AAA Santa Monica Insurance and Member Services

Negative experience: I was driving with my girlfriend in the Eastern Sierra near Big Pine. We got a flat on my 4Runner. AAA identified my location and told me they could not send anyone out because the road was “too far” from a paved road. Take a look at these photos and tell me if 3 feet from the pavement is “too far”. Disturbing. In the end, with the stock bottle jack and digging out some gravel, there was enough room to slip on the spare. Don’t waste your money on AAA. Dangerous to have the false sense of security.

Negative experience: I don’t recommend driving lessons here if you are looking for Santa Monica. Yes, it is more affordable than private driving schools but scheduling availability is very limited so we mostly ended up having to travel to the Manhattan beach location to get appointments that worked. Also, if you can find an appointment here, it is likely with their one unpleasant instructor, who is either the only full time one or just everyone’s last resort. We opted to drive 40 minutes to the other office to avoid her.

Negative experience: They just charged me $27 for not getting my registration in the mail. They had the wrong address. NOT my mistake. My address is on my driver's license. Very rude service. After the woman at the front desk said I wouldn't be charged. The man I spoke to after being called up for the replacement (for what I never received) said it was my fault for not noticing the error. THE DMV AND the man who i bought the car from have copies of my driver's license WITH my correct address on there. Why am I paying forgot other people's mistakes? We aren't even permitted to request a registration replacement for a MINIMUM of 30 days of it not arriving. While the man. QUOTED me for NOT requesting one WITHIN 30 days.

Fantastic experience: They have cheaper insurance for cars than most major companies

Fantastic experience: Inga was exceptionally helpful. Thank you!

Fantastic experience: We walked in and checked in and found a place to sit. Within minutes my name was called. Christine helped us with a smile, as we registered our car for next year. The staff here all seem to work well together. I enjoy coming to AAA to get DMV things done and with ease. You can pay with cash or personal check without a fee, or credit card, Visa or MC, with a small % fee. On site parking lot.

Positive experience: I was greeted right away, but had a long wait to be seen.

Negative experience: They won't guide you in making best choice for your car. Avoid at all costs.

Negative experience: Can’t find a phone number that works

Fantastic experience: I absolutely dread having to handle any car issues. This AAA made the process seamless, stress free and they were so kind. Next time something comes up with my car, I will have less stress knowing I can go to them.

Fantastic experience: Friendly and helpful and zero attitude! They are great.

Fantastic experience: I went to AAA to get my international driver's license done and the service was perfect. Both people at reception were super courteous and knew what they were doing, I left in ten minutes with the document in hand.

Fantastic experience: Exceptional service. Knowledgeable and friendly. Just excellent.

Negative experience: Great service for a new customer but not so much for an existing customer. Also there will be a cancellation fee.

Fantastic experience: Pedro is the man! Super helpful and even helped me remove my old plates and install the new ones! Above and beyond!

Fantastic experience: Sometimes, when you have to deal with car stuff it's not always pleasant. Today was the exception. I was lucky enough to have Enicka (hope my spelling is correct) helping me. She was gracious, knowlegeable and very helpful, all the while with a great smile. Can't say enough good things about this location. Thank you and see you soon!

Fantastic experience: AAA driving school was great!! Very attentive to my 17 year old son, and the driving instruction was amazing!!

Fantastic experience: super friendly staff, highly recommend!

Negative experience: Just terrible. Waiting in line 30 min to get a notary. People not helpful. Supervisor not clue why she’s doing. The notary guy is old and don’t even understand difference between first and last name . Waste of hundred $ per year for membership Stay away place

Negative experience: Waiting in line, and waiting again to see someone is too long. Some of the staff are very unprofessional, with attitude, and want to rush you out in the insurance quote area. It's not worth the time to go wait and want to get an insurance quote for anything.

Fantastic experience: Great for DMV services that takes too long at the DMV location

Fantastic experience: Really good service. 10x better than DMV. free water and coffee too!

Fantastic experience: I cannot express how amazing my experience was here. After coming in with a couple questions as a non member. I left with a membership, all my questions answered, and a dreaded car situation completely resolved!! Everyone was so kind and helpful from the moment I walked in. Thank you!

Fantastic experience: In and out within 15 minutes, first visit. Was served by a lovely lady who made the whole thing extremely pleasant.

