What the AAA Travel Card offers
The AAA Travel Rewards card is a co-branded credit card issued by Bank of America for AAA members. It earns rewards on gas, groceries, and travel purchases, and includes roadside information and travel protections that come with AAA membership. The card itself has no annual fee for the first year, then $99 per year after that—though AAA members often receive fee waivers or credits as part of their membership benefits.
The rewards structure gives you 3% cash back on gas and EV charging, 3% on groceries for the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter (then 1% after), and 1% on all other purchases. Travel purchases—including airfare, hotels, rental cars, and parking—earn 3% cash back. You can redeem rewards as statement credits, direct deposits, or gift cards.
Beyond rewards, the card includes travel insurance (trip cancellation, trip delay, baggage delay), emergency roadside information through AAA, and purchase protections. The roadside information benefit mirrors what AAA members already have, so it does not add a separate layer of coverage if you are already a member.
Key Takeaways
- The card earns 3% cash back on gas, groceries (up to $2,500 per quarter), and travel purchases, with no annual fee the first year.
- Travel insurance covers trip cancellation and baggage delays, but only if you charged the trip to this card.
- Roadside information is included, though AAA members already have this benefit through their membership.
- You must be an AAA member to open the account, and membership fees are separate from the card's annual fee.
- Rewards can be redeemed as cash back, direct deposit, or gift cards, with no blackout dates or point expiration.
Who should consider this card
This card makes sense if you are already an AAA member and spend regularly on gas, groceries, or travel. The 3% back on gas and travel adds up quickly for people who drive frequently or take multiple trips per year. If you do not drive much or rarely travel, the rewards may not offset the $99 annual fee after the first year.
The card is less competitive for people who do not have an AAA membership. Joining AAA costs money—membership tiers range from basic roadside information to premium plans—so you would be paying both AAA dues and the card's annual fee. In that case, a general travel card without membership requirements might offer better value.
How to open an account
You must be an AAA member before you can open the card. If you are not already a member, you will need to join AAA first through their website or a local branch. Membership is when ready for online applications, though some membership benefits take a few days to set up.
Once you have an active AAA membership, you can open the card through Bank of America's website, the AAA website, or at a local AAA branch. The process takes about 10 minutes and asks for your Social Security number, income, employment history, and current debts. Bank of America will pull your credit report, so a hard inquiry will appear on your credit file.
You will receive a decision within minutes for most applications. If approved, your card ships within 7 to 10 business days. You can request expedited shipping for an additional fee. Once the card arrives, you set up it through the Bank of America app or website before you use it.
Annual fees and when they waive
The card has no annual fee for the first 12 months. After that, the fee is $99 per year, charged on your card anniversary date. Bank of America will send you a notice before the fee posts, giving you time to decide whether to keep the card.
Some AAA membership tiers include an annual credit toward the card's fee—typically $50 to $100 depending on your membership level. Check your AAA membership benefits or call AAA to confirm whether your plan includes a card fee credit. If it does, the credit posts automatically to your account each year.
If you close the card before the annual fee posts, you will not be charged. If the fee has already posted and you close the card within 30 days, you can call Bank of America to request a refund, though they are not required to grant it.
How rewards work and what they are worth
Rewards post to your account as cash back, which you can redeem in several ways. You can take a statement credit (the most straightforward option), request a direct deposit to your bank account, or convert points to gift cards from retailers and restaurants. There are no blackout dates, no point expiration, and no minimum redemption amount.
The 3% categories—gas, groceries, and travel—are where the card earns its value. On $200 monthly gas spending, you earn $72 per year in rewards. On $500 quarterly grocery spending, you earn $45 per year. Travel rewards depend on how much you spend, but someone taking two $1,500 flights per year earns $90 in rewards just from airfare.
The 1% catch-all rate on other purchases is standard for travel cards. It means the card does not penalize you for everyday spending, but it does not reward it either. If you spend heavily on categories outside gas, groceries, and travel, a different card might earn more.
Travel protections and what they cover
The card includes trip cancellation insurance, which reimburses you if you cancel a prepaid trip for a covered reason—illness, injury, or death of a family member. The benefit covers up to $5,000 per person and $10,000 per trip, but only if you charged the entire trip to this card.
Trip delay insurance covers meals and lodging if your flight is delayed more than 12 hours. Baggage delay coverage reimburses you for essential items if your luggage is delayed more than 12 hours. These are modest protections, but they cover real costs that come up on travel delays.
The card does not include travel medical insurance, evacuation coverage, or lost luggage reimbursement. If you travel internationally or take high-value trips, you may want to purchase a separate travel insurance policy. Read the full terms on the Bank of America website to understand what is and is not covered, because insurance terms are specific and exclusions matter.
How to manage and pay your account
You manage the card through the Bank of America app or website. You can view your balance, make payments, set up automatic payments, and track rewards in real time. Automatic payments can be set to pay the full balance, a minimum payment, or a fixed amount each month.
Payments are due 21 days after your statement closes. If you pay in full by the due date, you pay no interest. If you carry a balance, the card charges a variable interest rate (APR) that depends on your creditworthiness and current market rates. The current APR range is typically 18% to 28%, though your actual rate depends on your credit score and credit history.
Late payments trigger a late fee (typically $25 to $35 for the first late payment, higher for subsequent ones) and may raise your APR. Paying at least the minimum by the due date protects your credit score and avoids fees. If you are carrying a balance, paying more than the minimum reduces the interest you owe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be an AAA member to get this card?
Yes. You must have an active AAA membership before you open the account. If you are not a member, you will need to join AAA first, which costs money depending on your membership tier. Once you have membership, you can open the card through Bank of America or AAA.
What happens to my rewards if I close the card?
Your rewards do not expire and do not disappear if you close the card. You can redeem any cash back balance you have accumulated before or after you close the account. You have no important date to redeem—the rewards stay in your account indefinitely.
Can I use the roadside information if I am not an AAA member?
No. The roadside information benefit is only for AAA members. Since you must be a member to open the card anyway, you will have access to roadside information through both your membership and the card. If your membership lapses, the card benefit also stops.
Is there a sign-up bonus?
Sign-up bonuses for this card vary and change periodically. Check the Bank of America website or AAA website for current offers. Bonuses typically come as cash back or bonus points after you spend a certain amount in the first few months.
What credit score do I need to get approved?
Bank of America does not publish a minimum credit score for this card, but approval is easier with a score of 670 or higher. If your score is lower, you may still be approved, but your interest rate may be higher. You can check your credit score for free through many banks and credit monitoring services before you explore.