Which company is best for roadside assistance?

AAA is a top contender for its state-of-the-art roadside assistance plans. AAA members enjoy extensive coverage, including towing service, battery replacement, flat-tire service, and minor repairs by a mechanic.

What are the pros and cons of AAA?

As an AAA member, you have access to the company’s highly acclaimed roadside assistance service and other membership perks, including discounts for your cars, travel, and retail needs. But to obtain these benefits, you must purchase a membership, which can cost anywhere from $38 to $170 per year.

What are the main differences between Erie and AAA’s roadside assistance coverages?

The difference between Erie and AAA’s roadside assistance programs is their cost and coverage. AAA offers slightly more coverage, like minor auto repairs to help you get back on the road and towing services up to 200 miles four times per year with its most comprehensive membership level. Erie’s emergency roadside services only cover towing to the nearest garage plus 20 miles.On the flip side, Erie’s roadside assistance coverage starts at an affordable $5 per vehicle per year, whereas AAA can cost anywhere between $38 and $170.

Erie vs. AAA: Which Is the Best? (2024)

Name: Car Insurance
Brand: Erie Insurance
Price: 57 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.4 (12 reviews)

The verdict
Erie
AAA
Telematics programs
Which is the cheapest?
Compare coverages
Compare discounts
FAQs

The verdict
Erie
AAA
Telematics programs
Which is the cheapest?
Compare coverages
Compare discounts
FAQs

Erie Insurance and AAA are both well-known companies in the automotive insurance industry.

Erie is one of the largest car insurance companies in the United States, based on market share, delivering high-quality coverage at competitive rates. But it’s only available in a select number of states.

Meanwhile, AAA offers nationwide coverage through partnering insurers. But to get insurance coverage and additional benefits, you’ll have to pay an AAA membership fee on top of your premiums.

So whether either insurer is right for you will depend on your situation and needs. Here’s what you need to consider when looking at Erie Insurance and AAA coverage.

Quick Facts

Erie and AAA both have a safe driving rewards program, but they have some minor differences.
Erie car insurance is affordable and available for many driver types, including high-risk drivers.
The AAA membership package includes best-in-class roadside assistance coverage.

Erie vs. AAA: The verdict

An Erie car insurance policy is cheaper than one from AAA across various ages, driving records, and credit history. Erie has also received one of the highest Insurify Quality Scores, at 4.4 out of 5.

AAA’s nationwide availability is where it stands out, operating as a federation of regional auto clubs. But your discount and coverage options vary based on the region or branch where you purchase insurance.

The table below shows how these two insurers stack up against one another.

Factor	Erie	AAA
IQ Score	4.4	3.5
J.D. Power customer satisfaction score	912 out of 1,000	820 out of 1,000
Average quote: liability only	$57	$90
Number of discounts	8	10
Number of states where it operates	12	24

Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

How Insurify rates insurance companies
Our editorial team spent 350 hours developing the Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and scoring insurance companies. The IQ Score objectively analyzes and calculates a score for insurers using more than 15 crucial criteria. Criteria are weighted by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings.

We rate each company on a 1 to 5 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. We update ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.
- Third-party financial ratings: We use data from AM Best, S&P, Moody's, and more to compare insurance companies’ credit and ability to pay out future claims.
- Customer satisfaction: To calculate this score, Insurify analyzed more than 20,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also considered third-party ratings from J.D. Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Trustpilot.
- Affordability: Our data scientists analyzed more than 90 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partners across the United States, as well as available discounts, to calculate an affordability score.
- Customer support and transparency: This measures coverage options, ease of claims filing, and the insurer's transparency surrounding discounts, coverages, and claims process.
- Availability and reach: Insurify identified the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share to score availability and reach.

Erie

Erie has served the auto insurance industry since 1925, earning high marks in J.D. Power claims and customer satisfaction auto insurance surveys.^[1]

Erie Insurance

Compare personalized, real-time quotes

IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.	4.4
JD Power J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.	870
Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.	$57/mo
Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.	$95/mo

Overview

For nearly 100 years, Erie Insurance has been selling auto coverage. The company operates in 12 states and Washington, D.C., and also offers more than two dozen types of insurance, including home, life, and business insurance. A.M. Best gives Erie an A+ rating for financial stability and credit strength. The company has a lower-than-expected number of complaints with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Customer Complaint Index, and ranks third in overall customer satisfaction according to J.D. Power rankings. The company also has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Pros and cons

Pros

Excellent BBB, J.D. Power, and A.M. Best ratings
Competitive rates for teenagers and drivers with speeding tickets

Cons

Available in only 12 states
Customers can’t buy a policy or file a claim online

AAA

AAA provides auto and travel insurance, financial services, membership perks, and highly rated roadside assistance plans to more than 64 million members across 1,000 branches in North America.