Negative experience: Ineptitude with an attitude. I lived in this neighborhood for several years now.The AAA building used to be a kickboxing gym.The customer service at this AAA has been on the decline for some time now. But has not been anything like it is now. The better offices are in Torrance and Woodland Hills. I usually just call the 1800 number instead of coming into this one. Most recently I went and felt like it was a mini DMV. Normally they call you and you can go hide in the back to get away from the rude front desk woman. They have now changed this so you have to be on display and hang out with the rudest front desk people. The cool staff were nice and still tucked away in the back as they were before. I spoke to a really bad insurance agent. She told me if my personal belongings were in the car and stolen I would only get 10 percent compensation. She knew very little. I said I've never been told that before. She evidently knew nothing about renters insurance, failed to even inquire which type of non auto insurance it was. I'll stick to the 1800 number.I found out she was wrong when I called them.

Fantastic experience: Wait less than 2 minutes. Transaction handled flawlessly.

Negative experience: AAA made mistakes on my Notary’s document so i lost a deadline and my document was sent back to me unprocessed . When i visited to do the notary again, they asked me for fees even though I am a prime member and there is no extra fees. The woman who was serving me helped another customer while she was helping me and I waited till that was done which is very unprofessional. There is a disorganization in this office , it has deteriorated since years ago. I do not think the Notary who helped me was really a licensed notary and i think she was working without a license. She would not want to sig the page as oppose other notaries who do sign the document, she forgot to take my finer print and signature for the book. I had to remind her, her colleague who was helping her told me I am done and had I not known the process I would have left without completed process. Also they charged me for passport pictures but passport center did not accept the pictures and said the AAA did not follow the rules and i had to pay passport center again to take pictures. AAA claims that they have these services but they are just waste of time. They don’t do things correctly and have to go back and forth 3 times to get it fixed. I had to wait more than an hour each time to be called. The staff in this AAA are unprofessional and not knowledgeable. I am going to cancel my family’s premium membership after this.

Negative experience: The wait is longer than the dmv and low and behold even though they claim notary is part of ur membership - it isn’t. It costs. What’s the point

Fantastic experience: Fast, easy and efficient service. They also provided assistance in Spanish. Very good experience.

Fantastic experience: Very helpful. Very friendly. Very efficient. Really great branch office.

Fantastic experience: Very helpful on a title change. Much faster than the actual DMV.

Negative experience: Sadly the service from the the Santa Monica Auto Club is not reflective of other AAA offices. Torrance and Inglewood being the best thus far. Needless to say, we went into the Santa Monica, AAA for an auto title transfer, thru the DMV services department. The person that helped us lacked total customer service, especially towards a disabled person, being my mom. She couldn't be bothered in walking us thru the process of this transaction. She didn't even give us all the information needed to complete all the paperwork correctly. I've had to go to another Auto Club to try to finalize the the title transfer transaction, to find out, we were lacking another form, which I now have to go to AAA for a 3rd time to complete something simple. It is terrible that an office can gain a bad reputation due to bad customer service from their employees. I hope the Auto Club of So. California does something to remedy the situation. -Disappointed Auto Club Client (31 years)

Negative experience: Why go to the DMV when you can go to a more inept, less friendly, less efficient, off brand DMV?! Don’t even bother coming here. The staff are unhelpful and not knowledgeable. After waiting 30 minutes and being sent to the wrong staff member who was “not trained” to deal with my issue (her words), I was booted to the back of the line and ultimately sent to a person who apparently was trained. However she still had to read directly out of a manual the whole time. She changed her mind about the documents I needed to complete my vehicle registration about 4 times and had just about the worst bedside manner you can come across. She did not come from a place of wanting to help, she came from a place of wanting to do the absolute bare minimum. If I’m going to be treated horribly, I’d rather be treated horribly by an expert at the DMV. I’ll call you when I have a flat tire, AAA. That’s all you’re good for.

Negative experience: Very disorganized. I went there for notary, gave my membership card to the reception and was told to sit and wait for my name to be called. well, 20 minutes later they called my name, I asked where should I go and was told to go to the end section of the office. Three people there, one free so I went to him. He asked what I need, I said notary and he told me to go sit and wait. I asked why did they call me? Just to change seats? He replies with the military style answer which is repeating the same shi over and over hoping to make a stupid person like me to understand the fact that it does not matter if my name was called. 10 minutes later he was free again but attended to another person so I left. This is my experience as a member for over 20 years and the very first visit to a AAA office.

