Your AAA Minneapolis membership provides access to 24-hour Emergency Roadside Assistance, supported by a fleet of service vehicles in the Twin Cities and nationwide.
What is Emergency Roadside Assistance?
As a member of AAA, the world’s largest auto club with over 60 million members, you have access to Emergency Roadside Assistance. More than 13,000 Emergency Roadside Service facilities throughout the country are ready to serve you.
Emergency Roadside Assistance is exactly what the name implies - an emergency service rendered by official Emergency Roadside Assistance centers who are under contract with AAA. It is not intended as a substitute for maintenance or repair of your vehicle. Rather, this valuable service is designed to help you, our members, through any unexpected problems you may have with the eligible vehicle in which you are driving or riding.
Emergency Roadside Assistance is available 24 hours a day and 365 days a year to assist you if your eligible vehicle becomes disabled, provided your vehicle may be safely reached from a normally traveled road or established thoroughfare. AAA will tow you to the responding Emergency Roadside Assistance facility or to a destination of your choice, up to five (5) miles in any direction from the vehicle's point of disablement. We cannot guarantee, however, that all Emergency Roadside Assistance facilities stock parts and are equipped to service and repair all makes of automobiles, or that repairs can be made after business hours or on weekends.
AAA Plus / AAA Plus RV / AAA Premier / AAA Premier RV
Because several AAA Plus, AAA Premier, AAA Plus RV, and AAA Premier RV benefits expand upon those offered in the regular membership package, they are explained after each description of the basic Emergency Roadside Assistance benefits in this handbook.
NOTE: Primary members who have used four (4) service calls during their membership year are not eligible to upgrade their membership level or add additional associates.
Who is eligible for Emergency Roadside Assistance?
AAA members are entitled to service on any eligible vehicle they may be driving or riding in as a passenger at the time of vehicle breakdown. Service follows the member, not the vehicle, including when the member is driving or riding in a rental car.
AAA is a member-sponsored and supported organization. Please remember that members may not use their card to obtain service for a non-member. AAA members who have used all their service calls in the membership year may also receive service on a cash basis paid to the service provider.
What vehicles are eligible for Emergency Roadside Assistance?
Emergency Roadside Assistance applies to four–wheel motor driven passenger, pleasure or recreational type vehicle (vans, campers and motor homes) provided services can be safely delivered. Altered vehicles are normally not covered for towing.
Dual–wheel unloaded pickup trucks are provided limited tire service.
Rented passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles are eligible for service with the exception of taxi cabs and limousines.
Service for travel trailers, motorhomes, boat trailers, snowmobile trailers, and motorcycles is provided under AAA Plus RV and AAA Premier RV within AAA Minneapolis service territory and will be handled by reimbursement consideration if service is unavailable outside of club territory.
What vehicles are not eligible for Emergency Roadside Assistance?
Certain vehicles, vehicle conditions, vehicle locations or destinations may deem a vehicle ineligible for service. This includes vehicles that are:
- Unregistered and unlicensed
- Abandoned, or unattended
- Purchased in an inoperable condition or can be driven safely
- Illegally parked or associated with any illegal activity
- Being towed to or from a salvage yard, charitable organization, car show exhibition, auto auction or storage unit
- Loaded or modified altering the original weight, dimensions, or ground clearance
- Loaded or modified creating a safety hazard, potential damage to the vehicle or to the servicing equipment
- Driven off established roads or in areas unsuitable for vehicular traffic
- Located on a beach, open field, vacant lot, playground, creek bed, golf course, forest, private road, flooded road or driveways, and similar areas that are not suitable for automobile traffic
- Equipped with a snowplow (limited service may be provided, but you must remove the snowplow before any towing, extrication or tire service may be rendered) or located in an area requiring shoveling of snow, etc. to render service
- Taxis, limousines, buses (unless converted to a motorhome), semi-tractor trailers (semitrucks) and food trucks
- Partial vehicles, or vehicle parts
- Trailers that contain livestock, haul cars, exceed their maximum load capacity, are unsecured or contain uncovered debris and create a safety concern
- Impounded for any reason other than a collision, or not accessible by the entrance of an impound lot; the impound lot
- Cube, dump, flatbed, or utility body type that require specialized automobile servicing equipment for size, weight, or wheelbase
AAA Plus RV and AAA Premier RV extends service to travel trailers and motorcycles. Service for boat, motorcycle, and snowmobile trailers is provided under AAA Plus RV and AAA Premier RV within AAA Minneapolis service territory and will be handled by reimbursement if service is unavailable outside of club territory.
Scope of service
This is your auto club! We have tried to design an Emergency Roadside Assistance program that meets the emergency demands of AAA members. However, AAA cannot guarantee that service will always be available in all areas and under all circumstances. For example, severe weather may cause unavoidable delays and service limitations, even though all involved are doing their best. In such cases, service will be provided in order of priorities; servicing stranded members and those blocking major roadways will be a top priority. We appreciate your patience and understanding during these emergencies.
