Is towing free for AAA members?

Yes, towing is free for AAA members, provided the distance and number of service calls fall within your specific membership plan limits.

Towing limits vary depending on the tier of your AAA Membership:

• Classic Membership (~$64.99/year): Covers up to 4 service calls per year, with free towing for up to 5 miles (or up to 40 miles to a AAA Tire & Auto Center).
• Plus Membership (~$99.99/year): Covers up to 4 service calls per year, with free towing for up to 100 miles per call.
• Premier Membership (~$124.99/year): Covers up to 5 service calls per year, with free towing for up to 100 miles on most calls and one tow up to 200 miles per household.

Important Details to Know

• Exceeding the limit: If your tow goes past your plan's mileage cap or you exceed your yearly call limit, you will still get a tow, but you must pay a discounted out-of-pocket per-mile fee for the extra distance.
• Tied to the person, not the car: AAA membership covers you as the driver or a passenger in any eligible vehicle (cars, trucks, and motorcycles with specific add-ons).
• Waiting periods: Upgraded benefits (like the 100-mile or 200-mile tows on Plus or Premier) may have a 7-day waiting period if you upgrade your plan right when you break down. Immediate towing on a brand-new or upgraded sign-up might require an extra emergency fee.

If you are an active member, AAA will charge you $0 for towing as long as the distance falls within your membership tier’s limits. If you exceed your tier's allowed mileage, you will be charged an overage fee of $4 to $7 per additional mile.

The exact out-of-pocket cost depends on your membership status and how far you need to go:

1. Covered Miles by Membership Tier

Every standard AAA membership allows up to 4 roadside assistance calls per year. The maximum free distance per tow depends entirely on your plan:

2. If You Need a Tow Right Now but Aren't a Member

If you are stranded on the side of the road and do not have a membership, you can still call the AAA Roadside Assistance hotline at 1-800-AAA-HELP (1-800-222-4357).

To get immediate service, you will be charged the cost of a Classic Membership plus an instant-activation fee of $75. This gives you the basic 3-to-7-mile towing benefit immediately, but any miles driven beyond that short distance will incur the standard $4 to $7 per-mile overage fee. Premium mileage tiers (Plus and Premier) usually require a 48-hour to 7-day waiting period to become active if purchased online.

3. Non-Member Commercial Rates

If you refuse to sign up for a membership and simply hire a AAA-contracted truck at retail commercial rates, a typical tow truck will cost a $75 to $150 hookup base fee plus $5 to $10 per mile. Because a single long-distance breakdown can easily exceed $300 to $800 out of pocket, purchasing a membership up front is heavily incentivized.

You get up to four or five free roadside service calls per year with a AAA Membership, depending on your specific plan level.

Towing Limits by Membership Level

• Classic: Includes up to four service calls per year. Each tow is covered for up to 5 to 7 miles (depending on your regional club) or unlimited miles back to the facility providing the service.
• Plus: Includes up to four service calls per year. Each tow is covered for up to 100 miles.
• Premier: Includes up to five service calls per year per member. It covers up to 100 miles for most tows, plus one tow up to 200 miles per household each year.

Important Details

• Shared pool: Roadside calls apply to all services combined, including towing, flat tires, jump-starts, lockouts, and fuel delivery.
• Associate members: Additional household members on a plan may have a separate limit (usually up to two calls per year).
• Extra distance: If your tow goes past your plan's mileage limit, you pay a discounted rate for the remaining miles.

You can get a free tow from AAA if you have an active AAA Roadside Assistance membership or if you use their limited, holiday-specific Tow to Go program.

How to Request a Standard Tow (Members)

If you already have a membership, towing is included in your annual plan (up to 4 service calls per year), though free mileage limits vary by your tier (Classic covers 3–7 miles, Plus covers 100 miles, and Premier covers up to 200 miles for one tow and 100 miles for others).

• By Phone: Call 1-800-222-8794 (1-800-AAA-HELP).
• Online or App: Use the AAA Roadside Assistance Chat or open the Auto Club App to request a dispatch in under 4 minutes.
• Verification: Have your physical or virtual 16-digit AAA Membership Card and a valid photo ID ready for the driver to inspect upon arrival.
• Note: If you join AAA on the spot when you break down, you will typically have to pay an immediate activation fee plus the cost of the membership, and same-day service fees may apply.

How to Use "Tow to Go" (Impaired Drivers / Non-Members)

If you do not have a membership and need a safe ride because you have been drinking, AAA runs the Tow to Go program during major holidays (like Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's).

• Call the Hotline: Dial (855) 2-TOW-2-GO or (855) 286-9246.
• The Rules: It provides a confidential, free ride and a tow for you and your car within a 10-mile radius to a safe location.
• Eligibility: Available to both members and non-members as a last resort, but it is strictly limited to specific holiday windows.

AAA will not tow commercial vehicles, unregistered or un-licensed vehicles, taxis, limousines, or specialized vehicles like RVs, motorcycles, or dual-wheel trucks unless you have a specific membership upgrade or rider.

Vehicles Excluded From Standard Towing

• Commercial vehicles: Work vans, delivery trucks, or vehicles with heavy commercial modifications (like ladder racks) are generally excluded on standard plans.
• Taxis and limousines: These fall under commercial passenger transport and are not eligible for standard roadside assistance.
• Unregistered or illegal vehicles: AAA will not service or move vehicles that are impounded, repossessed, involved in private-property evictions, or lack valid license plates/registration.
• RVs, motor homes, and motorcycles: Standard AAA Classic memberships do not cover these; you need a Plus, Premier, or specific RV/motorcycle rider tier.
• Dual-wheel vehicles: Dual-wheel trucks and recreational vehicles are excluded from certain services and tows unless specialized coverage is active.

Situations Where Towing Is Denied

Even for eligible passenger cars, AAA will refuse a tow if:

• It's a "convenience" or non-breakdown move: Moving an operable car for a vehicle purchase, sale, auction, car show, charitable donation, or relocation is prohibited.
• It involves impound or law enforcement: Transporting a car from an impound lot or after an illegal parking tow by police is not allowed.
• Safety or access issues: The vehicle is in an unsafe location (like deep off-road trails), inaccessible, or the tow risks severe damage to the car or truck.