AAA vs. State Farm: Car Insurance Quotes and Coverage

State Farm offers cheaper car insurance than AAA. It also has more consistent customer service and coverage options across the country.

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AAA vs. State Farm car insurance

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AAA
State Farm
Price
Coverage
Discounts
Service
Editor's rating
Full reviewAAAState Farm

Unlike State Farm, which is a single company, AAA is actually many independent companies. Which AAA company you buy a policy from depends on where you live.

Since State Farm has one customer service department, customers should have a similar customer service experience. But the service you get from AAA depends on the auto club's branch in your area.

AAA's coverage options and discounts also fluctuate quite a bit depending on where you live.


AAA vs. State Farm car insurance quotes

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State Farm car insurance quotes are typically much cheaper than AAA.

Drivers who choose State Farm over AAA can save between 27% and 71%, on average.

Cheapest for most drivers: State Farm

State Farm offers cheaper auto insurance rates than AAA for most drivers.

A full coverage policy from State Farm costs around $124 per month. That's less than half the cost of a policy from AAA. AAA is also $156 per month more expensive than the average cost nationally.

Monthly full coverage rates

State Farm logo

State Farm: $124

AAA logo

AAA: $320

Monthly liability-only rates

State Farm logo

State Farm: $50

AAA logo

AAA: $127


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A liability-only policy from State Farm also costs less. At $50 per month on average, it's $77 per month less expensive than a policy from AAA.

Cheapest rates for drivers with a bad record: State Farm

State Farm offers better rates than AAA for drivers with a speeding ticket, accident, DUI or poor credit.

For example, drivers with an accident on their record pay $154 per month for a full coverage policy from State Farm. That's 71% cheaper than AAA's rate.

Monthly rates after a speeding ticket

State Farm logo

State Farm: $135

AAA logo

AAA: $410

Rates are for a full coverage policy.

Monthly rates after a DUI conviction

State Farm logo

State Farm: $367

AAA logo

AAA: $656

Rates are for a full coverage policy.

Monthly rates after an accident

State Farm logo

State Farm: $154

AAA logo

AAA: $538

Rates are for a full coverage policy.

Monthly rates with poor credit

State Farm logo

State Farm: $471

AAA logo

AAA: $644

Rates are for a full coverage policy.


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State Farm and AAA both offer accident forgiveness programs for an extra fee.

  • State Farm customers must have a policy with the company for nine years and remain accident-free for the same length of time to get accident forgiveness.
  • AAA's accident forgiveness program is different depending on where you live. And it's not available in every state.

Cheapest car insurance rates for young drivers: State Farm

State Farm offers cheaper car insurance rates than AAA for young drivers.

Liability-only and full coverage insurance from State Farm are half as expensive as coverage from AAA.

Monthly liability-only rates

State Farm logo

State Farm: $151

AAA logo

AAA: $340

Rates are for an 18-year-old driver.

Monthly rates after a speeding ticket

State Farm logo

State Farm: $166

AAA logo

AAA: $440

Rates are for a liability-only policy for an 18-year-old driver.

Monthly full coverage rates

State Farm logo

State Farm: $344

AAA logo

AAA: $759

Rates are for an 18-year-old driver.

Monthly rates after an accident

State Farm logo

State Farm: $187

AAA logo

AAA: $579

Rates are for a liability-only policy for an 18-year-old driver.


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For more affordable rates, young drivers should consider joining their parents' car insurance policy. Although your parents' rates will increase, joining a family policy is usually cheaper than buying a policy on your own.

State Farm vs. AAA car insurance coverage

AAA and State Farm both offer a few extra coverage options.

AAA may have more add-ons than State Farm in some states. However, you'll have to get a quote from AAA to see what's available near you.

AAA vs. State Farm auto insurance coverage options

Coverage
AAA
State Farm
Extra coverage options
Gap insurance
Roadside assistance
Rental reimbursement
Accident forgivenessIn some states Limited availability
Nonowners insuranceIn some states
New car replacementIn some states
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Both AAA and State Farm offer standard car insurance coverages like property damage liability and medical payments coverage.

AAA car insurance coverage options

AAA offers a few coverages not available at State Farm that you can use to customize your policy, like gap insurance and new car replacement. However, these options may not be available in every state.

Gap coverage ensures you won't owe money on a car you no longer have if you total your leased or financed vehicle.

For instance, if you have comprehensive coverage and a tree branch falls on your car, that's covered by your insurance.

If you don't have comprehensive coverage, the insurance company won't cover this situation. That means your gap insurance wouldn't apply.

This coverage guarantees AAA will fix the exterior of your car using original manufacturer parts after an accident. Without this coverage, insurance companies may pay for cheaper aftermarket parts that are of lower quality.

If you don't own a car, but regularly drive someone else's, you'll need nonowners coverage to drive legally.

New car replacement will replace your car with a brand new model after an accident. This coverage is typically only available for cars that are 1 or 2 years old.

State Farm car insurance coverage options

State Farm offers classic car coverage and rideshare coverage. AAA doesn't typically offer these coverage add-ons.

