AAA History
1902
Nine motor clubs met in Chicago to form the American Automobile Association.
Today, AAA is a federation of more than 50 affiliated clubs with some 1,100 offices in the United States and Canada serving more than 51 million members.
1903
AAA began its work campaigning on motorists’ behalf for better and safer roadways by supporting federal legislation to establish the U.S. Department of Transportation.
1905
The first AAA map was produced and depicted roads on Staten Island, N.Y.
Today, AAA annually distributes more than 90 million maps and 17 million TripTik® customized routings that include key travel information, such as road construction and mileage estimates.
1914
AAA erected 4,000 road signs between Los Angeles and Kansas City to guide drivers and replace compasses and landmarks, such as fence posts and barns.
1915
AAA’s “Men on Motorcycles” provided the first emergency road service.
Today, AAA operates a network of 13,500 contract towing facilities that annually respond to more than 30 million roadside assistance calls.
1917
AAA issued the first AAA hotel directory
1920
The School Safety Patrol program, AAA’s first such safety program, was pioneered in Chicago.
Today, the program sponsors more than 500,000 patrols in some 50,000 schools every year.
1926
AAA released the first three editions of its TourBook® guide.
Today, AAA annually publishes more than 22 million TourBook guides and more than 160 million copies of travel-related materials, making AAA one of the largest travel publishers in the world.
1930
AAA published the first Digest of Motor Vehicle Laws, outlining motoring laws in all 50 states and Washington D.C.
1934
The first high school driver-education course was taught at State College High School in Pennsylvania by Amos Neyhart, the father of driver education and AAA consultant.
1941
AAA established the “Keep ‘em Rolling Campaign,” a program designed to help motorists maintain their vehicles.
Today, certified technicians provide repair services and offer members maintenance inspections at more than 7,000 AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities across the country.
1945
AAA used two-way radios for Emergency Road Service dispatches. Within five years, 185 trucks handled more than one million calls.
Today, AAA uses wireless location technology guided by global positioning system, or GPS, to summon roadside assistance.
1948
AAA Travel Agency Services offered the first escorted tours.
Today, with more than 1,000 full-service offices, AAA is the largest leisure travel agency organization in North America.
1952
The U.S. State Department authorized AAA to issue international driving permits to members and the public.
Today, through affiliations with international motoring clubs, AAA provides benefits to members traveling in 110 countries on six continents.
U.S. Postal Service issued safety patrol stamp to commemorate AAA’s 50th anniversary.
1956
AAA played an important role in the passage of the 1956 Federal-aid Highway Act, creating the interstate highway system.
1965
The first of its kind, “Teaching Driver and Traffic Safety Education,” was published by AAA as a textbook for college students.
1967
AAA Life Insurance Co. was founded.
Today, AAA is a full-service insurance agency offering auto, home, life, health and other insurance products with exclusive discounts and savings opportunities available to members.
1973
AAA produced its first Fuel Gauge Report, a fuel pricing and availability reporting system.
Today, the Fuel Gauge Report provides national, state and metro gas price averages from 85,000 gas stations across the country.
1977
AAA launched the VISA credit card program.
Today, AAA offers an array of financial products and services including credit cards, auto loans and leases, mortgages, home equity loans and lines of credit, certificate of deposit and money market accounts.
1979
The AAA Diamond rating system for hotel accommodations was adopted.
1984
The first AAA Student Auto Skills contest was held.
In 1994, AAA partnered with the Ford Motor Co. and the contest has since awarded millions of dollars in scholarships and prizes to graduating high school auto technicians.
1993
AAA launched the Show Your Card & Save® program.
AAA discounts, including those available via the organization’s Show Your Card and Save® program, saved AAA members more than $2.1 billion in 2008. Members that used the discounts had an average savings of $101 during the year. AAA members saved on everything from hotels and restaurants to home electronics and prescription drugs and much more.
1997
AAA launched an aggressive campaign to reduce teen crash injuries and death.
Today, AAA has helped pass graduated driving license systems for teen drivers in all 50 states and is continuing its work to improve laws to keep teen drivers safe.
AAA launched AAA.com, the official AAA Web site.
Today AAA.com receives more than 88 million visitors annually to print directions, book travel, get insurance quotes, learn about great member discounts and more.
2000
AAA received a public service award from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for leadership in establishing the Child Passenger Safety Certification Program and efforts in promoting graduated driver licensing.
2002
AAA launched the “Seated, Safe & Secure” child safety campaign, a national initiative to improve child safety in motor vehicles.
2006
AAA launched its first ever national advertising campaign by participating in the NASCAR racing series as the primary sponsor the No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion race car.
2007
AAA became 50 million members strong in North America.
AAA brought value to the wireless lifestyle through AAA Mobile, a downloadable mobile phone application that allows you to get directions, view a map, locate AAA TourBook points of interest and request roadside assistance.
2009
AAA expands its wireless roadside assistance applications to the Apple iPhone.