Membership Terms and Conditions

1. All Members must pay the appropriate subscription on the due date and are bound by the AA’s Terms and Conditions. Members who avail of the recurring payment plan must ensure the relevant payments are made on the due dates. Recurring payments returned unpaid, and which remain outstanding may affect services detailed in the Terms and Conditions.

2. Once you have joined the AA, cover begins 24 hours after your chosen start date. If you have chosen Rescue Plus as part of your Membership, this cover will begin 48 hours after chosen start date.

3. The AA Rescue Assistance service, which includes all the services detailed in these Terms and Conditions, are available to you when (a) you have Personal Membership, and you are stranded because of the vehicle in which you are travelling experiences a breakdown or accident or (b) you have Vehicle Membership and the vehicle covered under your AA Membership breaks down. Both above are covered in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland or Great Britain.

4. AA Membership does not provide cover for non-essential repairs such as replacing interior light bulbs or inconvenient faults such as a faulty radio. Nor must AA Membership services be used in place of regular servicing.

5. The AA Rescue Assistance service is available to Members when they are travelling in or on one of the following motor vehicles; cars, vans, minibuses, motorcycles – all of which are subject to a maximum gross vehicle weight (GVW) limit of 3,500kg (3.5 tonnes). Assistance is also given in relation to any caravan or trailer being towed at the time of the breakdown or accident, provided the gross weight of the caravan or trailer does not exceed 3,500kg (3.5 tonnes) and the vehicle towing it does not exceed 3,500kg (3.5 tonnes). There are weight, length and width restrictions which apply to all levels of service provided including:

Overall width up to 2.3 metres (7ft 6in)
Overall length (motorised vehicles) up to 5.5 metres (18 feet)
Overall length (non-motorised caravans and trailers) up to 7.6 metres (24ft 9in)
Vehicles including vans, caravans and trailers up to 3,500kg (3.5 tonnes) GVW 15

6. You will need your AA Membership number when requesting rescue service– Your AA Membership number can be found on your documents. To make things easier you can find your Membership number on your Membership card which is stored on the AA App. This way you’ll always have your Membership number handy if you need assistance.

7. The AA reserves the right to refuse vehicle assistance unless you or the named additional Member(s) is/are present at the scene at the time of the breakdown or accident and when our agent attends your breakdown or accident.

8. The AA reserves the right to refuse service where it has been requested to deal with the same or similar fault or cause of breakdown to the same vehicle within the preceding 28 days.

9. It is your responsibility to ensure that emergency repairs carried out by the AA are, where appropriate, followed as soon as possible by a permanent repair. The AA may, at its sole discretion, suspend or expel a Member or restrict in whole or in part the services and benefits to which he or she is entitled, or impose conditions under which such services will be made available. Action may be taken in the following circumstances:

Excessive use (See Fair Play Policy – page 24)
If a Member behaves in a threatening or abusive manner towards AA Employees or AA Appointed Garage Agents
If a Member has falsely represented that they are entitled to services that they are not entitled to
If a Member has assisted another person in accessing AA services to which they are not entitled
If a Member’s request for service is deemed by the AA to be unreasonable or impracticable
If a Member past or present has had a previous Membership suspended, cancelled or had a service restriction applied, we retain our right to cancel the current Membership at our sole discretion
If a Member past or present has an outstanding balance on a previous Membership, we retain our right to cancel the current Membership at our sole discretion
We reserve the right to cancel a current Membership at our sole discretion

10. Service from AA Patrols is subject to availability and may be supplemented by AA Appointed Garage Agents.

10.1 AA Patrols are not in a position, and should not be expected, to comment on the general safety or roadworthiness of a vehicle after a breakdown or accident or an emergency repair. In addition, completion of an emergency repair cannot be taken to signify or in any way guarantee the general roadworthiness of the vehicle concerned. However, The AA reserves the right to refuse service where, in the opinion of the AA Patrol or AA Appointed Garage Agent, the vehicle concerned was, immediately before the breakdown or accident, dangerous or un-roadworthy, 16 or where the giving of service would involve or give rise to any potential breach of the law (including but not restricted to any breach of road traffic regulations or health and safety provisions).

11. Normally, an agent appointed by The AA will charge The AA directly for any service it has provided on the AA’s behalf. Should your vehicle be recovered to a garage all subsequent costs must be met in full and are directly between the Member and the garage.

