How To Become Aaa-approved Auto Repair Facility

Seriously – nosotros see the logo, we get the membership promotions, and we sometimes see automobile repair shops with the sticker in the window. The sticker says that that particular auto repair facility is, or was, a AAA approved repair shop. What nosotros desire to explore is whether this really means anything at all – or is it but a marketing gimmick? In guild to notice out if beingness a AAA approved repair facility really matters nosotros volition expect at a few key points such as:

What is AAA?
How many repair shops, out of all the repair shops in America, get this approval?
How does AAA screen the shops? How oft?
How does a shop maintain their condition?
Does this approval actually matter at all?

AAA Approved Auto Repair

What is AAA?

The American Auto Association claims to be North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 55 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the non-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the condom and security of all travelers. Over the years, AAA has become recognized every bit:

The nation's leading provider of roadside aid and automotive-related expertise.
The world'south largest publisher of travel information and i of the globe's largest leisure travel agencies.
1 of the most agile advocates for the welfare of the traveling public.
One of the fastest growing financial products and services organizations in the United States.
A superlative performer in the life insurance industry.

AAA Arizona, the Arizona affiliate of AAA, was founded in 1927 with 239 members and has grown to more than 860,000 members statewide. The club'southward 650+ employees operate 10 AAA offices and eight AAA Auto Repair facilities across the land. Annually, AAA Arizona responds to more than than 450,000 calls for roadside aid on Arizona roadways. The car guild also provides discounts and financial services to AAA members. Since its founding in 1927, AAA Arizona has been a leading advocate for the safe and security of all travelers.

Verdict: AAA has a very long history, and an obviously adept reputation. So yes, the name stands for something and having a AAA association says something positive almost a repair shop.

How many repair shops, out of all the repair shops in America, get this approving?

AAA claims that there are approximately v,500 AAA approved repair facilities in the United States and Canada.

And according to IBISWorld.com there are 252,683 motorcar repair facilities in the U.s.a. lonely. Note that this does not include unregistered shops (i.e. back yard mechanics). Manta backs up this number with a reported 242,934 repair shops in the Usa. Nosotros will split the difference and say that there are 247,000 shops in the U.Due south.

For the sake of this article I am having issue finding quantifiable information the number of auto repair shops in Canada, and will update this article when this information is located. For now nosotros volition presume a conservative 35% of the U.S. total, which is 86,450 shops.

The math:

333,450 car repair shops in the U.Due south. and Canada.
5,500 approved AAA shops.
But 1.5% of all general car repair shops are AAA canonical.

Verdict: Wow. Ok, so the blessing is not given to everyone. Then at that place is some exclusivity to information technology.

How does AAA screen the shops? How often?

As we have found, but a minor percent of repair shops meet the AAA standards and become an Approved Car Repair Shop. Information technology's a process that requires transparency and honesty while seeking the AAA approval. The process goes like this:

AAA Performs Surveys: Upon initial application, AAA representatives make a personal visit to the shop and survey the concern. They poll customers about their satisfaction with the service received, and a shop must score a 94% satisfaction rating or higher.
AAA Tours Repair Facility: The representatives ensure proper, modern equipment is present. They check overall condition and country of the facility.
AAA Interviews the Repair Techs: AAA ensures that the repair technicians are ASE Certified in every repair area that the repair facility performs. The ASE Certifications prove that the shop'due south mechanics are highly skilled. AAA besides checks to ensure that there are Master Technicians on staff. A Master Technician is someone who is certified in every area of the ASE Certification scope.
AAA Checks the Store's Credibility: AAA checks to ensure the store carries the proper liability insurance, and perform checks to ensure the business is ethical, credible, and trustworthy.

Verdict: On site checks and customer polling forth says a lot. This is no mail service-order certification! There is quite a flake that goes into the AAA certification.

How does a store maintain their status?

In one case AAA has reviewed an car repair shop and considered it function of their Canonical Motorcar Repair program, they continue to monitor the shop. All shops on the list are continually reviewed through review cards. Each shop must turn in 20 cards each month, and auto repair shops in the AAA program must keep a 93% or higher customer satisfaction rate.

From AAA's own documentation: "Each Approved Motorcar Repair facility is required to provide customer satisfaction survey cards to AAA members who use their services. AAA members rate the service they received and return the survey menu to AAA N Penn. This is an ongoing process, so the quality of service our member receives is constantly monitored."

Also from AAA: "These facilities undergo an annual re-inspection in an endeavour to uphold AAA's high standards."

Learn more from AAA's website FAQs.

Verdict: Even after the initial approving rating, repair facilities are inspected and monitored to ensure they maintain the standards. This alleviates the possibility of a shop "cleaning up their act" one time for the rating. Also, the stickers and signage displayed at the store that shows they are an Approved Repair Shop will indicate what twelvemonth the approval was washed.

Related Commodity: Prescott Import Car Service awarded AAA Top Shop Honour for the 5th twelvemonth.