ProtectMyID Review: Is AAA Identity Theft Protection Worth It?

Should You Use AAA Identity Theft Protection? 

With an estimated 5.5 million Americans becoming victims of identity theft and fraud in 2023, identity theft protection has become a critical tool for online safety and peace of mind [*]. 

For AAA members, ProtectMyID is one of the many products available that claims to keep you safe from the risks of identity theft — but is it worth it? 

Owned by Experian (one of the three major credit bureaus), ProtectMyID offers credit and identity monitoring to warn you of potential risks to your identity and credit file. Yet, despite the backing of a major credit bureau, ProtectMyID may not provide the level of security you would expect from an organization tracking the credit of nearly 250 million consumers [*].

In this guide, we'll explore the pros and cons of using ProtectMyID and compare it to some of its contemporaries, including Aura. By the end, you'll know what ProtectMyID offers and if it’s right for you and your family. 

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ProtectMyID Review: Best Features and How Much It Costs

ProtectMyID is a bit of an unusual offering, as it provides many of the same features as other Experian-owned identity theft protection services (IDNotify and IdentityWorks) — including identity and credit monitoring and alerts, along with fraud resolution support — but is only available to participating members of the American Automobile Association (AAA). 

AAA also offers another service called Identity Champion for customers in Alaska, Arizona, Montana, Northern California, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming [*].  

ProtectMyID offers three plans — Essential, Deluxe, and Platinum — with varying levels of support and monitoring, from basic credit monitoring and insurance to more comprehensive identity monitoring, credit alerts, and insurance coverage. 

Here are some of the main features that come with a ProtectMyID subscription:

• Free basic plan. All AAA members can sign up for ProtectMyID’s free Essential plan and receive Experian credit monitoring, fraud resolution support, and up to $10,000 in identity theft insurance (for AAA Premier members only).
• Three-bureau credit monitoring (Deluxe and Platinum plans). While the Essential plan only monitors your credit file with Experian, the top two plans also monitor your TransUnion and Equifax files. 
• Credit updates, reports, and monthly VantageScore updates. The Essential plan gives you a credit report upon enrollment, but Deluxe plans add credit score updates and alerts. Platinum plans also alert you to any credit usage and changes.
• Identity monitoring (Dark Web, SSN, change of address etc.) As a Deluxe or Platinum subscriber, you're notified if your information (or your children's) shows up on the Dark Web or in court records. You'll receive alerts if anyone abuses your personal information, bank accounts, Social Security Number (SSN), or address with the United States Postal Service (USPS). 
• Social Media Monitoring. ProtectMyID alerts you to any privacy or reputational risks on your social media accounts. Deluxe plans monitor your kids' social media accounts for an additional fee, while Platinum plans include this service for the whole family. 
• Dormant credit card monitoring (Platinum plan only). On the Platinum plan, ProtectMyID tracks and alerts you to any activity on your unused credit cards.
• Identity restoration services including lost wallet remediation. If your wallet is lost or stolen, ProtectMyID will help you cancel and reorder your cards. 
• Up to $1 million in identity theft insurance. For Premier AAA members, the Essential plan provides up to $10,000 to cover losses caused by identity theft. Deluxe and Platinum plans include up to $1 million in identity theft insurance. 

While it offers basic credit monitoring and fraud resolution support for free under the basic plan, only ProtectMyID's most expensive Platinum plan offers identity monitoring that can compete with the best identity theft protection services.

Here's a pricing and feature breakdown for Experian's ProtectMyID as of January 2024:

Unfortunately, no ProtectMyID plan features the proactive protections of an all-in-one solution like Aura. This means that ProtectMyID customers get no digital security tools, no phishing or scam protection, and no parental controls. 

Who Can Benefit the Most From ProtectMyID?

Compared to other ID theft protection apps, ProtectMyID lacks the digital security features that help prevent identity theft. Still, this Experian product offers quality support and may serve your credit monitoring needs. 

Here are a few scenarios in which ProtectMyID would be a good fit for you: 

• AAA members who want additional (but basic) identity protection. If you’re already an AAA member, ProtectMyID’s Essential plan offers you basic credit monitoring and fraud support for free. If you’re a AAA Premier customer, you also qualify for a small amount of identity theft insurance coverage. 
• You don’t care about protection against hackers and online scams. Since ProtectMyID has no digital security tools, you get no protection from hackers and phishing attempts. For safety against modern threats, you'll need to invest in third-party antivirus software, a virtual private network (VPN), password manager, scam call protection, and more. 
• You’re willing to pay extra to protect your children. Only the Platinum plan includes child identity monitoring, which covers up to 10 children. Deluxe plan subscribers can access this feature for an additional $3.95/month.

