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The American Automobile Association, or AAA, is most commonly known for its roadside assistance services for its 58 million members.

Established in 1902, the AAA is widely recognized for the work it’s done in establishing driver safety programs around the country.

However, it’s also one of the largest auto insurance providers in the world.

This AAA Auto insurance review discusses what you should consider before choosing them as your insurance carrier.

AAA Auto Insurance

In conjunction with its well-known roadside assistance policies, AAA also offers a variety of car insurance coverage.

aaa auto insurance

AAA operates largely at a local level, with over 50 associations throughout the country, and only club members can purchase auto insurance.

While these policies may certainly be administered across the board, consumers should check with their local association to find the policy that works best for their individual situation.

Policies & Coverage Options

It’s important to know what type of car insurance coverage is right for you, and AAA wants to be there regardless of what is wrong.

Here are the main types of coverage available from AAA:

  • Liability Coverage: This coverage comes into play if a policyholder is at fault for an accident that results in unintentional bodily injury or property damage.
  • Collision Coverage: Physical damage can be common if a vehicle is in a collision. This coverage will help a policyholder pay the fees for this damage.
  • Pet Protection Coverage: AAA knows that passengers don’t include only people. This coverage will assist with costs affiliated with an injury or death of a pet as a result of an auto accident.
  • Comprehensive Coverage: For those incidents that cause damage to a vehicle outside of a collision (such as fire, vandalism, theft, and other items), this coverage will help a policyholder with the costs.
  • Extended Exterior Repair Option (OEM) Coverage: This coverage must be written into a policyholder’s comprehensive or collision coverage policy, and will cover repairs to exterior parts with the exception of window glass and certain mechanical parts.

Additional Coverage Options:

AAA offers many other options for coverage, but since they operate on a mostly local level, individual consumers should check the options available in their area, and based on their situation. Here is a general list of some of the additional options the company provides:

  • Personal injury protection (PIP)
  • Medical payments
  • Uninsured as well as underinsured motorist coverage
  • Loan/lease gap coverage
  • Car rental coverage
  • Custom, electronic, or extra equipment coverage

AAA also allows consumers to choose from a variety of deductible levels when it comes to selecting a collision or comprehensive coverage policy. This helps people not only find a policy that works for their personal circumstances and driving habits, but for their financial situation as well.

AAA Car Insurance Riders

AAA’s riders differ depending on location, so consumers should consult their local AAA branch to find out what’s available to them.

Claims Satisfaction

One of the driving forces behind an insurance company’s high level of customer satisfaction is in its claims servicing. Aside from the initial contact, claims servicing is one of the primary ways in which consumers interact with their insurance providers.

Aside from just helping keep customers happy, an efficient claim servicing process also increases the likelihood that a customer will then recommend the insurance company to people they know.

Is AAA good at processing claims?

There are three key performance indicators that can determine whether a client is satisfied with the claims servicing process of a company. One of the categories focuses on communication, and AAA Auto insurance gets high marks due to the ease of contact with local agents.

The other two categories are comprised by timeliness and ease of interaction with the service. AAA Auto scored low in both the insurer website and call center representative section, which suggests that these areas could do with some improvement.

Customer Service Ratings

Handling claims quickly, efficiently, and fairly is a vital component of a positive customer experience.

However, there are many other factors that also help forge a positive relationship, including a streamlined purchase experience that does away with form after form and instead enables a relatively straightforward process.

Some questions to ask yourself are how well the company answers questions and communicates important information; whether they have agents available over the phone and online live chats or if there are just generic FAQs on their website?

Customer Reviews

Though it doesn’t have many reviews, AAA has been awarded an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau. TrustPilot considers the association to be “Average,” however, with most of the negative reviews linked to roadside service manners, not necessarily claim or policy concerns, though this is determined by just 9 reviews on the site.

But again, because the association has such local practices in effect, it’s difficult to look at the association as a whole. As there are over 50 independent AAA associations in the country, it makes sense for an individual to research the reviews specific to the area in which they reside.

Complaints

How complaints are handled plays a big part in overall customer satisfaction, and issues being dealt with promptly are a sure-fire way to ensure long-term customer happiness.

The 2018 J.D. Power insurance shopping study found that the satisfaction levels of customers of the Auto Club of Southern California Insurance Group were among the highest in the industry, achieving a rating of 4 out of 5, or “better than most”, in all categories. Those categories were: overall satisfaction, policy offerings, price, billing process and policy information, interaction, and claims.

