How Much Does AAA Charge for Towing?

Last Updated on September 30, 2026

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

AAA towing is often “free” up to your plan’s mileage limit—then you pay the overage. The catch is that AAA benefits vary by region (AAA is a network of local auto clubs), so the exact towing miles, fees, and rules depend on your club and where you break down.

In this guide, we’ll break down how AAA towing works, what you’ll pay if you go beyond your included miles, and how to avoid surprise charges—so you can make the most of your free towing benefits.

1. AAA Doesn’t Have One National Tow Price: Your included miles and any overage rate depend on your local AAA club and the service area.
2. Your Plan Sets the “Free” Miles: Classic/Basic usually covers a short local tow, often about 5 miles. Plus usually covers tows up to 100 miles. Premier adds longer towing, and the distance and number of long tows depend on your club. At most big clubs, it’s one tow of up to 200 miles per household each membership year.
3. Overages Are Usually Pay-At-Service: If you exceed your mileage limit (or your annual service calls), expect to pay the extra cost at the time the tow is provided.
4. New-Member Fine Print Matters: Many clubs make new members wait a few days before roadside help or upgraded towing starts. If you join and ask for help the same day, some clubs charge an extra fee.

How AAA’s Towing Service Works

You pay annual membership dues to AAA, and that membership includes a set number of roadside “service calls” per year (tows, jump-starts, flat tire service, lockouts, etc.). Generally, the higher your membership level, the more towing miles you get. Some clubs also sell a cheaper plan with discounts but no roadside help at all.

Membership prices depend on your club and often your ZIP code. Here are two examples, checked in September 2026. AAA Washington charges $75 a year for Classic, $115 for Plus and $155 for Premier, and new members also pay a one-time $20 enrollment fee. AAA Mountain West Group, which covers Alaska, Arizona, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming and Northern California, listed first-year prices of $64.99 (Classic), $99.99 (Plus) and $124.99 (Premier) for new members who sign up for automatic renewal. That offer runs through December 31, 2026, and renewals are at full price.

AAA membership usually follows the member (not the car). You can typically use it in your own car, a friend’s car or a rental, as long as you’re there when help arrives. Have your membership card and a photo ID ready. Several clubs exclude taxis, limousines and ride-share vehicles.

When you request help, AAA will determine whether roadside service can get you moving safely. If emergency roadside assistance can’t jumpstart your vehicle, fix a flat tire situation, or otherwise make the vehicle safely drivable, towing is usually the next step.

Response times vary a lot by city vs. rural areas, weather, major events, and tow-truck availability. If you’re curious what to expect, see how long AAA typically takes to respond.

AAA will typically tow your vehicle either (1) to a repair facility (including AAA-approved shops in many regions) or (2) to another destination you choose, within your mileage limit.

AAA Towing Mileage Limits by Membership Tier

AAA’s published benefits commonly look like this (but your club’s Member Guide is the final word). If you want a deeper dive, see the farthest AAA will tow.

Associate members (the other people in your household on your membership) may get fewer calls than the primary member. At the Automobile Club of Southern California, associate members get two service calls a year and primary members keep four, on memberships that start or renew on or after August 20, 2026. Classic tows also run a little longer at some clubs, such as 7 miles in Southern California.

Many AAA clubs sell RV and motorcycle coverage as an add-on to Plus or Premier, and the limits vary a lot. AAA Mountain West Group tows covered RVs and motorcycles as far as a Plus or Premier car, and its Premier plan includes them in several states. The Auto Club Group, AAA Washington and the Automobile Club of Southern California cap service under their RV add-ons at $500 per call and $1,000 per household per year. Standard plans may give a motorcycle very little help: AAA Washington’s standard plans cover motorcycles for lockout and fuel delivery only.

What AAA Charges When You Exceed Your Tow Limit

Here’s the key point: AAA has no single nationwide “price per mile” for towing overages. Each club sets its own rule. Many use the local tow company’s per-mile rate, and a few publish their own. The Auto Club Group’s FAQ, for example, lists $7 a mile past your plan’s limit, but another answer on the same page says extra miles are billed at the tow company’s own rate, so confirm the rate before the truck is sent. AAA Mountain West Group says extra miles generally run $5 to $15 a mile, depending on the state. You usually pay the tow provider at the time of service.

So, “How much does AAA charge for towing?” is really two questions:

• Within your mileage benefit: No extra towing charge (you’ve already paid through membership dues).
• Beyond your mileage benefit: You pay the overage based on your club’s rules and the local tow rate.

If you want to estimate out-of-pocket costs (especially for longer tows), check your plan’s towing miles and compare that to your likely distance. If you exceed the limit, ask for the overage rate up front.

Also remember: if you run out of included service calls for the year, you may be charged for additional roadside events (even if the mileage is short). That’s one reason it’s smart to use roadside service only for true emergencies—not routine maintenance.

Typical Tow Pricing Without Roadside Coverage

If you’re comparing AAA to paying out of pocket, many tow companies charge a hook-up/base fee plus a per-mile rate. Rates vary widely by city, time of day, and whether you need special equipment.