The bottom line: If you’re a current AAA customer, ProtectMyID can give you basic protection against identity theft and fraud. However, it lacks the features and protections of more modern providers. Next, we’ll dig into ProtectMyID’s main features, how they protect you, and where (if at all) they fall short.

ProtectMyID’s Main Features and Pros & Cons

Because of its connection to Experian, ProtectMyID provides a credit monitoring service on par with many of the top names in the industry, including Aura, LifeLock, and IDShield. When it comes to digital security, however, ProtectMyID falls short of its competitors. 

Here’s a breakdown of the main pros and cons of using ProtectMyID:

Now, let’s take a closer look a ProtectMyID’s main selling points:

Credit monitoring with VantageScore updates

As an Experian product, ProtectMyID places considerable emphasis on credit monitoring and protection. Both of the paid plans (Deluxe and Platinum) include three-bureau credit monitoring along with regular credit score updates and alerts that point out suspicious activity in your credit file. 

How ProtectMyID protects your credit and finances:

• Three-bureau credit monitoring and “real-time” alerts. If you’re a paid member, ProtectMyID will monitor your credit file with each of the three major credit bureaus and alert you to unauthorized new credit inquiries, accounts, or attempts to verify your identity. ProtectMyID claims that these alerts happen in “real-time” but doesn’t provide any more details beyond that.
• Experian credit report and lock. On all plans, ProtectMyID sends you an Experian credit report when you enroll. Paid members also receive notifications of any significant changes to their credit limits or usage in their Experian credit files. Platinum members can even lock their Experian credit files instantly. 
• VantageScore updates. Paid ProtectMyID members receive monthly VantageScore updates, which some lenders use to determine the credit worthiness of borrowers. Paid members also get notified of any score fluctuations. 
• Dormant credit card monitoring. ProtectMyID alerts you if any transactions appear on your dormant credit cards (unused for six or more months), which could indicate identity theft. 
• Alternative loan monitoring. ProtectMyID watches for alternative loans in your name, such as auto loans, lines of credit, and credit cards — sending you a notification if something pops up. 

Is ProtectMyID’s credit protection worth it? ProtectMyID offers a strong credit monitoring package, but the best features are only available to paid members. If you only want credit monitoring, this product may be worthwhile. 

Identity monitoring and protection

For paying members, ProtectMyID scans the internet looking for misuse of your personal information. If hackers try to use your information without your authorization, you'll receive a "real-time" alert that could allow you to shut down the scam before it takes off. 

How ProtectMyID protects and monitors your identity:

• Dark Web surveillance. ProtectMyID alerts paying members if their information shows up on Dark Web sites known for trafficking stolen information.
• SSN monitoring. The paid versions of ProtectMyID inform you if someone tries to use your SSN or make changes to the information on file. 
• Court records and sex offender monitoring. Paid members receive alerts if anyone commits a crime in their name. They also get notified if sex offenders try to use their personal information.  
• Social media monitoring. Under the Platinum package, ProtectMyID reviews your social media accounts and informs you of any reputational or privacy risks. 

Is ProtectMyID’s identity monitoring and protection worth it? While ProtectMyID offers adequate identity monitoring, only paying members are protected. The service also lacks data breach warnings that could safeguard your accounts against takeovers. 

Identity theft insurance and restoration services

If something does happen to your information or identity, many identity theft protection services walk you through the recovery process. ProtectMyID is no different, offering varying levels of identity theft insurance and restoration support to its members. 

How ProtectMyID insures and restores your identity:

• $1 million in identity theft insurance. ProtectMyID offers its paying members up to $1 million to cover losses and expenses from identity theft, including lost wages and legal fees. 
• Fraud resolution support. ProtectMyID advertises support lines that stay open day and night to investigate member issues and restore stolen identities. 
• Lost wallet protection. If your wallet goes missing, you can contact ProtectMyID and have them cancel and reorder your missing bank, credit, and medical cards. 

Are ProtectMyID’s theft insurance and restoration services worth it? ProtectMyID offers quality insurance and support, but it only covers members on its premium plans. While the fraud resolution support may be acceptable for members on the free plan, those paying high prices may not appreciate customer claims of lackluster service [*].

Child identity theft protection

Many identity theft protection services extend their program benefits to family members. On the Platinum plan, ProtectMyID includes coverage and features for children. Members can also pay extra on the Deluxe plan to include their children. 