In the J.D. Power auto claims satisfaction study based in California (the most populous state), the Auto Club of Southern California was ranked around the median of the industry.

In the overall satisfaction, policy offerings, and pricing categories; a score of 3 out of 5 was awarded , or “about average.” “Better than most,” or 4 out of 5, was awarded in the local agent category.

In the call center representative and insurer website categories the company scored 2 out of 5. Overall, the AAA Auto insurance ratings show that the company fares well against its competitors.

AAA Car Insurance Rates

AAA auto insurance quotes are easy to obtain from the association’s website. As with most, (if not all) insurance companies, the site will prompt you with a series of questions regarding personal data, vehicle information, driving history, and more.

Based on your location, consumers will be directed to a local portal. This model helps to not only cater policies to the user’s driving history, but to better interpret local and regional laws and policies as well.

AAA Discounts

AAA prides itself on saving consumers money, which is why they focus on local partnerships as well as promote their savings discounts ahead of their standard coverage policies on their website, claiming that these discounts have saved individual policyholders an average of $405 on policies.

  • Membership Discount:
    AAA members can save up to 10 percent on auto insurance premiums.
  • Education and Occupation Discount:
    Many major insurance providers offer discounts based on education, but AAA offers occupation-based discounts as well. Since the company is focused on providing local service, it’s worth checking with a local agent to see what this means for individuals.
  • Anti-Theft Device Discount:
    Policyholders are entitled to comprehensive coverage discounts if their vehicle is equipped with approved anti-theft and recovery devices.
  • Good Driver and Student Discount:
    Good driving behavior as well as good grades are rewarded with discounts.
  • Multiple Car Discount:
    If a single household has two or more cars insured through AAA with mandatory coverage, the company makes premium reductions available.
  • Multiple Product Discount:
    Discounts through AAA aren’t limited to car insurance policies alone. If an individual has multiple policies with the company, such as home or life insurance policies, discounts are available.
  • Pay-in-Full Discount:
    Policyholders can receive discounts by paying their premiums on time and in full.
  • AAADrive Discount:
    AAA developed a tool within the company’s mobile app that helps drivers improve their driving habits and become safer. Using this app (which logs journeys and enables location services while driving) can lead to additional discounts that are unique to the association and to each driver’s behavior behind the wheel.

How Much Does AAA Auto Insurance Cost?

The price of an insurance quote is shaped by a myriad of factors, including but not limited to, age, location, and car type.

For this AAA Auto insurance review, analysis of the company’s pricing structure is based on the following:

  • Single Female (licensed 9 years):
    One car (Toyota Camry), one violation, and one no-fault accident in the preceding 3 years, with a work driving use of 12,000 miles per year, living in San Francisco County, California.
  • Single Male (licensed 9 to 15 years):
    One car (Toyota Camry), no violations, with work driving use of 12,600 to 15,000 a year, also living in San Francisco County, California.

AAA Auto provides basic insurance for the female with one violation at an annual rate of $1,016. This is a relatively low figure for this scenario, as only a couple of insurers offer rates below that range.

Most companies’ rates are more in the $1,400 range, with Liberty Mutual reaching $1,860.

For scenario two involving a male with no violations, AAA Auto had a base rate of $664, one of the lowest. The highest of its competitors was Viking at $1,990.

As you can see, driving history has an outsized role in determining insurance rates, but your geographical location is another factor that also influences premiums.

Therefore, the same two scenarios played out in Florida could have significantly different results.

It is important to provide all the necessary details to your agent to get a true picture of the potential costs of your insurance policy.

Financial Strength

When choosing the insurance company that’s right for you there is a lot to consider. An often-overlooked factor that should play a part in your decision making is the financial strength of the company.

Can your company pay its claims if or when disaster strikes?

  • Marketshare: 13% (2018)
  • Premiums Written: $297,613,278
  • AM Best Financial Rating: A+

Insurance analysts at A.M. Best give AAA Auto Insurance a superior mark on its Financial Strength ratings so drivers can rest assured that the insurance they’re buying is solid and that AAA will be there for them if needed.

Is AAA Car Insurance Right for You?

When choosing your car insurance, it’s important to base your choice on good information and reliable facts.

A quality analysis such as this AAA Auto insurance review helps you make a knowledgeable decision that benefits you in both cost and service.

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