AAA Washington

We’d like to reintroduce ourselves. Everyone knows AAA, but we’ve found that not everyone knows us beyond towing. So, Hi 👋! We’re AAA Washington. We’re Pacific Northwestians too. We’re still the best at towing, but we’re about so much more than that and we want everyone to know! And if our new look makes you pause and go, “Wait, that’s AAA?” Mission accomplished. We’ve been around for more than a hundred years, but we can’t be here for a hundred more without evolving. You’ll see a lot more A’s and our local roots reflected in everything we do, from the images we use to how we show up across our diverse communities. This goes beyond just a new look – though we hope you like it! It's about member experience. A new website designed with usability at the forefront. Investment in enterprise systems to streamline our operations. Expanding membership perks to more than 900 local businesses. Having advisors whose help goes beyond the road: insurance agents who craft policies for PNW life, and travel advisors who transform travel ideas into plans. We’re the same AAA Washington you know and love, but so much better! We don’t have one A. We have three! And three is more than one. Discover how More A’s Means Better Ways for you at bit.ly/Better_WAAAys  

We are thrilled to share the success of our Batteries to Branches campaign—a partnership with the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust that promotes sustainability through car battery recycling and reforestation. 🌲 Why Batteries to Branches? In 2023, we recycled over 23,000 car batteries, equivalent to stacking 23 Space Needles! While nearly one million car batteries go unrecycled each year in the U.S., AAA Washington’s Batteries to Branches ensures these valuable materials are responsibly repurposed instead of creating environmental risks. ♻️ Recycling + Reforestation For every car battery tested, collected, and recycled at our events, AAA Washington donates a tree to be planted by the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust—an effort that offsets carbon emissions and restores Washington’s landscapes. This year alone, we will be donating 180 trees! 👏 Six Community Events, One Green Mission Our “Batteries to Branches” events across six AAA locations (Tacoma, Bremerton, Alderwood, Mt. Vernon, Vancouver, and Bellevue) provided free battery testing, recycling, and replacement—making it easy for members and the community to take part in our sustainability mission. Together, we’re reducing waste, protecting local ecosystems, and contributing to a thriving environment for future generations. Thank you to our members and community for supporting sustainable initiatives that drive impactful change! #Sustainability #BatteryRecycling #GreenFuture #AAAWashington #MountainsToSoundGreenwayTrust

Did you know fall, not spring, is tree planting time in the PNW? Last week, 21 of our employees gathered to plant over 65 shrubs and trees at Timberlake Park in Issaquah. Our friends at the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust (“the Greenway”) led this great event, lending shovels, gloves and most importantly their expertise by demonstrating the best planting techniques to ensure sapling survival. With AAA Washington serving the region along I-90 and the Greenway’s focus on preserving the I-90 corridor, our partnership with the Greenway stems from a shared vision—to foster healthy, sustainable communities for all. The best part is everyone can get involved! Sign up to volunteer or donate $25 to plant a tree! All donations are being matched between now and Giving Tuesday (Dec 3) – so it’s the perfect time to double your impact and give back to the local environment. Learn more here: mtsgreenway.org/trees

Patrick, Ryan, Kenny and Freddy are just a few of our techs out there helping members get back to their days. Let’s help make their day safer by moving over or slowing down if you see a tow truck (or any emergency vehicle!) by the side of the road. Drop a 👏 if you’ll Move Over and/or Slow Down the next time you see flashing lights by the side of the road.

At AAA Washington, we believe travel should leave a positive impact on both destinations and travelers. That's why we prioritize sustainable tourism—also known as regenerative, responsible, or meaningful travel—to ensure: 🌱 Host communities thrive 🏺 Cultural and environmental treasures are protected 🌎 Visitors connect with destinations in a more responsible, meaningful way Last week, we had the privilege of attending the Tourism Cares Meaningful Travel Summit in Eugene, OR. The event focused on the powerful intersection of tourism and sustainability, bringing together like-minded leaders from across the industry. Here are a few key takeaways from the event: 1. Inclusion through Accessibility: 1 in 5 people live with a disability that affects their travel. We learned how providing clear, detailed destination information can empower travelers with special needs to confidently explore. 2. Sustainability Conversations Matter: Simply talking to your partners about their sustainability goals can create a ripple effect, sparking greater momentum for change. 3. Showcasing Values Through Action: From a wine tasting at a winery with innovative biodynamic farming practices to a working mill tour with a focus on sustainable farming, the event went beyond a conference room to give attendees curated half day experiences around the Willamette Valley with local changemakers. This Summit reinforced our commitment to offering exceptional travel experiences to our members while recognizing the responsibility to address the environmental, social, and economic impacts of tourism. We’re excited to keep pushing the conversation forward and continue collaborating with Tourism Cares and our other partners to ensure communities continue to benefit from tourism.

Soap is an easy thing to take for granted, but for many affording basic hygiene products is a struggle. Soap for Hope, AAA Washington’s annual toiletry donation drive, aims to help our neighbors in need and is happening now! Since 2008, we’ve collected and distributed more than 1.6 million essential items to charitable organizations in the Washington and North Idaho communities where our travel stores are located. From now through October 31, please consider donating new, unopened personal-care items to a AAA store in Washington or North Idaho: Soap/body wash • shampoo • conditioner • lotion • deodorant • toothbrushes • toothpaste • dental floss • shaving products • combs/brushes for all hair types • menstrual products for all body types • hand sanitizer • sanitizing wipes. Find a location near you at https://bit.ly/3XAZifC

🎉 Our CEO, Heather Snavely, is one of the Puget Sound Business Journal's 2024 Women of Influence! We’re proud to celebrate this recognition of her dedication, leadership and impact, both here at AAA Washington and across the Pacific Northwest.

This National Drive Electric Week, we’re excited to announce the findings of our second annual EV survey, revealing strong interest in electric vehicles (EVs) across the state. As charging infrastructure challenges persist, our survey highlights key motivators like cost savings and environmental benefits. We’re sharing these insights to help drive the conversation on Washington's electric future. Learn more about our findings and resources on electric vehicles, including upcoming ride and drive events!

As we continue to work toward safer mobility for all, we’re proud to sponsor events like the recent Walk Like MADD event at Magnuson Park in Seattle. This annual walk is hosted by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) to raise awareness and funds to fight drunk driving. The event was a huge success – raising an incredible $70,000! Shout outs to our AAA Washington employees who walked the event and manned our booth.

Working towards safer mobility for all is what we’re about, but we can’t do it alone. The City of Bellevue, Washington is at the forefront of traffic safety innovation in Washington, working to ensure that streets are safe for all—whether people are walking, biking, driving, or using transit. As part of its Vision Zero commitment to eliminate traffic fatalities, the city has adopted the Safe System Approach, a strategy that has seen success in other countries. This approach recognizes that human errors are inevitable and designs road systems to minimize the severity of crashes by building in layers of protection, including safer roads, appropriate speeds, responsible road users, safer vehicles, and effective post-crash care. To further its commitment, the city recently began a speaker series focused on advancing the Safe System Approach. The series kicked off on September 16 with a presentation by Dr. David Yang, President and Executive Director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, who shared insights from a recent Safe System project. His presentation offered valuable resources and recommendations for traffic safety advocates. AAA Washington is a strong supporter of the Safe System Approach and was honored to attend the presentation.