Will AAA Tow an Unregistered Car? Official Policy Explained

A car sitting with expired tags is already stressful, and calling for a tow adds a new worry: will AAA even show up, or start asking questions about registration first? Some drivers assume vague answers to the dispatcher are the safest bet, which can backfire when the truck arrives. This guide covers AAA’s actual policy on unregistered vehicles, the legitimate paperwork fix that keeps you covered, and what to do if your local club still says no.

Understanding AAA’s Towing Services

AAA’s roadside assistance covers flat tires, dead batteries, lockouts, and towing — but towing isn’t as simple as hooking up any car and dragging it to the shop. Your membership level — Classic, Plus, or Premier — sets how many tows you get per year and how far each one can go. But AAA’s policies are strict about which vehicles qualify: they focus on cars that are legally drivable and registered for highway or street use. So where does that leave an unregistered car? Let’s dig in.

AAA’s Official Policy on Towing Unregistered Vehicles

According to AAA’s official Membership Terms and Conditions, they only provide towing services for vehicles that are registered for highway or street use. If your car doesn’t have current registration, AAA’s policy is clear: they won’t tow it. This rule exists so AAA’s services are used for legitimate roadside emergencies, not for moving cars that aren’t legally roadworthy — and to prevent the service from being used to move a stolen or disputed-ownership vehicle.

“I learned this the hard way when I tried to get AAA to tow a 1970s Mustang I bought at an auction. The car wasn’t registered, and when I called AAA, the dispatcher politely but firmly told me they couldn’t help unless I had a valid registration or a temporary permit. AAA isn’t in the business of transporting cars for sales, auctions, or personal projects — they’re focused on helping members with breakdowns.”

There are some nuances. If your car was involved in an accident and can’t be driven, AAA might make an exception even if the registration has lapsed. But for non-emergency situations, like moving a project car you just bought, AAA’s stance is firm: no registration, no tow — unless you get a temporary permit first.

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Legitimate Ways to Get an Unregistered Car Towed

AAA’s policy is strict, but there are honest, above-board ways to get an unregistered car moved. None of these involve misleading the dispatcher — they involve making the car eligible for the tow in the first place.

Get a Temporary DMV Permit

The most reliable fix is a temporary permit from your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Most states offer one-day or short-term trip permits that legally allow an unregistered vehicle to be moved. This keeps you within AAA’s rules instead of trying to get around them.

1. Check your state DMV’s website: Look up “trip permit” or “temporary registration” for your state — most can be requested online or same-day in person.
2. Bring proof of ownership: Have the title or a bill of sale ready — the DMV and AAA driver both may ask for it to confirm the car is legitimately yours.
3. Pay the permit fee: Most trip permits cost a small flat fee and are valid for a single day or a short window.
4. Call AAA with the permit in hand: Tell the dispatcher the car has a valid temporary permit and give the pickup and destination address.
5. Meet the driver with your documents: Have your AAA membership card, photo ID, the permit, and proof of ownership ready when the truck arrives.

When I needed to tow that Mustang, I went to the DMV, paid a small fee, and got a temporary permit. With that in hand, AAA was happy to tow the car to my mechanic’s shop — a bit of extra legwork, but completely above board.

Bring Proof of Ownership

Whether or not you have a permit yet, carry the vehicle’s title or a bill of sale any time you call AAA about a car that isn’t registered in your name. Drivers routinely ask for registration or ID to confirm the vehicle belongs to the member calling — showing paperwork upfront, rather than hoping it doesn’t come up, is what actually speeds the call along.

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Use a Flatbed Tow Truck

If your unregistered car isn’t drivable, always request a flatbed when you call AAA. Flatbeds are the safer, correct method for a non-running vehicle — they avoid drivetrain damage that a wheel-lift tow can cause on cars that haven’t moved in a while. Just be upfront about the car’s condition so the right equipment shows up the first time.

Provide Written Consent If You Can’t Be Present

AAA generally expects the member or the registered owner to be present when the truck arrives, so the driver can verify your membership card and the vehicle’s registration or permit. If you genuinely can’t be there, call AAA ahead of time to arrange it — some clubs will accept written consent letting another adult stand in for you. Don’t assume a driver will simply skip this step; arrange it honestly in advance instead.