11.1 It is important that you contact The AA if you require assistance – if you first contact a garage, regardless of whether they are an AA Approved Garage, you will have to settle their bill and the AA will be under no obligation to reimburse you. Furthermore, in these circumstances, you cannot avail of Membership entitlements including Rescue Plus.

11.2 The AA will only accept responsibility for the actions of an agent where the agent is acting on The AA’s instructions and is providing assistance to which you are entitled under AA Membership.

12. Roadside/Home Diagnostic: Failure to inform the The AA of a known fault with your vehicle and or inform the attending resource (AA employee/Contracted agents) can lead to damage of a component when AA resource is attempting to diagnose the cause of your vehicle breaking down. The AA cannot accept any liability if damage is caused to any component when failure to disclose a known fault by AA Member/Customer to AAI.

13. AA Rescue Assistance service does not include the following:

Routine maintenance and running repairs, such as radios, interior light bulbs, heated rear windows
The cost of spare parts, fuel, oil, keys or other materials and garage or other labour required to repair your vehicle
Any costs or charges connected with the drainage or other removal of fuel, lubricants or other fluids where this is required as a result of the introduction of any inappropriate fuel, lubricants or other fluids to a vehicle
Any services that are needed such as a locksmith, body glass tyre or other specialists, however The AA will endeavour to arrange this on your behalf
Any additional charges resulting from your failure to carry a legal and serviceable spare wheel(s) or tyre(s). The AA will endeavour to arrange assistance from a third party on your behalf, but will not pay for the cost of their call-out or any repair
Any payment in relation to the removal of your vehicle to a repairer if your vehicle is deemed dangerous or un-roadworthy. However, The AA will endeavour to arrange this on your behalf
Having your vehicle stored or guarded in your absence
The initial recovery of a breakdown or accident-damaged vehicle when it has left the Roadside, is in a ditch, sunk in soft ground, sand or shingle, or when it is stuck in snow, flood water or by the removal of its wheels. We will 17 endeavour to arrange, but will not pay for, any specialised lifting or towing assistance needed to recover the vehicle. Once the vehicle is back on the roadside, normal AA Service will be provided under your Membership entitlement
The AA will be entitled to refuse service unless you can establish to its satisfaction that you have the permission of the relevant owner or occupier if your vehicle is on private property, for example garage premises
Any personal transportation costs except such as may be covered by Rescue Plus (once the member has agreed to include Rescue Plus in their cover)
The recovery of a vehicle immobilised by means of a wheel clamp or similar device
Requests for repatriation for vehicles in the UK unless that vehicle was taken to the UK by the Member requesting service. You may be requested to provide evidence that your vehicle was taken to the UK by you e.g. ferry tickets

14. Failure to enforce or non-reliance upon any of these Terms and Conditions by The AA on a particular occasion or occasions will not prevent The AA from subsequently relying on or enforcing them.

15. The AA reserves the right to make changes to these Terms and Conditions and you will be informed of these changes accordingly.

While The AA seeks to meet the service needs of Members at all times, its resources are not infinite and this may not always be possible. The AA shall not be liable for service failures where The AA is faced with circumstances outside its reasonable control, such as Acts of God, outbreak of hostilities, riot, civil war, acts of terrorism, acts of government authority, fire, subsidence, explosion, flood, snow, fog or other bad weather conditions, vehicle equipment or systems failures, failure of telecommunications lines or systems, default of suppliers or subcontractors, theft, malicious damage, strike, lockout or industrial action of any kind.

The AA shall not, in any event, and to the extent permitted by law, have any responsibility for any increased costs or expenses, loss of profit, business, contracts, revenue, anticipated savings or any special, direct or indirect or consequential or economic losses incurred as a result of or in connection with the provision or non-provision of any service regardless of arising whether in contract or tort.

Roadside Rescue

16. Roadside Rescue is available to you if you are stranded on the roadside at least 500 metres (550 yards) from your home, following a breakdown or accident. It is available 24 hours after the relevant subscription has been paid and is not available for pre-existing breakdowns.

16.1 If an AA Patrol or AA Appointed Garage Agent cannot fix your vehicle within a reasonable time, it will be taken to The AA’s choice of the nearest AA Appointed Garage, franchised dealer or other appropriate local repairer, or alternatively to a destination of your choice provided it is no further. It is then your responsibility to instruct the repairer to make any repairs required. Any contract for repair will be between you and the repairer and it is your responsibility to pay them. Under no circumstances shall The AA be deemed to be acting as agent or otherwise on behalf of either the Member or the repairer.

