AAA Premier is the highest membership tier offered by AAA, built around extended towing distances, travel reimbursement benefits, and home lockout coverage that the Basic and Plus plans don’t include. The headline feature is a 200-mile tow, but the plan covers more ground than roadside assistance alone. Pricing starts around $125 per year for a primary member, though exact costs and some benefits vary by regional AAA club.
Roadside Assistance Coverage
The core of any AAA membership is roadside help, and Premier gives you the most generous version. You get four service calls per year, broken down as one tow up to 200 miles and three additional tows up to 100 miles each. That 200-mile tow is the single biggest upgrade over Plus (which typically caps at 100 miles) and Basic (which usually maxes out around 5 miles). If your car breaks down far from home or on a road trip, the difference between a 5-mile tow and a 200-mile tow can easily be worth hundreds of dollars out of pocket.
Beyond towing, Premier includes the same flat tire changes, jump starts, and lockout services you’d expect from any AAA plan. Battery service goes further than a simple jump: a technician will test and diagnose your battery on the spot and can install a new AAA-brand replacement if you need one. Emergency fuel delivery is also included, and unlike lower tiers at some clubs, Premier covers the cost of the fuel itself rather than just the delivery.
Travel Benefits
Premier adds a layer of travel protection that the other tiers lack or offer in smaller amounts. The trip interruption benefit reimburses you up to $1,500 for expenses like car rental fees, lodging, and meals if your vehicle becomes disabled during a covered trip. That reimbursement can take real financial pressure off an unexpected breakdown hundreds of miles from home.
Some regional clubs bundle additional travel perks into Premier. AAA Northeast, for instance, includes four sets of passport photos (one digital) and a $10 credit toward an International Driving Permit, which authorizes you to drive in over 150 countries. Not every club offers the same extras, so check with your local club for the specific travel benefits included in your area.
Home Lockout Service
One perk that surprises many members is coverage for getting locked out of your home, not just your car. Premier provides up to $150 in reimbursement when you use a lockout service from an approved provider. This applies to both vehicle and home locks, so you’re covered whether you left your keys on the kitchen counter or locked inside your car at the grocery store.
What Premier Costs
A primary Premier membership runs about $125 per year. You can add up to five household members at roughly $85 each. Each membership, whether primary or household, covers that individual driver in any vehicle. That means you’re covered whether you’re driving your own car, a friend’s car, or a rental. The person is the member, not the vehicle.
The price jump from Plus to Premier is usually modest, often $30 to $50 more per year depending on your regional club. For someone who takes road trips, lives in a rural area where the nearest repair shop is far away, or simply wants the peace of mind that comes with 200-mile towing and trip interruption coverage, the upgrade can pay for itself with a single use.
Benefits Vary by Regional Club
AAA is a federation of regional clubs, and each one sets its own pricing and benefit details within the Premier tier. The core roadside assistance features (200-mile tow, four service calls, fuel delivery, battery service) are consistent across clubs, but the extras can differ. Some clubs include digital security discounts like 50% off Norton 360 subscriptions. Others offer DMV or RMV transaction services at branch locations. A few bundle free rental car days or enhanced travel insurance limits.
When you sign up or upgrade, the benefits you receive are determined by the club that serves your home address. If a specific perk matters to you, verify it directly with your local club before purchasing. The national AAA website can direct you to your regional club’s membership page, where benefits are listed in detail.
Who Gets the Most Value From Premier
Premier makes the most financial sense if you regularly drive long distances, whether for work, family visits, or vacations. The 200-mile tow alone can save you $400 or more compared to paying a tow truck out of pocket for that distance. The trip interruption reimbursement adds another safety net for road trips.
If you rarely leave your metro area and your commute is short, the Basic or Plus tier may cover your needs at a lower price. But if you’ve ever been stranded far from home and wished someone would just handle it, Premier is designed for exactly that scenario.