If you have an AAA membership and you’ve only ever used it when you’re in the middle of a flat tire or your car won’t start, you already know how reassuring it can be to know someone’s on the way to help you. But you’re also missing the opportunity to take advantage of many other AAA benefits that aren’t related to car emergencies. They can help you with every aspect of your vacations and general travel, and even with a few things once you get back home.
What are some of the unexpected benefits of AAA memberships?
- You get help organizing international travel. One of the most tedious parts of an international trip is organizing the paperwork and reservations to make sure all of the details are in order. But AAA memberships give you a wide range of services that can help you get everything in order, and not just in regards to renting a car (though they certainly do that, and you can get international driving permits through AAA, too). You can have your passport photos taken at an AAA office, and, since those are required documentation for a lot of other travel documents, their assistance with that critical first step can make arranging an international vacation much less of a headache, especially if it’s your first time out of the country. Other travel-related membership visits include car rentals at the airports, hotel discounts, and free travel guides and maps.
- Get a discount on CARFAX reports. If you’re a fan of purchasing used cars but you want to make sure they’re safe, CARFAX reports are one of the easiest ways to do so, especially as they become increasingly common online. But, while go-to car shopping sites often have them for a variety of cars, they don’t have them for all of the cars. This means a lot of people automatically filter out the cars that don’t have this source of information and that can cut down your options if you’re looking for a specific model or have a list of features you want. Depending on your AAA membership, you might be able to get one free report a year and 40% off all of the rest; at the very least, for the AAA Classic and Plus plans, you receive a 20% discount.
- AAA has branched out from car- and travel-related benefits to including services for your home. Even though they’re most popular for helping you out when your car’s in a jam, AAA offers assistance for problems around your home, too. This includes free lockout services so you can have a locksmith open your lock if you left your keys or so your locks can be changed if your keys get stolen or lost. AAA also has homeowners and renters insurance. These policies can combine with your car insurance for extra discounts and solid coverage.
- They help you out when you run out of gas. AAA is known for being who you call when you run into car trouble; if you need your car towed or you have a flat tire, chances are you talk to them before you call anyone else for help. But they also have emergency fuel delivery. So if you didn’t notice that your tank was low or if you have a surprise leak in your gas tank, AAA will give you enough fuel to get to a gas station. They also help with other minor emergencies, like when your battery won’t start or if your battery needs to be replaced altogether.
Every membership you have is worth reviewing the benefits on a monthly or yearly basis so you can keep an eye out for discounts that can save you money and perks that can save you time and energy as you travel. For more travel tips, read more here.
