When most individuals consider CAA (Canadian Car Affiliation), they image lifeless batteries, flat tires, and roadside rescues.
Truthful sufficient, it’s what they’re identified for.
However if you happen to’re a traveller who’s all the time looking out for methods to avoid wasting, CAA may be extra helpful than you assume—even if you happen to don’t personal a automotive.
From resort reductions and VIA Rail financial savings to gasoline perks and passport images, a CAA membership quietly delivers worth properly past towing and tire modifications.
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
One of the vital worthwhile journey perks of being a CAA member is entry to discounted resort charges.
Main resort chains like Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt supply as much as 10% off via devoted CAA charges. You don’t want a particular promo code—simply choose the CAA fee from the dropdown menu throughout your search.
In my expertise, Marriott constantly presents the perfect worth. The CAA fee is commonly decrease than the usual versatile fee, and solely marginally increased (if in any respect) than the pay as you go fee—with out sacrificing cancellation flexibility.
Take the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre for example. A high-floor king visitor room beneath the usual versatile fee clocks in at $565 per night time, taxes included.
When 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 modifications.
Now right here’s the place the CAA fee shines. That very same room, booked beneath the CAA fee, prices simply $468 per night time—all taxes in.
That’s a $97 financial savings in comparison with the versatile fee, or about 17% off.
Even higher? The cancellation coverage mirrors the versatile fee, which means you’ll be able to 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.
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 method, that’s a fast return on funding for travellers—even if you happen to don’t personal a automotive.
After all, the precise low cost and cancellation coverage can range by property and model. However even if you happen to solely use the CAA fee for a few resort nights per yr, the financial savings can simply justify the membership charge.
It’s a low-effort method to stretch your journey funds slightly 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’ll be able to save as much as 20% simply by getting into your membership quantity throughout your ticket search.
For instance, on the favored Quebec–Windsor hall (assume Toronto–Montreal or Ottawa–Quebec Metropolis), CAA members get 10% off in each Financial system and Enterprise class.
I sometimes take VIA Rail from Toronto to Montreal, because the practice connects downtown to downtown and skips the airport chaos, safety traces, and baggage hassles.
With the CAA fee, you get 10% off customary fares. Whereas it gained’t apply to the ultra-cheap Escape fare, if you happen to’re reserving final minute—or simply need extra flexibility—the financial savings undoubtedly assist.
When you’re an adventurous individual and seeking to expertise a cross-country practice trip, the financial savings could be much more vital.
Take The Canadian, VIA Rail’s iconic four-day journey from Toronto to Vancouver. With a CAA membership, you’ll be able to 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. When you’re going for consolation (and actually, 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 via the Prairies, Rockies, and numerous small cities is on many travellers’ bucket lists. And while 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 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 picture ID whereas travelling, and the standard fare guidelines nonetheless apply for modifications 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 velocity, 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 if you happen to 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 if you happen to don’t drive often—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 too can hyperlink your CAA card to the Shell EasyPay™ app if you happen to favor 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 highway journey snacks or topping up your windshield washer fluid.
It will get even higher if in case you have a BMO credit score or debit card. By way of the AIR MILES Card Hyperlink program, you’ll be able to 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 together with your CAA 3¢/L low cost, which means you may save as much as 10¢ per litre on V-Energy gas—and earn AIR MILES on the identical 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 if you happen to’re simply filling up with common gasoline, you’re nonetheless shaving off 5¢/L and getting 2–3 Air Miles per tank.
Whether or not you’re driving your individual automotive, renting one, or borrowing a buddy’s, that is a type of sneaky-good perks that provides up rapidly, particularly on highway 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 earlier than you assume: CAA members get reductions on images 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 images. That’s a strong low cost in comparison with the $19.95 non-member fee. You probably have a Plus or Premier membership, you even get one free set per yr.
When you’re planning to drive overseas, CAA can be the one approved issuer of IDPs in Canada. The allow prices $31.00 (tax included) and you will get it achieved proper at a CAA retailer—no want to go to a number of locations or convey your individual images. The truth is, the passport picture you get at CAA can be utilized on your IDP as properly.
It’s not essentially the most glamorous profit, nevertheless it’s extremely sensible—and precisely the sort of factor that makes you glad you’ve got the membership while you’re scrambling to prep for a global journey.
Conclusion
When 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 automotive or not, likelihood is you’re nonetheless driving every now and then—be it a rental, automotive share, or borrowing a buddy’s automobile. That’s the place the advantages begin to present: reductions on gasoline, automotive 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 resort reserving or a few VIA Rail journeys and also you’re already forward. All the things else, like a Shell low cost or free passport images, 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.
