How does AAA Battery Roadside Service work?
Battery gone kaput? Help is on the way.
Stranded drivers have trusted AAA to get them back on the road for more than a century, and today is no exception. Contact AAA for help around the clock and an expert AAA roadside technician will arrive to get you moving again from most locations.
With AAA Battery Roadside Service, Members enjoy the convenience of mobile battery delivery just about anywhere you are—24/7, nationwide—and assistance from highly trained technicians. AAA roadside experts also offer battery testing and diagnosis (they can test your charging system, too), provide jump starts, and sell you a car battery replacement on the spot—installation included—before recycling the old battery.1 And if all else fails, we can tow your vehicle.
Note: If you’re a new AAA Member there is a 48-hour waiting period before all Membership benefits kick in.
Request Battery Roadside Service
Request battery service with just a tap, and the app will help us find you.
Help is just a phone call away—24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Battery service requests are available online. (Member sign in required.)
AAA Membership Car Battery & Roadside Benefits
If your car battery dies, AAA takes good care of you with these benefits:
- AAA Member discount. AAA Members save at least $32 on the price of a new battery.2
- High quality AAA battery. AAA-branded batteries perform well, are comparable to top brands, and are specially designed to withstand almost any climate. Technicians carry batteries for most vehicles in their trucks.
- 3-year warranty on car batteries. If your new AAA battery fails during its first three years, AAA will give you a new one for free.
- Disposal and recycling of your old battery included
10 signs your battery needs replacing
Sometimes, a vehicle battery gives you hints of impending trouble. Not sure what to look for? Consider these 10 warning signs:
- Your car starts slowly or has trouble starting. If you start the ignition and the engine cranks slowly, or makes a whirring sound for a while, you might need a new battery.
- Your car’s engine cranks but won’t start. This could be a sign that your battery is failing. If you try to start your car and hear only a click, you may have either a faulty battery or a bad starter.
- Your car needs multiple jump starts. If your car often needs a jump to get it going, its battery could be wearing out. Or, another part of your electrical system, such as the alternator, is failing. Take your vehicle to a AAA-approved mechanic, who can pinpoint the problem.
- Your dashboard lights are flickering or your headlights are dim. Failing lights could signal a failing battery, or perhaps a failing alternator.
- Your car struggles to perform in cold or hot weather. Colder temperatures strain your battery and can eventually kill it, while extreme heat can damage its internal structure.
- You notice a rotten-egg smell. A sulfuric acid smell could indicate an unstable battery.
- The battery case is swollen, cracked, or disfigured. If you notice any of these changes, your battery is damaged.
- You have corroded battery terminals. Car batteries have a positive and a negative terminal (the two terminals that you connect jumper cables to when jump-starting a car). Corrosion around a battery terminal—a powdery buildup that’s usually white, green, or blue—can hamper battery function.
- You haven’t been driving your car lately. “Use it or lose it” certainly applies to your car battery. If a car isn’t driven regularly, the battery drains, eventually leaving you with a dead battery. If your car sits too long between drives, you may not be able to revive it with a jump start.
- You have an old battery. Nothing lasts forever, and that includes car batteries. Most batteries last for 3 to 6 years.
Suspect a failing battery? AAA Members can request roadside assistance to have their battery tested and replaced.
Car Battery Maintenance Tips
While car batteries inevitably need to be replaced, there are a few ways to maintain your battery’s longevity.
Here’s a step-by-step guide for keeping your vehicle battery in tip-top shape:
Drive your car weekly
Keep the battery juiced, and be sure to take some longer rides. If you must park your vehicle for a long time, use a trickle charger to help extend battery life.
Garage
Park your car in the garage to protect your battery from cold winds, ice, and snow.
Engine block
Use an engine block heater to stave off winter’s chill and keep your car’s engine, battery, and motor oil warm. This will help your car start more easily in cold weather.
Battery terminals
Keep your battery terminals corrosion-free. If the battery’s two connectors get corroded, have them cleaned up.
Frequently Asked Questions: AAA Battery Service
AAA Members Share Their Roadside Tales
See what AAA Members have to say about their experience using AAA Battery Replacement and Roadside Service.
What Members Are Saying
"The battery in my old 2005 vehicle was dead, so I called AAA for help. A technician arrived a few minutes earlier than I expected and quickly analyzed the problem and then he explained it to me so that I could understand. I am 95 years old and know nothing about cars.
He handled the problem carefully and efficiently. My car is running great now. Thank you."
—Vanda K., AAA Member, Chico, California
Want to share your own AAA story?
As a Member, you're entitled to:
- Battery discounts.
- 24/7 expert roadside service. New AAA Members have a 48-hour waiting period before becoming eligible for roadside service.
- Auto repair savings at AAA Owned or Approved Auto Repair Centers, all of which meet strict quality standards.
- Discounts on reliable auto insurance from AAA.
- Special discounts on everything from travel and entertainment to electronics and hotels.
- And so much more. Visit our Membership page to view all AAA Membership levels and benefits.