Has your family considered a AAA Membership? To be honest, the idea does make me think of something Boomer parents might have done to prepare for a trip, but not me, young, cool mom. I’m spontaneous, I wing it. Then I remember, oh right, I am pushing 40, I absolutely do not wing it or anything for that matter, and huh, you know actually roadside assistance might be nice. I like assistance.

So let’s take a look at what AAA really is, what they offer, and decide if it’s time for us to consider that a Membership might be a great thing for our on-the-go families. 

AAA, commonly referred to as Triple-A, stands for the American Automobile Association. Yes, roadside assistance when you’ve had an emergency like a flat tire is what they’re known for, but beyond that, AAA is a not-for-profit member benefit corporation that advocates for safer highways and offers services to make all types of travel more efficient and enjoyable. 

The 24-hour roadside assistance is major, especially if you’re a frequent road tripper. And guess what: it doesn’t even matter whose car you’re in, or whether you’re the driver or passenger! Towing, flat tire, car battery service, emergency fuel delivery, minor mechanical adjustments, and locksmith service are a call away when you’re in an emergency. You can even save yourself trips to the DMV by taking care of common services, like vehicle registration, license plate services, transfer of ownership, and even international driver permits right at a AAA office! AAA Members also save about $150/year using AAA Discounts.

A really great service that AAA provides for families is car seat inspections. Did you know that only 1 in 4 car seats is installed correctly?! Fight that statistic by booking an appointment with your local AAA to have them make sure yours is good to go, plus get advice on when to transition kids to boosters and belts (PS it’s later than you think). Another great thing about being a AAA Member? All of this can also be done virtually in selected branches! 

Something you might not know about AAA is that they provide a wide range of travel planning services way beyond the road. Complimentary travel agent and trip planning services, passport photo services, guidebooks, car rental discounts, hotel and restaurant recommendations, discounts, and benefits, and best price guarantees on bookings are part of the membership, too. 

For families, AAA offers a slew of benefits that are perfect for those of us traveling with kids. Discounts at big theme parks like Disney World, Universal Studios, Legoland, smaller attractions like the Crayola Experience, Sea Life aquariums, and even deals on City Passes in many major destinations. Even when not traveling, AMC Theaters, Rainforest Cafe, HelloFresh, and the HOMER early learning app are all companies that families love that offer discounts to members. 

With Memberships starting at just $59/year, it seems like a small investment to make in return for a ton of compelling benefits for traveling families, not to mention the sense of security 24-hour roadside assistance provides. Do you have a AAA Membership? What’s your favorite thing about it? Let us know in the comments!