AAA will help members get assistance when special equipment is required, or for services not covered under the policies outlined here. If your vehicle cannot be made operable upon providing the services listed here, AAA will assist you in finding the nearest open repair facility. Charges for services that exceed the benefits listed will be at the prevailing hourly or mileage rate of the region where service is provided.
To help control membership dues, AAA has established a policy that provides four (4) service calls for each AAA Basic, AAA Plus, and AAA Plus RV member, and five (5) calls for each AAA Premier and AAA Premier RV member, during each membership year. Calls in excess of this limit will be processed, but on a cash-only basis, paid to the service driver.
Roadside assistance is one of the primary benefits of AAA membership; however, it is subject to certain restrictions. While we encourage our members to take advantage of AAA membership benefits and service when needed, members who request and use an excessive amount of road service, or request service for unintended use cases may have their membership recorded for Misuse. Misuse can be determined and recorded based on service history including but not limited to the number of service requests, towing distance, service location, tow destination, vehicle class, and identity verification. Memberships recorded for Misuse may be subject to surcharges, service limitations, downgrade, and cancellation. The Club reserves the right to cancel membership, impose surcharges and roadside service limitations without notice.
How do you obtain Emergency Roadside Assistance?
In the Twin Cities metro area, when you’re out of fuel, stuck, have a flat tire, in a car that won't start, need a tow, lose your keys, or lock them inside your vehicle, call our Emergency Roadside Assistance department 24-hours a day, at (952) 927-2727.
Outside the Twin Cities metro area, call the 24-hour nationwide AAA Supernumber at 1-800-AAA-HELP anywhere in the U.S. or Canada, for assistance. This number is also printed on the back of your membership card.
Be prepared to provide your membership number; expiration date; name; address; car's exact location; nature of the problem; vehicle's year, make, model, and color; phone number from where you are calling; and desired tow destination. Have a pen or pencil and paper ready in case you must record specific information.
After calling, return to or within sight of your vehicle. Insurance liability prohibits AAA to service unattended vehicles. Cancel your request immediately if you no longer require assistance. If a vehicle is already enroute to assist you, it will be counted towards one of your allotted service calls.
Reimbursements:
If you are in need of service, please call AAA. We do not reimburse members that do not call AAA, with the exception of a police-ordered tow or a crash in which the member is unable to call AAA.
If you are unable to obtain assistance directly from AAA, call the nearest service station and pay for the service rendered in full. Then, submit an application for reimbursement consideration as soon as possible and within 30 days of the service. A digital form can be found on our website.
Your reimbursement form must include a paid, itemized receipt of the service provided. The paid receipt must be under the name of the AAA member requesting reimbursement. The receipt must be on the service facilities imprinted invoice detailing the services provided. The receipt must include date of service, name of member requesting reimbursement, vehicle serviced and the location of breakdown. We do not consider reimbursement for receipts over 60 days old.
Services and fees we will not reimburse include: tire repair, parts and labor, storage fees, gratuities, impound fees, clean up fees, admin fees, credit card fees, towing of stolen vehicles, towing to junkyards, more than one tow per disablement, towing a vehicle just purchased or vehicles with snowplows (unless the plow can be removed by the member before requesting service).
We will not reimburse members for any services not covered by the terms of a AAA membership, as detailed by the terms and conditions of Emergency Roadside Assistance. Further information about eligible vehicles may be found there as well.
If the member is on a monthly payment plan, all unpaid dues for the year must be collected before an application for reimbursement may be processed. We will not reimburse members who have used all their service calls for the membership period. A new membership is subject to a three-day waiting period before AAA service can be requested or a service fee can be paid to bypass this waiting period. If requesting reimbursement for a service within this waiting period, the service fee must be paid in full.
Please allow up to 4 weeks from the date your reimbursement form is submitted for processing. Incomplete documents or receipts without adequate information may delay processing. Please call member services for an update on your reimbursement request. Reimbursements will be sent to the address listed on the membership.
Your Emergency Roadside Assistance benefits include:
- Battery boost: An attempt will be made to start your vehicle using the service vehicle's auxiliary starting system. This is only a temporary remedy, and your vehicle should be checked at a repair facility. See the Automotive section of the website for information on the AAA Battery Service program.
- AAA Battery Service
- AAA roadside service providers can replace faulty or failing batteries on-site. AAA is unable to replace batteries if the wind chill is below 0°F for the safety of our service providers and to prevent damage to parts in the vehicle which become brittle at temperatures in that range. Battery replacement may not be available 24/7.
- Our AAA Battery Service technicians utilize state-of-the-art technology to accurately diagnose your battery-related problems at the roadside.
- Plus, if necessary, you can purchase a new battery at exclusive AAA member prices, complete with a battery freshness guarantee and a competitive, nationwide warranty.
- To request Emergency Roadside Assistance, including AAA Battery Service, call (952) 927-2727 or 1-800-AAA-HELP, or request roadside assistance online.
- Mechanical first aid: This includes minor adjustments at the point of disablement if parts, materials, or supplies are not needed to make the vehicle operate on its own. Note that the complexity of modern engines limits the extent of mechanical first aid that can be performed at the scene. If your vehicle can be mobilized, visit your local repair shop.
