How to Use Your AAA Membership: Maximize Benefits in First 90 Days

Article overview

Start maximizing your AAA Membership today with this 90-day guide! Here's what you'll learn:

• How to activate discounts and save more every day.

• Tips for using ProtectMyID to safeguard your identity. 

• Planning trips with AAA rates and member-only benefits.

• Unlocking roadside and travel benefits to get the most out of your membership.

You just joined over 65 million AAA Members across North America. Now what? Most new members know AAA for roadside assistance, but that's just the beginning. Your AAA Membership comes packed with discounts, travel perks, identity protection and financial tools that many members never fully discover.

Follow this 90-day calendar to make the most of your membership from day one.

What does your AAA Membership actually include?

Before diving into the plan, here's a quick overview of what you've unlocked:

• Roadside assistance: 24/7 coverage for towing, lockouts, flat tires, dead batteries and fuel delivery

• Travel discounts: AAA rates on hotels, car rentals, cruises and vacation packages

• Member savings: Discounts at thousands of retailers, restaurants and entertainment venues

• Identity protection: Free ProtectMyID enrollment through Experian

• Financial services: The AAA Cashback Visa Signature® Card, banking and insurance options

• Digital tools: The AAA Mobile App, online account, digital membership card and discount browser extension

The depth of these benefits depends on your membership tier—Classic, Plus or Premier—but every level gives you access to significant everyday savings.

Month 1: Get set up and start saving

Take advantage of your AAA Membership benefits right from the start to make the most of your savings and services.

Week 1: Activate your digital tools

Getting your digital tools in place is the single most important first step. Without them, you'll miss discounts and have slower access to roadside assistance.

Your week 1 checklist:

• Create your online account using your membership number (found on your physical card or email receipt).

• Download the mobile app.

• Download the AAA Discount Browser Extension to automatically surface member savings while shopping online.

• Enter your vehicle details in the app (make, model, year and license plate) so roadside assistance dispatchers can reach you faster in an emergency.

Once you're set up, explore the app's "Near Me" feature. It uses your location to show real-time savings at restaurants, retailers and attractions around you.

Week 2: Protect your identity with ProtectMyID

One of the most overlooked AAA Membership benefits is free identity theft protection. AAA Members can enroll in ProtectMyID from Experian at no additional cost.

As a AAA Member, you get free access to ProtectMyID's basic monitoring tier. When you enroll using the promotional code, you'll also receive a complimentary one-month trial at either the Deluxe or Complete level which gives you instant access to enhanced features like three-bureau credit monitoring, dark web surveillance and more.

Review your insurance with AAA Triple Check

While you're focused on protecting your identity, it's also a great time to make sure your insurance coverage is up to date. AAA's Triple Check is a free, no-obligation insurance policy review that helps ensure you have the right coverage at the right price.

Your week 2 checklist:

• Visit online at AAA.com/ExperianIDTheft and activate your free enrollment in just a few minutes.

• Set up alerts so you're notified of any suspicious activity right away.

• Keep your enrollment confirmation handy for future reference. 

• Visit AAA Triple Check to schedule your free policy review.

• Find out if you're eligible for any additional discounts or savings on your existing policies.

Week 3: Start using your everyday discounts

Your AAA Membership connects you to discounts at more than 100,000 partners nationwide. This week, focus on the highest-impact savings first.

Your week 3 checklist:

• eGift cards: Save up to 25% on discounted digital gift cards across a wide range of categories including: dining, retail, home improvement and more.

• Fuel rewards: Save on gas at Shell and Love's Travel Stops with AAA Member discounts, helping you spend less every time you fill up.

• AAA Tickets: Check AAA Tickets for up to 25% on movies, and special member pricing at theme parks, trusted member access to concerts and sporting events.

Week 4: Add family members and future-proof your membership

Your week 4 checklist:

• Add family members: AAA allows you to add household members, extending roadside assistance and discounts to everyone in your home. Plus, if you have a teen driver, you can add them to your membership for free.

