When most individuals consider CAA (Canadian Vehicle Affiliation), they image lifeless batteries, flat tires, and roadside rescues.
Honest sufficient, it’s what they’re identified for.
However should you’re a traveller who’s all the time looking out for methods to save lots of, CAA could be extra helpful than you suppose—even should you don’t personal a automobile.
From lodge reductions and VIA Rail financial savings to fuel perks and passport images, a CAA membership quietly delivers worth properly past towing and tire adjustments.
Right here’s a take a look at why CAA could be a surprisingly whole lot for travellers, whether or not you’re behind the wheel or not.
Lodge Reductions
Some of the worthwhile journey perks of being a CAA member is entry to discounted lodge charges.
Main lodge chains like Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt supply as much as 10% off by way of devoted CAA charges. You don’t want a particular promo code—simply choose the CAA charge from the dropdown menu throughout your search.
In my expertise, Marriott persistently gives the perfect worth. The CAA charge is usually decrease than the usual versatile charge, and solely marginally greater (if in any respect) than the pay as you go charge—with out sacrificing cancellation flexibility.
Take the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre for example. A high-floor king visitor room below the usual versatile charge clocks in at $565 per night time, taxes included.
If you happen to go the pay as you go route, you’ll drop that to $506, however with the standard catch: zero flexibility, no refunds, and no last-minute adjustments.
Now right here’s the place the CAA charge shines. That very same room, booked below the CAA charge, prices simply $468 per night time—all taxes in.
That’s a $97 financial savings in comparison with the versatile charge, or about 17% off.
Even higher? The cancellation coverage mirrors the versatile charge, which means you may sometimes cancel two or three days earlier than check-in with out penalty.
In only one night time, you’re already saving greater than the price of a CAA membership.
As an example, in Ontario, the entry-level CAA On a regular basis membership prices simply $30 per yr, whereas the Fundamental membership runs $75 per yr. Both approach, that’s a fast return on funding for travellers—even should you don’t personal a automobile.
After all, the precise low cost and cancellation coverage can range by property and model. However even should you solely use the CAA charge for a few lodge nights per yr, the financial savings can simply justify the membership payment.
It’s a low-effort method to stretch your journey funds just a little additional.
VIA Rail Reductions
One other underrated advantage of a CAA membership is the unique low cost on VIA Rail tickets throughout Canada.
Relying on the route and fare class, you may save as much as 20% simply by coming into your membership quantity throughout your ticket search.
For instance, on the favored Quebec–Windsor hall (suppose Toronto–Montreal or Ottawa–Quebec Metropolis), CAA members get 10% off in each Financial system and Enterprise class.
I often take VIA Rail from Toronto to Montreal, because the prepare connects downtown to downtown and skips the airport chaos, safety traces, and baggage hassles.
With the CAA charge, you get 10% off normal fares. Whereas it gained’t apply to the ultra-cheap Escape fare, should you’re reserving final minute—or simply need extra flexibility—the financial savings undoubtedly assist.
If you happen to’re an adventurous particular person and trying to expertise a cross-country prepare trip, the financial savings will be much more vital.
Take The Canadian, VIA Rail’s iconic four-day journey from Toronto to Vancouver. With a CAA membership, you may knock 15% off Financial system class and a whopping 20% off in Sleeper Plus Class.
For instance, on October 22, 2025, an Financial system class ticket on this route drops from $524 to $446 with the CAA low cost. If you happen to’re going for consolation (and truthfully, you in all probability ought to), Sleeper Plus class goes from $1,872 to $1,497—a financial savings of $375
It’s not a funds journey by any stretch, however the expertise of rolling by way of the Prairies, Rockies, and numerous small cities is on many travellers’ bucket lists. And whenever you consider that meals and lodging are included in Sleeper Plus, the CAA low cost makes a noticeable dent within the total price.
It’s value noting that the CAA low cost additionally extends to as much as 5 journey companions, so long as everyone seems to be travelling collectively on the identical itinerary. You’ll want to hold your CAA card and an identical photograph ID whereas travelling, and the standard fare guidelines nonetheless apply for adjustments or cancellations.
