AARP vs AAA: Which is Better for You?
AARP and AAA offer competitive auto insurance and roadside assistance programs. Which one is better?
AARP vs. AAA comparison
AARP's and AAA's offerings may overlap, but some distinctions are worth noting. Both companies offer car insurance and roadside assistance programs in addition to a long list of perks outside of insurance. Only members of each organization can buy car insurance through these companies.
Read on to discover some of the similarities and differences in auto insurance between AARP and AAA, as well as the key points that distinguish them in the category of roadside assistance.
AAA or AARP? Our recommendation
With average rates for car insurance and roadside assistance from both companies being as closely aligned as they are, our decision comes down to customer satisfaction, range of coverage options and discounts, and eligibility. AAA and AARP are quite evenly matched, but ultimately The Zebra recommends AAA for most drivers due to higher JD Power scores, broader eligibility requirements, and discount opportunities. Both options are solid, though, and drivers over 50 should consider both companies.
Car insurance comparison: AAA vs. AARP
The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) underwrites their auto insurance policies through The Hartford and specifically caters to people over the age of 50. AARP offers an impressive number of optional car insurance coverages for those who meet eligibility requirements.
AAA auto insurance provides car insurance coverage directly and is perhaps best known for its roadside assistance program and travel discounts. They, too, boast an above-average number of coverage options for car insurance policyholders.
AAA car insurance
AAA offers the standard suite of car insurance coverages including liability coverage (both bodily injury and property damage), comprehensive, collision and uninsured/underinsured coverage.
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Option to choose a 12-month coverage period
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Several optional coverage offerings
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Operates its own nationwide roadside assistance network
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Long list of discount opportunities
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Telematics program available
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Placed in the top 5 for several categories in our customer satisfaction survey
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Above average number of consumer complaints
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Low claims satisfaction scores
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More expensive than the national average
AAA policyholders can enjoy a comprehensive coverage package, with the option to enroll in a number of additional coverages available through AAA. In addition, the company also lists several discount opportunities members may take advantage of. See the tables below for more information on AAA's coverages and discounts.
| Policy Features | Details |
|---|---|
| Accident Forgiveness | Your driving history will determine whether you qualify for this service. |
| Extended Rental Expense Coverage | Your rental car service can be extended after a collision if you choose this coverage. |
| Pet Coverage | If your pet — dog or cat — is injured in a crash with you, up to $500 of their vet costs are covered. |
| 12-Month Policy | Option for an annual 12-month policy, rather than a standard six-month policy period. |
| New Vehicle Replacement | If your new vehicle is deemed a total loss after an accident (within one year of acquisition), it will be replaced. |
| Gap Coverage | Covers the difference between your vehicle's current value and the value of a loan. |
| Preferred Repairs Program | Priority repair service and a lifetime warranty on service provided. |
| Accident Assist | Additional assistance after an accident |
AARP car insurance
In order to receive AARP discounts and perks, you must be a member. However, you don't need to be an AARP member to get car insurance from The Hartford, as they are an independent insurer that also partners with AARP. If you are an AARP member, you'll get additional discounts and perks that aren't available if you sign up directly through The Hartford without an AARP membership.
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Substantial bundling discount for AARP members
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Several benefits are automatically included in AARP/The Hartford policies
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Additional endorsements include accident forgiveness and disappearing collision deductible
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The Hartford received a 4.4/5 on The Zebra Customer Satisfaction Survey
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Only people over the age of 50 can be AARP members
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The Hartford scores below average for claims satisfaction according to JD Power
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More expensive than the national average
Included features and discounts in AARP car insurance policies:
- Full range of deductible options
- Full range of coverage limits
- 24-hour roadside assistance
- Countrywide claims service
- 24x7 claim reporting service
- Legal representation for accidents
- New car replacement coverage
- No deductible windshield repair service
- RecoverCare essential services
- Paid-in-full or monthly EFT availability
- Auto and home account policy discounts
- Homeownership discount (not available with auto & home account policy savings)
- New vehicle discount
- Non-resident student discount
A closer look
While some of these policy options are self-explanatory, we've outlined some unique aspects of AARP's policy features below.
- Lifetime Renewability: Your policy will automatically renew as long as you are able to drive and are paying your bill. However, this currently isn't available in Hawaii, Michigan, New Hampshire, North Carolina, or Texas.
