How Far Will AAA Tow My car?

Understanding AAA towing distance and AAA towing coverage for each membership level compared to the cost to tow a car on your own

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October 10, 2024·3 min read

When you think of AAA, do you picture a tow truck? After all, most people become members so that they can call AAA for roadside assistance if their car breaks down. If you’re considering AAA roadside assistance, you’re probably asking this question: How far will AAA tow? In this article, we’ll go over AAA towing distance for each type of membership, the cost to tow a car, and more.

How far will AAA tow my car?

Ultimately, the AAA towing distance is as far as you need, as long as you’re a member. However, there are limits to your AAA towing coverage, which are entirely dependent on the level of membership you sign up for—Classic, Plus, or Premier.

woman calling roadside assistance while boyfriend looks under hood of car

AAA Classic towing distance

According to AAA.com/Benefits, people who sign up for a Classic-level membership are covered for the first 5 miles of towing at no charge per service call, with any additional mileage charged at a discounted rate. Alternatively, you could have your car towed back to the responding AAA facility at no extra cost—even if it’s more than 5 miles away.

Five miles may not sound like much, but if you typically stay close to home—or even if you don’t drive at all—Classic could be the best option for your needs. If, however, you have a very long commute or frequently drive long distances, Classic level might not be for you.

AAA Plus towing distance

Plus is the first upgrade after Classic, and it comes with an increased amount of towing that would suit most drivers’ needs. AAA.com/Benefits states that Plus members can have their vehicle towed up to 100 miles per service call at no additional cost. Similar to the Classic level, if you go over the mileage limit, you’ll pay discounted rates. Or, you could have your car towed to the responding AAA facility at no extra cost.

AAA Premier towing distance

Similar to the Plus level, Premier members are covered for up to 100 miles of towing per service call with discounted rates after 100 miles. Towing back to a responding AAA facility at no extra cost still applies at this level. Here’s the key difference: Premier members are entitled to one additional tow of up to 200 miles per member, per membership year—as stated on the AAA benefits page.

How much does a tow truck cost without AAA?

If you’ve ever had to hire towing services on your own, you know that the cost to tow a car can be expensive. A 100-mile tow costs an average of $388. A Plus membership, for example, covers you for four 100-mile tows—a value of $1,552.

Bottom line: AAA free towing distance is dependent upon which level of membership you sign up for. You know your driving habits better than anyone else, so it’s up to you to decide which level of membership would provide the amount of towing best for you.

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