16.2 Roadside Rescue does not cover any additional transport or other costs that you might incur, regardless of whether they are as a result of your vehicle being towed or otherwise.

Home Start

If you also subscribe to Rescue Plus, you will not be entitled to use its benefits when the incident is at or within 500m (550 yards) of your home address.

17. Home Start provides assistance at or within 500m of your home address.

18. This extra benefit of AA Membership becomes available 24 hours after Home Start has been added and is not available for pre-existing breakdowns.

19. If you avail of Home Start and we are unable to repair the vehicle, the AA will arrange for the removal of the vehicle to the nearest AA Appointed Garage or another destination of your choice at no greater distance, at The AA’s expense.

20. Service is provided only if the vehicle was in a roadworthy condition prior to the incident.

21. AA Patrols do not carry out major servicing repairs or re-assembly. In such cases, we will arrange removal to a garage in accordance with paragraph 18.

Rescue Plus – Onward Travel and National Tow

22. Rescue Plus consists of insured and uninsured elements which are detailed below. The nationwide tow is an uninsured element. The replacement car, overnight accommodation and public transport costs are all insured elements. Please read below which outlines of your cover.

23. Rescue Plus is available to you when The AA cannot arrange a local repair within a reasonable time following a roadside breakdown, accident or act of vandalism and entitles you to (the following are subject to availability).

24. This optional extra to Roadside Rescue is available to you and your additional Members if it has been added to your Membership at least 48 hours before you breakdown. No request for Rescue Plus benefits will be accepted when the breakdown, accident or act of vandalism has occurred prior to the Member paying the Rescue Plus subscription.

25. Rescue Plus is not available at your home address if you also have Home Start cover.

26. The following benefit provided under Rescue Plus is provided as a service by the AA:

The unaccompanied recovery of your vehicle to your destination in Ireland. The options above are mutually exclusive and will not generally be provided when your vehicle can be repaired locally on the same day. You must choose which service is required at the time of the Rescue Plus service being actioned

27. If your vehicle needs to be repatriated from the UK, the recovery of your vehicle may be carried out in stages due to the nature of the distances and driving regulations involved.

28. The following benefits provided under Rescue Plus are insured by Inter Partner Assistance S.A.

A replacement car can be availed of for a usage period of 48 hours

One night accommodation including breakfast for driver and passengers in the car, up to a maximum of five people and a cost of €200 in total

A refund of all reasonable public transport costs incurred in order to complete your journey, up to a maximum of €200 on a pay and claim basis

Insured Benefits

The Membership provided under the following Sections of Cover are provided by The AA. Insurers accept no responsibility if the Rescue Plus services are not available from The AA for any reason.

Inter Partner Assistance S.A., which is authorised and regulated by the National Bank of Belgium, under number 0487, with a registered head office at Boulevard du Régent 7, 1000 Brussels, Belgium and company number 0415.591.055. Inter Partner Assistance S.A. is authorised by the National Bank of Belgium in Belgium and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland for conduct of business rules. Inter Partner Assistance S.A. is part of the AXA Group.

AA Ireland provide management, administration and claims handling services in relation to insured elements of Rescue Plus

AA Membership is not a regulated product, however the car hire, travel expenses and accommodation elements of Rescue Plus are regulated. AA Ireland Limited trading as AA Insurance is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Replacement Car – Cover & Making a Claim

The Administrator will arrange for an Approved Supplier to hire a Replacement Vehicle to the Member to enable the Member to complete their original planned journey. Subject to:

The Member requesting a Replacement Vehicle on the day of the Roadside Breakdown
The choice of Approved Supplier and the Hire Vehicle is at the discretion of the Administrator
A Hire Vehicle cannot be provided where the requirements of the Approved Supplier cannot be met by the Member
Confirmation from AA Ireland that the Member’s Vehicle that has suffered a
Roadside Breakdown is legally undriveable or requires repairs which will result in it being off the road
Maximum 48 Hours hire

You are responsible for the payment to the supplier for any car hire charges or other ancillary expenses for a period more than 48 hours. You are also responsible for the payment of all fuel used during the replacement period and a deposit will be required at the time of the commencement of the hire period. Cash deposits are not accepted during out of office hours. During opening hours if you are paying by credit/debit Card a €50 deposit is required, if paying by cash a €200 deposit is required.

The supplier reserves the right to refuse service. It is your responsibility to return the car to a suitable hire company depot within the Republic of Ireland. The AA cannot guarantee the provision of any non-standard equipment on cars, e.g., tow bar, automatic transmission etc.

