Personal Membership terms and conditions

Definitions

In these Terms and Conditions:

"AA" means The New Zealand Automobile Association Incorporated.

"Member" means the individual financial Member in whose name the AA Membership is maintained.

"Associate Member" is a financial Member, eligible for a discounted subscription, living at the same address as their spouse or partner who is a financial Member.

"Membership Year" means the 12 month period covered by the Member's subscription.

"Subscription" means the annual payment required to remain a Member of the AA.

"Membership card" means the card issued by the AA to the Member.

"Vehicle" means a motorised and roadworthy vehicle, which can be legally used on New Zealand public roads; this does not include motorised wheelchairs, ride-on mowers or segways.

"Hazardous Materials" means any substance considered explosive, flammable, poisonous, corrosive, irritating or otherwise harmful in the opinion of the attending AA representative.

"Loyalty discount" is a reduction in AA Membership subscription based on the Member's continuous tenure.

"On-tow" is any caravan or trailer being towed.

"Urban" is defined by Statistics New Zealand as Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua, Gisborne, Napier-Hastings, New Plymouth, Whanganui, Palmerston North, Kapiti, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill.

All dollar values stated are GST inclusive.

AA Membership

AA Membership is non-refundable, non-transferable and personal to the Member.

AA Members are eligible for loyalty discounts once they have been a Member of the AA for more than one year and provided there is no break in Membership.

Membership entitlements do not cover pre-existing incidents or breakdowns that occurred prior to the Member joining the AA.

AA Member discounts available when you take out or renew an eligible policy and provide us with your valid personal AA Membership number.

The AA reserves the right to deny services to any Member who in the AA's opinion is or has been abusive, threatening or violent toward any AA staff, or who attempts or has attempted to receive service by deception, with no requirement to refund.

Callouts

Roadservice callouts are restricted to six free callouts per year, however Members with 10 or more years continuous AA Membership are entitled to unlimited callouts. Callouts in excess of the free annual limit will be charged at $60 (including GST) per callout. AA Roadservice is provided through the North Island, South Island, Stewart Island and Waiheke Island.

In the event of a vehicle breakdown, the Member must phone the AA immediately to request breakdown assistance and be advised of services available to them. The Member must be with the vehicle at the time of breakdown and remain with the vehicle until the callout is attended. The Member must be able to produce their AA Membership card plus another form of identification acceptable to the AA, such as a driver's licence, when the callout is attended.

Lost keys and lockouts

Where a Member has lost their car key and requires the services of a locksmith, the AA's maximum contribution is $40 for urban areas and $100 for other areas. If a Member has AA Plus or AA Motorhome Plus the AA's maximum contribution is $150. This applies to labour content only.

Where a Member asks the AA to retrieve keys locked inside their vehicle, the AA will not be held responsible for any resulting damage.

Towing a vehicle to repair or safety after a breakdown

If the vehicle the Member is in breaks down or has a mechanical problem that cannot be repaired on the spot, the AA will tow the vehicle to the nearest place of safety or repair where arrangements for its repair can be made or where it can be safely stored. (Storage costs will be at the Member's cost). There is no charge to the Member for this callout and/or towing charges unless requiring/requesting towage in urban areas to a location which is more than 10km distant, in which case top up fees may apply. Once a tow has been provided for a breakdown, any subsequent tows for the same breakdown will be paid for by the Member at the time of service. This includes towing a vehicle that has been towed after hours to the Member's home, a storage area, or other place of repair or safety, and then needs further towing as a consequence of the same breakdown event. The AA takes no responsibility for any loss or damage to, or caused by, items carried in or on the vehicle in the course of being towed (e.g. bicycles, jet-skis, etc.).

Specialist vehicles and motorcycles

Towing or recovery of vehicles that have been lowered or modified or are fitted with body kits will be on a best endeavours basis and may be subject to delays due to availability of suitable contractors. Any additional charges/costs for specialised recovery equipment or labour will be at the Member's expense.

The AA will provide vehicle recovery for motorcycles on a best endeavours basis and may be subject to availability of suitable contractors. If the Member chooses not to accept the attending tow truck, any other arrangements will be at the Member's expense.

Additional transportation

Carriage of passengers or anything on-tow at the time of the breakdown can only be to the legal limit of the attending vehicle. Any expense as a result of additional transportation or a return journey to pick up extra passengers/vehicles is at the Member's cost.

On-tow caravan / trailer limits

If an on-tow vehicle breaks down, the AA will recover it to the nearest place of repair or safety, to a maximum contribution of $40 in urban areas and $100 in other areas. All on-tow vehicles must comply with NZTA size and weight regulations. Pets and livestock are the full responsibility of the Member and must be secured by the Member before attendance. The AA will not be held responsible for any injury to pets or livestock as a result of recovering an on-tow vehicle at the Member’s request.

Incorrectly fuelled

Where Roadservice is required as a result of a vehicle being fuelled with the wrong type of fuel, then a tow will be organised to the nearest place of repair or safety, if a specialised fuel recovery contractor is not available. Any specialised fuel recovery, further towing and repair will be at the Member's expense.

Mobility scooters

Where a Mobility Scooter becomes immobile due to a flat battery, flat tyre or lost keys, the AA will provide vehicle recovery to the Member's home address, so long as no nursing, lifting of the Member or other special personal assistance is needed. Carriage of passengers can only be to the legal limit of the attending vehicle. If alternative transport for the Member is required, this will be at the Member's expense.

