For everyday breakdowns, AARP’s roadside benefit, which is a discounted Allstate Roadside membership, covers the same core services as AAA, so the choice comes down to towing distance, call limits and price. Both handle tows, jump starts, lockouts, flat tires and fuel delivery, and both cover you in other people’s cars, even as a passenger.
AARP doesn’t run its own service. Its member benefit page offers “up to 20% off” Allstate Roadside annual memberships. AAA is made up of regional clubs, so its prices and benefits depend on where you live.
Key Takeaways
- You need an AARP membership to get these prices. AARP says anyone 18 or older can join, and dues start at $15 the first year with automatic renewal, then $20 a year.
- AARP’s entry plan tows farther than AAA Classic at the club RateFrog checked (10 miles vs. 5), but only AAA Premier includes a 200-mile tow.
- Allstate’s AARP prices cover two people in one household, while AAA charges for each added member. That can make AARP cheaper for couples, though the two of you share the plan’s yearly rescues and AAA counts calls per member.
- The AARP version isn’t always Allstate’s best deal. In November 2026, Allstate’s regular Roadside Assist listed longer tows and a cheaper renewal than the AARP version.
How AARP’s Roadside Benefit Works
Allstate’s AARP roadside page says “You must be a current AARP member to join.” It offers three plans, Roadside Assist, Roadside Advantage and Roadside Elite, with a first-year discount of 10%, 15% or 20%. Rescue benefits start 72 hours after you sign up.
Allstate Motor Club, Inc. administers the plans, and Allstate says, “This is not an insurance product.” For Allstate’s memberships without the discount, see whether the Allstate Motor Club is worth it.
AARP’s Allstate Plans vs. AAA at a Glance
AARP figures come from Allstate’s AARP page. AAA figures come from one regional club, AAA Mountain West Group (Alaska, Arizona, Northern California, Montana, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming). Both were checked November 8, 2026. The table compares plan terms and doesn’t rate response times or service quality.
| Feature | AARP: Allstate Assist / Advantage / Elite | AAA Mountain West: Classic / Plus / Premier |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly price | $66 / $84 / $131 first year for two people; $83 / $94 / $143 at renewal; plus AARP dues | $64.99 / $99.99 / $124.99 for one member; $44.99 to $84.99 per added household member |
| Towing per tow | 10 / 25 / 100 miles | 5 / 100 miles; Premier gets one 200-mile tow, then 100-mile tows |
| Calls per year | 3 (Assist and Advantage) or 5 (Elite), shared by you and one household member | 4 per member at every level |
| Fuel | Delivered; you pay a flat rate for the fuel | You pay for fuel on Classic; included on Plus and Premier |
| Lockout | Lockout assistance; no dollar limit published | Reimbursement up to $50 / $100 / $150 (Premier covers home lockouts too) |
| Trip interruption | None / $1,500 / $1,500, when you’re more than 100 miles from home | None listed / $750 / $1,500 |
Other clubs differ. The Auto Club Group, which serves Michigan, Florida and other states, lists Classic at $79, Plus at $117 and Premier at $144 a year and says pricing “may vary based on your home zip code.” Some clubs, such as AAA Club Alliance, may add an enrollment fee.
Where AAA Comes Out Ahead
At Mountain West, Plus includes the fuel itself and up to $100 in locksmith reimbursement, and Premier adds a 200-mile tow once a year. Allstate’s AARP page doesn’t publish a dollar limit for lockout help and charges a flat rate for fuel.
The Auto Club Group and AAA Club Alliance also replace batteries on the spot (you usually pay for the battery). Allstate’s AARP page mentions jump starts but not battery replacement. And AAA doesn’t require you to join a second organization.
Where AARP’s Allstate Plans Come Out Ahead
The biggest edge is household pricing. One Allstate AARP price covers you and a second household member, and AARP lets you add a spouse or another adult at your address to your AARP account for free. Advantage and Elite also pay up to $100 or $250, twice a year, toward tire or wheel damage from a road hazard (except in Massachusetts).
