AAA publishes its towing distance by plan. On AAA Auto Club Group’s roadside FAQ, Classic covers tows up to 5 miles each, Plus up to 100 miles each, and Premier one tow up to 200 miles with remaining tows up to 100 miles each. Clubs differ, so check the terms on your own card.
That distance is the main thing to know before a breakdown in metro Atlanta, because the metro is wide and the tow limit is not. A 5-mile limit can disappear before you get out of a single county.
The limits, plan by plan
These come from the AAA Auto Club Group roadside assistance FAQ. We could not confirm from that page which club covers which Georgia address, and the site says calls route to the club that serves your location. Treat the numbers as the typical published structure, and confirm your own.
- Classic: tows up to 5 miles each.
- Plus: tows up to 100 miles each.
- Premier: one tow up to 200 miles, and remaining tows up to 100 miles each.
Another club’s page we looked at, from AAA Club Alliance, lists the same Classic 5 and Plus 100 and describes Premier as up to 100 miles plus one tow up to 200 miles each year. You can see it on its roadside benefits page. Some clubs have other Classic distances, so the card in your wallet wins.
Where the tow can go
Towing goes to the service provider’s repair shop, or, within your mileage allowance, to a destination you choose in any direction from the breakdown site. Repairs and extra towing for the same breakdown are at your own expense. So the useful question is how far your car is from where you want it, not how far you are from AAA.
What happens past the limit
Past the included miles, you pay for the extra. The same FAQ gives two answers. One line says you are charged for the extra miles at the service provider’s prevailing private rate. Another says members are charged $7 per mile after the included miles. Ask the dispatcher which applies to your plan and your call, and get the number before the truck loads.
A made-up example, using the $7 figure only to show the math: you are on Classic with a 5-mile limit, and your shop is 14 miles away. That is 9 extra miles, or $63 at $7 a mile. If the rate were the operator’s private rate instead, the total could differ. This is arithmetic, not a quote.
Three Atlanta situations that run past 5 miles
- A Perimeter breakdown. The I-285 beltway is 64 miles around. A tow from the shoulder to your usual shop across the metro can easily be more than 5 miles.
- A suburban trip home. Living in Alpharetta and breaking down downtown means the home tow is likely well past a Classic limit, and well inside Plus.
- A road trip. A breakdown on I-75 south toward McDonough or north toward Kennesaw, with a shop back in town, is where Plus or Premier distances begin to matter.
Your options when the shop is farther than your limit
- Use the nearest shop. Towing to the closest shop within your limit costs nothing extra, and you can move the car later.
- Pay the overage. Fine if the number is reasonable and you have it before the truck rolls.
- Book a separate consensual tow. A consensual tow has no state rate cap, so the price is the operator’s quote. The long-distance towing page covers that kind of trip, and the tow cost calculator gives a starting point.
- Ask the dealer or shop. Some will arrange a pickup. Ask before you assume.
If you have no membership at all, see the guide to roadside help without AAA.
Frequently asked questions
Does AAA tow to my house?
Within your mileage allowance, towing can go to a destination of your choice, according to the AAA Auto Club Group FAQ. Past it, extra miles are billed.
Does the mileage count both ways?
The FAQ says tows are up to the stated miles each. We did not find a rule on round trips, so ask the dispatcher.
Is the Premier 200-mile tow every call?
No. The FAQ describes one tow up to 200 miles, with remaining tows up to 100 miles each.
Can I use AAA and call another operator?
Yes, a driver can request a separate tow. Quick Tow ATL is a referral line that connects you with an independent licensed operator, with no membership needed. The roadside assistance page lists what is offered.
For a tow or roadside call, the line at (858) 925-5546 takes calls 24/7.