About Automotive Services Memberships

Automotive services memberships provide a host of benefits to members. Some providers give you basic coverage related to your vehicle, but others offer membership discounts on everything from shopping, to hotel accommodations, to pharmaceutical medicines. The club you join, as well as the membership you purchase, determines the extent of services available. 

Benefits

The majority of automotive services memberships are available to the general public for a monthly or annual membership fee.  Members receive a host of automotive-related benefits, such as discounts on maintenance and repairs, emergency roadside assistance if you’re stranded or locked out of your vehicle. These memberships often provide insurance beyond what a car insurance company provides, because these typically cover you and not your vehicle; thus if you’re stranded in a friend’s vehicle, you can still obtain service. Other potential benefits include discounts on car rentals, assistance with DMV registration, safeguarding you against identity theft, and providing maps and trip plans. 

Considerations

Although the savings you’ll receive by joining an automotive club might sound exciting, you should first consider whether or not you would actually use the majority of the services these provide. The savings are substantial for individuals who frequently make use of the services, but you’re not receiving much of a bargain if you pay for something you infrequently or never use.  In many instances, paying for services a la carte, as situations arise is cheaper than purchasing a membership. Thus, if you’re looking to save money, you should determine which services you regularly use, and calculate whether the savings you’d obtain from the discount are more substantial the membership.