offered with this membership, such as roadside assistance, AAA members can receive mobile battery replacement service, a free car seat inspection, discounted rates for electric vehicle charging and even bicycle assistance. One of the most convenient features of the membership is access to AAA’s DMV Services, which allows members to visit a participating AAA office instead of your state’s motor vehicle department for certain transactions.

AAA home insurance

AAA home insurance could be a good option if you’re a AAA member and want to access additional perks, but the company’s offerings are fairly standard. Along with standard coverage types like dwelling and personal liability, you may be able to obtain additional personal property coverage for high-value items, like jewelry and furs. More unique coverage options may be available depending on your location, so it may be best to contact a local AAA agent to learn more and build the best homeowners insurance policy for your home.

AAA’s Bankrate Score was brought down by the mostly below-average J.D. Power customer and claims satisfaction scores. Just like AAA car insurance, it’s difficult to consolidate information on AAA home insurance due to the regional nature of the various clubs. If you are interested, it’s likely a good idea to talk directly with an AAA agent in your area.

Pros and cons of AAA homeowners insurance

Comparing home insurance quotes from a range of providers may help you find the best carrier for you. Looking at quoted rates, coverage offerings, discounts, third-party scores and digital tools can be helpful. When it comes to AAA home insurance, here are some pros and cons that we identified:

AAA home insurance cost

AAA home insurance with $250,000 in dwelling coverage costs an average of $1,241 per year, while the national average cost of home insurance is $1,428 per year for the same amount of coverage. As with auto insurance, homeowners insurance rates are also highly dependent on individual rating factors. One of those factors is the level of coverage you need. Below, we show AAA’s average rates compared to the national average for a range of dwelling coverage amounts.

AAA home insurance discounts

Discounts may help maximize your savings and might help you get cheaper home insurance. AAA offers home insurance discounts — including multiple-product savings, savings for mature homeowners and savings if you have a home security system — but they aren’t particularly unique or noteworthy. AAA’s home insurance discounts could vary based on your location, though, so talk to your regional club to know what savings are offered in your area.

AAA home tools and benefits

AAA home insurance policyholders have the option to participate in AAA Smart Home. This service helps homeowners choose, customize and install a home security system. Homeowners can opt into two tiers of service, the Basic Monitoring and Smart Monitoring. The A3 Smart Home app connects to your security device and sends updates right to your phone.

AAA life insurance

AAA life insurance is offered in three product types: term life, whole life and universal life, and might be a good choice if you’re already an AAA member or have other insurance products with the carrier. All three policies can be managed with the help of AAA life insurance agents, and AAA offers extensive educational life insurance resources on its website. Finding the best life insurance will depend on your budget and goals for the policy, and you can also consider purchasing more than one policy to fit your needs.

Pros and cons of AAA life insurance

During our AAA Insurance review, we identified some areas where the company excels and some areas it falls short of its competitors. Keep in mind, as you’re shopping for coverage, that life insurance rates don’t vary as much between carriers as the rates of other insurance products. When you’re comparing life insurance quotes, you’ll want to think more about finding the right product type for yourself rather than finding the cheapest life insurance available.

AAA life insurance endorsements

AAA does not provide information on life insurance endorsements for any of its policy types. If you want to add a rider to a AAA life insurance policy, contact your local agent or regional club to find out what options are available.

AAA life tools and benefits

AAA does not indicate whether it offers other services to life insurance policyholders, but the company does maintain online educational articles about life insurance, which some may find helpful.

AAA customer satisfaction

AAA is made up of a few separate companies, with each one servicing a different region or group of states. This includes the Auto Club of Southern California, CSAA Insurance Group and the Automobile Club Group. While operating under the AAA brand, these individual companies may be rated separately by third party agencies. For example, each company received varying complaint indexes from the National Association Of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and J.D. Power, both of which review and analyze customer satisfaction.

We’ve reviewed the satisfaction ratings for these three clubs by product line, but remember that AAA is made up of several companies and your specifical regional club may not be reviewed here. To best understand the service level of your regional club, talk to current policyholders.