CSAA

Compare personalized, real-time quotes

IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.	3.5
JD Power J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.	815
Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.	$90/mo
Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.	$142/mo

Overview

When AAA began in 1902, it was a small, members-only motor club. The organization introduced insurance coverage for members a few decades later. Other aspects of the club, like exclusive discounts, travel help, and emergency roadside assistance, have stayed the same throughout the years. Today, the company partners with regional insurance companies to offer insurance coverage for millions of members.

Pros and cons

Pros

Unique membership perks like travel discounts and members only DMV locations
Standard extra coverage such as roadside assistance
High customer satisfaction

Cons

Limited company options
AAA membership is required to obtain coverage
Coverage varies based on location

Reviews

Read our CSAA review

Vincent - April 22, 2024

Verified

Thank you, Kristen

If I had to call my agent, who is great, I would no longer be a customer. The telephone answering system is poor. I had to go through three different agents before getting through to the Spring Hill office. After 30 years of being a customer, I am thinking about making a change. I do not recommend this company anymore.

Paul - April 22, 2024

Verified

Poor

Lower prices.

Johnny - April 22, 2024

Verified

Unreimbursed Tow Service

I had a tow service for which I was never reimbursed. I paid $220 for a tow and showed the receipt, but AAA wanted an itemized bill from the tow company.

…

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National liability rates average $104 per month

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Erie YourTurn vs. AAA SMARTtrek

Erie and AAA both offer telematics programs. You’ll have to download their mobile apps, which monitor your driving behaviors like speeding, phone usage, and braking smoothness. Based on your performance, you’ll receive feedback to improve your driving abilities.

But the programs differ in their reward systems. Erie provides monetary bonuses, which you can redeem for gift cards or charitable donations. AAA gives you a 10% discount on your policy upon enrollment. Your discount increases as you continue to demonstrate good driving habits.

Erie vs. AAA: Which is the cheapest?

Erie offers cheaper car insurance across several driving profiles. But your personal rates will vary based on your location, age, gender, driving record, credit history, and more.

In the sections that follow, you can see how liability-only coverage rates from Erie and AAA compare against one another for several driver subcategories.

Erie: Cheapest for drivers with a clean driving record

Drivers with clean records get the best rates because they’re less likely to cause an accident and file an insurance claim. Erie offers the most affordable car insurance for drivers with a clean record.

Driver Type	Erie	AAA
Clean driving record	$57	$90

Erie: Cheapest for drivers with a speeding ticket

A speeding ticket on your driving record demonstrates a history of reckless driving to insurers. As a result, drivers with speeding tickets or other moving violations generally pay higher rates. Fortunately, Erie offers competitive rates for drivers with a speeding ticket.

Driver Type	Erie	AAA
Drivers with a speeding ticket	$79	$111

Erie: Cheapest for teen drivers

Teen drivers often lack experience on the road and are more likely to engage in reckless and distracted driving. As a result, insurers assign higher rates on their policies. If you’re a household with a teen driver, you can save more money on insurance with Erie.

Driver Type	Erie	AAA
18-year-old	$107	$143

Erie: Cheapest for drivers with bad credit

Data shows that drivers with poor credit are more likely to file a claim. To offset this risk, insurance companies charge these policyholders higher insurance rates. On average, drivers with a less-than-perfect credit history pay similar rates with both Erie and AAA.

Driver Type	Erie	AAA
Drivers with bad credit	$101	$103

Erie: Cheapest for senior drivers

Older drivers, specifically those in their 70s, may start to see increases in their insurance costs. This is because age-related conditions may affect their ability to drive safely. Between the two companies, Erie provides the most competitive prices to senior drivers.

