Did you know the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA), through its various regional divisions offers memberships for those who don’t drive or don’t have cars? Or perhaps receive an auto club membership from some other means? This article takes a look at those everyday memberships and how they allow you to access all the perks, discount offers and rewards that in the past were only available to the more expensive automotive membership levels.
CAA Everyday, Community, GO & Value Memberships
Known as “Everyday”, “Community”, “GO” and “Value” memberships, the Canadian Automobile Association launched these membership options in 2022 in the Ottawa area (CAA North and East Ontario) and then rolled it out nationwide in 2023. These options are a response to a shift that has seen more people relying less on having their own cars. Everyday we see more and more Canadians opting for transit, bicycling, ride-sharing or other means for their everyday transportation needs and these options are perfect for them.
All of the regional branches of the CAA offer the membership as follows:
AMA (Alberta Motor Association) Community Membership
These memberships are for those who live in Alberta or the Northwest Territories. The AMA Community membership is available for $6 per month or $59 annually and offers the following:
- 4 Bike Assist calls per year (tire inflation, chain resetting, transportation and more)
- Earn reward dollars and save up to 30% at thousands of partner locations worldwide in store and online
- Access to AMA Registries
Click here to learn more and/or to purchase an AMA Community membership
BCAA (British Columbia Automobile Association) GO Membership
These memberships are for those who live in British Columbia or the Yukon Territory. The BCAA membership is available for $4 per month or $48 annually and offers the following:
- Free Evo Membership & 10% off Evo driving rates
- Save up to 20% on the best perks Vancouver & Victoria has to offer with Evo Extras when you sign up for a FREE Evo Membership.
- Earn up to 10% in CAA Dollars when you shop at select partners and save up to 30% at thousands of partner locations worldwide in store and online
Click here to learn more and/or to purchase a BCAA GO membership
CAA Atlantic Everyday Membership
These memberships are for those who live in New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. The CAA Atlantic Everyday membership is available for $3.50 per month or $29.95 annually and offers the following:
- 1 Bike Assist call per year
- $50 Travel voucher on your first CAA vacation
- Save up to 30% at thousands of partner locations worldwide in store and online
- Discounted annual memberships for HotSpot Parking Transit Taxis
Click here to learn more and/or to purchase a CAA Atlantic Everyday membership
CAA Manitoba Everyday Membership
These memberships are for those who live in Manitoba. The CAA Manitoba Everyday membership is available for $30 annually and offers the following:
- 1 Bike Assist call per year
- Get 1 free nurse practitioner consult per year with Maple
- Earn CAA Rewards dollars and save up to 30% at thousands of partner locations worldwide in store and online
Click here to learn more and/or to purchase a CAA Manitoba Everyday membership
CAA Niagara Everyday Membership
These memberships are for those who live in the Regional Municipality of Niagara. The CAA Niagara Everyday membership is available for $30 annually and offers the following:
- 1 Bike Assist call per year
- $1000 of complimentary Personal Accident coverage
- Earn CAA Rewards dollars and save up to 30% at thousands of partner locations worldwide in store and online
Click here to learn more and/or to purchase a CAA Niagara Everyday membership
CAA North & East Ontario Everyday Membership
These memberships are for those who live in Northern & Eastern Ontario. The CAA North & East Ontario Everyday membership is available for $2.50 per month or $30 annually and offers the following:
- 1 Bike Assist call per year
- Save up to 32% on select Ottawa Senators tickets and Save 25% on single admission museum tickets.
- Earn CAA Rewards dollars and save up to 30% at thousands of partner locations worldwide in store and online
Click here to learn more and/or to purchase a CAA North & East Ontario Everyday membership
CAA Saskatchewan Value Membership
These memberships are for those who live in Saskatchewan. The CAA Saskatchewan Value membership is available for $10 annually and offers the following:
- Ride & Bike Assist
- Earn CAA Rewards dollars and save up to 30% at thousands of partner locations worldwide in store and online
Click here to learn more and/or to purchase a CAA Saskatchewan Value membership
CAA Southern & Central Ontario Everyday Membership
These memberships are for those who live in Southern & Central Ontario. The CAA Southern & Central Ontario Everyday membership is available for $30 annually and offers the following:
- 1 Bike Assist call per year
- Get 1 free nurse practitioner consult per year with Maple
- Earn CAA Rewards dollars and save up to 30% at thousands of partner locations worldwide in store and online
Click here to learn more and/or to purchase a CAA Southern & Central Ontario Everyday membership
Perks, Rewards and Discounts
While there are some slight differences in the regional membership options, they all receive the major CAA perks and discount options, some of which like the hotel discounts are reason enough to get one of these memberships.