- RecoverCare Service: This pays up to $2,500 for medical care after an accident. Care is defined as help with household chores, grocery shopping, transportation, cooking, cleaning, or other activities you are unable to complete after a car accident.
- One Deductible: This refers to a single deductible for your home and auto policies if you also purchase a home insurance policy from The Hartford using AARP's Advantage Plus package.
Compare auto insurance options and get the best value from your next policy.
How much are insurance rates from AAA and AARP?
As noted above, AARP utilizes The Hartford to offer its auto insurance, and AAA is also known as Auto Club. The table below outlines the average rates on a monthly and 6-month basis for auto coverage. Of course, each driver, vehicle, and specific needs will affect what final rates will look like, but this offers a glimpse to get you started on comparing prices.
Updating data...
| Company | Avg. Monthly Premium | Avg. 6 Mo. Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Auto Club | $203 | $1,218 |
| The Hartford | $208 | $1,249 |
Source: The Zebra
The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool data methodology
The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool for home and auto insurance rates utilizes the latest ZIP code-level rate filings from across the U.S., sourced from Quadrant Information Services and S&P Global. These filings, typically updated annually or biennially by insurers, are verified through Quadrant’s QA process and then integrated into The Zebra’s estimator.
The displayed rates are based on a dynamic home and auto profile designed to reflect the content of the page. This profile is tailored to match specific factors such as age, location, and coverage level, which are adjusted based on the page content to show how these variables can impact premiums.
For a comprehensive understanding, see our detailed methodology.
AAA and AARP car insurance premiums by rating factor
Car insurance rates are assessed based on a series of rating factors, or details about a person. Most important among these factors is age, location, driving history, and credit score. Let's take a look at average six-month rates from both companies in each of these scenarios.
Updating data...
| Company | 20s | 30s | 40s | 50s | 60s | 70s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auto Club | $1,252 | $934 | $923 | $902 | $882 | $984 |
| The Hartford | $1,397 | $1,192 | $1,183 | $1,177 | $1,182 | $1,196 |
Source: The Zebra
Updating data...
| Company | With no accidents | With one at-fault accident |
|---|---|---|
| Auto Club | $946 | $1,437 |
| The Hartford | $1,203 | $2,632 |
Source: The Zebra
Updating data...
| Company | Poor | Fair | Average | Good | Excellent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auto Club | $1,306 | $1,058 | $1,008 | $946 | $802 |
| The Hartford | $1,266 | $1,224 | $1,214 | $1,203 | $1,195 |
Source: The Zebra
Chat with one of our knowledgable licensed agents for more information on the right auto insurance package for you. Call 1-888-255-4364 to get started.
Roadside assistance comparison: AAA vs. AARP
AARP and AAA provide two of the most popular roadside assistance programs. AARP’s program is provided through Allstate while AAA operates its own affiliate network across the US. The organizations' tiered memberships offer similar roadside assistance packages.
Is AARP's roadside assistance as good as AAA's program? Let’s compare the providers' services and prices.
Both companies offer the following services with their roadside assistance:
- Fuel delivery
- Jumpstart
- Flat tire change
- Winching
- Towing
- Vehicle lockout
AARP roadside assistance
If you’re an AARP member, you can subscribe to the Allstate-backed roadside assistance program. Unlike other roadside assistance programs — including Allstate's standard offering — AARP provides a wide variety of services.
The below chart shows what is covered by AARP.
AARP roadside assistance extras
- Pathfinder Trip Routing Service: Tips and maps on destinations in the US, Mexico, and Canada.
- Trip Interruption: If your vehicle is disabled as a result of an accident, you will be reimbursed up to $1,500 for travel expenses. You must be more than 100 miles away from home to be eligible.
- Auto Theft Reward: This will provide a monetary reward for information leading to the arrest of the thief if your vehicle is stolen.
- Legal Defense Reimbursement: Provides litigation defend in the event you are taken to court over a traffic violation. Certain restrictions apply.
- Hospital Emergency Bond: If you're injured more than 100 miles away from home and are required to present evidence of financial responsibility at a hospital, this will provide support.
- Arrest Bond Certificate: An AARP edition of a get out of a "get out of jail free card." If you're arrested for a driving-related offense (cannot be DUI/DWI related), you can use this coverage as a jail bond.
- RV Roadside Coverage: You can add this coverage for $24 per year to receive two additional service calls.