Rideshare coverage helps bridge the gap between your personal auto insurance and the coverage provided by the rideshare company you drive for.

Classic car insurance is typically for cars over 25 years old, exotic cars, muscle cars or highly customized vehicles.

State Farm roadside assistance vs. AAA

State Farm and AAA both offer roadside assistance programs as an add-on to your car insurance policy.

Both companies charge about $1 per month for this service.

AAA's roadside assistance add-on is very limited. It doesn't cover oil or tire delivery, which can be important if you're stranded on the side of the road.

However, AAA offers more comprehensive roadside assistance as part of its membership programs. Membership programs typically start at $59 per year. They can also include perks like travel planning and identity theft protection.

State Farm emergency road service vs. AAA

Coverage
AAA
State Farm
24/7 service
Delivery of batteries or gas
Delivery of oil or tires
Jump start
Labor
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Some of the main differences are:

  • State Farm pays for oil and tire delivery, while AAA doesn't.
  • AAA only replaces a flat tire with your own spare since it doesn't deliver tires.
  • AAA will help move your car if it's stuck in mud, snow or ice, and a tow truck can safely reach it from a main road. State Farm doesn't offer this service.
  • AAA makes minor repairs that don't require parts. On the other hand, State Farm offers up to one hour of labor for fluid leaks (excluding fuel), electrical problems, transmission issues and other mechanical problems.

AAA car insurance vs. State Farm auto insurance discounts

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State Farm typically offers more discounts than AAA.

That includes more ways for young drivers to save on car insurance.

Discount
AAA
State Farm
Good student
Defensive driving
Usage-based insurance
Accident-free
Anti-theft
Passive restraint or vehicle safety
Steer Clear
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AAA auto insurance discounts

One of AAA's largest discounts is its low-mileage discount. You can save up to 19.1% off your auto insurance rate if you occasionally provide odometer readings to AAA. Drivers who belong to a professional organization or alumni association can save up to 7.4%, and a car club membership can save you up to 5%.

After having AAA insurance for one year, you're also eligible for its loyalty discount. This can save you up to 5.6%.

State Farm auto insurance discounts

State Farm's Drive Safe & Save program offers drivers a discount of up to 30% for practicing safe driving habits. The company tracks your mileage and driving habits using your mobile phone to determine your overall discount.

Drivers under 25 years old can take advantage of State Farm's Steer Clear program, which offers a discount of up to 15%. You must complete course training, practice driving and have an older driver mentor you. To qualify, you can't have any tickets or at-fault accidents for three years.


AAA insurance vs. State Farm customer service ratings

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State Farm earned a better customer service score from our editors than AAA.

That's because drivers nationwide have a more reliable experience at State Farm.

  • State Farm offers excellent customer service across the country. State Farm's satisfied customers have also helped earn it an above-average score from J.D. Power. In addition, the company gets 22% fewer complaints than competitors of a similar size, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

  • AAA's customer service experience is harder to judge. AAA is made up of over 40 independent companies. So a driver in California could have a vastly different experience dealing with AAA than one in Florida.

    For example, J.D. Power included three of AAA's major subsidiaries in its most recent auto insurance study. Auto Club of Southern California earned a great score for claims satisfaction. AAA's other branches, CSAA Insurance Group and Automobile Club Group, earned some of the lowest scores.


Frequently asked questions

Do I need AAA if I have State Farm?

State Farm offers roadside assistance as an optional coverage add-on. You can buy State Farm's coverage instead of a AAA membership and will get most of the same benefits.

Is State Farm better than AAA?

State Farm is a better choice than AAA for most people. State Farm customers pay 27% to 71% less for auto insurance than AAA customers. State Farm also offers more reliable customer service, which is important if you're ever in an accident.

Does State Farm have roadside assistance?

State Farm offers roadside assistance for about $1 extra per month. The State Farm emergency roadside assistance program pays for towing, tire changes and fuel delivery, and other issues you may have if your car breaks down on the side of the road.

Is State Farm roadside assistance as good as AAA?

State Farm and AAA offer many of the same coverage features when it comes to roadside assistance. State Farm includes delivery of oil and tires, and AAA does not. On the other hand, AAA will send help if your car is stuck in mud or snow, which State Farm doesn't cover.

Methodology

ValuePenguin used car insurance quotes from thousands of ZIP codes across three states to compare pricing from AAA and State Farm. Rates are for a 30-year-old man with good credit who owns a 2015 Honda Civic EX.

Full coverage auto insurance quotes include comprehensive and collision coverage along with higher liability limits than required in each state.

  • Bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident
  • Uninsured and underinsured motorist bodily injury: $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident
  • Comprehensive and collision: $500 deductible

To determine the cost of roadside assistance, our experts gathered quotes for a driver living in Arizona from State Farm and Auto Club Arizona, AAA's Arizona subsidiary.

ValuePenguin's analysis used insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services. These rates were publicly sourced from insurance company filings and should be used for comparative purposes only. Your own quotes may be different.

Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.