AAA Life Insurance
- Rated 3 stars out of 5 by NerdWallet.
- You don't have to be a member to buy life insurance from AAA (but members get discounts on some policies).
- Some term and whole life policies are available without a medical exam.
AAA Life Insurance Co. was founded in 1969 by AAA, the group of motor clubs best known for providing emergency roadside assistance and travel services. The company offers term, whole and universal life insurance. You don’t have to be an AAA member to buy life insurance from the company, but there are some discounts for members.
AAA life insurance
AAA earned 3 stars out of 5 for overall performance. NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and financial strength ratings.
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AAA life insurance pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Relatively large term life coverage amounts are available with a medical exam. | Low coverage amount on whole life, making it function more as a final expense policy. |
| Potential discounts for AAA members. |
AAA life insurance policies
AAA term life insurance
AAA’s traditional term life insurance requires answering medical questions and agreeing to a possible exam in order to qualify and offers coverage from $50,000 to more than $5 million. To potentially get life insurance with no medical exam, AAA offers ExpressTerm, which requires answering health questions (although an exam may be needed in certain instances). Its coverage options range from $25,000 to $500,000. ExpressTerm policies can be purchased online.
Both traditional and ExpressTerm offer 10-, 15-, 20- and 30-year coverage periods. AAA members save 10% on premium payments and may be able to get discounts on their home or auto insurance by bundling with traditional term life.
AAA permanent life insurance
Whole life insurance: AAA offers guaranteed issue life insurance with coverage up to $25,000. Applicants ages 45 to 85 can qualify automatically, but if the insured dies during the first two years, AAA won’t pay out the full policy amount, unless the death is accidental. AAA members and their spouses are eligible for a $60 annual discount on guaranteed issue whole life.
AAA also offers traditional whole life insurance with coverage up to $75,000. You may need a medical exam to qualify if you want $30,000 or more of coverage. AAA membership will get you 10% off the base rate.
Universal life insurance: Coverage amounts range from $100,000 to more than $5 million. AAA offers two flavors of universal life insurance: LifeTime and Accumulator. Both are permanent policies that last your entire life and build cash value. The Accumulator product is geared toward people who may want to use the cash value later to supplement retirement or cover other expenses, such as their children’s college education, while the LifeTime product features more guarantees, like fixed premiums.
» MORE: Compare life insurance quotes
Complaints about AAA life insurance
AAA Life Insurance drew more than the expected number of complaints to state regulators for a company of its size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
More about AAA life insurance
AAA Life also sells accident insurance and annuities. Its accident coverage policy is available to AAA members only, and the benefit level depends on how long you’ve been a member. If you purchase it, you’ll be covered for injuries and death caused by accidents. So if you fall off your roof and have to go to the hospital, accident insurance will help cover those costs. It doesn’t cover accidents caused by extreme sports, acts of war or self-inflicted injuries like suicide or drunken driving.
AAA offers three annuity options, with two having $3,000 minimum deposits and one requiring $10,000 upfront. If you’re considering an annuity, you should talk to a fee-only financial advisor to find the right option for your retirement needs.
Life insurance buying guide
Before you start comparing companies, choose the type of life insurance you want, such as term or whole life. Decide which life insurance riders, if any, you want the policy to include. Calculate how much life insurance you need and how long you want the coverage to last. Check that the insurers you’re considering offer the coverage you’re looking for.
When comparing rates, be sure the quotes are for the same amount of coverage over the same period of time. It’s also important to make sure the policy’s medical requirements match your needs. For example, if you want to skip the life insurance medical exam but don’t mind answering health questions, confirm that the application process for each policy you're comparing aligns with that.
Price may not be the biggest driver behind your decision to buy. Look at the number of consumer complaints each company receives, as high numbers can be a red flag about the quality of service.
For more guidance, see our life insurance buying guide.
Methodology: Life insurance ratings
NerdWallet’s life insurance ratings are based on weighted averages of financial strength ratings, which indicate a company’s ability to pay future claims, and complaint index scores from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners for individual life insurance. To calculate each insurer’s rating, we adjusted the scores to a curved 5-point scale.These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews.
