AAA is a regional automotive club, offering a wide variety of benefits. It also offers consumer insurance, including homeowners insurance, auto insurance, and travel insurance. Travelers do not have to be a AAA member to purchase travel insurance.
Business Insider compared AAA Travel Insurance to the best travel insurance companies and found it to be a standout option, with very accessible policies for people with preexisting conditions and free coverage for children traveling with parents or grandparents. However, be wary of its relatively low travel medical benefits.
AAA Travel Insurance Pros and Cons
AAA Travel Insurance Pros
- Kids 17 and under are covered for free when traveling with parent or grandparent
- Relatively low premiums
- All plans eligible for preexisting condition waiver
AAA Travel Insurance Cons
- Relatively low emergency medical insurance maximum ($75,000)
- Clunky buying experience
Get a Quote
A+
- Kids under 17 are free when traveling with parents
- Covers pre-existing conditions
- CFAR coverage offers 80% reimbursement
- No annual plans
- Relatively low limits for emergency medical coverage
Compare AAA Travel Insurance
$308
N/A
- Zero Complaint Guarantee
- Streamlined comparison platform
- Variety of partnered travel insurance companies
- Customer service team is difficult to reach
SquareMouth is an online marketplace that helps you choose a travel insurance policy from 32 companies that shares a comprehensive, streamlined overview page for each insurance provider.
SquareMouth Travel Insurance874
A++
- Policy coverage includes most pre-existing health conditions
- Generous medical and evacuation amounts for peace of mind
- COVID coverage included by default on all insurance plans
- Offers a wide range of plans for various budgets and travel needs
- Some plans offer CFAR, “cancel for work reasons,” financial default, and unemployment coverage
- Limited add-on coverage options
- Baggage loss and delay coverage is low compared to competitors
Tin Leg travel insurance offers eight travel insurance plans to meet the unique needs of travelers.
Tin Leg- Tin Leg was founded in 2014 by the travel insurance industry experts at Squaremouth. Designed to meet the most common needs of travelers, these policies offer comprehensive Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption benefits, and a range of Emergency Medical and Medical Evacuation limits.
- Options to cover sports equipment
- Option to increase medical coverage
- Can cancel up to 48 hours before travel when CFAR option is purchased
- Affordable coverage for budget-conscious travelers
- Includes generous baggage delay, loss and trip delay coverage
- Optional "adventure sports" bundle available for riskier activities
- Pricier than some competitors with lower coverage ceilings
- Some competitors offer higher medical emergency coverage
Travelex travel insurance is one of the largest travel insurance providers in the U.S. providing domestic and international coverage options. It offers a basic, select, and America option. Read on to learn more.
Travelex Travel Insurance- Optional CFAR insurance available with the Ultimate plan
- Travel delay insurance starting at $500 with the Advantage plan
- Emergency medical and dental coverage starting at $15,000
AAA Travel Insurance Overview
The American Automobile Association is a national organization with over 61 million members and offers comprehensive travel insurance plans. AAA policies are supplied by Allianz Global Assistance, one of the world's top travel insurance providers.
AAA Travel Insurance makes it easy to get coverage for an upcoming trip. You can get a quote, compare plans, and purchase a policy online.
The plans from AAA travel insurance are extensive, covering the following:
- Trip cancellations
- Trip delays
- Trip interruptions
- Trip changes
- Emergency medical transport
- Lost baggage
- Lost or stolen travel documents
AAA travel insurance plans are competitively priced and give you the flexibility to pay for only the amount of coverage you need. For instance, if you're traveling with one small piece of luggage, you could opt for a more basic plan with less baggage coverage, saving you money in the process.
Kids 17 and under are covered for free when they travel with parents or grandparents, making it a good choice for travel insurance for families. Additionally, all plans are eligible for preexisting condition coverage.
One downside to AAA travel insurance is that the website is not as user-friendly as its competitors. Requesting a AAA travel insurance quote and comparing plan options can be more challenging than on some other travel insurance platforms. Additionally, it's coverage limits on emergency medical insurance is on the lower side, topping out at $75,000.
AAA Travel Insurance Plans and Coverages
AAA travel insurance offers several plans, each with its own price and level of coverage. Plan availability depends on where you live.
Travelers from most U.S. states will have the following plan options:
- TripProtect Select II. This is the simplest, most affordable plan. Among its many benefits, AAA offers trip cancellation insurance up to $50,000, emergency medical up to $25,000, and lost baggage coverage up to $1,000.
- TripProtect Cancel Anytime. This plan provides the same coverage as TripProtect Select II, but allows travelers to cancel their trip for "almost any unforeseen reason" not already covered in the Select plan. Cancellations that fall under this category are eligible for 80% reimbursement of nonrefundable fees. It's worth noting that CFAR coverage is significantly more expensive.
- TripProtect Deluxe II. This plan covers the same categories as the Select II plan, but increases the coverage amount in most categories. For example, the baggage coverage extends up to $2,000 and travel medical insurance extends to $75,000.
