(updated 2/28/17)
Most of us belong to Sam’s or Costco for bulk savings and have a AAA membership for emergency auto assistance. Each membership level has a variety of services including towing benefits, rental car benefits, locksmith service, maps, travel planners, and travel guides.
But did you know that that a AAA membership has more than their basic advertised benefits? Why not take a look to see if you are really getting your money’s worth and all the extra perks provided.
Here is what I found out about AAA. For Sam’s Club, see my previous post on “Making the most of your Sam’s Club membership.”
SAVINGS DISCOUNTS
Approved Auto Repair – Save up to 10% on regularly-priced parts and/or labor (up to $50) at participating Approved Auto Repair facilities. Some restrictions and maximum discounts may apply.
Attractions, Movies and Entertainment – Just click on the category you want to see a large list of participating establishments including Six Flags, several movie theaters, and many more.
Online and in-store discounts – These discounts have expanded so much that you can now save at more than 30,000 online retailers and more than 100,000 participating store locations. Scroll to the bottom of this page and click on In-store Savings to download a list of in-store discounts. You can also click on the categories in the blue menu at the top to see specific details on listings for tickets, dining, apparel, and more. When you click on individual offers in those lists, they will tell you whether they are online or in-store discounts. AAA also offers WOWPoints for online purchases at participating websites. 100 WOWPoints = $1 and your points never expire as long as you have a membership.
Here are a few discounts I plan to take advantage of:
AMC Movies – Tickets as low as $8.98. Ticket prices do vary by location, so check your location to see if this is a good deal for your theatre!
Jiffy Lube – I cannot find the exact discount on this one on the AAA website, but it is listed on their in-store savings list (see above). I will be sure to ask at my next oil change, but suspect that you cannot use a AAA discount with another coupon. See my post on “What does an oil change cost?” for more Jiffy Lube deals.
Optical services at LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Sears Optical, & Target Optical – Get discounts on complete pairs of eyeglasses without a coupon. Scroll down for the list and then click on the retailer for the specific details. We have no vision insurance with our plan, so I will definitely look into this!
Six Flags – $5 off general front-gate admission or up to 30% off tickets ($5.99 online Print-N-Go processing fee, a 33% savings) when tickets are purchased online.
OTHER SERVICES
With insurance being so costly, it might be a good idea to get a quote on any one of these to compare with your current insurer!
- Auto, home/renter’s, and life insurance
- Excess liability
- Health insurance
- Small business
* NOTE: The links provided are for my AAA region, which serves Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, E. Kansas, S. Illinois, S. Indiana, and Texarkana, TX. To find information on your local AAA region, your computer should redirect you to your region’s website. However, if it doesn’t, you may need to click on “Find my AAA club” at the bottom of the AAA homepage.
Are you taking advantage of all you can with your membership! Check it out now! Tell me about how you saved!
Surviving on a tight budget 
Sally: For Silver Dollar City, if you buy the pass here, you get a two day pass for $55, which is less than a one day pass puchased on site.
Good to know! How far away is it? I have never been there before!