• Enable auto-renewal so your coverage never lapses unexpectedly.

• Update your contact information to ensure you receive roadside assistance dispatches and member communications without delay.

• Apply for the AAA Cashback Visa Signature® Card: Earn AAA Dollars and redeem for cash back on select AAA purchases

Month 2: Explore travel perks and extra benefits

Weeks 5–6: Plan your first trip using savings from AAA rates and member-only benefits

Travel is where your AAA Membership delivers some of its biggest long-term value. AAA negotiates rates with major hotel brands—including Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and select Choice Hotels.

Your weeks 5–6 checklist:

• Hotels: Search AAA hotels and filter by AAA Diamond designation to find top-rated properties and get AAA Member discounts on your stay. Save with AAA rates while earning hotel loyalty points at your favorite hotels.

• Car rentals: Book through AAA for up to 20% off the Hertz base rate, free additional drivers, waived young renter fees (ages 20–24) and one free child safety seat. Plus, join the Hertz Gold+ loyalty program and get a free day after your first Gold rental. Restrictions apply.

• Trip planning: Use AAA Trip Canvas to research destinations, save points of interest, find hotels and restaurants and build a full road trip itinerary in one place.

• Travel agents: Find a AAA Travel Agent to help plan cruises, tours, international trips and more. Knowledgeable agents can help you save time, compare offers and book with confidence. Visit your local AAA branch office, call or easily connect for a virtual appointment from your phone at home or on the go.

• Cruises: Explore special offers, AAA pricing and member-only benefits from preferred cruise partners, including ocean, river and expedition sailings.

• Tours and guided vacations: Learn more about member-only benefits for vacation packages and guided tours from AAA's preferred travel partners, with options ranging from escorted journeys to independent vacations.

Weeks 7–8: Discover the benefits most members miss

Your weeks 7–8 checklist:

• Turn everyday online shopping into cash back: Earn AAA Dollars redeemable for cash back when you shop through the AAA Dollars Online Mall at retailers like Target, Best Buy and more.

• You could pay less for auto insurance: Request a free quote through the AAA app or website and see if you're eligible for a competitive member rate.

• AAA-owned Car Care and AAA Approved Auto Repair: Members receive a 10% discount on repair labor (save up to $75) and a free vehicle maintenance inspection upon request with any paid service.

• International Driving Permit: If international travel is on your radar, visit your local branch to get one issued quickly.

• Expedited passport and visa services: Need a passport fast? AAA Travel offers expedited passport assistance to get you travel-ready sooner.

Month 3: Lock in long-term value

Weeks 9–10: Review and optimize your membership

By now, you've activated your core benefits. This is a great time to take stock of what you've used—and what you might be missing.

Your weeks 9–10 checklist:

• Review your AAA Dollars balance: Log into your account to see how many AAA Dollars you've earned and plan how to redeem them.

• Check in on ProtectMyID: Review any alerts or reports from Experian and make sure your information is up to date. If you've been trying out the Deluxe or Complete membership tier, now is a great time to decide whether you'd like to keep it after your free upgrade period ends. 

• Explore your membership tier: If you're on Classic, consider whether upgrading to Plus or Premier would give you better value based on how much you've used your benefits so far.

Weeks 11–12: Set yourself up for the year ahead

Your weeks 11–12 checklist:

• Prepare for next year: Review your membership benefits and think about how you'll use them in the coming year. Whether you're planning a road trip, budgeting for repairs or hunting for discounts, matching your plans to your benefits can save you time and money.

• Explore new discounts and perks: Visit AAA Discounts & Rewards® to find savings on shopping, dining, entertainment, travel and more.

• Visit your local AAA branch: Staff can walk you through your membership tier, help you enroll in programs and answer any questions in person.

• Share the benefits: Let household members know about the discounts and perks available to them as associate members.

The members who get the most out of AAA are the ones who take action early. Each step builds momentum—and the savings add up quickly.

Not sure where to begin? View your member savings or download the AAA Mobile App now to get started.