Updated at: 29-06-2022 - By: Lucas

AAA has been helping people in emergencies on the road for more than a hundred years. Some of these are roadside assistance, such as a 24-hour service that tows cars to safety, jump-starts for cars with dead batteries, and changing flat tyres. If you get stuck, you might wonder if you have to be with your car for AAA to come and pull it out.

The person who has an active AAA account needs to be at the place where the car broke down for it to be towed. To prove they are a member of AAA and use the service, they must also show their membership card and a valid photo ID.

The AAA towing rules don’t always apply, like when a member is in an accident that requires them to be taken to the hospital right away.

This article talks about these specific rules and other rules that all AAA members must follow.

Fundamentals of AAA

Do I Have To Be With My Car For AAA To Tow It-3

The American Automobile Association (AAA) is a group in the United States that offers different kinds of car services to its members based on how much they pay to join.

Here are some of the services:

Insurance

Notary

Help for the highway

Roadside support

Do I Need To Be Present for AAA To Tow My Car?

As I’ve already said, it’s important for me to be there in person. There are times, though, when I can’t be there in person to prove who I am. When this happens, I have to call AAA to explain why I won’t be there.

A AAA membership protects you whether you’re driving or just riding along. You can use your auto insurance coverage anywhere and at any time, as long as you have the right paperwork with you when you need help.

I can only use the AAA services that are part of my coverage if I am there. But if I’m not, the service is paid for by the operator.

To avoid this, it’s a good thing that the membership lets you add more family members to the policy.

Rules for AAA Towing

Do I Have To Be With My Car For AAA To Tow It-2

Since I’m a member of AAA, I can have my car towed anywhere I want. It could be a place that is approved to fix cars, a AAA service centre, or even my house.

There are 3 different ways to join AAA. Depending on what kind of membership plan I have, I may have to pay a towing fee.

Among the plans for membership are:

Classic

Plus

Premier

Let’s look at each plan’s towing rules.

1. AAA Classic Membership

This policy lets me have my car towed for free up to 5 miles from the place where it broke down to any place I choose.

2. AAA Plus Membership

With this policy, you have two options. I can have my car towed to the nearest auto shop that is approved by AAA. Or, I can have them tow the car to a station where AAA contractors work.

3. AAA Premier Membership

The options I have with the premier plan are better than with the other two policies. AAA can, for instance, tow my car to my house, to another repair shop, or from one repair shop to another.

This policy gives you one free tow service for up to 200 miles from where your car broke down. It also has three services that will tow your car up to 100 miles away.

Frequently Asked Questions about AAA

Now that we know what the different AAA towing policies are, let’s take a look at some of the rules and most frequently asked questions.

How Much Is the AAA Towing Fee?

The actual towing costs depend on where you are and what level of membership you have. Most of the time, it costs between $40 and $165 per year to be a member of AAA.

Depending on where you live, the start-up fee is between $8 and $20. This is the price for the person who has the main account. The cost of each extra family member also changes based on where you live.

Memberships to the AAA are yearly contracts. Every policy has its own price and set of benefits. Refer to this table for more ways to improve a policy.

Can AAA Tow My Car From One Automotive Service Center to Another?

The AAA service only pays for one tow per breakdown. This means that AAA will tow my car for free from one parking lot to another.

If I want AAA to tow my car from the repair shop to my house after the service is done, I will have to pay an extra fee.

Can I Use AAA to Tow a Friend’s Car?

Only the policyholder is covered by AAA. So, yes, AAA can help me pull my friend’s car.

But I have to be there with my membership card as the driver or the passenger to prove that I am who I say I am.

Who Is Responsible for The Damaged Car During Towing?

All rescued vehicles must be moved by a vehicle that has been given permission to do so. If your car gets damaged while being moved, the driver of the AAA tow truck is responsible.

The person is responsible for paying for any damage that happens on the way from the scene of the accident or incident.

Can I Use AAA To Tow an Unregistered Vehicle?

AAA won’t tow cars that haven’t been registered or don’t have tags. In their policy, they make this clear.

This is because a car that isn’t registered could have been stolen or used in a crime. This is a big reason why this rule is in place.

Can I Use My Parent’s AAA Card?

Yes, I can use mom’s card as long as mom is at the breakdown site with me. She also has to prove who she is, and that has to be true at the time of the rescue or recovery.

How Many Times Can I Use AAA Towing Services?

AAA can only help with towing 4 times a year.

If a plan has more than one member, each member can use AAA four times. People like this strategy because it gives more emergency services at no extra cost.

AAA Contact Info

When we leave the house, we need to make sure we have our AAA membership and ID card with us in case we need help.

As long as you have your AAA card with you, AAA road rescue is the best thing that could happen to you.