AAA auto insurance comes from separate, regional insurance companies that operate under similar names and logos. AAA club membership works the same way, and you may need to become a member of your regional club to get auto insurance. That comes with a fee, but the resulting discount on your auto insurance may just make it worth it.
» MORE: Compare car insurance rates
Why you can trust NerdWallet: Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage so you can choose the insurance policy that works best for you. These carrier ratings are specific to auto insurance — a company's rating for other products may be different on our site. See our criteria for evaluating auto insurance companies.
How we review auto insurance companies
In our auto insurance reviews, our editorial team considers both the customer and the insurer. These are some of the factors we take into account:
Financial strength. We use A.M. Best ratings to confirm an insurer’s long-term financial stability and ability to pay claims. NerdWallet does not recommend companies with a rating lower than a B.
Complaints. These ratings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The best auto insurance companies have fewer than the expected number of complaints.
Ease of use. This category looks at how easily consumers can interact with an insurer through its mobile app and website. This includes how much coverage information is offered online, whether a user can start and track a claim online and get a quote and mobile app scores based on the Apple and Google Play store ratings.
Discounts. We look at both the kind of discounts a company offers and the total number of discounts available.
AAA auto insurance pros and cons
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
May receive an auto insurance discount for being a member of AAA. | Insurance products differ depending on where you live. |
Multiple insurance products offered. | May require AAA membership. |
You may have to change AAA insurance providers if you move states. |
AAA auto insurance
NerdWallet looked at the three largest AAA auto insurance companies by market share in the U.S. To see specific counties in California served by CSAA Insurance Group and Auto Club of SoCal, see our Best Cheap Auto Insurance in California page.
AAA Auto insurer | NerdWallet rating | States available* |
|---|---|---|
Auto Club of SoCal | 4.5 NerdWallet rating | AL, AR, CA, HI, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, ME, MS, MO, NH, NM, OH, PA, TX, VA, VT, WV. |
Automobile Club Group | 4.0 NerdWallet rating | FL, GA, IA, IL, MI, MN, NC, ND, NE, SC, TN, WI. |
CSAA Insurance Group | 3.5 NerdWallet rating | AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, ID, IN, KS, KY, MD, MT, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SD, UT, VA, WV, WY. |
* Insurers may not cover all counties in each state. | ||
AAA auto insurance coverage
When you're shopping for car insurance coverage, it's important to understand what car insurance coverage you want and what you’re required to buy. For instance, most states require a minimum amount of car insurance to drive a vehicle. Alternatively, if you want extra protection, you may be interested in full coverage insurance. Read about the most common types of car insurance coverage to see how they work.
Since AAA insurance comes from separate companies operating in many states, coverage options will depend on where you live. All insurers are required to offer state-mandated coverage where they operate. Most, including the three AAA affiliates we reviewed, also offer uninsured motorist protection, medical payments coverage, comprehensive coverage and collision coverage.
Also ask about the following types of coverage, which at least some AAA companies offer:
Gap insurance, which pays the difference between your car’s value and the balance of your loan or lease if the car is totaled or stolen.
OEM exterior repair coverage, which pays for original equipment manufacturer parts instead of aftermarket parts for covered external body repairs.
New car replacement, which pays for the value of a new vehicle if your car is declared a total loss. Your car will be replaced with a vehicle of the same make and model. This coverage is typically available only if you own a newer car.
Better car replacement, which pays for a car one to two years newer than your vehicle if it’s totaled in a crash. You may be able to purchase this coverage if your car is too old to qualify for new car replacement.
Rideshare insurance, which ensures you’re always covered during your rideshare job. Typical insurance from ridesharing companies only covers the period between accepting a ride and dropping off a customer.
Auto insurance discounts
Most customers with AAA auto insurance receive a discount for being a AAA member. You may also be able to save by:
Being an alum of certain schools.
Having certain factory-installed safety equipment.
Owning a car with approved theft prevention devices (discount on comprehensive coverage).
Having continuous auto insurance coverage from AAA.
Meeting AAA’s standards for a safe driver.
Earning good grades if you’re a student.
Having a student on your policy who keeps their car at home while they’re away at school.
Completing a driver training course.
Insuring more than one vehicle with AAA.
Buying multiple insurance products from AAA.
Paying your premium in full.
Paying electronically and setting up automatic payments.
Being in the military.
Being a AAA employee or member.
Owning a new car.
Owning a home.
Like most insurers, AAA’s insurance companies offer many discounts, but they differ by state and company, so check with your local AAA club to see which are available to you.
🤓Nerdy Tip
First time shopping for auto insurance? Unsure of where to start? Check out our guide on how to shop for car insurance.
Pricing based on tracked driving habits
AAAdrive is a feature on the AAA app that looks at driving factors like speed, mobile phone distraction, time of day you drive and fatigue Members receive a discount based on their driving habits in addition to a discount for signing up.
Complaints and customer satisfaction
NerdWallet looked at consumer complaint data for the three AAA auto insurance companies listed above.
Automobile Club Group and CSAA Insurance Group both had close to the expected number of complaints to state regulators relative to its size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Auto Club of SoCalhad fewer complaints than expected for auto insurance.
In J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study, Auto Club of SoCal was ranked No. 3 out of 10 companies for overall customer satisfaction. In the same study, Auto Club Group was rated No. 6 and CSAA was ranked No. 9.
In J.D. Power’s 2022 Auto Insurance Claims Study, Auto Club of SoCal ranked No. 6 out of 24 companies for customer satisfaction, while CSAA Insurance Group and Auto Club Group were rated No. 15 and No. 22, respectively.
More about AAA auto insurance
Website: When you go to AAA.com, you’re prompted to enter your ZIP code and are redirected to your local chapter’s website. At that point, you can learn more about membership and insurance products, or you can find contact information to get a quote.
Mobile apps: The Auto Club of SoCal insurance group has an app you can use to manage your policy and AAA membership in one place — as long as you belong to a club served by that AAA insurer. Otherwise, AAA’s apps are restricted to membership needs like trip planning or summoning roadside assistance, and they include AAAdrive.
Life, home and renters insurance from AAA
AAA sells home and renters insurance through regional companies. To learn more about the coverage options available, read our AAA home insurance review and AAA renters insurance review.
AAA also sells life insurance policies. To read about its coverage, see our AAA life insurance review.
Methodology
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2021-2023. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsem*nt of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.
Auto insurance ratings methodology
NerdWallet’s auto insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, consumer complaints and discounts. Our “ease of use” category looks at factors such as website transparency and how easy it is to file a claim. Using our editorial discretion, we also consider customer satisfaction surveys. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines and full ratings methodology for auto insurance.
2024 auto insurance survey methodology
The opt-in survey of 7,514 adults age 18 and older was conducted online by Russell Research on behalf of NerdWallet in June and July 2023. Respondents were asked to rate one auto insurance brand they obtained or renewed a policy with within the past 12 months. These brands were rated on overall satisfaction, overall value, online experience, trustworthiness, mobile app experience, claims experience and customer support on a scale of 1-100.
Only brands with 100 or more qualifying respondents are reported. Of those respondents: 301 were State Farm customers, 300 were Progressive customers, 300 were Allstate customers, 300 were Geico customers, 140 were USAA customers, 125 were AAA customers, 105 were Liberty Mutual customers, 103 were American Family customers, 104 were Farmers customers, 104 were Travelers customers and 104 were Nationwide customers.
