Does AAA do passport photos, and how much?
Many AAA branch offices take passport photos, usually without an appointment. Each regional club sets its own prices: members often get photos free or for about $8 to $14, and non-members pay about $15 to $20 for a set of two. Check your club’s page or call the branch before you go.
- $11.99 with the digital file and no trip, or about $15 to $20 at AAA if you aren’t a member
- Every official rule checked before you pay
| Members | Free to about $14, by club and level |
|---|---|
| Non-members | About $15 to $20 |
| Appointment | Usually not needed |
| You get | Two photos (one set) |
AAA clubs describe the service as passport photos for members and non-members. The club pages we read do not describe an acceptance guarantee.
Source: AAA Central Penn: passport services , AAA Minneapolis: passport photos , AAA Western and Central New York: passport photos , AAA Mountain West: frequently asked questions . Prices can vary by store. PassportOwl is not affiliated with AAA.
Prices at some AAA clubs
AAA is a federation of regional clubs, and each one sets its own prices. These are the prices on the clubs’ own pages, checked in October 2026:
AAA Central Penn
Classic members $8.45 a set; Plus members get one free set a year; Premier members are always free. Non-members pay $15 for one set (2 photos) or $17 for two sets. A digital copy is $5 for Classic and $2 for Plus members.
AAA Minneapolis
Basic members $14.08 with tax; Plus and Premier members get one free set a year. Non-members pay $17.10 with tax. No appointment is necessary. Emailed copies are offered only at the St. Louis Park office.
AAA Western and Central New York, and AAA Mountain West
Western and Central New York: members $10.95, non-members $14.95, plus tax; two photos are taken. Mountain West: free for members, $20 for non-members, no appointment necessary.
Is AAA cheaper than taking it at home?
If your membership includes free photos, AAA is hard to beat. For non-members, the price is close to a pharmacy. At home, our checked digital photo includes a 4×6 print sheet that you can print at a store for under $1, and you see the result before you pay. See passport photo prices.
Compared with other stores
| Where | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PassportOwl (at home) | $11.99 + under $1 to print | Digital file + 4×6 sheet, free retakes, guaranteed |
| Walgreens | $16.99 | 2 prints, digital copy by email included |
| CVS | $17.99 | 2 prints; digital copy $3.99 extra at select stores |
| USPS | $15.00 | At some post offices, appointment needed |
| Walmart | $7.64 | Photo Center stores only |
| Staples | $19.99 | 2 prints at most stores; digital copy on USB $21.99 |
| FedEx Office | $15.95 | 2 prints or a digital copy on USB |
Full comparison: how much a passport photo costs at each store
The rules a store photo must meet
The State Department checks these rules on every photo, including photos taken at a store.
| Photo size | 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm), printed |
|---|---|
| Head size | 1 to 1 3/8 in (25–35 mm), chin to top of head |
| Background | Plain white or off-white, no shadows, texture or objects |
| Colour, on matte or glossy photo paper | |
| Glasses | Not allowed, unless medically needed (signed statement) |
| Expression | Neutral or a natural closed-mouth smile, both eyes open |
| Head covering | Religious or medical only, with a signed statement; one colour, full face visible |
| Taken | In the last 6 months |
Tips for your photo at AAA
- Wear everyday clothes. Uniforms, camouflage and headphones are not allowed.
- Take off your glasses, unless you need them for a medical reason (with a signed statement).
- No hat or head covering, unless it is for religious or medical reasons, with a signed statement and your full face visible.
- Look straight at the camera with both eyes open: a neutral face or a natural closed-mouth smile.
- Before you leave, check the photo against the table above: head size, a white background with no shadows, sharp and not retouched.
- Ask for no retouching: the photo must have no filters, retouching or AI edits.
Good and bad photo examples
20 common reasons a US passport photo gets rejected. Tap any example to see why.
A good photo
Sharp and in color, with even light and no shadows. The head is straight, facing the camera and the right size, on a plain white or off-white background.
How to fix:
We check this on your photo:
Example photos, generated; not real people.
If your photo is rejected
If the photo does not meet the rules, the State Department asks you for a new photo, and your application can be delayed until you send one. A store photographer may not check every rule, so check the photo before you leave.
A photo you take at home with PassportOwl is checked against each rule before you pay. If it is rejected for a photo reason, we refund you in full and make you a new photo, free.
Questions
Are AAA passport photos free?
For some members. At many clubs, Premier members get them free and Plus members get one free set a year. Other members pay a discounted price.
Can non-members get passport photos at AAA?
Yes, at the clubs we checked, usually for about $15 to $20 for a set of two.
Do I need an appointment for AAA passport photos?
Usually not. Several clubs say you can walk in. Call your branch to check its hours.
Can I apply for a passport at AAA?
The club pages we read cover photos, not passport applications. Apply at an acceptance facility such as a post office, or renew by mail or online.
Can I wear glasses in a AAA passport photo?
No. Since 2016, US passport photos cannot show glasses unless you have a medical reason and a signed statement. Take them off before the photo.
How long is a AAA passport photo good for?
The State Department needs a photo taken in the last 6 months that looks like you do now. If yours is older, take a new one.
Other places for passport photos
Skip the trip to the store
See the result for free. Pay only when it passes.
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