Check Local AAA Club Rules First

AAA operates through regional clubs, and rules genuinely vary. AAA Oregon/Idaho, for example, states outright that it will not tow vehicles, RVs, or trailers with expired registrations or trip permits — meaning the DMV-permit fix that works in many states won’t necessarily work there. Other clubs are more flexible, especially if the destination is a repair shop rather than your home or a salvage yard. Before you assume any workaround applies, call your local AAA club and ask directly.

📊 AAA Oregon/Idaho membership terms explicitly exclude vehicles with expired registration or trip permits from towing coverage — a stricter rule than many other regional AAA clubs. Source: AAA Oregon/Idaho Membership Terms and Conditions, 2026.

Membership Levels and Towing Benefits

Your AAA membership level plays a big role in what kind of towing service you can access:

Membership Level	Towing Distance	Number of Tows	Additional Benefits
Classic	Up to 5 miles	4 per year	Basic roadside services (flat tire, battery jump, fuel delivery)
Plus	Up to 100 miles	4 per year	Extended towing, motorcycle coverage (with Plus Motorcycle add-on)
Premier	One tow up to 200 miles, others up to 100 miles	4 per year	Free one-day rental car with tow, extended vehicle coverage

For unregistered cars, the same registration rules apply across all membership levels — a Premier membership doesn’t override AAA’s registration requirement. What a higher tier gets you is more distance and, in my experience with a Plus upgrade, faster dispatch and access to flatbed equipment for longer tows.

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Do You Need to Be Present When AAA Tows Your Car?

Generally, yes. AAA expects the member (or the vehicle’s registered owner) to be present when the truck arrives so the driver can verify your membership card and the car’s registration, title, or trip permit. The main exception is a genuine roadside breakdown — if your car stalls on the highway and you call for emergency assistance, you obviously need to be there for the driver to find you in the first place.

If you can’t be present for a non-emergency tow — say, someone else needs to meet the driver instead — call AAA before the appointment and ask what they need. Some clubs will accept written consent authorizing another adult to stand in for you and show the paperwork. Skipping this step and hoping the driver doesn’t ask is the same misrepresentation problem as hiding an unregistered car — it’s better to arrange it properly.

Can You Use AAA to Tow a Car You Don’t Own?

AAA membership benefits generally follow you as the member, not a specific car — so if you’re riding in someone else’s vehicle when it breaks down, you can usually request the tow on your own membership. But the vehicle itself still has to meet AAA’s standard rules: it must be registered, and the driver will typically want to see registration matching the member or an immediate family member on the plan.

That means using your AAA card to tow a car you don’t own and that isn’t registered to you or your immediate family — like a friend’s project car, or a vehicle you just bought at auction that’s still titled to the seller — usually isn’t covered, regardless of registration status. The honest fix is the same one that applies to unregistered cars: transfer the title and registration into your name first, or use a private towing company or dolly rental instead of trying to stretch AAA coverage to a car it wasn’t meant to cover.

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Alternatives to AAA for Towing Unregistered Cars

If AAA won’t tow your unregistered car, there are other options that don’t depend on AAA’s registration rule at all.

Private Towing Companies

Local towing companies are often more flexible than AAA about unregistered vehicles — they’re a paid service, not a membership benefit tied to registration rules. The tradeoff is cost: private tows typically run $100 to $300 or more depending on distance and tow type. I once hired a local tow company to move a non-running Jeep, and it cost $150 for a 20-mile tow.

Auto Transport Services

For a long-distance move, a professional auto transport service can handle registered or unregistered vehicles, including classic cars and non-running wrecks. Expect $500 to $1,500 depending on distance — steep, but reliable if AAA isn’t an option.

Tow Dolly or Trailer Rental

If you have a vehicle capable of towing, renting a tow dolly or trailer from a company like U-Haul lets you move the car yourself. I rented a tow dolly for $50 a day to move an unregistered car to my house — straightforward, as long as the car is secured properly and you’re following local towing laws.

Temporary Registration

As covered above, a temporary registration or trip permit from your state’s DMV is usually the cheapest fix — it keeps you within AAA’s rules and free towing coverage instead of paying for a private tow. Check with your state’s DMV for the specific process; it’s usually quick.