- Rental Car Damage Protector. This is a plan specifically for protecting you if your rental car is damaged. It doesn't cover standard travel-related categories, but it does cover trip interruptions related to a rental car, rental car damage (up to $50,000), and baggage loss related to a rental car.
Travelers from New York and Washington have access to the TripAssist plans (instead of the TripProtect plans outlined above). The scope of coverage with TripAssist plans is quite similar.
Keep in mind that AAA travel insurance could deny coverage to people with preexisting medical conditions. That said, it's possible to secure insurance, even with a preexisting condition. You will have to buy a plan that can provide a preexisting medical condition exclusion waiver and buy your policy within a specified purchasing window.
In AAA's case, all its policies, excluding its rental car damage protector, offers preexisting condition waivers. To qualify for the waiver, you'll need to purchase your policy within 14 days of your initial trip deposit.
Additional Coverage Options Offered by AAA Travel Insurance (Riders)
AAA travel insurance doesn't allow for add-ons or riders. With each AAA travel insurance plan, what you see is what you get. Only the people named on the policy are covered. So, if you're traveling with family members or friends who want coverage, be sure to include them when requesting a quote. However, note that kids 17 and under can be covered for free.
You also need to be aware of exclusions. Exclusions are certain expenses that aren't covered by the travel insurance policy.
Common exclusions with AAA travel insurance include:
- Preexisting medical conditions
- "Normal" pregnancy and childbirth
- Fertility treatment or elective abortion
- Alcohol or drug use
- High-risk or extreme sports (bungee jumping, skydiving, etc.)
- Criminal acts
- War or war-related activity (including terrorism)
Before purchasing a policy, make sure you're aware of the specific exclusions for your chosen plan.
How Much Does AAA Travel Insurance Cost?
The cost of a AAA travel insurance plan depends on several factors, including:
- Your home state
- The number of travelers
- The age of the travelers
- Your destination
- The length of your trip
- The total cost of your trip
When you request a quote on the official AAA travel insurance website, you'll provide all of this information. That way, AAA can quote you an accurate price.
For a general idea of typical costs, here's how much the TripProtect Select II plan would cost in certain situations:
- $152 – A 23-year-old from Illinois taking a week-long, $3,000 trip to Italy. (5.1% of trip cost)
- $186 – A 30-year-old from California taking a two-week trip to Japan for $4,000. (4.7% of trip cost)
- $434 – A Texas family (two 40-year-old parents with a 10-year-old and 4-year-old) taking a two-week trip to Australia for $20,000. (2.2% of trip cost)
- $418* – A 65-year-old couple from New York taking a $6,000 trip to Mexico for two weeks. (10.5% of trip cost)
The general rule of thumb is that your insurance plan should cost between 4% to 8% of your overall trip cost. As you can see, the majority of these quotes are well within the expected costs, except the trip with the 65-year-old couple. However, premiums often drastically increase for older travelers.
*This quote is for the TripAssist Family Care plan, which is currently only available in New York and Washington.
How to Purchase and Manage a AAA Travel Insurance Policy
AAA Travel Insurance provides affordable, user-friendly policy options. You can purchase a AAA travel insurance policy online by going to the official AAA travel insurance website and follow the following steps:
- Enter information about your upcoming trip, including your state of residence, the total trip cost, destination, travel dates, and the ages of all travelers.
- Choose from the available plans (and then click "Buy Now").
- Provide additional information (name, address, and flight information).
- Enter your credit card information.
- Click "Complete Purchase."
The entire process should only take a few minutes. Just make sure you carefully look at each available plan before making your decision. Additionally, consider whether you need the preexisting condition waiver. To qualify, you'll need to purchase your policy within 14 days of your initial trip deposit.
How to file a claim with AAA Travel Insurance
The easiest way to file a claim is to do it online.
Go to the travel insurance page of the AAA website and click "File or check a claim." In the next window, click "File a claim." This will take you to the Allianz Insurance Claims Center (remember, Allianz is the supplier of AAA travel insurance).
You can also go directly to the Allianz Insurance Claims Center.
Within Allianz's online claims system, you'll follow a basic three-step process:
- Provide some details about what happened in an online form.
- Upload supporting documentation (incident reports, proof of payment, trip itineraries, receipts, etc.)
- Continue to check your claim status online through the Allianz Insurance Claims Center.
If you prefer not to file a claim through the Allianz website, you can use one of these alternative methods:
- The Allyz TravelSmart mobile app (available for iOS and Android)
- Email via claimsinquiry@allianzassistance.com
- Fax to 804-673-1469
- Mail to the following address:
Allianz Global Assistance
P.O. Box 71533
Richmond, VA 23255-1533
Whichever filing method you choose, remember that Allianz can't accept a claim without proof. So, make sure you include all the documents necessary to show that the incident occurred. If Allianz needs more documentation, they'll ask for it – but the request is likely to slow down the claim process.
AAA Travel Insurance Customer Reviews and Ratings
AAA travel insurance is provided by Allianz Global Assistance, a reputable insurance provider based in Germany. In online reviews, Allianz customers report an overall positive support experience.
