Is a AAA membership worth the cost for you?

Having a roadside assistance plan is a must for individuals who travel by car frequently for business or pleasure. However, car failure or an accident can occur whether you're making a trip across the country or across town. So how can you know for sure if paying for a AAA membership is right for you?

Whether you purchase a roadside assistance plan through your auto insurance provider or a separate company, you're usually guaranteed multiple services depending on the plan-- and you should always be guaranteed peace of mind.

Before we get into the pros and cons of a AAA membership and a similar coverage through your insurance company, let's go over roadside assistance basics.

What services do roadside assistance plans provide?

Roadside assistance service involves a professional mechanic driving out to you and your stalled vehicle and either fixing it on site or providing towing services to your auto body shop of choice. The following services are usually included in a roadside assistance visit:

• Towing
• Battery jump start
• Flat tire replacement
• Lockout and locksmith
• Fuel delivery
• Extrication or winching

Do I really need roadside assistance?

If you've never experienced mechanical troubles with your vehicle before, it can be tempting to go without roadside assistance coverage in order to save a few dollars a month.

However, if you find yourself in a situation where you do need professional help and don't have a reliable service on hand, like AAA or your insurance company, you could become vulnerable to towing company or auto body fraud and end up paying massive amounts out of pocket.

Towing without any type of membership or insurance can cost anywhere from $75 to $200 per incident.

In comparison, many auto club memberships only cost between $75 to $250 per year or $6 to $21 per month. Adding roadside assistance coverage to your insurance policy can cost anywhere between $20 to $180 per year depending on your policy.

So before you decide whether or not you can go without the extra coverage, ask yourself these five questions about yourself and your car:

1. How old is my vehicle?

The older the car, the greater the need for additional service. Your new car will most likely be running well and generally is covered under the manufacturer's emergency roadside service for the first few years or up to a certain amount of mileage.

Even if your car is not under warranty, any problem you run into will be cheaper to handle individually as opposed to paying for an optional coverage you may never need.

2. What is my average daily mileage?

The less you drive, the less need you'll have for roadside assistance. If you're daily commute tends to be in areas you're familiar with, you'll most likely be aware of where local body shops are and which ones you can call when in need.

When driving in new locations, it would be comforting to have a professional to take care of these matters for you.

3. How much time do I want to invest in repairing my car?

If you're an impatient person then you could really benefit from roadside assistance. Mechanical skills are great to have, but nothing beats having a professional coming to you in a time of need with a quick fix.

4. How much money do I want to spend in the long run?

Surprisingly, paying the increased premium or membership fee for roadside assistance will end up saving you money in the long run.

Without this coverage, having a mechanic come out to your location can easily be more expensive than you had anticipated -- as much as $200 per incident.

5. Who is offering you roadside assistance coverage?

You might want to think twice about roadside assistance if you already have it through your car's manufacturer or credit card.

A lot of car makers and credit card companies will offer free roadside service with certain perks and limitations.

It is best to check with your manufacturer and credit card company to confirm before you purchase additional roadside coverage from your insurance provider or a third party club.

How much does a AAA membership cost?

Because AAA is a federation of different motor clubs, the cost of membership varies by state and membership level.

AAA offers three membership levels including Classic, Plus, and Premier. Generally, signing up for a AAA membership includes a new member fee that can cost anywhere from $10 to $20.

Adding another member to a pre-existing account usually starts around $30 and increases for plus and premier levels. AAA also offers renewal fees that are significantly less than the original cost of becoming a member.

What are the benefits of being a AAA member?

The exact benefits of AAA differ based on your membership level. For example, Plus and Premier members receive more free towing miles and higher reimbursement minimums for locksmith services. Higher membership levels also offer coverage for stolen luggage and hotel expenses if your vehicle is being repaired on a road trip.

You can use your AAA protection anywhere on the road, even if you're traveling in a vehicle that you don't own; the membership benefits follow the driver, not the car. However, some Premier benefits have mileage limitations for services like emergency travel and concierge assistance.

AAA is also well known for its wide range of deals outside of the auto industry. You'd truly benefit from membership discounts on things like entertainment, attractions, airfare, car rentals, cruises, dining, hotels, shopping etc.

A few of the affiliated companies include 1-800-Flowers, Banana Republic, Busch Gardens, K-Mart, Macy's, and many more!

With insurance companies, drivers usually can't add roadside assistance to their policies unless they also purchase collision and comprehensive coverage. These added coverages may end up costing you more in the long run than only paying for a AAA membership.

You can compare how much the additional collision and comprehensive coverage will cost you by using a quote comparison site like Insurify.com.

If separating your roadside assistance from your insurance company doesn't sit right with you, AAA also offers their own home, auto, renters, and life insurance.

What are the benefits of buying roadside assistance through my insurance company?

For complete tables of AAA membership costs, benefits, conditions, and other information, feel free to check out our complete article.

Generally towing and labor services are cheaper with your insurer because the cost is simply rolled into your policy's monthly premium.

It can also make sense to add this option to your car insurance plan so that any follow-up services you may need to file a claim for can be smoothly coordinated.

Therefore, if your only concern for roadside coverage is having access to a trustworthy towing and maintenance service than purchasing through your insurance carrier is probably the way to go.

It's important to note that using your roadside assistance frequently could lead to higher insurance premiums, especially if you make repeated claims on top of that.

Routinely getting your car stuck in a ditch or blowing a tire is a red flag that you probably aren't the safest driver.

Before you make the decision to buy through your insurance company, discuss the cost of roadside coverage, other types of coverage you may have to buy in order to be eligible for roadside assistance, potential limits of free towing miles, and potential limits of free service calls.