AAA: Hiring, Background Check & Employment Verification FAQs

AAA was founded on March 4, 1902, in Chicago, Illinois, when nine regional motor clubs, together representing about 1,500 members, banded together to form a national motoring organization in response to a lack of roads and highways suitable for the growing number of automobiles. The founding clubs included the Automobile Club of America (1899), Chicago Automobile Club (1900), Automobile Club of New Jersey (1900), Long Island Automobile Club (1900), and several others. The organization's first headquarters office was shared with the Automobile Club of America on Fifth Avenue in New York City.

Over the following decades, AAA expanded its services well beyond its original motoring advocacy roots, publishing the first AAA road maps in 1905 and hotel guides in 1917. The organization introduced influential road safety initiatives, including the School Safety Patrol Program in 1920 and the first driver education curriculum for high schools in 1936, and established the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety as a separate research entity in 1947. AAA also had a significant historical role in auto racing, sanctioning events including the Indianapolis 500 in the early-to-mid 20th century, before stepping back from race sanctioning after the 1955 Le Mans disaster.

Today, AAA operates as a not-for-profit federation of more than 50 affiliated regional clubs, with more than 1,000 to 1,100 offices across the United States and Canada, serving over 60 million members. The organization's national headquarters is located in Heathrow, Florida. AAA provides roadside assistance, auto repair facility approval, insurance products, banking and financial services, travel planning, and vehicle financing. AAA's workforce includes roadside assistance dispatchers and tow truck operators, insurance agents, travel counselors, and member service representatives, though specific employment is typically with an individual regional AAA club rather than a single national employer.

Company culture and employee programs: Because AAA operates through numerous independently affiliated regional clubs (such as AAA Mid-States, AAA Northeast, and AAA-The Auto Club Group), workplace culture, benefits, and specific hiring practices can vary from one regional club to another, even though all share the AAA brand and general mission. AAA emphasizes safe, efficient transportation and member service as core to its identity. Benefits, training, and advancement opportunities can vary by specific regional club and role, so candidates should confirm specifics with a recruiter during the hiring process.

Yes. Employers in the roadside assistance, insurance, and travel services industry, including AAA and its affiliated regional clubs, are legally permitted to conduct pre-employment background checks on job candidates, provided they comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws. In the United States, employment screening is governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which requires employers to obtain written consent, provide disclosures, and follow adverse action procedures.

AAA regional clubs are generally reported to conduct background checks as part of their hiring process, which is standard for organizations handling roadside assistance dispatch, insurance products, and financial services, particularly for driver and technician roles.

The hiring process for roles at AAA typically includes an application, an interview with the specific regional club's hiring team, and a background check prior to a final offer. Driver and technician roles may also involve a review of driving records.

Background check timelines can vary based on the type of screening requested and how quickly records can be verified. Learn more about typical background check turnaround times to understand what factors can affect the process.

A typical pre-employment background check for a AAA role may include:

Under the FCRA, criminal history reporting is generally limited to seven years for most background checks, though state laws may extend or restrict this timeframe depending on the type of record and jurisdiction.

Hiring decisions involving candidates with criminal records are generally made on a case-by-case basis by each regional club, taking into account the nature of the offense, how much time has passed, and its relevance to the role, particularly for driving and financial services positions. Some states have adopted "ban-the-box" laws that restrict when employers can ask about criminal history during the hiring process.

Candidates can generally expect to provide personal information such as full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number, along with signed consent authorizing the background check, in compliance with FCRA requirements. Driver and technician roles typically also require a valid driver's license.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law that regulates how employers can use background check information in hiring decisions. It requires employers to notify candidates before running a check, obtain written consent, and follow specific adverse action procedures if a decision is made based on background check results.

Running a personal background check with Checkr lets you preview what AAA may see during the hiring process, helping you address any concerns before you apply. A personal background check can include:

Learn more about Checkr Personal Background Checks and explore your Checkr Profile to see what information may appear in your own background check.

If you're a candidate with a background check in progress through Checkr as part of your application to AAA or another employer, you can check your status through the Candidate Portal. For additional support, visit the Checkr Help Center.

The information provided in this article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. All information is for general informational purposes only. Checkr does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of this information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. This article may contain links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader. Checkr does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites and disclaims any affiliation with the companies mentioned in this article unless otherwise stated.