How ProtectMyID protects your children's identities:

• Child identity monitoring. ProtectMyID's Premium plan includes identity monitoring for up to 10 children under the age of 18. This only includes SSN and Dark Web monitoring, as well as social media privacy and reputational alerts. 

Is ProtectMyID’s child identity theft worth it? While ProtectMyID offers impressive identity monitoring coverage for children, it falls short in other areas for families. For example, the service doesn't include children in credit monitoring, offers no parental controls, and provides no Safe Browsing or Gaming tools. 

What Are the Downsides of Using ProtectMyID?

Despite the advantages of getting credit monitoring directly from Experian, ProtectMyID has some shortcomings that you should be aware of:

• No digital security tools to protect against hacking or data loss. ProtectMyID offers no proactive protection against identity theft, fraud, or hacking. Instead, you’ll only be alerted after scammers have already used your information. Most modern identity theft protection options now include tools to secure your identity and data before it can be stolen and used. 
• Only available to AAA members. ProtectMyID cannot be used unless you have an AAA membership. Those without an AAA membership can access similar Experian products, such as IdentityWorks or IDNotify. 
• Limited identity theft insurance coverage. Members of the Essential plan only receive up to $10,000 to cover identity theft losses. Even the $1 million coverage included on paid plans is lower than many of ProtectMyID's competitors. 
• Customers complain about poor support. While ProtectMyID boasts "day or night" customer assistance availability, customers complain of long wait times, rerouted calls, and ineffective customer support [*].
• Free plan offers little protection. Under the Essential plan, members receive no identity or SSN monitoring or Dark Web surveillance. Non-paying members only receive credit monitoring from Experian with no real-time alerts.
• Expensive and limited child protection. Under the most expensive Platinum plan, ProtectMyID monitors your children's names and SSNs on the Dark Web. The service also monitors their social media accounts for any visible risks. 
• CreditLock costs extra. The Experian CreditLock is a nice feature that allows you to shut down your Experian credit file with the click of a button. However, only the Platinum plan comes with this feature. 

Why You Should Consider Aura as a ProtectMyID Alternative

Few companies can match the brand recognition Experian has in the credit world, but how does ProtectMyID stack up against the competition? 

At a time when industry leaders are moving toward all-in-one protection platforms, ProtectMyID stands out for its lack of digital security. For example, Aura — with its relatively new comprehensive identity protection package — has already been hailed by Money.com, TechRadar, USNews.com as the #1 solution available.

Here's a brief comparison between ProtectMyID and Aura's identity theft protection.

By choosing Aura over ProtectMyID, you'll receive the following benefits: 

• Faster fraud alerts. Aura not only monitors your credit and financial accounts — it also alerts you to credit and identity fraud or suspicious activity faster than any other service. According to a 2022 mystery shopper survey, Aura’s credit fraud alerts were up to 250x faster than competitors³.
• AI-powered digital security. Aura uses artificial intelligence tools to filter and block spam calls, suspicious text messages, and risky websites to ensure that you and your family don't accidentally stumble into a scam.  
• Better support that’s readily available. If you suffer an identity theft attack, you can reach Aura's team of U.S.-based White Glove Fraud Resolution Specialists 24/7/365. 
• More comprehensive family protection with more insurance coverage. Every adult on an Aura plan receives up to $1 million in insurance coverage for identity theft losses. In total, a five-adult family is covered for up to $5 million.
• Better value for more features. Despite the amount of features included, Aura's service plans still cost less than the top ProtectMyID packages.

How to cancel ProtectMyID

If you're already signed up for ProtectMyID and want to cancel your subscription, you need to contact the customer care team. Since you're billed monthly, you won't be charged for future months once you cancel. 

Call customer support at 1-877-440-6943 and ask to cancel your services.

Provide your name, email, and the customer number associated with the account. You can find this information at protectmyid.com.

The Bottom Line: ProtectMyID Can Leave You Vulnerable Online

ProtectMyID offers an affordable entry-level credit monitoring service for AAA members, but it won't help you prevent or defend against identity theft and other attacks. Without the digital security features of modern all-in-one providers like Aura, ProtectMyID may leave you exposed to hackers and scammers. 

For better protection, consider Aura's identity theft protection solution — with round-the-clock Dark Web monitoring, three-bureau credit monitoring, Safe Browsing Tools, near real-time alerts, up to $5 million in insurance coverage, and 24/7 support that you can count on. 

Get award-winning protection against fraud. Try Aura free for 14 days.