- Lockout service: If your keys are locked inside the passenger compartment, service will be sent to gain entrance. If the vehicle key is lost, broken, or the service provider cannot gain entry, locksmith service is covered up to $75, or the reimbursement of a commercial locksmith up to $75. If no locksmith coverage is available, the towing benefit applies. Extra keys are not covered.
- AAA Plus, AAA Premier, AAA Plus RV, and AAA Premier RV provide added coverage or reimbursement for locksmith service, if such service is required to either gain access to the vehicle or make it operable. AAA Plus and AAA Plus RV coverage up to $125; AAA Premier and AAA Premier RV coverage up to $200.
- Bicycle Service: Bicycle service is just another way AAA has you covered with roadside assistance. Counted toward your allotted service calls, AAA will transport you and your bicycle to any point of safety within the limits of your coverage. For service to be provided, your bicycle must be accessible by a roadway or a parking lot. Bicycle Service is only provided in the AAA Minneapolis or Auto Club Group coverage areas. Reimbursement is available when service is provided to AAA Members who travel outside of these coverage areas.
- Fuel delivery: An emergency supply of fuel will be delivered to the disabled vehicle, enabling the member to reach the nearest open service station. The member is responsible for the cost of the fuel at current pump prices.
- AAA Plus and AAA Premier provides at no extra cost a sufficient amount of fuel to reach the nearest service station.
- Flat tire service: If your vehicle's spare tire is inflated and serviceable, it will be installed to replace a flat tire. Installing a spare tire is a temporary fix only. If the vehicle does not have a functional spare tire, the towing benefit will apply.
- Extrication/winching: If your vehicle is stuck in a ditch, mud, or snow, it will be freed, provided it can be reached from a normally traveled road or established thoroughfare with a service vehicle's ordinary towline. If special equipment, more than one truck, or more than one person is required, the associated cost may be at the member's expense.
- AAA Plus, AAA Plus RV, AAA Premier, and AAA Premier RV extend basic coverage to include services by a second truck and operator for one hour at the scene of disablement. If the vehicle is unable to be operated after extrication, the extended towing benefit will apply. The use of special equipment may be covered under AAA Plus, AAA Premier, AAA Plus RV and AAA Premier RV.
- Towing: When the vehicle cannot be rendered drivable after attempting any of the emergency procedures provided, or when, in the service person's judgment, the vehicle cannot be placed in a safe driving condition, you may have it towed to the responding Emergency Roadside Assistance facility or up to five miles in any direction from the vehicle's point of disablement (as soon as a proper towing vehicle is available). NOTE: one tow per disablement.
- AAA Plus and AAA Plus RV provide for up to 100 miles of towing from point of disablement to the destination of your choice, at no charge.
- AAA Premier and AAA Premier RV provide one tow up to 200 miles from the point of disablement, as one of the five service calls per membership year; and up to 100 miles from the point of disablement on the remaining allowable calls.
When the truck arrives
Present your current AAA card and photo ID for identification, and sign one completed AAA road-service ticket before service is rendered.
Members unable to present their membership card or photo ID must be prepared to pay for the service provided and request reimbursement at contract rates from AAA Minneapolis.
Extreme service conditions: We always try to be as responsive as possible, but please understand that unavoidable delays can occur during severe weather conditions, an increase in the volume of service requests, heavy traffic, road construction or unusual circumstances. In the event of severe weather emergencies, first priority is given to members who are stranded or in an unsafe location, then the removal of vehicles blocking roadways. As equipment becomes available, service will be provided to other vehicles. The safety of our members, employees and independent service technicians is our top priority. On rare occasions, services may be temporarily suspended due to weather conditions and other extenuating circumstances. Once it is safe to do so, we will resume services.
Upgrading service and adding associate memberships
Members can upgrade their present level of service to AAA Plus, AAA Plus RV, AAA Premier or AAA Premier RV anytime during their membership year. Service fee and additional upgrade costs may apply.
NOTE: Members who have used four (4) service calls during their membership year are not eligible to upgrade their membership level additional associates.
Complaints & liability
All AAA Minneapolis Emergency Roadside Assistance centers, and those approved through other AAA Clubs, have been carefully selected based on their business integrity and ability to provide prompt, courteous, and reliable Emergency Roadside Assistance service and repairs. Your patronage of these service centers helps ensure that the quality of service through which AAA has built its reputation – one that goes back to 1902 – continues.
If service was unsatisfactory or if you have questions, submit a full report to the AAA Minneapolis Emergency Roadside Assistance Department by calling the phone number on the back of your AAA card. AAA will investigate and attempt to resolve your concerns.
AAA Emergency Roadside Assistance service centers are independent contractors and not agents of AAA Minneapolis. Therefore, AAA Minneapolis does not assume responsibility for any injuries to persons or property, including damage to a member's vehicle, as a result of Emergency Roadside Assistance. Damage complaints should, however, be reported to the Emergency Roadside Assistance service center proprietor and to the AAA Minneapolis Emergency Roadside Assistance Department.