Electric Bicycles

Where an Electric Bicycle becomes immobile due to a flat battery, electrical system issues, a flat or damaged tire or wheel, broken chain, or broken pedals, the AA will provide bicycle recovery to the Member’s home address, vehicle, or place of repair. Carriage of passengers can only be to the legal limit of the attending vehicle. If alternative transport for the Member is required, this will be at the Member’s expense.

Bicycles

Where a bicycle becomes immobile due to a flat or damaged tire or wheel, the AA will provide roadside assistance with tyre repair or replacement.

Where a bicycle becomes immobile due to broken chain, or broken pedals, the AA will provide bicycle recovery to the Member’s home address, vehicle, or place of repair. Carriage of passengers can only be to the legal limit of the attending vehicle. If alternative transport for the Member is required, this will be at the Member’s expense.

Excluded from coverage are bicycles used for commercial transportation, impound bicycles, bicycles that require breaking or cutting a lock to transport or a bicycle secured with a lock for which the Member has no key or combination.

E-scooters

Where an e-scooter becomes immobile, the AA will provide e-scooter recovery to the Member’s home address, or place of repair via an Uber / taxi. Carriage of passengers can only be to the legal limit of the attending vehicle. If alternative transport for the Member is required, this will be at the Member’s expense.

Each e-scooter recovery ride via Uber/taxi is to a maximum of $55 (incl. GST).

Roadservice for e-scooter will be provided to personally owned e-scooters. The service will not be provided to rented e-scooters.

Excluded from coverage are rented e-scooters or e-scooters used for commercial usage, impound e-scooters, e-scooters that require breaking or cutting a lock to transport, or an e-scooter secured with a lock for which the Member has no key or combination.

AA Membership exclusions

Service cannot be provided if:

• the Member joined the AA within the last 24 hours
• the vehicle is over 3½ tonnes gross laden weight
• the vehicle is unattended by the Member at the time that it breaks down and when roadside assistance is provided
• the vehicle is not on a formed public road, or is on a beach, or is trapped/bogged
• the vehicle is involved in or disabled due to a motor vehicle accident, or stolen, or damaged due to theft or vandalism
• the vehicle is unregistered and/or unwarranted
• the vehicle is un-roadworthy/unsafe, or it would be dangerous or illegal for the AA representative to repair, load or transport the vehicle and/or its occupants
• the Member poses a safety risk to other motorists in the opinion of the AA representative
• the vehicle is carrying any form of hazardous materials
• the vehicle is immobilised due to failure to carry a serviceable spare wheel and wheel changing equipment suitable to the vehicle (where the vehicle is designed to carry a spare wheel)
• the vehicle was being used for racing, pacemaking, speed testing, reliability trials, competitions or off-road activities at the time of the breakdown
• the vehicle is carrying a load beyond the legal limit
• the vehicle is more than 2.44 metres wide overall, more than 3 metres high overall and/or more than 7 metres long overall
• recovery of vehicles exceeding 5.5 metres overall length may be subject to delays from some locations due to the unavailability of a suitable recovery vehicle.
• the principle use for the vehicle is the transportation of passengers for commercial gain

The member is not covered for:

• vehicle parts/fuel/repairs on garage/repairer premises
• breakdowns which are covered under insurance policies
• problems relating to electrical items within the vehicle e.g. radio/CD players, fridges

New Zealand visitors

Only New Zealand citizens, permanent residents of New Zealand and holders of visas in excess of 12 months are eligible for Personal Membership.

Visitors to New Zealand may purchase a six month AA Visitor Membership. Members from affiliated Clubs and Visitor Members may purchase AA Plus and AA Motorhome Plus, for a limited period of six months which is not refundable or transferable.

The AA is a member of the FIA (Federation Internationale de l'Automobile). The AA maintains reciprocal arrangements with many motoring organisations around the world. As part of the agreement between affiliated motoring organisations, the AA provides standard Membership entitlements for a maximum period of six months to most Members of affiliated clubs once their Membership is validated. Overseas affiliated Members must register at an AA Centre prior to requesting services.

Quality control

AA endeavours to ensure all sub-contracted providers are registered with their appropriate trade or professional body, and have the necessary qualifications to provide products, or services, to a standard acceptable to AA and AA members.

Please contact us immediately if you are unhappy in any way with a referral made by us to an independent contractor, and we will endeavour to correct your dissatisfaction, and/or offer you the choice of an alternative provider.

AA endeavours to provide the full range of AA Membership benefits and services outlined on our website in good faith. However, it cannot be held responsible for consequential loss or damage resulting from acts, events, and circumstances beyond the reasonable control of AA, including industrial disputes, strikes, flood conditions, adverse weather conditions, geographic inaccessibility, and the absence or unavailability of sub-contractors which may delay, interfere with, or prevent the provision of some, or all, of the services outlined on our website.

Your privacy rights

Personal information relating to AA Members is held securely, and will not be disclosed to any other person or organisation, unless authorised by you. Members also have the right to access and correct the information at any time.

Disclaimer

The Member agrees to abide by the rules of The New Zealand Automobile Association Incorporated. 

Copies of the Association Rules can be downloaded as a PDF or are available from any AA Centre.

The Member understands that the information provided may be used by the AA for administrative purposes and for the purpose of providing the Member with information relating to products and services from time to time. Where any Member is an Associate Member, products and services may be offered to both Members in the household jointly or singly.

For this purpose the New Zealand Automobile Association (AA) includes itself and any division, subsidiary, third party under contract, or joint venture companies including, but not limited to, AA Insurance and AA Life Services Limited.