If for any reason a Hire Vehicle is not available the option of Overnight Accommodation or Public Transport Costs will be provided, subject to clauses below.

Overnight Accommodation – Cover & Making a Claim

The Administrator will arrange for a local hotel and pay Overnight Accommodation charges, if the Member is unable to complete their original planned journey on the same day following a Roadside Breakdown. Subject to:

Hire Vehicle being unavailable
Up to a Maximum of €200 on a pay and claim basis
The Member is responsible for paying for all meals consumed (other than breakfast), drinks and other incidental expenses (e.g. telephone calls, newspapers) incurred. Payment for these must be made direct to the hotel or guesthouse before leaving.
The Member is responsible for the costs of all onward travel relating to the original planned journey.

Payment for these must be made direct to the hotel or guesthouse before leaving. A claim for refund should be made within a period of 28 days. Receipts, accompanied by your AA Membership number, should be either emailed to accountspayable@theaa.ie or sent to Finance Department, AA Ireland, 3rd floor, 80 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2, D02 F449.

Public Transport Costs – Cover & Making a Claim

The Administrator will refund the cost of suitable public transport to continue the original planned journey prior to you breaking down. Subject to:

Hire Vehicle being unavailable
The Member providing original proof of purchase, as provided by the public
transport provider.
The Member making the claim within a 28 days of the Roadside Breakdown
Maximum of € 200 per claim on a pay and claim basis

It is your responsibility to retain proof of purchase. Receipts, accompanied by your AA Membership number, should be either emailed to accountspayable@theaa.ie or sent to Finance Department, AA Ireland, 3rd floor, 80 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2, D02 F449.

The Following Section Apply to All Benefits under AA Personal Membership

Additional Members

A maximum of three additional Members can be added and they must live at the same address. Any changes to the Membership including cancellation must be made by the main Member unless previous authorisation has been given. Any changes made by The AA or the main Member will automatically be applied across all Members. Examples of changes made by The AA include termination of Membership or imposition of restrictions. The fee for additional Members applies on a per person basis.

Cooling Off Period

AA Membership comes with a cooling off period. This is the period in which you have the right to withdraw from this product, provided there has been no claim made or service provided. You can withdraw within 14 days of the starting date of cover or the date on which you receive the full terms and conditions of cover, whichever is later. Choosing to exercise this right will mean that no cover was ever in place and will entitle you to a full refund of any monies paid. No claim or request for service may be made later.

AA Membership Payment Options

AA Members can pay for their Membership on a recurring or a non-recurring basis. Monthly and annual recurring payment options are available to Members. Payments are taken in Instalments each month if a Member selects the monthly payment option. The payment is taken in full once every year if a Member selects the annual payment option. If you choose to pay by non-recurring payment you will need to contact us every year to pay for your Membership, as payment will not be debited from your account automatically.

Please refer to our Terms of Business (https://www.theaa.ie/aa/about-us/terms-of-business. aspx) and your AA Membership documents for information relating to fees and charges that may apply.

Monthly Recurring Payment Plan

The AA Membership recurring Payment Plan allows you to enjoy all the benefits of being a Member of The AA while spreading the cost of Membership each month. Your first month’s payment is taken at the point of sale followed by ongoing monthly payments. If your recurring payment is cancelled, you must pay the outstanding balance for that Membership year (See page 26).

Monthly payments will be collected on the first working day of each month. It may take up to 3 days for your account to be debited.
When you choose to pay monthly your AA Membership will be automatically renewed each year by recurring payment and you will continue to pay monthly until we are notified by you to cancel.
In agreeing to pay by monthly payment, you agree to authorise The AA to charge your bank account/credit/debit card for your Membership cover every month. You also authorise The AA to debit your bank account/credit/debit card the charge
for any upgrade to your Membership. This authorisation can be withdrawn by informing The AA. Should you cancel your Membership mid-year, you must pay the outstanding balance for that Membership year.
If a payment is returned unpaid, where possible we will attempt to collect this again. Should this payment remain outstanding, we will require full payment of the full outstanding balance. Non-receipt of this will result in cancellation of your Membership.
Each non-payment may be subject to a charge of up to €10.00, where due, this amount will be added to your re-presented payment.
Any amendments to your cover which result in a refund or additional charge will be reflected in your monthly payments accordingly. We will notify you of the monthly amended amount.
The AA reserves the right to refuse this payment option.