Allianz gets an average of 4.2 stars from users on the popular review site Trustpilot and 4.19 stars on its Better Business Bureau page. People frequently comment that the claims process is smooth and takes less time than expected. Customers also praise the staff for being truthful and responsive.
Its worth noting that many insurance companies struggle with online reviews, as customers often only leave reviews when they have something to say, which is often negative. As such, it's noteworthy that Allianz's reviews are so positive.
Let's look at some third-party ratings for a more well-rounded view of Allianz as a provider. For starters, Allianz doesn't underwrite its own insurance. Instead, your policy will be underwritten by one of two companies: BCS Insurance or Jefferson Insurance Company.
BCS Insurance has a low rate of complaints compared to its share of the market, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' Company Complaint Index. Where anything above 1.0 indicates a higher number of complaints than average, BCS Insurance has a 0.07.
Jefferson Insurance Company fares a little worse, scoring a 0.26 on the Company Complaint Index, which is still below the expected number of complaints.
AM Best gave BCS Insurance an A- (Excellent) financial stability rating and gave Jefferson Insurance company an A+ (Superior). These scores indicate that both companies are likely to fulfill their financial obligations, like paying claims.
AAA Travel Insurance Alternatives
AAA Travel Insurance isn't the only option for travelers who want coverage. Here's how AAA stacks up against the competition.
AAA Travel Insurance vs. Nationwide
Unlike AAA, which is a nonprofit motor club organization that offers travel insurance on the side, Nationwide is an actual insurance company. That means they have a wider variety of travel insurance plans to choose from.
Along with single-trip insurance, Nationwide Travel Insurance offers annual multi-trip plans and special cruise plans.
Annual travel insurance can be cost-effective if you take multiple trips in a year. So, if you're a frequent traveler, getting an annual plan from Nationwide could be better than using AAA to buy multiple single-trip plans.
Read our Nationwide travel insurance review.
AAA Travel Insurance vs. Faye
Faye Travel Insurance is an app-based travel insurance provider that offers highly customizable plans. With Faye, you can choose to add coverage for vacation rental damage, extreme sports, and even pet care. This flexibility, along with the app-based interface, makes it a great option for young, adventurous travelers.
Faye doesn't let you choose between different coverage amounts for included categories. This is different from AAA travel insurance, where you can select between a basic plan with lower coverage amounts and a more comprehensive plan with higher coverage amounts. So, if you're hoping to match your coverage to your level of risk tolerance, AAA could be better.
Read our Faye travel insurance review.
AAA Travel Insurance vs. Cat 70
Operated by travel insurance aggregator SquareMouth, Cat 70 Travel Insurance provides $500,000 in emergency medical coverage.That's significantly more than AAA travel insurance, which only covers up to $75,000 in emergency medical expenses. That makes Cat 70 a better option for older travelers or anyone who worries they could suffer a medical emergency.
However, the signup process for Cat 70 is relatively confusing compared to AAA's system. You have to go through SquareMouth, instead of requesting a quote from Cat 70 directly. So, if your goal is to simplify the process, AAA is better.
Read our Cat 70 travel insurance review.
AAA Travel Insurance FAQs
All AAA travel insurance plans cover trip cancellation, with the exception of the specific rental car damage plans.
AAA travel insurance covers trip cancellations, trip interruptions, medical emergencies, lost baggage, and lost or stolen travel documents. It can also cover preexisting medical conditions, but only if you secure a waiver ahead of time. The exact coverage will depend on the specific AAA travel insurance plan.
Yes, Allianz provides the travel insurance that AAA offers. This means that if you purchase an AAA travel insurance plan and have to file a claim, you'll file it with Allianz.
AAA membership does not include travel insurance for seniors or anyone else. For an AAA member to get travel insurance through the organization, they have to pay for it separately.
Why You Should Trust Us: What Went into Our AAA Travel Insurance Review
To evaluate AAA travel insurance, Business Insider reviewed the following factors.
Coverage amounts: We consider the policies available, what they cover, and how much coverage they offer. We like to see a variety of options available, with a great deal of flexibility to cover as many needs and customers as possible.
Inclusions/Exclusions: We consider common inclusions and exclusions, and how much customers have to pay for certain benefits. For example, many companies offer preexisting condition waivers, but reserve them for their more expensive plans. AAA travel insurance offers waivers for all their policies.
Cost: We obtain quotes for a variety of travelers, including single travelers, families, couples, and older travelers. We see how the quotes compare to the standard costs of travel insurance, which is between 4% and 8% of your total trip cost. We also pay attention to any savings opportunities travelers can take advantage of, like discounts for children.
Customer service: We consider how a company treats its customers by looking at online reviews on sites like Trustpilot, SquareMouth, and the Better Business Bureau. We also look at ratings from third-party organizations like the NAIC and AM Best. We look at any customer service features a company offers, like 24/7 helplines.
Unique features: We look to see if a company has any unique features or benefits.
Read more about Business Insider's travel insurance ratings methodology.