What Is the Farthest AAA Will Tow?

Last Updated on October 7, 2026

By James Shaffer Reviewed by Thomas Rockford, insurance industry executive and financial analyst, on September 30, 2026 How we fact-check

AAA towing distance depends on your membership level and your local AAA club’s rules. In many areas, the maximum included tow is up to 200 miles on a top-tier plan, while entry-level plans typically cover only a short tow (often 5–7 miles).

Below is a practical breakdown of how AAA towing limits usually work, what “farthest” really means, and how to avoid surprise out-of-pocket charges.

Premier Usually Goes the Farthest: In many AAA regions, top-tier plans can include towing up to 200 miles. At most big clubs, you get that long tow once per household each membership year, and other tows stop at 100 miles.
Classic Is Often a Short Tow: Entry-level memberships commonly cover only a few miles of towing, which may be enough in cities but tight in rural areas.
Know Your “Per Service Call” Rules: Towing miles are typically measured per breakdown incident, and roadside service is also limited by how many service calls you get each membership year.
Overages Can Get Expensive Fast: If your tow exceeds your included miles, you pay for the extra miles. Many clubs use the tow company’s local rate, and some publish their own, such as $7 a mile at the Auto Club Group. Confirm your destination and ask for an estimate upfront.

Table Of Contents

AAA Towing Limits by Membership Tier
The Farthest AAA Will Tow
Where AAA Will Tow Your Vehicle
How Many Tows Do You Get Per Membership Year?
What Happens Beyond Your Tow Miles?
AAA Towing Limits vs. Insurance Roadside Assistance
How Much Does AAA Membership Cost?
How Much Towing Coverage Do You Need?
Other AAA Roadside Services to Know About
Final Word
FAQs on AAA Towing Limits
Sources

AAA Towing Limits by Membership Tier

AAA offers different tiers of membership. The towing mileage you get “at no extra charge” is usually set per service call, up to your tier’s limit.

Membership Level	Typical Included Tow Miles (Per Service Call)	What This Means in Real Life
Classic (Basic)	Often 5–7 miles (varies by club)	Best for city driving and short tows. You may be responsible for miles beyond the included amount. Some clubs tow farther at no charge if you go to the responding provider’s shop or a AAA-approved shop.
Plus	Up to 100 miles	Often enough to reach a preferred repair shop or get to the next town on many road trips.
Premier	Up to 200 miles (at most big clubs, one long tow per household each membership year)	Designed for long-distance breakdowns. Many clubs provide one 200-mile tow, with remaining tows capped lower (commonly 100 miles).

Important: AAA clubs may also have destination rules (for example, towing to the nearest qualified repair facility, an AAA Approved Auto Repair location, or a destination of your choosing within your covered mileage). Always check your local club’s terms.

Quick tip: AAA benefits can vary by region. Before a road trip, open your club’s Member Guide (often in the AAA app) and confirm your towing miles, service-call limits, and any waiting period for new memberships.

The Farthest AAA Will Tow

In many AAA regions, the “farthest” included tow is up to 200 miles under a Premier-level membership. However, it’s common for that longest tow to be limited, such as:

One long-distance tow per membership year: For example, one tow up to 200 miles, with other tows capped at 100 miles. That’s the rule at the Auto Club Group, the Automobile Club of Southern California, AAA Mountain West and AAA Club Alliance.
Per-household vs. per-member rules: At those four clubs, the 200-mile tow is one per household, shared by everyone on the membership. Service calls are counted for each member.
Vehicle eligibility matters: RV, motorcycle, and specialty vehicle coverage can require add-ons or a specific tier depending on the club. Some clubs cap it in dollars instead of miles. The Automobile Club of Southern California pays up to $500 per RV or motorcycle call and $1,000 a year per household.

Where AAA Will Tow Your Vehicle

Most of the time, you can choose where you want to be towed as long as the destination is within your covered mileage and the tow is safe and permissible under local rules.