Here are just some of those perks and discounts that are available to all members:
Earn CAA Rewards dollars
All members, including Community, Everyday and GO members, can earn CAA Rewards dollars for purchases with hundreds of partners (some of those partners even provide CAA discounts in addition to the earning the Rewards dollars), shopping via the CAA eStore and more.
The CAA Rewards dollars can then be redeemed for CAA services like driver training, travel, membership fees and more.
Hotel Discounts
CAA members can receive significant discounts with most major and even independent hotels worldwide. The discounts tend to be most significant in Canada and the U.S. but are available in other countries as well.
Here’s an example of the CAA discount at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre:
As you can see from this example, the discount is significant and in fact easily pays for one of these everyday memberships as it is $64 cheaper than the best Member Rate! That’s two years of membership fees for most of the options list above!
Also the CAA rate is not far off the prepaid rate of $413 to which I almost never recommend booking due to those pre-paid rates being non-refundable. I’d gladly pay the $6 extra for the CAA rate knowing I can change my stay or cancel within their regular cancellation policy (in the case of this hotel up to 3 days before arrival)
Further with this example you would also earn your Marriott Bonvoy points plus any non-rate specific bonus points as well as your elite status credits since this is booked direct with Marriott. If you do have elite status, you’ll receive your status benefits on these stays. This is the same for all hotel chains and loyalty programs that provide CAA discounts. I have found however, some locations do provide cheaper member rates than CAA rates (The Hyatt Regency Calgary is one example) so be sure to check all pricing options.
With CAA you can also join Best Western Rewards in their CAA Preferred Best Western Rewards Program which gives you automatic Gold Elite status in the hotel’s loyalty program.
Also, back in the day and well, even today, lots of people book CAA/AAA rates without being a member as hotels would rarely check membership. However, I have found more and more locations are asking for confirmation of membership or even require your membership number at time of booking. So, to avoid potentially paying a higher rate at check in you can easily get yourself one of these basic memberships to make sure you get the hotel discounts.
Car Rental Discounts
Members receive discounts of 5% to 20% and earn CAA dollars for renting cars with Alamo, Enterprise and National Car Rental. With National you also receive Member Exclusive benefits in Canada and the US which include: two free additional drivers, free unlimited mileage, discount on GPS Rentals, free infant/child safety seat and 10% off prepaid fuel options.
Discounts at Shell
All CAA memberships including all of those listed above provide savings of 3¢/L on fuel purchases at Shell. Yes, these memberships are meant more for those who don’t have cars or don’t drive but perhaps you need a rental car or have a separate auto club membership, so its good to know you can also get this discount. This discount is provided over and above the new up to 7 cents per litre discount using BMO credit or debit cards and you will still earn AIR MILES as well. The memberships also provide 10% off Car Washes ad 10% off In-store Purchases. This is available Canada-Wide except for Quebec.
Personally, I don’t buy gas at Shell very often but I do so when there are big AIR MILES bonuses and the 3 cents per litre have saved me nearly $40 (not sure of over what time period):
VIA Rail Discounts
All CAA members can save up to 20% on the best available fares with VIA Rail across Canada. This discount is available until May 31 however it seems like it is continually extended.
Other Discounts
There are many other discounts available at thousands of locations around Canada, the U.S. and worldwide for restaurants, retail, services and more. For example, the last time I had to buy winter tires I bought them at Kal-Tire and the discount paid for over half the annual fee of my Plus membership:
Wrapping it up
The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) provides affordable everyday memberships that are great for individuals who don’t have a vehicle or have an auto club membership through other means. The discounts, rewards and perks offered with these lower priced membership options can easily pay for themselves in no time at all. And the beauty of these discounts, rewards and perks is that they stack with the points, miles or cash back earned on your credit card and in most cases you still earn points, miles or whatever loyalty currency that the merchants offer themselves.