AAA's initial mission centered on the establishment of just laws governing the operation and ownership of automobiles. As AAA has matured, its focus has evolved to transportation infrastructure development, traffic safety, driver education and the provision of products and services to members. AAA's organizational structure is unique. Its members consist of 79 automobile clubs operating in different areas of the United States. Each is governed by a local board of directors and operated by a separate staff.
Clubs range in size from as small as a county to as large as several states.
Club membership varies accordingly from as few as 10,000 to several clubs with memberships in excess of 1 million. One club, the largest, has six million members. In order to maintain membership in AAA, member clubs are required to provide specified services to AAA members. All clubs are required to offer emergency roadside service, the flagship service for which AAA is perhaps best known, and the primary reason that people join and renew their memberships. In addition, clubs are required to offer travel services, described in greater detail below, and to offer bail bonds, car rental discounts, fee-free travelers cheques, notary services, passport photos and international driving permits.