Within your miles: Request your preferred shop, your home, or another destination inside the included tow radius.
Beyond your miles: AAA typically covers up to your limit and you pay the overage directly to the service provider.
Nearest capable facility: If your requested destination isn’t feasible (closed, unsafe access, or can’t service your vehicle), you may be towed to the nearest appropriate repair facility.

Quick tip: Before the truck rolls, confirm your destination and ask whether the tow is expected to exceed your included miles. If it will, request an estimated overage cost so you’re not surprised at drop-off.

How Many Tows Do You Get Per Membership Year?

AAA commonly limits roadside assistance to a certain number of service calls per membership year (often four). A “tow” counts as a service call, along with other services like battery jump starts and lockouts. Some clubs give more calls at higher tiers: AAA Club Alliance gives Premier members five. Some give household members fewer. At the Automobile Club of Southern California, each household member gets two a year on memberships that start or renew on or after August 20, 2026.

Common Service Call Types	Examples
Towing	Breakdown tow to a repair shop or other destination (within covered miles)
Battery Service	Jump start, test, or on-site replacement (battery cost may be extra)
Tire Service	Install your spare (you typically need a usable spare)
Lockout	Help getting back in if keys are locked inside
Fuel Delivery	Emergency fuel delivery (fuel cost rules vary by tier/club)
Winching/Extrication	Getting a vehicle unstuck (limits vary)

What Happens Beyond Your Tow Miles?

If the tow exceeds your included mileage, you’ll usually pay the difference directly to the towing provider at the time of service. Rates vary by club and location. The Auto Club Group’s FAQ lists $7 a mile past your limit, and AAA Mountain West lists $5 to $15 a mile depending on the state. For a deeper look at how charges can work, see our guide to AAA towing costs.

AAA Towing Limits vs. Insurance Roadside Assistance

Many insurers sell roadside assistance as a cheap add-on, but towing limits and how service is delivered can be very different from AAA. Most insurer add-ons we checked tow about 15 miles, far less than AAA Plus or Premier. Compare how each program sets limits and what it covers.

Provider	How Towing Is Commonly Limited	Where to Learn More	Published Tow Limit (checked Sept. 30, 2026)
AAA	Mileage-based tiers (Classic/Plus/Premier) with club-specific rules	See the tier table above, then confirm in your local club’s Member Guide	5 miles on Classic (7 in Southern California), 100 on Plus, one 200-mile tow on Premier
Allstate	Often tied to a roadside plan, motor club option, or policy add-on; limits vary by product	Review the specific plan you’re enrolled in	Roadside memberships: 15 miles (Roadside Assist) or 25 miles (Roadside Advantage)
GEICO	Typically provided through an emergency roadside add-on; towing details can vary	Check your policy documents and roadside terms	Up to 15 miles to the nearest qualified repair shop in most states
State Farm	Often policy add-on based; destination and distance rules depend on plan and state	Confirm what counts as “covered” towing in your state	To the nearest repair facility; no mileage published
Progressive	Usually an optional coverage tied to the vehicle on the policy	Compare coverage language and any caps	Anywhere within 15 miles, or the nearest qualified shop if none is that close
Nationwide	Can be a policy add-on or bundled service; towing limits vary	Look for the towing limit and service-call rules	Not published; limited to $75 (Basic) or $300 (Plus) in Virginia and $100 (Basic) in North Carolina
Travelers	Commonly an endorsement/add-on with specific caps and rules	Verify details on your declarations and endorsements	15 miles (Roadside Assistance) or 100 miles (Premier Roadside Assistance)

If you’re shopping around, here are some solid AAA alternatives to compare based on how (and how often) you actually drive.

How Much Does AAA Membership Cost?

AAA membership dues vary by club, tier, household size, and promotions. In many areas, you’ll pay an annual fee for Classic/Plus/Premier, and you may see additional costs for add-on coverages (like RV/motorcycle) or additional household members. For example, AAA Washington charges $75 a year for Classic, $115 for Plus and $155 for Premier, plus a one-time $20 enrollment fee for new members (checked September 30, 2026). For the most accurate pricing, check your local AAA club’s membership page or branch.

