How It All Began

The American Automobile Association was founded in 1902 when there were only 23,000 motor vehicles and almost no highways in the United States.  The national AAA organization was formed in Chicago by nine motor clubs whose combined membership was less than 1,000 members. 

AAA asserted its leadership in the motoring field by promoting better highways and legislation favorable to motorists.  AAA’s accomplishments have been instrumental in the phenomenal growth of automobile use.

Today, motorists belong to AAA through membership in their local affiliated Clubs.  The association consists of more than 47,000,000 members represented in over 75 Clubs in the United States and Canada.  These members are linked through a national Board of Directors that is comprised of selected officials from the Clubs.

Under the administration of the Board of Directors, a headquarters operation was formed and is now located in Heathrow, Florida.  This operation provides services such as the updating, publication and distribution of maps and tour books to all affiliated AAA Clubs.

To retain their AAA affiliation, the Clubs must maintain certain standards and offer required services to their own members and to all AAA affiliated members visiting their territory.  In addition, the Clubs must maintain a stated proportion of registered motorists as members in their respective geographical areas.  AAA Carolinas is the affiliate of the American Automobile Association in the Carolinas.

AAA Clubs have a two-fold purpose and club operations focus on two primary areas of interest:

• Improvement in motoring and travel conditions in the areas of safety, highway, legislation and taxation
• Providing personal, specialized services to members through emergency road services, individual automobile routings and travel information, travel agency assistance, new car buying, insurance counseling, automotive repair and a wide range of other services.

Coleman W. Roberts founded AAA Carolinas in 1922 as a not-for-profit membership organization.  The purpose, developed through the years, is to provide direct service to the member and protection for the motorist and traveler. The Club is an autonomous, not-for-profit organization governed by the Board of Directors.

Since 1922 the Club has worked for the benefit of motorists and travelers, and members specifically, through its affiliation with the American Automobile Association.

Today, AAA Carolinas is a diverse organization with a strong presence in the automobile, travel and insurance businesses.  Our headquarters is based in Charlotte, NC, and the overall organization has over 750 employees.  AAA Carolinas’ territory is North and South Carolina and has a membership exceeding 1.4 million members.  We are one of the largest and fastest growing of all the AAA clubs.

We have more than twenty branch offices throughout North and South Carolina, offering the full services of a travel agency such as trip planning, cruise and tour packages and personalized map routings. 

Our insurance agency is based in Charlotte, NC, and sells and supports property and casualty coverage for our members and non-members.  Insurance agents are based in Charlotte as well as in the branch offices and in the Roanoke Rapids call center. 

The number of AAA Car Care Centers continues to grow throughout our territory.  These facilities offer repair and maintenance service for most cars, SUVs, and light trucks.  All our technicians are ASE certified with many locations having a Master ASE technician.  Both members and non-members can use our services, and members receive a 10% discount on parts.

In 2004, AAA Carolinas decided to create an organic towing company to supplement the work of our facilities.  With an initial concentration in the Charlotte, NC, market, TowMark helps provide quicker response to roadside assistance requests, helping to ensure the safety of our members.  Through our fleet of tow trucks and the efforts of our committed employees, this newest business offering is focused on providing the best quality service to our members in need of roadside assistance.

AAA Carolinas is deeply involved in public and community service programs to protect and serve the best interests of the members, the motoring and traveling public, and the community.  This obligation of public and community involvement takes on greater importance as the Club continues to grow with the changing community.  This is an opportunity and a responsibility that we do not take lightly.

The Future Years

The value of AAA membership’s benefits and services will continue to increase as time goes on.  The future will bring tremendous growth and rapid change.  The coming era will find the Club generating new and improved services that will make its membership package even more desirable and beneficial.  The organization will grow and keep pace with the rapid development in the territory it serves.