> **Quick Answer:** AAA covers towing after both accidents and mechanical breakdowns. Your membership does not distinguish between the two causes. What matters is that your car cannot be driven. The tow goes toward your annual mileage limit (100 miles per tow for Classic, 100 miles for Plus, 200 miles for Premier), and you get up to four towing calls per membership year regardless of why the car is disabled.
## Does AAA Pay for a Tow If My Car Is in an Accident?
Yes. AAA will dispatch a tow truck after a collision the same way it would for a dead battery or blown tire. The membership does not require you to prove a mechanical failure. If the car is immobile or unsafe to drive, you call AAA, they send a truck, and the tow counts against your benefit usage for the year.
Your auto insurance is a separate question entirely. If you have collision coverage, your insurer may reimburse towing costs tied to the accident through your policy's emergency road service add-on. You can use AAA to get the car moved immediately and sort out reimbursement later. Using AAA does not prevent you from filing a towing claim with your insurer afterward, though you typically cannot collect twice for the same tow.
## What Happens If the Tow Distance Exceeds My AAA Miles?
You pay out of pocket for the miles beyond your plan's limit. Classic members get 100 miles per tow at no extra charge. Plus members also get 100 miles. Premier members get 200 miles. After that, AAA charges a per-mile fee, which varies by region but typically runs $3 to $7 per mile beyond the limit.
After an accident, the tow destination matters a lot. Police sometimes require your car to go to an impound lot, not a shop of your choosing. Impound facilities are not always close, and if the lot is 80 miles away on a Classic plan and your preferred body shop is another 40 miles from there, that second tow is either a new call on your annual allotment or a cash expense. Know your plan's mileage cap before you need it. You can check your exact limit inside the AAA app or on your membership card. For a deeper look at mileage limits by plan, see [AAA towing coverage miles per year limit](/aaa-towing-coverage-miles-per-year-limit/).
## Will Using AAA After an Accident Affect My Insurance Rates?
Using AAA roadside assistance does not trigger an auto insurance claim and does not affect your rates. AAA is a membership benefit, not an insurance product. When you call AAA for a tow, no claim is filed with your car insurance carrier, and your insurer never sees the dispatch.
The situation changes if you separately file a towing reimbursement claim through your auto insurance after an accident. That is an insurance transaction, and depending on your carrier and your at-fault status, it could factor into your record. If you have AAA and your tow falls within your mileage limit, using AAA alone and skipping the insurance towing claim is often the smarter move financially.
## What Should I Do at the Accident Scene Before Calling
*Photo: Pexels*
AAA?
Call 911 first if anyone is injured or if the vehicles are blocking traffic unsafely. Once emergency services are notified or confirmed unnecessary, then call AAA. Give the dispatcher your exact location, the nature of the damage, and whether the car is in a lane, shoulder, or ditch.
One important detail: tell AAA if the car has front-end or undercarriage damage. A standard wheel-lift tow truck can drag a car with a damaged front axle and make the repair bill worse. Request a flatbed if the car has been hit in the front or if any wheels are not rolling freely. AAA dispatchers can note this, but you have to ask. While you wait, stay behind the guardrail or well off the roadway. For specific guidance on staying safe at roadside, [how to stay safe waiting for a tow truck on the highway](/how-to-stay-safe-waiting-for-tow-truck-on-highway/) covers the steps clearly.
If your situation also involves insurance towing questions after the accident, [who pays towing costs after a not at fault accident](/who-pays-towing-costs-after-not-at-fault-accident/) explains how reimbursement works when someone else caused the crash.
---
*Photo: Pexels*
## Common Questions
**Q: Does AAA cover towing if the accident was my fault?**
A: Yes. AAA does not check fault before dispatching a tow. Fault is an insurance determination, not a membership eligibility question. Your AAA benefit works the same whether you caused the accident or not.
**Q: How many times can I use AAA for towing in one year?**
A: Four service calls per membership year, including tows. All four can be tows if needed. The counter resets on your membership anniversary date, not January 1.
**Q: Can AAA tow my car to a body shop of my choice after an accident?**
A: Yes, as long as the shop is within your plan's mileage limit from the pickup point. If police or the scene requires the car to go to an impound lot first, a second tow to the shop counts as a separate service call.
**Q: What if my car needs to be towed more than 200 miles after a serious accident?**
A: Even Premier members max out at 200 miles per tow at no charge. Beyond that, you pay per mile, or you file a separate towing reimbursement claim through your auto insurance if your policy includes emergency road service coverage. Get a written receipt from the tow company either way.
**Q: Does AAA cover towing for a rental car after an accident?**
A: Standard AAA membership covers the member, not the vehicle, so technically you can call AAA for a rental car you are driving. However, rental companies have their own roadside programs and your rental agreement may require you to use theirs. Check your rental contract first, then call AAA if the rental company cannot respond quickly. See [roadside assistance for rental car: who pays](/roadside-assistance-rental-car-who-pays/) for the full breakdown.
---
*Need roadside help? Visit [Tow With The Flow](https://towwiththeflow.com/does-aaa-cover-towing-after-accident-or-just-breakdowns/) for real answers when your car breaks down.*
Does AAA Cover Towing After an Accident or Just Breakdowns?
Photo: Pexels