AAA Bail Bond,
and Liability Insurance Regulations

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The acceptance of the Guaranteed Arrest Bond is not mandatory in some states: e.g., California. The California clubs' arrest bonds are valid outside California where acceptable, up to the maximum shown on the back of the membership card.
Check with your home club for information. Not all clubs offer the bonds described below.

AAA Bail Bond and Guaranteed Arrest Bond
With your membership card, in most AAA-affiliated clubs, you receive a Bail Bond Certificate and a Guaranteed Arrest Bond Certificate. Many local authorities will accept your certificate and membership card as an appearance bond. If they do not accept your card, or if the required bond exceeds the stipulated maximum, you should contact the nearest AAA club, which will assist you in obtaining bond in a form acceptable to the authority.

Should you be arrested for a traffic violation, you may be taken directly to court, the police department or before some other agency or person authorized to set and accept bail. There you must decide whether to plead guilty, not guilty or no contest. A plea of guilty or no contest may result in a fine which you must pay before you leave. If you are unable to pay the fine, you may be jailed for a specific period. AAA bonds do no apply if you plead guilty. If you plead not guilty, the court will set a hearing date and ask you to post an appearance bond (a sum of money to guarantee your appearance on that date). This is when your AAA membership can help you. If you use the bond, you should immediately notify your club that you have done so.

If you do not attend the heaing, the bond will be forfeited, or the amount of the fine plus court costs will be deducted from it. Your use of the bond legally obligates you to reimburse the club or General Insurance Company of America (GICA) for any fine or forfeiture and for any losses that the club might sustain through your use of the bond. Your membership card will then be returned to you.

Remember, AAA Bail Bond and Guaranteed Arrest Bond service does not pay your fines or forfeitures for you. It is a type of loan, to spare you the inconvenience of detention until the hearing.

 Limitations
Bail Bond and Guaranteed Arrest Bond do not cover violations involving driving under the influence of intoxicating liquors, drugs or narcotics, failure to appear for violations, driving on a suspended or revoked driver's license, hit and run, failure to present evidence of insurance, illegal use or falsification of license or registration, engaging in a felony or attempting to elude or eluding police, or while driving a vehicle used for commercial purposes. The benefit level provided varies: Check to wording on your card or contact your home club for details.

  • The bond is only for the member whose name is on the card. It is not transferable.
  • The bond covers only those charges relating to motor vehicle laws or ordinances.

To the Court or Agency: AAA guarantees a bond forfeited by a member presenting a valid membership card, except as specified under Limitations. If the member fails to appear, please contact the nearest AAA club. Return the member's AAA card to the club upon reimbursement. If it is incinvenient to obtain reimbursement from the nearest AAA club, please contact the club named on the membership card.

Points to Remember
  • Respect the arresting officer, even if you think he or she is wrong. Police have the right to photograph, fingerprint and search you.
  • You are entitled to contact an attorney.
  • You are entitled to bail as soon as practicable.
  • Personal checks are usually not acceptable for payment of a fine.


    Liability Insurance Regulations
    Most states have financial responsibility laws through which a motorist demonstrates the ability to pay damages resulting from a vehicular accident. Established minimum limits of liability are shown in terms of amounts applicable to death or injury of one person, death or injury of more than one person, and property damage. Several states have no-fault laws through which a motorist looks to his or her own insurance company to recover damages. No-fault coverage usually applies only to bodily injury.

    Most states ask a motorist for proof of financial responsibility only after he or she is involved in an accident. However, some form of liability insurance is compulsory in many states, with vehicle registration often contingent upon filing proof of coverage to meet the state's minimum requirements. These states are Alaksa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming and the District of Columbia.

    New York's insurance laws are unique in that they also apply to non-residents. Before you travel to or through New York, check your insurance policy to make sure that your coverage satisifies the state's requirements, that your limits meet New York's compulsory liability insurance law minimum of $50,000/$100,000 death, $25,000/$50,000 bodily injury, $10,000 property damage, no-fault protection and uninsured motorists coverage. Also check that your policy will not lapse during your trip. Failure of a non-resident to comply with New York's vehicle insurance laws may result in revocation of the privilege to drive in that state for one year. The consequences can be even more far-reaching if New York has reciprocity with your home state.

    In Connecticut, the no-fault law applies to both residents and non-residents. In Illinois, the mandatory $20/$40/$15 coverage applies to non-residents operating any vehicle registered in the state. In Michigan, a non-resident must comply with the no-fault law if he or she drives in that state 30 or more days in a calendar year. In Washington, non-residents not carrying proof of insurance are subject to a $475 fine.

    You should carry your insurance ID card in the vehicle to which it applies at all times. Since minimum limits of liability vary broadly from state to state, those who drive extensively should carry insurance that meets the highest liability requirements--those of New Hampshire, North Dakota and South Dakota ($25/$50/$25) and Minnesota ($30/$60/$10). Alaska requires $50/$100/$25.

    Liability insurance regulations for Canada are exlpained on a separate page "Border Information."


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