Fantastic experience: Great and fast service! My big thanks to Lourdes ! This lady a great example how take care of business and threaten the customers !

Negative experience: My wife and I came into AAA today to handle some very important documents regarding an Escrow. Unfortunately it did not go well. The girl who works in Notary provided terrible service from the start. She was unfriendly, and rude and unwilling to fill out her information on a very import escrow document that I paid $20 for. When we asked why she didn't fill out a certain part she became very combative and argumentative and walked away like a pouting child. It was embarrassing and very unprofessional. After 20 years of AAA member this will be the last time we give them any more money. The service has gone down hill very fast with poor management /agents!!

Fantastic experience: Olga helped us get International Drivers permits. She was super friendly and efficient. All the people working here were exceptionally nice and helpful. I could hear them helping others. I was so pleasantly surprised because nowadays, people are not in great moods! Thank you, Olga and AAA Santa Monica

Fantastic experience: Easy and fast! Staff super friendly. Good Parking lot at Harvard st.

Fantastic experience: Very professional I was in and out

Fantastic experience: There all on one page at aaa one guy gave me ims then the other person registered my car I was out of there 20 mins later

Fantastic experience: Wilshire Blvd. Plus DMV. ‍♂️ distance

Fantastic experience: People are very helpful and and welcoming

Fantastic experience: If you need to go to the DMV for your car just go to Triple A. trust me you can save a lot of time. They are the best. They also do passport photos for 8 dollars.

Fantastic experience: The staff was cheerful, knowledgeable and very efficient. All of my issues were resolved and all of my questions were answered in a very short amount of time.

Negative experience: Manual deserves 5 star but unfortunately he is under management of Gabriel who is unprofessional accusatory and flat out rude. I show up one door is locked the others open I proceed to enter the building manual proceed to take care of me very politely in orderly then Gabriel decides to step in accuse me of sneaking in the building as they're closing and proceeds to completely deny my request to pick up the final paperwork that I had already finished .

Fantastic experience: Great service and nice location.

Fantastic experience: Outstanding customer service!!!

Fantastic experience: Very small office. Quick in and out.

Fantastic experience: Received the service I came in for quickly and agent was very nice.

Negative experience: The manager at this location is very mean and does have in idea how to manage a business.

Fantastic experience: Friendly and knowledgeable staff. A million times better than DMV Ureley especially was very nice and helpful.

Fantastic experience: Helpful staff!

Fantastic experience: I love this branch of AAA. They are friendly and efficient.

Fantastic experience: This place is great! Registered my car in <15 minutes as a walk in. Beat THAT, DMV!

Fantastic experience: Very very good, thank you

Fantastic experience: It's packed there these days but it goes fast.

Fantastic experience: AAA is still the best insurance in town so go get some insurance

Fantastic experience: This AAA location has super friendly staff! I purchased the Legacy license plates. I was in and out in less than 30 minutes. Thank you for an efficient and quick service.

Fantastic experience: Could not have been better..great service

Negative experience: Very bad!!! I was waiting for 3 hours and then I left.

Fantastic experience: So AAA has always bus great place to get so much done. That alone makes the membership worth it.

Fantastic experience: Always top of the line service by nice folks who know what they're doing! Always able to take care of the DMV nonsense without personally going to the DMV and wasting several hours of my life

Fantastic experience: Great service no DMV long lines

Fantastic experience: The beat

Fantastic experience: Super helpful, way better than dealing with 'DMV'

Fantastic experience: Very helpful and very quick. I got there early, but there was already a line. The wait was less than 10 minutes, though!

Fantastic experience: Really friendly and helpful staff ! Got my registration done

Negative experience: This location is convenient but the staff here are not friendly nor helpful. If you can go to a different location.

Positive experience: Busy with a line but it moved fast. Still their normal excellent service.

Fantastic experience: Nice stuff very knowledgeable pleasure to do business

Negative experience: On Saturday March 13th 2021The waiting time was at least 1 hour and 15 minutes as 19 people were ahead of me and more were coming into the parking lot. You have to wait outside in your car and there are noParking spaces left in the shade

Fantastic experience: Great customer service. This staff works together as a team. And you end up getting exactly what I need in terms of car insurance.