AAA auto satisfaction

In the 2022 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Insurance Study, AAA companies are rated in seven out of 11 regions, and the scores vary by region and company. CSAA has the lowest rating in the Southwest region, for example, while the Automobile Club Group has the third-highest rating in Florida. In California, the Auto Club of Southern California Group has the second-highest rating, while CSAA is rated below the industry average. If you want to evaluate auto insurance satisfaction by region, it may make the most sense to look specifically at your region and the club that your policy will be through.

The 2022 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study is on a national level and is a bit easier to review. The Auto Club of Southern California, CSAA Insurance Group and the Automobile Club Group were all rated. Only the Auto Club of Southern California received an above-average rating, which could mean that the other two regional clubs fall short when it comes to claims satisfaction.

The NAIC complaint index is also a helpful tool to assess overall customer satisfaction. The NAIC records complaints it receives and assigns each company a complaint index, with 1.00 indicating an average or baseline number of complaints. Just like with the J.D. Power scores, AAA’s NAIC complaint indexes vary based on the club. CSAA, for example, has a private passenger (personal auto) rating of 0.79, which indicates fewer-than-average complaints, while the Auto Club Property and Casualty Insurance Company, another AAA company, has a score of 5.54, over five times higher than the baseline. If you’re interested in AAA car insurance, it may be helpful to find out what specific underwriting company will write your policy and research that company’s service levels.

AAA homeowners satisfaction

J.D. Power also analyzes home insurance overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction, like it does for auto insurance. In the 2022 J.D. Power U.S. Home Insurance Study, all three AAA clubs we mentioned for auto insurance were ranked, but only the Auto Club of Southern California had an above-average rating. The 2022 J.D. Power U.S. Property Claims Satisfaction Study only included the Auto Club of Southern California and CSAA Insurance Group, and both were ranked below the industry average.

NAIC complaint indexes also show below-average satisfaction with AAA home insurance. CSAA has a home insurance complaint index of 1.80, nearly twice as high as the baseline, while the Auto Club Property and Casualty Insurance Company has a home index of 4.61. Based on this data, AAA has below-average customer satisfaction with its home insurance product.

AAA life satisfaction

While AAA wasn’t rated in the 2022 J.D. Power U.S Individual Life Insurance Study, the NAIC did assign it a complaint index. For individual life, AAA’s complaint index is 1.32, which is slightly higher than the baseline of 1.00. This indicates that the NAIC receives slightly more complaints than average regarding AAA’s life insurance service.

How to file a claim with AAA

The way you file a claim with AAA will depend on your regional club. Each club has its own phone number to file claims, so you’ll need to head to AAA’s website and input your ZIP code. Once you have been redirected to your specific regional AAA site, you can search for the claims center and find information on how to file a claim there. You could also contact your local AAA office or agent.

AAA availability

AAA is available across the nation as a variety of regional clubs. While coverage may not be available in every state — or every county in every state — AAA does have a fairly widespread presence. To find out if an AAA club is available in your area, go to AAA’s website and input your ZIP code. You can then use the agency locator tool and visit an agent, call the appropriate phone number or get a quote online, if that’s available in your area.

Other AAA perks worth considering

In addition to home, auto and life insurance, AAA also offers many other products and services. These include:

• Travel perks: AAA Travel helps AAA members plan and book travel and accommodations, and even offers travel insurance, discounted amusement park tickets and international driver’s permits.
• Identity theft and monitoring: AAA offers three plans to help with identity theft monitoring and alerts in partnership with Experience. The Good plan is free for AAA members, while the Better and Best plans come with a cost but offer more tools.
• Renters insurance: Renters insurance is geared toward those renting their residence rather than owning, and provides protection for personal belongings, loss of use and personal liability.

AAA corporate sustainability

AAA’s efforts toward corporate sustainability are primarily focused on making the roads safer for everyone. For children, this includes AAA’s free car seat inspections and its AAA School Safety Patrol, a program that schools can join to receive free training materials and equipment. Regarding employee social responsibility, AAA team members can take paid time off to volunteer with nonprofits in their local communities, and their donations to eligible organizations can also be matched by the company.

Not sure if AAA is right for you?

