AAA Membership Plus gives you roadside help up to 100 miles, but costs more than basic AAA and has limits you need to understand before you buy.

AAA Membership Plus is the middle tier of AAA's roadside information plans. It covers towing up to 100 miles (versus 7 miles with basic AAA), lockout service, fuel delivery, battery service, and winch-out information. You pay an annual membership fee that varies by region — typically $50 to $150 per year more than basic AAA — and you get four service calls per year included. After that, you pay per call.

The main trade-off is distance. If you break down 50 miles from home, Plus covers the full tow. If you break down 10 miles away, you're paying for coverage you don't need. Basic AAA covers that 10-mile breakdown at a lower annual cost. The question is whether the extra distance and service calls are worth the price difference for your actual driving patterns.

Key Takeaways

  • AAA Membership Plus covers towing up to 100 miles, compared to 7 miles with basic AAA, and includes four service calls per year.
  • The annual cost is typically $50 to $150 more than basic AAA, depending on your region and which AAA club you join.
  • After your four included calls per year, additional service calls cost money, so this plan is not unlimited roadside help.
  • You can use your membership anywhere in the United States and Canada, but the towing distance limit applies to each individual call.
  • AAA Membership Plus does not cover mechanical repairs, parts, or labor — it covers only the tow and roadside services like lockouts and battery jumps.

What services are actually included

AAA Membership Plus covers the following at no additional charge (up to four calls per year): towing up to 100 miles to a repair shop of your choice, lockout service, fuel delivery, battery service (jump-start or replacement), winch-out information, and flat tire service. The membership also includes discounts on repairs at AAA-affiliated shops, though these vary by location and shop.

What it does not cover: the repair itself, replacement parts, labor costs, or any service beyond the tow and roadside information. If your transmission fails 80 miles away, AAA tows you to a shop for free, but the shop's repair bill is yours. If you need a new battery, AAA can jump-start you or deliver a battery you've already purchased, but they don't pay for the battery itself.

The four included calls per year reset on your membership anniversary. If you use all four by September and your membership renews in October, you start fresh with four more. Any calls beyond four in a 12-month period are charged separately — typically $50 to $100 per call depending on your region, though members usually get a discount versus non-members.

How the 100-mile towing limit actually works

The 100-mile distance is measured from the breakdown location to the repair facility you choose, not from your home. If you break down 60 miles from home and the nearest shop is 50 miles away, that's a 50-mile tow and you're covered. If you break down 60 miles from home and you want to be towed to your regular mechanic 80 miles away, that's a 140-mile tow and you pay the difference.

AAA will tow you to any repair shop you name, but they won't pay for distance beyond 100 miles. Some members choose to be towed to the nearest shop (covered in full) and then have their car transferred later, but that requires two tows and uses two of your four annual calls. For long-distance road trips, this limit matters: if you break down 150 miles from home, you're paying out of pocket for the extra 50 miles.

Regional pricing and how to find your cost

AAA is organized into regional clubs — AAA Northern California, AAA South Carolina, AAA Michigan, and so on — and each club sets its own membership prices. Membership Plus typically costs $50 to $150 more per year than basic AAA in the same region, but the exact number depends on where you live and which club serves your area.

To find your regional price, visit AAA.com, enter your zip code, and navigate to the membership options page for your club. You'll see the annual cost for each tier side by side. Some clubs offer discounts if you pay for two or three years upfront, and some offer discounts if you're a member of certain employers or organizations. The price you see online is usually the starting point — call your local club to ask about any current promotions.

When Membership Plus makes financial sense

Membership Plus is worth the extra cost if you regularly drive more than 20 miles from home and you can't afford a breakdown tow out of pocket. A 50-mile tow from a private towing company typically costs $200 to $400, so if you use the 100-mile coverage even once, you've paid for the annual membership difference. If you drive long distances regularly or live far from major repair shops, the extra distance coverage is real value.

Membership Plus is less useful if you live in a city, drive mostly local routes, and have a reliable car. Basic AAA covers 7 miles, which is enough for most urban breakdowns. If your car is older or you drive frequently on remote roads, Plus is the safer choice. If your car is new and you rarely leave your region, basic AAA is probably sufficient and saves you money.

Compare the annual cost of Plus against what a single long-distance tow would cost you out of pocket. If a 100-mile tow in your area costs $300 and Membership Plus costs $100 more per year than basic AAA, you break even on the first tow. If you're confident you won't need a tow in the next year, basic AAA is cheaper. If you're not sure, Plus is insurance against a costly breakdown.

How to use your membership when you break down

Call the AAA roadside information number on the back of your membership card or use the AAA mobile app to request service. You'll provide your location, the nature of the problem, and where you want to be towed. AAA dispatches a tow truck and provides an estimated arrival time — typically 30 to 60 minutes in urban areas, longer in rural areas.

Have your membership card or account number ready. The dispatcher will confirm your membership tier and let you know if the requested tow is within your 100-mile coverage. If you're requesting a tow beyond 100 miles, they'll tell you the out-of-pocket cost before they dispatch. You can then choose to proceed, find a closer shop, or decline and arrange private towing.

After the tow, AAA sends you a summary of the service call. This counts against your four annual calls. Keep these summaries for your records so you know how many calls you have left before the year resets.

Membership Plus versus other roadside information options

AAA Membership Plus is not the only roadside information available. Many auto insurance policies include roadside information as an add-on, typically covering 7 to 100 miles depending on the coverage level you choose. Some credit card companies (American Express, certain Visa cards) include roadside information for cardholders. Some newer cars include roadside information as part of the manufacturer's warranty or subscription service.

The advantage of AAA is that it works with any car you're driving — a rental, a friend's car, a borrowed vehicle — as long as you have your membership card. Insurance-based roadside information usually covers only vehicles listed on your policy. Manufacturer roadside information covers only that brand of car. If you drive multiple vehicles or rent cars frequently, AAA's portability is valuable. If you drive only one insured car, checking your insurance policy first might save you the AAA membership fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does AAA Membership Plus cover me if I'm driving someone else's car?

Yes. As long as you have your AAA membership card with you, you can use your roadside information on any vehicle. This includes rental cars, borrowed cars, and cars you're test-driving. The membership is tied to you, not to a specific vehicle.

What happens if I use all four service calls before my membership renews?

Additional calls beyond the four included per year are charged separately. The cost varies by region but typically ranges from $50 to $100 per call. You receive a member discount on these additional calls compared to what a non-member would pay for the same service.

Can I upgrade from basic AAA to Membership Plus mid-year?

Yes. You can upgrade at any time, and most AAA clubs will prorate the difference. If you've already paid for basic AAA and upgrade to Plus, you'll pay the difference for the remaining months of your membership year. Contact your local AAA club to process the upgrade.

Does the 100-mile towing limit explore to each call or per year?

The limit applies to each individual call. If you use a 90-mile tow in January, you still have 100 miles of coverage available for your next breakdown. The four annual calls are what's limited — after four calls, additional service costs money.

What if the nearest repair shop is more than 100 miles away?

AAA will tow you up to 100 miles and you pay the difference for any distance beyond that. You can also choose to be towed to a closer shop (covered in full) and arrange for your car to be transferred to your preferred mechanic later, though this uses two of your four annual calls.