How much does AARP roadside assistance cost?
AARP roadside assistance pricing depends on your membership tier and the number of members: '
- Roadside Assist: $6 per month or $72 per year
- Roadside Elite: $13 per month or $156 per year
There are discounts for the first year, as well as renewal discounts when you keep your membership going.
AARP's non-emergency perks
AARP’s roadside assistance service provides much more than the roadside assistance offered by traditional car insurance companies. Below are AARP's non-emergency service options. Below the chart, find a brief explanation of the perks.
| Service | Basic | Premier |
|---|---|---|
| Car rental savings | Yes | Yes |
| Hotel discounts | Yes | Yes |
| Pathfinder trip routing service | No | Yes |
| Carfax vehicle reports | No | Up to 7/year |
| Warranty repair/referral service | No | Yes |
| Trip interruption coverage | No | Up to $1,500/yr |
| Auto theft reward | N/A; except CA up to $5,000 | Up to $10,000/year |
| Legal defense reimbursement | No | Up to $1,000/year |
| Hospital emergency bond | No | Up to $1,000/year |
| Arrest bond certificate | No | up to $1,000/year |
| RV coverage | No | Yes |
| Free smartphone app | No | Yes |
| 60-day money-nack guarantee | No | Yes |
AAA roadside assistance
Unlike AARP, which offers car insurance through The Hartford and roadside assistance via Allstate, AAA provides its own coverage through regional “clubs” or “federations.” Each of these clubs covers a particular area of the United States.
See below what is covered by AAA's roadside assistance program.
| Coverage Detail | Classic Membership | Plus Membership | Premier Membership |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jumpstart | Included | Included | Included |
| Towing | Up to 7 miles, 4 times a year. | Up to 100 miles | One per household up to 200 miles, remaining tows up to 100 miles |
| Emergency fuel services | Free delivery, pay for fuel | Free delivery and fuel | Free delivery and fuel |
| Vehicle lockout | Coverage up to $60 | Coverage up to $100 | Coverage up to $150 |
| Flat tire service | Included | Included | Included |
| Extrication/winching service | One service per year | Two services | Two services |
How much does AAA roadside assistance cost?
The cost of AAA's services depends on your membership tier as well as the individuals listed on your policy. For an individual, you can expect to pay the following amounts in each tier:
- Classic: $61 per year
- Plus: $99 per year
- Premier: $126 per year
AAA's non-emergency perks
Like AARP, AAA offers additional perks aside from roadside assistance. Below are some of AAA's non-roadside assistance benefits, sorted by membership level.
| Coverage detail | Classic membership | Plus membership | Premier membership |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle registration renewal help | Included | Included | Included |
| Discounts (shopping, dining, hotels, and entertainment) | Included | Included | Included |
| Identity theft protection | Daily monitoring, email alerts, fraud resolution support, loss card protection | Daily monitoring, email alerts, fraud resolution support, loss card protection | Daily monitoring, email alerts, fraud resolution support, loss card protection, $10,000 in identity theft insurance |
| CARFAX vehicle report discount | 20% off CARFAX | 20% off CARFAX | One year free, 40% for additional reports |
| Vehicle inspection service | Free 40pt, or discount 86pt | Free 40pt, or discount 86pt | $45 mail-in rebate for 86pt |
| Rental Car Benefits | Discounted | Discounted plus one car-class upgrade | One-day complimentary midsize rental car |
Which is better: AAA or AARP?
AAA and AARP both offer impressive car insurance packages, with a wide array of optional coverages available as well as discount opportunities. Both companies offer several membership perks that could be useful to policyholders, but struggle to maintain positive customer satisfaction scores when it comes to auto insurance. Overall, AAA tends to have slightly more affordable rates.
In terms of roadside assistance coverage, the two options are fairly similar. AAA and AARP each provides roadside assistance basics like towing, fuel delivery, and lock-out services, but differ in their minor coverage details, including the number of service calls covered and towing range.
AARP is better suited for people over 50 years old, as they offer extra services that cater to retired persons, like health care and financial planning. The spectrum of clientele at AAA is more broad due to the wide variety of perks AAA offers and the less strict membership requirements.
Johnny Hawkins — Sales manager at The Zebra
Frequently asked questions: AAA vs AARP
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About The Zebra
The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.
- The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
- The Zebra’s insurance editorial content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
- The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
- The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.