When you’re looking for the best insurance company for your needs, getting quotes from several providers can be helpful. No single company is the best option for everyone. If you’re interested in AAA but not quite sure it’s the right fit, consider these similar companies:

AAA vs. Allstate

If you want a company with a national presence (rather than one that is broken down into regional clubs), you could consider Allstate. The insurer is one of the most well-known in the country and offers a variety of insurance products, with plenty of endorsements and discounts to build the coverage you need. AAA offers more unique perks for members, though, with discounts on attractions and entertainment, travel help and financial products.

Learn more: Allstate Insurance review

AAA vs. Farm Bureau

If you like the regional feeling of AAA, you could consider Farm Bureau, which operates as a different company in each state where it sells coverage. This means each state’s version of Farm Bureau could be slightly different, tailoring its coverage to the needs of drivers and homeowners in that state. Just like AAA, you do have to have a Farm Bureau membership to access its insurance, though. If you would rather not buy a membership, you may want to look elsewhere for insurance.

Learn more: Farm Bureau Insurance review

AAA vs. Geico

If you value digital tools and a long list of discounts, Geico could be a good choice for your car insurance. Geico policyholders may save by being in the military, affiliated with a certain club or organization, or having certain safety features on their vehicles. Keep in mind that Geico’s home insurance and some other product lines are underwritten by third parties, though, so satisfaction will vary based on the underwriting company. AAA, by contrast, underwrites its own coverage through various regional clubs.

Learn more: Geico Insurance review

Is AAA a good insurance company?

AAA might be a good company depending on your regional club. If you live in an area where the local AAA company gets good customer satisfaction reviews, AAA might be a good choice, especially if you want access to additional perks. However, AAA’s service and satisfaction vary widely across regions and underwriting companies, so you might want to talk to current members about their service before you buy a policy.

Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze 2023 rates for ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates are based on a 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:

Auto

• $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $50,000 property damage liability per accident
• $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
• $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
• $500 collision deductible
• $500 comprehensive deductible

To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our sample drivers own a 2021 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.

Age: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the ages 16-60 (base: 40 years) applied. Depending on age, drivers may be a renter or homeowner. Age is not a contributing rating factor in Hawaii and Massachusetts.

The rates for drivers ages 16–20 added to their parent's policy reflect the good student and driver's training discounts applied. The rates for drivers aged 16-20 on their own policy do not include the good student and driver's training discounts. Additionally, 25-year-old rates are based on the driver as a renter and 30+ on the driver as a homeowner. 

Incidents: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following incidents applied: clean record (base), single speeding ticket and single at-fault accident.

Homeowners

• Coverage A, Dwelling: $150,000, $250,000, $350,000, $450,000, $750,000
• Coverage B, Other Structures: $15,000, $25,000, $35,000, $45,000, $75,000
• Coverage C, Personal Property: $75,000, $125,000, $175,000, $225,000, $375,000
• Coverage D, Loss of Use: $30,000, $50,000, $70,000, $90,000, $150,000
• Coverage E, Liability: $300,000, $300,000, $300,000, $300,000, $500,000
• Coverage F, Medical Payments: $1,000

The homeowners also have a $1,000 deductible and a separate wind and hail deductible (if required).

These are sample rates and should be used for comparative purposes only. Your quotes will differ.

Bankrate Scores

Our 2023 Bankrate Score considers variables our insurance editorial team determined impacts policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These rating factors include a robust assessment of each company’s product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. Each factor was added to a category, and these categories were weighted in a tiered approach to analyze how companies perform in key customer-impacting categories. 

Like our previous Bankrate Scores, each category was assigned a metric to determine performance, and the weighted sum adds up to a company’s total Bankrate Score — out of 5 points. This year, our 2023 scoring model provides a more comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and better highlighting where they fall short.

• Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto and home insurance companies satisfy these priorities, 2023 quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services (if available), as well as any of the latest third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best and the NAIC, were analyzed.
• Tier 2 (Coverage & savings): We assessed companies’ coverage options and availability to help policyholders find a provider that balances cost with coverage. Additionally, we evaluated each company’s discount options listed on its website.
• Tier 3 (Support): To encompass the many ways an auto and home insurance company can support policyholders, we analyzed avenues of customer accessibility along with community support. This analysis incorporated additional financial strength ratings from S&P and Moody’s and factored a company’s corporate sustainability efforts.

Tier scores are unweighted to show the company's true score in each category out of a possible five points.