AAA Auto Insurance Review 2022: Pros and Cons – NerdWallet

AAA auto insurance comes from separate, regional insurance companies that operate under similar names and logos. AAA club membership works the same way, and you would likely need to become a member of your regional club to get the auto insurance. That comes with a fee, but the resulting discount on your auto insurance may just make it worth it.

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AAA auto insurance

NerdWallet looked at the three largest AAA auto insurance companies by market share in the U.S.

AAA Auto insurer

NerdWallet rating

Auto Club of SoCal

4.0

NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formulas take into account multiple data points for each financial product and service.

NerdWallet rating

Automobile Club Group

5.0

NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formulas take into account multiple data points for each financial product and service.

NerdWallet rating

CSAA Insurance Group

3.0

NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formulas take into account multiple data points for each financial product and service.

NerdWallet rating

NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account pricing and discounts, ease of filing a claim, website transparency, financial strength, complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and more.

Largest AAA auto insurance companies availability

To see specific counties in California served by CSAA Insurance Group and Auto Club of SoCal, see our Best Cheap Auto Insurance in California page. If there’s no AAA insurer serving your area, but you’re a member, your local club has a partner that can provide coverage. Bear in mind, insurers may not cover all counties in each state.

Auto Club of SoCal 

4.0

NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formulas take into account multiple data points for each financial product and service.

NerdWallet rating

States available: AL, AR, CA, HI, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, ME, MS, MO, NH, NM, OH, PA, TX, VA, VT, WV.

Automobile Club Group

5.0

NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formulas take into account multiple data points for each financial product and service.

NerdWallet rating

States available: FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, NC, ND, NE, SC, TN, WI.

CSAA Insurance Group

3.0

NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formulas take into account multiple data points for each financial product and service.

NerdWallet rating

States available: AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, ID, IN, KS, KY, MD, MT, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SD, UT, VA, WV, WY.

AAA auto insurance coverage

When you’re shopping for car insurance, it’s important to understand what car insurance coverage you want and what you’re required to buy. Most states require car insurance in order to drive a vehicle. Although minimum coverage requirements vary from state to state, they generally include liability insurance and uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.

If you want extra protection, you may be interested in full coverage insurance. Full coverage isn’t a specific policy type; it’s a combination of coverage types, like liability, collision and comprehensive insurance.

Check out the most common types of car insurance coverage below to see how they work:

Coverage type

What it pays for

Required?

Bodily injury and property damage liability

Costs for injuries, deaths or property damage from an accident you caused.

Typically required.

Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage

Medical and property damage costs after an accident with a driver who has insufficient insurance or none at all.

Often required.

Collision coverage

Repair expenses from traffic-related accidents, regardless of who’s at fault.

A car loan or lease may require it.

Comprehensive coverage

Repair costs from events outside of your control, including weather events, hitting an animal while driving, theft and vandalism.

A car loan or lease may require it.

Since AAA insurance comes from separate companies operating in many states, coverage options will depend on where you live. All insurers are required to offer state-mandated coverage where they operate. Most, including the three AAA affiliates we reviewed, also offer uninsured motorist protection, medical payments coverage, rental car reimbursement, comprehensive coverage and collision coverage.

Also ask about the following coverages, which at least some AAA companies offer:

  • Gap insurance, which pays the difference between your car’s value and the balance of your loan or lease if the car is totaled or stolen

  • OEM exterior repair coverage, which pays for original equipment manufacturer parts for covered external body repairs.

  • New car replacement, which pays for a vehicle one to two years newer if your own car is totaled.

  • Rideshare insurance, which covers you during the period between rides, so you’re always covered during your rideshare job. Typical insurance from ridesharing companies only covers the period between accepting a ride and dropping off a customer.

  • Custom equipment coverage, which pays to repair items installed after purchase, like stereos, cameras or rims, if you’re in a covered crash.

Auto insurance discounts

Most customers with AAA auto insurance receive a discount for being a member of the motor club. Some AAA insurers also offer typical discounts that include:

  • Education or occupation discount.

  • Anti-theft device discount on comprehensive coverage for approved theft prevention devices.

  • Loyalty discount.

  • Safe driver discount.

  • Good student discount.

  • New young driver discount.

  • Student away from home discount.

  • Discount for completing a driver training course.

  • Multiple-car discount.

  • Multiple-policy discount.

  • Discount for paying premium in full.

  • Discount for paying electronically and having automatic payments.

Like most insurers, AAA’s insurance companies offer many discounts, but they differ by state and company, so check with your local AAA club to see which are available to you.

Pricing based on tracked driving habits

AAAdrive is a feature on the AAA app that looks at driving factors like speed, mobile phone distraction, time of day you drive and fatigue. Members receive a discount based on their driving habits in addition to a discount for signing up.

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Auto insurance buying guide

Before you compare car insurance companies, you’ll need to collect some basic information. This includes the driving history of everyone who will be on the policy, as well as facts about your car, such as safety features and annual mileage driven. You’ll also want to determine which types of coverage you need. For example, do you want only the bare minimum insurance that your state requires, or do you need more extensive coverage, such as gap insurance or rideshare coverage? Check that each company you’re considering has the options you want.

When comparing rates among insurers, make sure each is offering the same coverage limits and deductibles. You may not want to make your decision based on price alone. Look at how many consumer complaints each company has, as a high number of complaints could be a red flag about the quality of service you’ll receive.

Depending on which company you choose, you may be able to buy insurance online, over the phone or through an agent. For more guidance, see how to get car insurance.

Complaints and customer satisfaction

NerdWallet looked at consumer complaint data for the three AAA auto insurance companies listed above and their subsidiaries.

Automobile Club Group had far fewer complaints to state regulators than expected relative to its size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Auto Club of SoCal had fewer complaints than expected for auto insurance, while CSAA Insurance Group had close to the expected number.

In J.D. Power’s 2021 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study, CSAA Insurance Group was ranked No. 6 out of 12 companies for overall customer satisfaction. In the same study, Auto Club of SoCal was rated No. 8 and Automobile Club Group ranked No. 10.

In J.D. Power’s most recent Auto Insurance Claims Study, Auto Club of SoCal ranked No. 3 out of 18 companies for customer satisfaction, while CSAA Insurance Group and Auto Club Group were rated No. 15 and No. 16, respectively.

More about AAA auto insurance

Website: When you go to AAA.com, you’re prompted to enter your ZIP code and redirected to your local chapter’s website. At that point, you can learn more about membership and insurance products, or you can find contact information for a local agent or representative to answer your questions.

Mobile apps: The Auto Club of SoCal insurance group and Automobile Club Group have an app you can use to manage your policy and AAA membership in one place — as long as you belong to a club served by that AAA insurer. The Automobile Club Group app is available in all states insurance is provided except for North and South Carolina, which has a simplified version of the app (full integration to happen later this year).  Otherwise, AAA’s apps are restricted to membership needs like paying bills or summoning roadside assistance and include AAAdrive.

Other insurance from AAA

AAA offers these additional insurance policies:

  • Life.

  • Home.

  • Renters.

Recap: AAA Pros and Cons

Pros

Cons

Generally receive an auto insurance discount for being a member of AAA

Insurance products differ depending on where you live

Multiple insurance products offered

Requires AAA membership

Insurance company may not transfer if you move states