AARP vs AAA: Which is Better for You?

AARP car insurance services

AARP — or the American Associated of Retired Persons — caters to elderly individuals with its auto insurance offerings. Through The Hartford, AARP car insurance offers a wide range of features and options to customize the coverage you need. Below are benefits that are automatically included in AARP auto insurance through The Hartford. Additionally, Accident Forgiveness and Disappearing Collision Deductible are optional additions. 

You do not need to be an AARP member to qualify for The Hartford car insurance. The Hartford is an independent insurance provider.

While some of these policy options are self-explanatory, we've outlined some unique aspects of AARP's policy features below.

• Lifetime Renewability: Your policy will automatically renew as long as you are able to drive and are paying your bill. However, this currently isn't available in Hawaii, Michigan, New Hampshire, North Carolina, or Texas.
• RecoverCare Service: This pays up to $2,500 for medical care after an accident. Care is defined as help with household chores, grocery shopping, transportation, cooking, cleaning, or other activities you are unable to complete after a car accident.
• One Deductible: This refers to a single deductible for your home and auto policies if you also purchase a home insurance policy from The Hartford using AARP's Advantage Plus package.

AAA car insurance plans

Although AAA is best known for its roadside assistance program, the organization also sells car insurance. AAA's auto insurance offerings are similar to those of other car insurance companies. See below the advertised features of AAA auto insurance.

How much are insurance rates from AAA and AARP?

As noted above, AARP utilizes The Hartford to offer its auto insurance, and AAA is also known as Auto Club.  The table below outlines the average rates on a monthly and annual basis for auto coverage.  Of course, each driver, vehicle, and specific needs will affect what final rates will look like but this offers a glimpse to get you started on comparing prices. 

Basic services provided by both AARP and AAA roadside assistance:

• Fuel delivery
• Jumpstart
• Flat tire change
• Winching
• Towing
• Vehicle lockout

Each program has slight differences in these services, but you will have peace of mind with either program knowing there are options if you find yourself in a sticky situation on the side of the highway. See below for some of the additional details specific to each company. 

AARP roadside assistance highlights

AARP is not only a car insurance provider. It is a non-profit and non-partisan organization designed to help people aged 50 years and older. Included in AARP's services are vehicle- and car insurance-related features. If you’re an AARP member, you can subscribe to the Allstate-backed roadside assistance program. Unlike other roadside assistance programs — including Allstate's standard offering — AARP provides a wide variety of services. The below chart shows what is covered by AARP.

AARP’s roadside assistance service provides much more than the roadside assistance offered by traditional car insurance companies. Below are AARP's non-emergency service options. Below the chart, find a brief explanation of the perks.

AARP roadside assistance extras

• Pathfinder Trip Routing Service: Tips and maps on destinations in the US, Mexico, and Canada.
• Trip Interruption: If your vehicle is disabled as a result of an accident, you will be reimbursed up to $1,500 for travel expenses. You must be more than 100 miles away from home to be eligible.
• Auto Theft Reward: This will provide a monetary reward for information leading to the arrest of the thief if your vehicle is stolen.
• Legal Defense Reimbursement: Provides litigation defend in the event you are taken to court over a traffic violation. Certain restrictions apply.
• Hospital Emergency Bond: If you're injured more than 100 miles away from home and are required to present evidence of financial responsibility at a hospital, this will provide support.
• Arrest Bond Certificate: An AARP edition of a get out of a "get out of jail free card." If you're arrested for a driving-related offense (cannot be DUI/DWI related), you can use this coverage as a jail bond.
• RV Roadside Coverage: You can add this coverage for $24 per year to receive two additional service calls.

AAA roadside assistance highlights

AAA's roadside assistance program provides much more than does a typical car insurance company. Unlike AARP, which offers car insurance through The Hartford and roadside assistance via Allstate, AAA provides its own coverage through regional “clubs” or “federations.” Each of these clubs covers a particular area of the United States.

See below what is covered by AAA's roadside assistance program. Like AARP, AAA's tier system ranges from basic to best.

Like AARP, AAA offers additional perks aside from roadside assistance. Below are some of AAA's non-roadside assistance benefits, sorted by membership level. 

Which is better: AAA or AARP roadside assistance?

In terms of roadside assistance coverage, the two options are fairly similar. AAA and AARP each provides roadside assistance basics like towing, fuel delivery, and lock-out services, but differ in their minor coverage details, including the number of service calls covered and towing range. The table below puts the basic-level roadside assistance programs side-by-side for a quick comparison.