How Much Towing Coverage Do You Need?

Picking the right towing limit is mostly about where you drive and how far you’d want to be towed if you break down.

Your Driving Pattern	Usually a Good Fit	Why
Mostly city/suburban driving near repair shops	Classic (in many areas)	Short tows are often enough when you’re never far from service.
Regular commuting plus weekend trips	Plus	100-mile towing can cover many “stuck between towns” scenarios.
Long road trips, rural routes, or “tow me back home” preference	Premier	Higher max tow benefit can be valuable when the nearest quality shop is far away.
Motorcycle/RV travel	Depends on your club	Some regions require an add-on or a specific tier for RV and motorcycle towing.

Other AAA Roadside Services to Know About

Towing is just one part of roadside assistance. If you’re comparing plans, it helps to understand the other “service calls” you might use in a year, including:

Help with AAA flat tire changes (typically installing your spare)
AAA lockout services (limits and reimbursements vary by tier/club)
Battery jump starts, fuel delivery, and winching/extrication (all subject to local rules and limitations)

Final Word

In many areas, the farthest AAA will tow “included” is up to 200 miles with a Premier-level membership—but the exact benefit can vary by AAA club, and long-distance towing may be limited to a certain number of times per year.

Before you depend on AAA for a long tow, confirm your miles per service call, your annual service-call limit, and any vehicle eligibility rules in your local club’s Member Guide.

If I drove long rural stretches often, I would get at least Plus. Premier’s 200-mile tow won’t cover every trip, since most clubs allow it only once a year per household.

If you want a definitive answer for your area, contact AAA and ask them to confirm your towing mileage and long-distance tow rules for your specific membership level.

FAQs on AAA Towing Limits

What’s the maximum distance AAA will tow?

It depends on your AAA membership tier and your local club’s rules. In many regions, a Premier-level membership includes towing up to 200 miles, while Plus is commonly up to 100 miles and Classic is a short-distance tow (often 5–7 miles).

Always confirm your exact miles in your local club’s Member Guide, since benefits can vary by state/region.

Is the 200-mile tow available every time with AAA Premier?

No. At the Auto Club Group, the Automobile Club of Southern California, AAA Mountain West and AAA Club Alliance, Premier includes one 200-mile tow per household each membership year. Other tows are capped at 100 miles. Rules vary by club, so check yours.

How many tows do you get per year with AAA?

AAA typically limits roadside assistance to a certain number of service calls per membership year (often four). A tow counts as a service call, along with other services like battery assistance, tire changes, fuel delivery, and lockouts. AAA Club Alliance gives Premier members five. The Automobile Club of Southern California gives each household member two, on memberships that start or renew on or after August 20, 2026.

Can AAA tow my car to any repair shop I choose?

Often yes—if your requested destination is within your covered tow miles and the tow can be completed safely and legally. If your preferred shop is too far, closed, or not accessible, the provider may tow you to the nearest appropriate facility instead.

What happens if my tow is longer than my included mileage?

AAA generally covers towing up to your included mileage limit, and you pay any additional miles directly to the service provider at the time of service. The per-mile rate varies by club and location. The Auto Club Group lists $7 a mile, and AAA Mountain West lists $5 to $15 a mile depending on the state. Ask for an estimate before the tow begins.

Does AAA membership cover the car or the person?

AAA roadside assistance is typically member-based, meaning it follows the member rather than a specific vehicle. In many cases, you can use your benefits in a car you’re driving or riding in, as long as you’re present at the scene and the vehicle is eligible under your club’s rules. Some clubs, such as the Auto Club Group, exclude taxis, limousines and ride-share vehicles.

Do RVs and motorcycles get the same towing distance as a standard car?

Not necessarily. Some AAA clubs require an RV/motorcycle add-on or a specific membership tier for RV and motorcycle towing, and the limits can differ. The Automobile Club of Southern California caps RV and motorcycle service at $500 per call and $1,000 a year per household. Check your local club’s terms to confirm eligibility, towing limits and any vehicle restrictions.

Sources

Checked September 30, 2026