When most individuals consider CAA (Canadian Car Affiliation), they image lifeless batteries, flat tires, and roadside rescues.
Truthful sufficient, it’s what they’re recognized for.
However when you’re a traveller who’s all the time looking out for methods to avoid wasting, CAA is perhaps extra helpful than you suppose—even when you don’t personal a automotive.
From resort reductions and VIA Rail financial savings to fuel perks and passport pictures, a CAA membership quietly delivers worth effectively past towing and tire adjustments.
Right here’s a have a look at why CAA is perhaps a surprisingly whole lot for travellers, whether or not you’re behind the wheel or not.
Resort Reductions
Some of the useful journey perks of being a CAA member is entry to discounted resort charges.
Main resort chains like Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt provide as much as 10% off via 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 presents the perfect worth. The CAA price is commonly decrease than the usual versatile price, and solely marginally increased (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 beneath the usual versatile price 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 same old 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 beneath the CAA price, prices simply $468 per night time—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 night time, you’re already saving greater than the price of a CAA membership.
For 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 means, that’s a fast return on funding for travellers—even when you don’t personal a automotive.
After all, the precise low cost and cancellation coverage can differ by property and model. However even when you solely use the CAA price for a few resort nights per yr, the financial savings can simply justify the membership price.
It’s a low-effort method 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 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 Economic system and Enterprise class.
I often take VIA Rail from Toronto to Montreal, because the practice connects downtown to downtown and skips the airport chaos, safety strains, and baggage hassles.
With the CAA price, you get 10% off commonplace fares. Whereas it gained’t apply to the ultra-cheap Escape fare, when 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 seeking to expertise a cross-country practice 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 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. If you happen to’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 via the Prairies, Rockies, and numerous small cities is on many travellers’ bucket lists. And if you think about that meals and lodging are included in Sleeper Plus, the CAA low cost makes a noticeable dent within the general 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 same old 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 via 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 when you solely take the practice a couple of times a yr, the CAA low cost can add up rapidly. And identical to with resort 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 Gasoline Stations
Even when you don’t drive commonly—or don’t even personal a automotive—your CAA membership nonetheless pulls its weight on the pump and in-store.
CAA members save 3¢ per litre on all gas grades at collaborating Shell stations throughout Canada. Simply swipe your CAA card on the pump or inside the shop earlier than paying. You may also hyperlink your CAA card to the Shell EasyPay™ app when you desire a cellular checkout.
The perks transcend gas. You’ll additionally get 10% off automotive 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 you probably have a BMO credit score or debit card. By means of the AIR MILES Card Hyperlink program, you possibly can hyperlink your eligible BMO card and unlock further 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 gas
- 1 Air Mile per 20 litres on Bronze, Silver, and Diesel
- 1 Air Mile per 10 litres on V-Energy
That stacks along with your CAA 3¢/L low cost, that means you can save as much as 10¢ per litre on V-Energy gas—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 when 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 automotive, 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 before you suppose: CAA members get reductions on pictures 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 pictures. That’s a strong low cost in comparison with the $19.95 non-member price. When you have 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 may get it completed proper at a CAA retailer—no want to go to a number of locations or deliver your personal pictures. The truth is, the passport photograph you get at CAA can be utilized to your IDP as effectively.
It’s not essentially the most glamorous profit, nevertheless it’s extremely sensible—and precisely the sort of factor that makes you glad you have got the membership if you’re scrambling to prep for a world journey.
Conclusion
If you happen to’re somebody who loves maximizing each journey greenback, CAA is perhaps a quiet MVP in your toolkit. Whereas it doesn’t scream “journey hack,” the worth provides up rapidly.
Whether or not you personal a automotive or not, likelihood is you’re nonetheless driving every now and then—be it a rental, automotive share, or borrowing a pal’s car. That’s the place the advantages begin to present: reductions on fuel, automotive washes, and travel-related necessities like inns, VIA Rail, and even passport pictures.
With entry-level plans beginning at simply $30 a yr, it doesn’t take a lot to interrupt even. One resort 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 pictures, is only a bonus.
CAA might 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.