Real-Life Experiences with AAA and Unregistered Cars

Experiences with AAA and unregistered cars are genuinely mixed. One friend got a same-day DMV trip permit for a non-running, unregistered car he’d bought at a salvage auction, called AAA with the permit and bill of sale in hand, and the driver towed it 30 miles to his house without any issues.

On the flip side, I’ve heard from someone who was upfront about his car not being registered, and the driver said he couldn’t tow it because it violated AAA’s policy. The driver suggested getting a temporary permit, which ended up being the solution. Either way, the honest path — permit or proof of ownership in hand — is what actually worked, not the way the situation was described on the phone.

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Tips for a Smooth Towing Experience

A few practical tips to make sure your towing experience goes smoothly:

• Be Prepared: Have your AAA membership card and photo ID ready when the tow truck arrives. Drivers always check these.
• Know Your Membership: Understand your towing limits and benefits before you call. This helps you avoid surprises.
• Be Upfront About Registration: If your car isn’t registered, get a temporary permit before you call, and mention it when you do. AAA will ask to see registration or a permit when the driver arrives either way, so being upfront just avoids a wasted trip.
• Choose the Right Destination: AAA is more likely to tow to a repair shop than to your home or a salvage yard. Pick a destination that aligns with their policies.
• Stay with the Car: AAA generally requires you (or the registered owner) to be present at pickup, so plan to be there when the driver arrives, or arrange written consent in advance if you can’t.

Conclusion

So, will AAA tow an unregistered car? The short answer is no — not officially. AAA’s policy is clear that vehicles must be registered for highway or street use to qualify. The legitimate fix is a same-day DMV trip permit and proof of ownership, not being vague or misleading with the dispatcher — and it’s worth calling your local AAA club first, since some regions (like AAA Oregon/Idaho) won’t accept even a trip permit.

If AAA still says no, private towing companies, auto transport services, and tow dolly rentals are all legitimate alternatives. For a deeper step-by-step walkthrough of the DMV permit process and a full membership-plan cost comparison, see our companion guide, Will Triple A Tow an Unregistered Car? Your Simple Guide to AAA Towing. For distance limits on a registered vehicle, see How Far Will AAA Tow a Car?

Frequently Asked Questions

Can AAA Tow My Unregistered Car If It Broke Down?

Generally no. AAA’s policy requires vehicles to be registered for highway or street use, even for a genuine breakdown. The exception is a car disabled in an accident that can’t be safely moved — some clubs will make a one-time exception there. Otherwise, your best bet is a temporary DMV permit to make the car eligible.

What Happens If I Tell AAA My Car Is Unregistered?

AAA will decline the tow per its official policy. Being upfront about it doesn’t change the outcome — the policy applies whether you mention it or not, and a driver may ask to see registration regardless. The reliable fix is getting a same-day DMV trip permit first, not trying to omit the detail.

Can I Use AAA to Tow a Car I Just Bought?

Not by default. AAA doesn’t tow cars for purchases, sales, or auctions, and the vehicle typically needs to be registered to you or an immediate family member on your plan. If you just bought an unregistered car, get a temporary DMV permit and bring proof of purchase, or use a private towing service instead.

Are There Any Exceptions to AAA’s Registration Rule?

In some cases, AAA might tow an unregistered car if it was involved in an accident and can’t be driven. Otherwise, exceptions are rare, and they vary by regional club. Always check with your local AAA club for its specific rules before assuming an exception applies.

What’s the Cheapest Way to Tow an Unregistered Car?

Getting a temporary DMV permit and using your AAA towing benefit is usually cheapest, since it’s free up to your membership’s distance limit. If that’s not possible, a tow dolly rental or a local towing company are the next most affordable options.

Will Every AAA Club Accept a DMV Trip Permit?

No. Most AAA regional clubs will tow a vehicle with a valid trip permit, but AAA Oregon/Idaho explicitly states it will not tow vehicles with expired registration or trip permits at all. Rules genuinely differ by club, so call your specific AAA club and confirm before you count on a permit working.

Is It Illegal to Have AAA Tow an Unregistered Car?

It’s not illegal to request the tow, but AAA will decline it under its own membership terms unless the car has valid registration or a temporary DMV permit. Driving an unregistered car on public roads without a permit is illegal in most states, which is exactly why AAA requires registration or a permit before towing.

Sources: AAA Club Alliance, Roadside Assistance Rules of the Road; AAA Membership Terms and Conditions.