AAA Washington was established in 1904 by 10 prominent Seattleites determined to champion the betterment of motoring conditions, laws and legislation; the preservation of Washington state’s natural beauty; and the promotion of Washington as an unrivaled tourist destination. More than a century later, the club continues to pursue these on behalf of its members.

Our History

This timeline shows how AAA has helped lead the way in all facets of automotive history and is poised to continue paving the road ahead.

Year

Historical Event

1904

The Automobile Club of Seattle is formed September 23.

1905

The club helps draft the state’s first traffic code, requiring licensing, a muffler, “one lighted lamp during darkness,” good and efficient brakes and a horn.

1906

The signing of streets, roads and highways receives its initial impetus when the club and members donate 500 directional road signs.

1907

The club’s first organized road trip was to Cohasset Beach in November.

1909

The club promotes automobile travel in Mount Rainier National Park, leading the way to motoring being allowed in other national parks.

1910

The club publishes its first tour book featuring destinations in western Washington.

1912

The Inland Automobile Association is formed covering eastern Washington and northern Idaho.

1917

All automobile clubs in central and western Washington unite under the name Automobile Club of Western Washington. Later, the club’s name is shortened to the Automobile Club of Washington.

1918

The Aero Club of the Northwest, which was headed by Bill Boeing, rents desk space in the Auto Club’s Seattle office building. This sparks the auto club’s interest in air travel and concerns about adequate access to airports that will one day be built in the same state.

1922

The club dispatches mapping crews to survey all highways as far as Salt Lake and Denver, up through the national parks in Montana and into Alberta and British Columbia. 

Washington’s first AAA School Safety Patrol was formed, two years after the introduction of the nationwide program.

1926

The club contracts with “reputable garages” to offer emergency road service for members.

1927

The Automobile Club Insurance Agency begins selling automobile insurance policies to members.

1930

The club begins offering “air travel services” and advertises “trip planning anywhere in the world.”

1933

The Tacoma Service Center becomes the headquarters for United Airlines, handling its reservations for travel throughout the country.

1940

Lt. Col. Dwight D. Eisenhower joins the club while stationed at Ft. Lewis.

1941

The club solicits members to volunteer for “Emergency Transport Duty” in the event of a military emergency evacuation.

1942

Members urged to take shorter Sunday drives in light of national tire and gas rationing programs. Club provides trip routings for troops, military supplies and military families.

1945

As World War II draws to a close, club suggest members delay auto travel trips since old cars and tires, maintained throughout war shortages, may not be able to complete trip.

1952

Club supports a plan to build freeway linking Tacoma, Seattle and Everett, stating that future traffic demands make such a freeway imperative.

1954

The AAA Travel Agency becomes known as the “Worldwide Travel Department” with ticketing available for 45 airlines, 24 steamship lines and all bus and rail lines.

1956

The travel agency holds its first group tour, “Hula Holiday” to Hawaii, for 87 members.

1962

The club offers special World’s Fair motel/hotel reservations that bring in 300 requests daily. The club also sponsors a special day at the fair for 1,500 school safety patrol students.

1965

The club launches driving school, offering behind-the-wheel and classroom instruction.

1970

Club broadcasts rush hour traffic reports on KIRO-AM.

1971

Club inaugurates local loop tours map series, drawn by an in-house cartographer.

1972

The club is a sponsor of the CAR Institute, which works to rehabilitate DWI offenders.

1973

The first color picture appears on the front page of the Motorist.

1975

The club launches “Gas Watchers Program” in response to national gasoline shortages caused by oil embargoes.

1981

Club inspects auto repair shops and offers members Approved Auto Repair recommendations.

1982

The club sponsors classes for the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence, which trains and certifies mechanics.

1983

The Automobile Club of Washington changes its name to AAA Washington.

1984

The AAA Travel Agency charters the Concorde supersonic jet for the return trip on its first flight to the West Coast.

1989

“AAA World of Travel” debuts on KIRO-TV. The number of AAA Washington Emergency Road Service calls dispatched during a three-day December snow storm equaled the total number of calls dispatched in 1947.

1991

The club provides complimentary road service to Seahawk fans as part of the fan rescue program.

1992

The club extends road service to some recreational vehicles as PlusRV.

1993

The corporate office moves from Seattle to its current Bellevue location.

1995

AAA Washington reaches 500,000 members

1996

The club goes online with its first website hosted by AOL, and acquires its own website a year later.

1997

The Motorist is converted into a bi-monthly glossy magazine called Journey.

1998

Membership cards are changed into plastic, and AAA sponsors passing legislation to lower illegal BAC levels to .08 (from .1).

2003

AAA Washington merges with the Inland Automobile Association, covering Washington and northern Idaho, and changing its name to AAA Washington/Inland.

2004

AAA Washington/Inland has more than 830,000 members and nationally there are over 45 million AAA members.

2007

AAA nationally achieves 50 million members.

2009

AAA Washington partnered with Travelocity with the most advanced booking and information sources on the Internet.

2010

AAA Washington hits a milestone with more than 1 million members and nationally there are over 52 million AAA members.

2011

Kirk R. Nelson named AAA Washington President and CEO upon the retirement of Charlie Liekweg.

2012

Emergency Road Service extended to cover bicycle service for all members.

2014

AAA Washington launches new concept Cruise & Travel stores in Tacoma and Alderwood (combining former Lynnwood, Everett and Mill Creek stores).

2016

AAA Washington Corporate Office moves to new building in Factoria neighborhood of Bellevue.

2017

Celebrated 100-year of incorporation in Washington State (based on incorporation date of Automobile Club of Western Washington in 1917).

Opened a AAA Cruise & Travel store in downtown Bellevue (combining former Redmond and Bellevue stores).

2018

Opened the Southcenter/Tukwila Cruise & Travel store, (combining Renton and Federal Way stores).

2019

Opened the Mount Vernon Cruise & Travel store in a new location.

2020

AAA School Safety Patrol program turns 100.

2021

Heather Snavely named AAA Washington’s President and CEO, the first woman to lead the organization, upon the retirement of Kirk R. Nelson.

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