Annual Recurring Payment Plan

Annual Payment allows you to pay for your Membership in full, once a year.
This payment can be made by credit/debit card, cheque or postal order or by annual recurring payment from your bank account or credit/ debit card at the same time every year. When you pay by Annual recurring payment, your first year’s payment will be taken at point of sale followed by ongoing annual payments. You will receive your next year’s Membership statement in advance of payment ensuring continuous cover.
In agreeing to pay by recurring payment, you agree to authorise The AA to charge your bank account/credit/debit card for your annual Membership cover every year. You also authorise The AA to debit your bank account/credit/debit card the charge for any upgrade to your Membership. This authorisation can be withdrawn by informing The AA. You should inform The AA at least 10 days prior to payment.
Non-payment may be subject to a charge of up to €30.00, where due, this amount
will be added to your re-presented payment. Your Membership may be cancelled for non-receipt of payment.
The AA reserves the right to refuse this payment option.

Amending your Membership Benefits

You can add the benefits of Home Start, Rescue Plus and Additional Members (only available to Personal Members) during the Membership year. Benefits added at the beginning of a Membership year can be removed at any stage but refunds only apply in the first 3 months. Benefits added mid-year can be removed but no refund applies. No refund will be given in the event of the service being used.

(a) Annual Payment: Additional benefits can be added at any time during the Membership upon receipt of full payment. Benefits added at the beginning of a Membership year can be removed however no refunds apply after the first 3 months of the Membership or in the event of the service being used. Please allow up to 10 days for all refunds. This does not affect your right to avail of the cooling off period within the first 14 days of taking out the initial AA Membership.

(b) Monthly Payment: Additional benefits can be added at any time during the Membership upon receipt of the pro-rata rate. Benefits added at the beginning of a Membership year cannot be refunded. This does not affect your right to avail of the cooling off period within the first 14 days of taking out the initial AA Membership.

Note: Only the Member can make amendments to cover or apply for a refund. For annual & monthly payment Members, any upgrades to existing cover will not be effective until the relevant payment is received for that added benefit.

AA Fair Play Policy

AA Fair Play is designed to keep Membership affordable by making sure that excessive use by Members is avoided. We have therefore placed limits on the number of call-outs that can be made by any one Member in a subscription year.

Each level of AA Membership is subject to a call-out limit in a Membership year. Personal Members will be entitled to a maximum of 6 call-outs in a subscription year. If you have subscribed to Rescue Plus, up to 3 of these call-outs may include Rescue Plus benefits. If your subscription includes additional Member(s), you and your additional Members are entitled to a combined maximum total of 7 call-outs. Vehicle Memberships are entitled to a maximum of 3 call-outs in a subscription year.

If the relevant permitted call-outs are exceeded, The AA may require the payment of an additional contribution to the subscription in such amount as may be determined by The AA before undertaking any additional call-outs. We will monitor call-outs on an individual basis to ensure fairness is applied at all times. Under this policy, we endeavor to keep all our Members informed of their call-out usage.

We will write to you and inform you of your usage before the contribution procedure is implemented thus allowing you the opportunity to take the necessary action. Personal Membership is designed to provide breakdown assistance to personal Members, and is not permitted for use by the vehicle trade. Any instances of this will result in immediate cancellation.

Membership Cancellation

The AA reserves the right to cancel the Membership, if the maximum number of call-outs by that Member is exceeded in two consecutive Membership years. In such event no refund shall be payable. Where the fair usage policy is exceeded, The AA also reserves the right to cancel the Membership and in that event no refund shall be made.
For annual payment Members, cancellation requests within the 14 day cooling off period will be refunded in full provided that you have not used the service. A pro-rata refund will apply up to 3 months after joining, provided the Member has not availed of The AA Rescue Service within that period. No refunds apply after 3 months of cover.
A refund will be given to monthly payers who haven’t used the service and make a cancellation request within 28 days of joining. After these 28 days, no refund will be provided.
If a Member has used the service, then no refund applies and any outstanding Member payments become payable.
The AA may charge a cancellation fee of €20, if applicable, this will be deducted from any refund due.
Requests to cancel a Membership, during a Membership year, must be confirmed in either writing, by post, webchat, phone or email, to the AA. Please allow 10 days for all refunds.
Please note that if you are an AA Insurance customer and you are receiving enhanced policy benefits and/or a discount on your insurance premium as an AA Member, these benefits will no longer apply from the next renewal date should you cancel your AA Membership.