For a real-world benchmark, you can compare your situation to the average cost of a 20-mile tow in your area.

Other AAA Roadside Fees and Fine Print

AAA towing is straightforward most of the time, but these “fine print” items can affect what you pay:

• New member waiting periods: The wait depends on the club. The Auto Club Group says roadside benefits begin three days after you pay, and AAA Mountain West Group says 48 hours. Other clubs start new members at the Classic level and hold back Plus or Premier towing for five to seven days. If you need help the same day you join, some clubs charge a non-refundable fee.
• Overage charges: You pay for miles past your plan’s limit. Many clubs use local tow rates, and some publish a price per mile. Ask for the rate before the tow, and expect to pay at the time of service.
• One tow per disablement (in many clubs): If your vehicle needs additional moves for the same breakdown, extra tows may be limited or billed.
• Extra charges are yours to pay: AAA doesn’t pay you back for miles or services beyond your benefit, so confirm the price before you approve the work. If you hire a non-AAA tow on your own, some clubs reimburse only up to what they pay their own providers.

Winching and Extrication: When Your Car Is Stuck

If your vehicle is stuck (snow, mud, a ditch, a shoulder drop-off), AAA may provide winching and extraction—but it’s not unlimited. In many AAA regions, standard winching is covered only when a truck can safely reach your car from a normally traveled road. Classic usually includes one truck and one driver. Plus and Premier often include a second truck if it’s needed.

If the recovery requires additional trucks, specialized equipment, or extended labor time, you may owe extra charges (and some higher-tier memberships may include limited extra help before charges start). If the car still can’t be driven after it’s pulled out, ask the dispatcher whether the tow counts as a separate service call.

When AAA May Decline or Limit a Tow

AAA can refuse service when a tow would be unsafe, illegal, or outside the membership terms. While rules vary by club, common limitations include:

• Inaccessible or off-road locations: If a truck can’t safely reach the vehicle from an established road, service may be limited or unavailable.
• Commercial or for-hire use: Membership is generally intended for personal use, not routine towing for taxis/for-hire operations or commercial fleets.
• Tows outside the rules: Some clubs won’t tow a car that was bought in non-running condition. They also won’t haul a car for a sale, auction, car show or relocation, or tow it to or from a salvage yard.
• Vehicle-type rules: Certain RVs, trailers, or specialty vehicles may require an RV/motorcycle plan or rider.

If you’re unsure whether your vehicle qualifies, the fastest way to avoid a bad surprise is to check your club’s Member Guide or call AAA before you need help.

How to Request AAA Towing

You can request a tow by phone, through the AAA app, or online. If you want the official contact options, see AAA’s customer service contact number.

To reach AAA 24/7 roadside assistance by phone, call 800-AAA-HELP (800-222-4357). You can also request help online using AAA’s Digital Roadside Request tool: Request Roadside Assistance Online.

When you request service, be ready to share:

• Your exact location (cross streets help)
• Your vehicle details (make/model/color)
• The issue (won’t start, flat tire, accident, etc.)
• Where you want the car to go (repair shop vs. home)

It’s also smart to confirm whether your situation can be handled with a non-tow service first, like emergency roadside assistance (battery, tire help, lockout, fuel, etc.).

Is AAA Towing Worth It?

AAA can be worth it if you want predictable coverage and the option for longer-distance towing—especially if you’d otherwise be paying a hook-up fee plus per-mile charges out of pocket.

On the other hand, some drivers already have towing through their auto insurer or a vehicle warranty. Some credit cards offer roadside help too, but many only send a truck and charge you for each call. Before buying or renewing AAA, compare your alternatives (and how they’re handled). A good starting point is our guide to whether car insurance covers towing, plus a review of whether an AAA membership is worth it for your driving habits.

Before authorizing a long tow, I would ask how many miles are included and what the extra miles will cost. That’s more useful than assuming a membership makes every tow free.

Also consider the “non-towing” perks. Depending on your plan and region, AAA membership may include services like fuel delivery, flat tire changes, lockout assistance, and discounts and travel benefits.

If AAA isn’t a fit, here are some AAA alternatives to consider.

Final Word on AAA Towing Costs

AAA towing is typically included up to your plan’s mileage limit. If you go beyond those miles (or exceed your annual service calls), you’ll usually pay extra—often at a local per-mile rate—and that amount is typically due at the time of service.

To get the most accurate answer for your membership, check your club’s Member Guide and confirm your limits before you need a tow.

FAQs on AAA Towing Costs

Sources

Checked September 29–30, 2026. The Auto Club Group: roadside FAQ (updated June 9, 2026), membership, Plus RV and Premier RV. Automobile Club of Southern California Member Guide (June 2026). AAA Mountain West Group: roadside FAQ, terms and conditions, join page. AAA Club Alliance: How far will AAA tow my car? (March 13, 2026), Is AAA worth it? (Jan. 6, 2026), roadside rules. AAA Washington: membership, terms and conditions, emergency roadside service.