Driver Type	Erie	AAA
Senior drivers	$40	$65

Compare coverages: Erie vs. AAA

Both insurance companies offer standard car insurance coverages, including bodily injury liability, property damage liability, personal injury protection, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, collision coverage, and comprehensive coverage.

Both companies also carry unique add-on coverage options to increase your protection. For example, Erie lets you add windshield repair coverage.

AAA insurance products will vary by branch and region. Contact an insurer in your area for more information about your options.

In the table below, you can see some additional coverages offered by each insurer.

Coverage	Erie	AAA
Gap insurance	Yes	Yes
Windshield repair	Yes	No
New-car replacement	Yes	Yes
Rental car coverage	Yes	Yes
Roadside assistance	Yes	Yes
Rideshare insurance	No	Yes

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Compare discounts: Erie vs. AAA

Erie and AAA offer numerous discounts to help you save on your auto insurance policy. You’ll need to contact the AAA service provider in your region to find out what discount opportunities are available. While Erie is generally cheaper, you could receive a lower rate from AAA if you qualify for more discounts.

Here, you can see a list of discounts offered by each insurer.

Discount	Erie	AAA
Clean driving record	No	No
Defensive driving course	Yes	Yes
Multi-policy	Yes	Yes
Multi-car	Yes	Yes
Low mileage	No	Yes
Telematics (safe driving app)	Yes	Yes
Anti-theft device	Yes	No
New car	No	No
Military/affiliation	No	No
Good student	No	Yes
Loyalty	No	Yes
Auto pay	No	Yes
Student away at school	Yes	No
Homeowner	No	No
Alternative fuel	No	No

Erie vs. AAA FAQs

Erie and AAA both offer quality car insurance, and if you’re still trying to decide between the two, the answers below can help.

Which company is best for roadside assistance?
AAA is a top contender for its state-of-the-art roadside assistance plans. AAA members enjoy extensive coverage, including towing service, battery replacement, flat-tire service, and minor repairs by a mechanic.
What are the pros and cons of AAA?
As an AAA member, you have access to the company’s highly acclaimed roadside assistance service and other membership perks, including discounts for your cars, travel, and retail needs. But to obtain these benefits, you must purchase a membership, which can cost anywhere from $38 to $170 per year.
What are the main differences between Erie and AAA’s roadside assistance coverages?
The difference between Erie and AAA’s roadside assistance programs is their cost and coverage. AAA offers slightly more coverage, like minor auto repairs to help you get back on the road and towing services up to 200 miles four times per year with its most comprehensive membership level. Erie’s emergency roadside services only cover towing to the nearest garage plus 20 miles.
On the flip side, Erie’s roadside assistance coverage starts at an affordable $5 per vehicle per year, whereas AAA can cost anywhere between $38 and $170.

Methodology

Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 90 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 50+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.

Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).

Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:

Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
No additional coverage

Full-coverage premium averages correspond to the same bodily injury and property damage limits in addition to:

Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible

Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.

Sources

J.D. Power. "Auto Insurance Customer Satisfaction Plummets as Rates Continue to Surge, J.D. Power Finds."

Alani Asis

Alani Asis is a personal finance freelance writer with nearly three years of experience in content creation. She has landed bylines with leading publications and brands like Insider, Fortune, LendingTree, and more. Alani aims to make personal finance approachable through fun, relatable, and digestible content.

Learn More

Edited byChris SchaferSenior Editor

Chris SchaferSenior Editor

15+ years in content creation
7+ years in business and financial services content

Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.

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Data reviewed byKonstantin HalachevVice President of Engineering

Konstantin HalachevVice President of Engineering

7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology

Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.

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Table of contents

Table of contentsCompare quotes

Erie vs. AAA: The verdict

Erie

Erie Insurance

AAA

CSAA

Find Cheap Car Insurance

Erie YourTurn vs. AAA SMARTtrek

Erie vs. AAA: Which is the cheapest?

Erie: Cheapest for drivers with a clean driving record

Erie: Cheapest for drivers with a speeding ticket

Erie: Cheapest for teen drivers

Erie: Cheapest for drivers with bad credit

Erie: Cheapest for senior drivers

Compare coverages: Erie vs. AAA

Shop for Car Insurance Online

Compare discounts: Erie vs. AAA

Erie vs. AAA FAQs

Methodology

Sources

Compare Car Insurance Quotes Instantly

Table of contents