Example (hypothetical): A couple in Arizona wants 100-mile tows. Allstate’s AARP Elite plan costs $131 plus $15 in AARP dues the first year ($146), then $143 plus $20 ($163). A Mountain West Plus membership plus one added household member costs $99.99 plus $64.99, or $164.98 a year. Elite is cheaper in year one and about even after that. It also has the larger trip interruption benefit ($1,500 vs. $750). AAA Plus includes the fuel and gives each of you four calls a year, while Elite’s five are shared.
Check Allstate’s Regular Prices Too
Allstate sells plans with the same names to anyone on its membership plans page, and the terms differ. Regular Roadside Assist listed 15-mile tows, a $1,000 trip interruption benefit and a $78 renewal. The AARP version lists 10-mile tows, no trip interruption and an $83 renewal, though its first year is cheaper ($66 vs. $75).
Roadside Advantage favored AARP members in both years ($84 and $94, vs. $99 and $111). For the non-AARP side, see RateFrog’s comparison of Allstate roadside assistance and AAA.
When an Insurance Add-On Costs Less
Roadside coverage on your car insurance policy can cost much less. State Farm puts its average at $10 to $20 a year. The tradeoffs: an add-on “typically only applies to the car your insurance company insures,” Allstate says, and Progressive says “you’ll file a claim to use your coverage.”
RateFrog’s roadside assistance coverage guide compares major insurers’ add-ons with motor clubs, including how calls get recorded.
How to Decide
- Mostly local driving, two people at one address: AARP Assist or Advantage may cost the least if three shared rescues a year is enough. Compare it with Allstate’s regular price before you buy.
- Rural roads or long trips: Compare AARP Elite with AAA Plus or Premier, and check whether 100 miles reaches the shop you’d want.
- One driver who rarely calls: A cheap insurer add-on may be enough if you accept that it may cover only your insured car and could be logged as a claim.
Get your own club’s price by entering your ZIP code on AAA’s site, since the example won’t match every state. For other coverage explainers, see RateFrog’s car insurance guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Get Help the Day You Join?
Not with Allstate, whose rescue benefits start 72 hours after signup. AAA rules vary by club. Mountain West’s terms start roadside benefits 48 hours after purchase, though a one-time fee buys a single Classic-level call sooner. AAA Club Alliance charges $65 if a new member needs service the day they join and starts Plus and Premier benefits seven days after processing. The Auto Club Group says benefits begin three days after dues are paid.
Does Using Either One Count as a Car Insurance Claim?
Allstate’s roadside FAQ says membership services “will not be recorded as a claim on your auto insurance policy.” AAA roadside help comes with a club membership, and AAA Club Alliance describes membership and insurance as separate products. If AAA also insures your car, ask how service calls are handled.
Can a Spouse Who Isn’t an AARP Member Use the Plan?
Yes. Allstate says you can include household members “even if they are not AARP members.” Rescues belong to the membership, though. Allstate’s plan overview describes calls “for you or a household member,” so two people on Assist share three a year unless you pay to expand the plan.
Sources
- AARP: Allstate Roadside Member Benefit
- AARP: Membership FAQs
- AARP: Membership Age Requirement
- Allstate: AARP Members Save on Roadside Assistance
- Allstate: Roadside Membership Plans
- Allstate: Roadside Assistance Plans at a Glance
- Allstate: Roadside Assistance FAQ
- Allstate: Towing and Labor Cost Coverage
- AAA Mountain West Group: Compare AAA Plans
- AAA Mountain West Group: AAA Plus vs. Premier
- AAA Mountain West Group: Membership Terms and Conditions
- AAA The Auto Club Group: Compare Membership Levels
- AAA Club Alliance: Membership Plans
- AAA Club Alliance: Membership vs. Insurance
- AAA Club Alliance: Member Guide (PDF)
- State Farm: How Roadside Assistance Coverage May Save You Money
- Progressive: Does Car Insurance Cover Towing?