Become an American Automobile Association member and save on shopping, dining and travel and get other valuable benefits, too.

Besides counting on roadside assistance, Auto Club South members (Florida, Georgia and west and middle Tennessee) who shop online through AAA.com can earn virtual dollars toward free memberships in the auto club. Just a few participating merchants: Walmart, Best Buy, Macy's, iTunes, Starbucks, Staples, Office Depot, Petco. As we head into the holiday shopping season, now's your chance to rack 'em up.

Here's how the program works: Visit the AAA Dollars page at AAA.com/Discounts and register your card. Select a store and make your purchase. A percentage of your total purchase (from 1 percent to 7 percent) will be applied to your next renewal bill. Annual AAA club dues range from $17 to $80 per year.

Members also can flash their cards and get instant discounts at 160,000 stores, restaurants, theaters, pharmacies, entertainment venues, shops and hotels. Save 10 percent to 15 percent at Target, McDonald's, Payless, Dairy Queen, Denny's, Hard Rock Cafe and Miami Subs as well as Florida Panthers Hockey, Galaxy Skateways, Disney, Universal Orlando, Central Florida Zoo and SeaWorld. Try it! (We recently used our card to get free Bloomin' Onions at Outback Steakhouses until the chain recently discontinued the deal.)

The not-for-profit club has 51 million members and 1,100 locations in the U.S. and Canada.

We've been members for more than 20 years. Besides the obvious benefits of assistance for distressed motorists, AAA pays for itself with travel discounts, maps and savings on tickets to Disney World and other Florida attractions when you visit their offices.

In this case, membership truly does have its privileges.

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