Our trains are nowhere close to as quick because the high-speed rail techniques in Europe, Japan, or China—however what we lack in pace, we make up for in surroundings. Whether or not you’re gliding by way of the forests of Northern Ontario or waking as much as views of the Rockies, the journey itself turns into a part of the journey.
Even should you solely take the prepare a couple of times a yr, the CAA low cost can add up rapidly. And identical to with lodge bookings, it’s one other low-effort method to get your cash’s value out of your membership—with out ever needing to name a tow truck.
Financial savings at Shell Fuel Stations
Even should you don’t drive usually—or don’t even personal a automobile—your CAA membership nonetheless pulls its weight on the pump and in-store.
CAA members save 3¢ per litre on all gasoline grades at collaborating Shell stations throughout Canada. Simply swipe your CAA card on the pump or inside the shop earlier than paying. It’s also possible to hyperlink your CAA card to the Shell EasyPay™ app should you desire a cellular checkout.
The perks transcend gasoline. You’ll additionally get 10% off automobile washes and 10% off most in-store purchases, whether or not you’re grabbing street journey snacks or topping up your windshield washer fluid.
It will get even higher when you have a BMO credit score or debit card. Via the AIR MILES Card Hyperlink program, you may hyperlink your eligible BMO card and unlock additional financial savings when paying at Shell:
- 2¢ off per litre on Shell Bronze, Silver, and Diesel
- 7¢ off per litre on Shell V-Energy premium gasoline
- 1 Air Mile per 20 litres on Bronze, Silver, and Diesel
- 1 Air Mile per 10 litres on V-Energy
That stacks together with your CAA 3¢/L low cost, which means you would save as much as 10¢ per litre on V-Energy gasoline—and earn AIR MILES on the similar time.
All BMO Credit score Playing cards are Eligible for Shell Reductions
Let’s say you fill a 50-litre tank with V-Energy utilizing a linked BMO card and your CAA membership. You’d immediately save $5, plus earn 5 Air Miles. And should you’re simply filling up with common fuel, you’re nonetheless shaving off 5¢/L and getting 2–3 Air Miles per tank.
Whether or not you’re driving your personal automobile, renting one, or borrowing a pal’s, that is a kind of sneaky-good perks that provides up rapidly, particularly on street journeys or long-haul drives.
Discounted Journey Pictures at CAA Shops
Right here’s one other underrated perk which may turn out to be useful prior to you suppose: CAA members get reductions on images for passports and Worldwide Driving Permits (IDPs) at CAA places.
In Southern Ontario, members pay simply $8.95 plus tax for a set of two passport or visa images. That’s a strong low cost in comparison with the $19.95 non-member charge. When you’ve got a Plus or Premier membership, you even get one free set per yr.
If you happen to’re planning to drive overseas, CAA can also be the one approved issuer of IDPs in Canada. The allow prices $31.00 (tax included) and you will get it accomplished proper at a CAA retailer—no want to go to a number of locations or carry your personal images. In reality, the passport photograph you get at CAA can be utilized to your IDP as properly.
It’s not probably the most glamorous profit, but it surely’s extremely sensible—and precisely the form of factor that makes you glad you could have the membership whenever you’re scrambling to prep for a global journey.
Conclusion
If you happen to’re somebody who loves maximizing each journey greenback, CAA could be a quiet MVP in your toolkit. Whereas it doesn’t scream “journey hack,” the worth provides up rapidly.
Whether or not you personal a automobile or not, chances are high you’re nonetheless driving from time to time—be it a rental, automobile share, or borrowing a pal’s automobile. That’s the place the advantages begin to present: reductions on fuel, automobile washes, and travel-related necessities like accommodations, VIA Rail, and even passport images.
With entry-level plans beginning at simply $30 a yr, it doesn’t take a lot to interrupt even. One lodge reserving or a few VIA Rail journeys and also you’re already forward. All the pieces else, like a Shell low cost or free passport images, is only a bonus.
CAA is probably not flashy, however for travellers who love squeezing each little bit of worth out of their journeys, it’s a small membership that delivers—wheels or not.
