AAA offers roadside assistance as well as insurance to its members, but it does more than just insure your physical property. You can also choose one of their plans to help protect your identity through credit monitoring, fraud resolution support, email alerts and lost wallet protection. You can also receive financial assistance should something happen to you. AAA identity theft protection has partnered with Experian’s protection services (Experian Identity Works Review) to maintain your reputation for an extremely reasonable price. They’ve taken Experian’s services and imprinted their branding and trusted name. However, it should be noted that AAA has a number of different branches across the USA, and the information about how the plans work in which states is not entirely clear.
Basic AAA identity protection is free for members. Considering a membership is around $50 and you also receive help if your car breaks down on the side of the road, this is a truly valuable addition. Any monitoring is definitely better than no monitoring at all. With 51 million members, chances are you already belong to AAA, so there is every reason to take advantage of additional detection, resolution and assistance. They offer a more advanced plan too which covers internet scanning and children’s data as well. It’s also generally cheaper than purchasing a plan directly through Experian. The fact that the information is coming from Experian though does make it more likely that you’ll have an easy time resolving issues with the credit bureau directly before it spins out of control.
AAA identity protection may only have little control over what happens when there’s a problem, considering their services are from a third party. It’s also confusing to see exactly who is eligible for which plan. Every branch appears to run slightly differently. On the AAA Auto Club Group site, you can enter a California zip code which then tells you that only Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and Puerto Rico are serviced. It then redirects you to a general list of AAA’s services (without identity theft readily appearing as an option.) If you put in a Florida zip code, it takes you to the general information about Experian Identity Works services. Also, there seems to be additional confusion based on what type of policy you have (e.g., whether or not only homeowners can sign up, etc.) Some sites say all members are eligible but others may have different specifications. It would mean calling your local branch, and it seems unlikely you’d get a clear-cut answer quickly so you can easily make a decision based on the facts. In addition, even the Deluxe version doesn’t offer credit freezes or fraud alerts to financial institutions.
AAA has proved itself to a success for many years when it comes to helping people who are in a jam. Whether that’s through sending a qualified repairman, replacing people’s valuable property or helping to protect identity, it’s clear that the standards are high when it comes to giving people a service they can actually use. We absolutely recommend signing up for the free services if you’re eligible as you truly have nothing to lose and everything to gain. However, if you want protection from every angle then you’re likely better off choosing a different company with more coverage. Consider taking a look at our LifeLock review.
AAA has basic services that are an excellent start for those who want to take steps in terms of protecting their information, but don’t want to break the bank to do it.
There are 2 plans offered with different services. The main Identity Works plan is listed as a $79 value for one year or services. The services are broken down below with all the basic services being offered on both plans.
In addition to the Essential Plan services, you’ll also receive the following. It should be noted the fine print states that if you pay the annual cost on the Deluxe plan, you’ll receive 2 months free.
The AAA website does not specify whether they offer 24/7 assistance, but neither do they list hours or time zones for their numbers. To sign up with AAA, there’s the following number or you can log into your AAA account. You at least need to have the basic AAA membership for either of the plans.
General Support: 1-877-440-6943
AAA used to use CreditCheck Select instead of Experian, and it should noted that you can still log into your account online if you originally bought with CreditCheck. There are few consumer reviews about the specific services listed here, however AAA has been servicing drivers since 1902. Their name is synonymous with help during emergencies.