The American Automobile Association, or AAA, is a membership-based service that offers three tiers of roadside assistance as well as a variety of other benefits including

car insurance coverage

and travel planning.

AAA offers three tiers of roadside assistance services (from least to most expensive): Classic, Plus, and Premier.
Every tier of AAA roadside service includes tire changes, fuel delivery, battery service, locksmith service, and towing—but the amount of locksmith and towing services depends on your coverage tier.
Interested drivers can join AAA online at AAA.com or by finding their local AAA location and talking to an insurance agent in person.

MORE:

Everything you need to know to get a AAA auto insurance quote

The key benefits of a AAA roadside assistance membership

Drivers who sign up for a

AAA membership

automatically receive enrollment in the organization's popular roadside assistance program. The first year is free for Classic members or discounted for Plus and Premier members.

Your membership benefits depend on which level you choose:

AAA Classic Membership (cheapest): Members can use the service to change a tire with an inflated spare, perform a

battery jump-start

, bring them gasoline at the pump rate, and receive locksmith services up to $50 for free. In addition, you can

tow a vehicle

to a repair facility up to five miles away for free.

AAA Plus Membership (middle): The service changes a flat tire with an inflated spare, provides a battery service if needed, offers free fuel delivery, and gives a free lockout service for up to $100. The service also provides up to 100 miles of free towing.

AAA Premier Membership (most expensive): Premier members get a free tire change with an inflated spare and a free car battery boost. In addition, Premier members get free

fuel delivery

, no charge for lockout services up to $150, and one 200-mile tow and three 100-mile tows.

Keep in mind: Depending on your membership level, you only have a certain amount of roadside assistance included in your plan. After that, you must pay for additional services rendered.

How to join AAA

You can join AAA by providing some basic required information online or through a local office. Let your AAA insurance agent know which level of roadside assistance coverage you’d like to enroll in.

To join AAA online: Visit the AAA website and supply the following required information:

Your name, including first, last, and middle initial

The number of additional members you want to add

The name of any additional persons you want to add to your membership

Your mailing address, including street address, city, state, and zip code

Your email address

Your home phone number

Then, choose how you’d like to pay for your AAA membership (e.g., a credit card) and supply the appropriate payment information. You’ll also need to enter your billing address if it is different from your mailing address.

To apply for a AAA membership in person: Find your local AAA branch on the AAA website or call 866-222-6595.

Keep in mind: Most car insurance companies offer roadside assistance, and you may find better rates with another provider. You can do this by requesting free quotes on your own or using an online quote comparison tool like

Jerry

to find your most affordable offer.