Auto Club Southern California

Founded in December of 1900, the Auto Club of Southern California had a commitment to road improvements, driving conditions and traffic laws. It played a key part in the development of the Ridge Route, which connected northern and southern California over the Tehachapi and San Gabriel mountains. Many of the early roadway signs were put in place by the auto club. In the 1920s its main headquarters in Los Angeles was constructed and in the two decades until the beginning of 1941, it promoted driving and camping vacations. With a slow down during the war, except for encouraging giving soldiers home on leave a lift to wherever they needed to go, the automobile club expanded rapidly after the 1950s. Today it is one of the largest California insurers. It insures primarily automobiles, but also offers life, home and boat insurance as well.

The auto club has affiliations with other auto clubs that operate in northern California, Hawaii, and other states, but the auto club of Southern California is the most well known. Its services are extensive and its voluntary membership very large. Its primary service besides auto insurance is on the road assistance for car failures or troubles such as flat tires, broken water lines, overheated engines, or dead batteries. Members can simply call the 800 number, state their membership information and the location where they are stranded, and in a short time a tow truck or other assistance vehicle manned by an auto club employee will arrive, make the repair , and get the motorist on the road again. If the problem cannot be repaired simply beside the road, then the auto club will tow the vehicle and deliver the member to a repair shop or to the member’s home.

One of the very popular services that the auto club of Southern California provides is the “Trip Tik”, which is a set of maps in a folded booklet, with a complete route marked out in yellow highlighting and augmented with hotel, motel, restaurant, and nearby attractions for the entire route of a trip the member plans to take. The Trip Tik gives information as to nearby events, town profiles, and route alternatives. This is a free service for all members. Another service is the offering of tours and travel discounts, cruise bargains, hotel and vacation discounts.

In addition to all these services, insurance plans for various purposes are offered by the automobile club of Southern California, such as homeowners and renters insurance, life insurance, small business insurance, boat and water craft insurance, and insurance for more valuable collector or luxury cars. The auto club also has a link with the department of motor vehicles, such that the auto club is able to facilitate drivers license renewals and other services for members.

Vehicle inspection programs and smog check recommendations as well as referrals to approved auto repair shops are yet more Southern California auto club courtesies. Information on local events and activities; discounts on theme park visits, flights, car rentals or other travel and recreation related items; and arrangements for escorted tours (with free trip expenses for a member who signs up sufficient travelers for the trip) are also regularly available.

The rates for auto club membership are reasonable for either single membership, family membership or company membership. Extra service beyond the normal fifty mile radius of on the road service is available for not too much extra payment. It is quite a relief to have the road service as a back-up when you have that flat on a long empty stretch of desert road. The service is at no charge up to a limit of times called. At any time additional memberships can be added should the family grow by one or more persons. At each office, there is a library of books available for purchase that cover a wide range of topics, from continental to foreign travel, from auto maintenance to books on local wildlife, birds and insects, native Indian tribal lands and traditions, histories, plant life, and adventure books to say nothing of the fishing and hunting resources also available. All in all, the automobile club of Southern California is rich with things to learn and services to help with all your driving and travel needs.