Fantastic experience: Fantastic place with fantastic service. They offer many services and DMV services. The total opposite of a DMV experience. FANTASTIC!!

Fantastic experience: Such a smooth experience. Bonita was the best. So kind and helpful. They have got their COvid procedures down pat. So easy highly recommend!!!!

Fantastic experience: 5 star customer service

Fantastic experience: The employees are very friendly. Getting my car insurance was pretty quick and was Done very personal. I recommend checking out AAA

Positive experience: Friendly and helpful and making it work during Covid. I appreciate the service.

Positive experience: Great customer service

Fantastic experience: Great organization, efficient and professional.

Fantastic experience: Very helpful to make the DMV registration process.

Fantastic experience: Amazing staff

Negative experience: 95% of the reason I have aaa is for dmv services. I walk up there's covid signs. I get half way through the door then I hear wait. Pretty girl walks up. Can I help you? I'm here to do dmv stuff.(should have satisfied)What dmv stuff? I moved changing addresses. Can you answer the 3 questions on the board for me? ok. No No and No. Ok follow me, stand here until they become available. I look around, I'm literally the only customer in the joint. Confusing enough that I had to ask the lady at the desk if I could approach the desk. Hi I'm here to change the address on my vehicles and license. We don't do change of addresses anymore...... Just power trippin tone. The only thing they can do is registration.

Fantastic experience: Been here for many reasons over the years and they have always come thru with flying colors....

Fantastic experience: Great service. Good covid protocol. Excellent rates. 9-30-22 update Even better service after covid. Kenntta. Amazing front desk service with a smile prompt service.

Fantastic experience: Clean, organized, the staff follows Covid-19 health guidelines, hand sanitizer available upon arrival, the line moves quickly.

Fantastic experience: They were very professional. Everyone was required to wear a mask. I had to wait to get in because there was a line. After I got in, my reason for being there was handled quickly. They were very friendly to everyone.

Fantastic experience: My experience has been more than pleasant. I have AAA roadside assistance, car insurance on 2 cars and rental insurance. AAA has always rose to the occasion on all occasions. Customer service has been professional and pleasant; Not only that, I can register both of my vehicles without suffering the lines at the DMV. AAA ROCKS!! For real

Negative experience: Santa Monica poor service

Fantastic experience: In and out quickly

Fantastic experience: I think the Santa Monica office really is organized well post COVID-19 lockdown. One note: It would be helpful to look at my actual policy when listening to the agent.

Negative experience: Not helpful at all

Positive experience: Fast, efficient, and great customer service!

Fantastic experience: Quick efficient great customer service highest recommendation. Lives up to all expectations. Anybody who drives should be a member. Annual fee pays off with first call of a problem. Should be mandatory for any parent with a student driver

Fantastic experience: The experience I had today at AAA was nothing short of outstanding. The way they're dealing with the covid-19 is in short the best that I've seen anywhere. The employees are kind and generous just really efficient and amazing

Fantastic experience: Always a better alternative than DMV for registration renewal and transfer of ownership

Fantastic experience: We use this AAA office for our DMV and travel needs. The staff is friendly and helpful.

Fantastic experience: Now I have AAA thank you

Fantastic experience: Forget DMV for most service requirements re your automobile

Fantastic experience: The staff in this location is friendly, respectful and very helpful. Due to covid, lines in the DMV are long and you can spend hours before you get any help. Luckily AAA offers their members some DMV services. I was able to complete on a saturday my change of title/ownership after purchasing a vehicle and vehicle registration. The process was efficient and simple. You register at the front booth, they let you know wait time (in my case it was stated it would be 30 minutes but it was only 20 minutes) and they send you a text message when you are ready to be helped. Right away I was assisted by the staff who completed my title change and vehicle registrarion, walked out with my new registration vehicle sticker. THANK you for making such a tedious process simple and straight forward.

Fantastic experience: I live 2 min from the one in culver city I rather drive to santa monica because the people are more nice and faster and friendly the personal in culver they have i problem they are mad every time i go and it take the same time as the dmv i see theme ony taking to each other and make people wait for more time