Should I Keep My AAA Membership If My New Car Has Roadside Assistance?
AAA Roadside Assistance vs. car warranties: the differences in coverage and other benefits on and off the road
Did you recently buy a new car, or are you considering buying one soon? If so, you might be asking: Does your car warranty cover roadside assistance? Is it worth keeping your AAA membership? In this article, we’ll discuss the differences between AAA Roadside Assistance and car warranties and what you can expect each to cover in the event of a broken-down car.
What does my new car warranty cover?
Your car is likely one of the most important and expensive things you own. That’s why it’s important to be aware of what exactly your car warranty covers—so you don’t get stuck paying extra if things go wrong.
In general, most car warranties cover repairs for problems that happen during regular use that aren’t caused by wear and tear. Most also cover roadside assistance like towing, flat tire replacement, fuel delivery, and jump starts. However, specific inclusions and limitations will vary based on your car manufacturer and whether you purchased any upgrades or extensions.
What’s the difference between AAA Roadside Assistance and my car warranty?
If you’re a member, your AAA membership covers towing, flat tire service, battery service, fuel delivery, lock-out service, and more. The key difference between AAA road service and the coverage that comes with your new car is this: your AAA membership covers you, but your car warranty only covers your car.
AAA covers you — in any car
If you break down in your new car, you can use your car warranty to get a tow truck to take you to a repair facility. You can also use your AAA membership for this. However, if you’re a passenger in a friend’s car, driving a rental car, or otherwise driving or riding in a car that is not your own and you experience a breakdown, you can still call AAA to get the same services you’d get for your own vehicle.
Other differences to consider
Car warranties don’t last forever—they typically end when your car reaches a specified age or mileage, depending on your particular warranty. Extended car warranties are available, but often must be purchased within a certain time frame in order to keep coverage. Meanwhile, your AAA membership will last as long as you renew it annually and can be used several times each year if needed.
Some car warranties may also limit your towing destination to their own approved repair facilities or auto dealerships. When you use AAA towing, you can tow your vehicle to almost any destination at no extra cost up to your mileage limit. So, you could tow your car to the responding repair facility, a repair facility of your choice, or even back to your home.
Additionally, AAA is a national organization with nearly 60,000 service vehicles serving members nationwide.* This means if you request AAA Roadside Assistance, you may have shorter wait times than if you use your car warranty roadside assistance with an unknown number of contracted service vehicles.
Beyond roadside assistance
AAA is known primarily for roadside assistance, but your AAA membership comes with other benefits you won’t get with a car warranty. You can use your membership to get discounts on:
- Tickets to movies, sporting events, theme parks, and more
- Restaurants and retailers
- Cruises, guided tours, and other vacation packages
- Luggage and other travel accessories
- Car rentals
- Phone plans
- Auto repair
Other AAA services include travel planning, passport photos and forms, personalized insurance, and more—as shown on .
Only you can decide if your AAA membership is worth keeping after buying a new car. Now that you’ve read about the benefits of each, you’re well equipped to make an informed decision.
(Disclaimer) *2022, club self-reporting for year-end (queried: Q1 2023).