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 in the event you’re a traveller who’s at all times looking out for methods to save lots of, CAA may be extra helpful than you suppose—even in the event you don’t personal a automobile.
From lodge reductions and VIA Rail financial savings to fuel perks and passport photographs, a CAA membership quietly delivers worth nicely past towing and tire adjustments.
Right here’s a have a look at why CAA may be a surprisingly whole lot for travellers, whether or not you’re behind the wheel or not.
Lodge Reductions
Some of the precious 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 price from the dropdown menu throughout your search.
In my expertise, Marriott persistently gives the most effective worth. The CAA price is usually decrease than the usual versatile price, and solely marginally greater (if in any respect) than the pay as you go price—with out sacrificing cancellation flexibility.
Take the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre for instance. A high-floor king visitor room underneath the usual versatile price clocks in at $565 per evening, taxes included.
In the event you 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 price shines. That very same room, booked underneath the CAA price, prices simply $468 per evening—all taxes in.
That’s a $97 financial savings in comparison with the versatile price, or about 17% off.
Even higher? The cancellation coverage mirrors the versatile price, that means you possibly can usually cancel two or three days earlier than check-in with out penalty.
In only one evening, 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 12 months, whereas the Fundamental membership runs $75 per 12 months. Both method, that’s a fast return on funding for travellers—even in the event you don’t personal a automobile.
In fact, the precise low cost and cancellation coverage can differ by property and model. However even in the event you solely use the CAA price for a few lodge nights per 12 months, the financial savings can simply justify the membership payment.
It’s a low-effort option to stretch your journey finances somewhat additional.
VIA Rail Reductions
One other underrated good thing about a CAA membership is the unique low cost on VIA Rail tickets throughout Canada.
Relying on the route and fare class, you possibly can save as much as 20% simply by getting 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 Economic system and Enterprise class.
I sometimes take VIA Rail from Toronto to Montreal, because the prepare connects downtown to downtown and skips the airport chaos, safety strains, and baggage hassles.
With the CAA price, you get 10% off normal fares. Whereas it received’t apply to the ultra-cheap Escape fare, in the event you’re reserving final minute—or simply need extra flexibility—the financial savings positively assist.
In the event you’re an adventurous particular person and seeking to expertise a cross-country prepare experience, the financial savings might be much more important.
Take The Canadian, VIA Rail’s iconic four-day journey from Toronto to Vancouver. With a CAA membership, you possibly can knock 15% off Economic system class and a whopping 20% off in Sleeper Plus Class.
For instance, on October 22, 2025, an Economic system class ticket on this route drops from $524 to $446 with the CAA low cost. In the event you’re going for consolation (and truthfully, you most likely ought to), Sleeper Plus class goes from $1,872 to $1,497—a financial savings of $375
It’s not a finances 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 think about that meals and lodging are included in Sleeper Plus, the CAA low cost makes a noticeable dent within the total value.
It’s price 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 programs 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 in the event you solely take the prepare a few times a 12 months, the CAA low cost can add up rapidly. And similar to with lodge bookings, it’s one other low-effort option to get your cash’s price out of your membership—with out ever needing to name a tow truck.
Financial savings at Shell Gasoline Stations
Even in the event you don’t drive commonly—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 taking part Shell stations throughout Canada. Simply swipe your CAA card on the pump or inside the shop earlier than paying. You can too hyperlink your CAA card to the Shell EasyPay™ app in the event you favor a cell 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 highway journey snacks or topping up your windshield washer fluid.
It will get even higher you probably have a BMO credit score or debit card. Via the AIR MILES Card Hyperlink program, you possibly can 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, that 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 in the event 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 individual automobile, renting one, or borrowing a good friend’s, that is a kind of sneaky-good perks that provides up rapidly, particularly on highway journeys or long-haul drives.
Discounted Journey Images at CAA Shops
Right here’s one other underrated perk that may turn out to be useful earlier than you suppose: CAA members get reductions on photographs for passports and Worldwide Driving Permits (IDPs) at CAA areas.
In Southern Ontario, members pay simply $8.95 plus tax for a set of two passport or visa photographs. That’s a stable low cost in comparison with the $19.95 non-member price. If in case you have a Plus or Premier membership, you even get one free set per 12 months.
In the event you’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 may get it finished proper at a CAA retailer—no want to go to a number of locations or carry your individual photographs. In actual fact, the passport photograph you get at CAA can be utilized in your IDP as nicely.
It’s not essentially the most glamorous profit, however it’s extremely sensible—and precisely the sort of factor that makes you glad you’ve gotten the membership whenever you’re scrambling to prep for a global journey.
Conclusion
In the event you’re somebody who loves maximizing each journey greenback, CAA may 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, likelihood is you’re nonetheless driving from time to time—be it a rental, automobile share, or borrowing a good friend’s automobile. That’s the place the advantages begin to present: reductions on fuel, automobile washes, and travel-related necessities like inns, VIA Rail, and even passport photographs.
With entry-level plans beginning at simply $30 a 12 months, it doesn’t take a lot to interrupt even. One lodge reserving or a few VIA Rail journeys and also you’re already forward. The whole lot else, like a Shell low cost or free passport photographs, is only a bonus.
CAA will not be 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.
