Designed for military members and their families, USAA stands out for its low rates, opportunities for discounts, and exceptional customer service. USAA insurance reviews are overwhelmingly positive, and in our research into the best car insurance on the market, USAA was the only insurance company that we rated 5.0 out of 5.0 stars.
If you qualify for USAA insurance, a closer look at the provider’s coverage options, cost, and reviews will help you determine whether an auto policy with USAA is right for you.
Whenever you shop for car insurance, we recommend getting free quotes from multiple providers so you can compare coverage and rates.
In this article:
- Our Take On USAA Auto Insurance: 5.0 Stars
- How Much Does USAA Cost?
- USAA Insurance Coverage
- USAA Insurance Reviews And Ratings
- USAA Mobile Apps
- Other Top Car Insurance Providers
- FAQ: USAA Insurance Reviews
- Methodology
Our Take On USAA Auto Insurance: 5.0 Stars
We rated USAA 5.0 out of 5.0 stars and named it the Best for Military in 2021. Its comprehensive car insurance coverage, nationwide availability, positive USAA insurance reviews, and high satisfaction ratings from J.D. Power make it a smart choice for United States military families.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Affordable rates and numerous discounts | Only available to the military and their families |
| Good choice for military service members | |
| Superior AM Best financial strength rating and A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) | |
| Nationwide availability |
USAA Highlights
Company name: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
Headquarters: San Antonio
Founded: 1922
Availability: 50 states
Members served: Over 12.8 million
Market share: 6.32 percent in 2020 according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)
AM Best financial strength rating: A++ (Superior)
BBB rating: A+
Eligibility: Only available to U.S. military members, veterans, and their families
How Much Does USAA Cost?
We called USAA to get a sample quote for a single, 25-year-old female driver who had a 2016 Honda Fit with 50,000 miles. Our driver had no accidents or tickets and lived in Raleigh, N.C. A USAA representative quoted us $424.70 for a six-month policy or $70.78 per month.
We also compared rate estimates for full-coverage insurance across companies and states. According to our research, USAA costs about $1,013 per year on average. Compared to the national average of $1,732 per year, USAA's average rates are cheap.
What Affects The Cost Of USAA Car Insurance
But the price of insurance varies from individual to individual. USAA uses the following information to determine your insurance premium:
- Driver age: Drivers under the age of 25 will pay more for insurance policies.
- Driving history: Safe drivers with no accidents and no tickets receive lower premiums.
- Vehicle make and model: As with many car insurance companies, USAA factors in the cost to repair and replace your vehicle when determining your premium. Some vehicles are naturally more expensive to insure.
- Vehicle location: Car insurance rates are higher for urban areas.
- Vehicle usage: The more the vehicle is used, the higher the rates will be.
Things like vehicle color, where you park at night, and having a loan will not affect premiums. The USAA insurance score is calculated from your credit report but doesn’t have any effect on credit scores.
USAA Car Insurance Cost By State
We've compared car insurance estimates for USAA based on a 35-year-old driver with a good driving record and good credit. Below, you can see how USAA compares to the average cost in each state. Overall, USAA is cheaper than average in most states.
| State | USAA Annual Cost Estimate | State Average Cost Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| $770 | $1,448 | |
| $856 | $1,287 | |
| $1,202 | $1,625 | |
| $838 | $1,449 | |
| $1,323 | $2,339 | |
| $1,031 | $1,672 | |
| $1,152 | $1,885 | |
| $1,073 | $1,921 | |
| $768 | $1,787 | |
| Data not available | $2,894 | |
| $1,054 | $1,548 | |
| $1,017 | $1,238 | |
| $634 | $1,089 | |
| $1,192 | $1,474 | |
| $668 | $1,087 | |
| Data not available | $1,095 | |
| $745 | $1,364 | |
| $1,089 | $1,817 | |
| $1,659 | $3,828 | |
| $638 | $995 | |
| $813 | $1,941 | |
| $1,650 | $2,568 | |
| $1,737 | $4,390 | |
| $905 | $1,487 | |
| $791 | $1,357 | |
| $691 | $1,741 | |
| Montana | $788 | $2,214 |
| $962 | $1,372 | |
| $1,303 | $2,332 | |
| $628 | $1,181 | |
| Data not available | $2,108 | |
| $835 | $1,356 | |
| $2,146 | $3,964 | |
| Data not available | $1,277 | |
| $651 | $1,310 | |
| $635 | $923 | |
| $857 | $1,630 | |
| $954 | $1,284 | |
| $1,430 | $1,405 | |
| $1,016 | $1,923 | |
| $980 | $1,592 | |
| $1,049 | $1,331 | |
| $725 | $1,217 | |
| $1,370 | $2,067 | |
| $841 | $1,446 | |
| $651 | $1,013 | |
| $751 | $1,079 | |
| $736 | $1,271 | |
| $875 | $1,390 | |
| $584 | $946 | |
| $810 | $1,499 |
USAA Insurance Discounts
One way policyholders can save on USAA car insurance is by qualifying for discounts. USAA offers many, which are detailed in the table below. Notable discounts include a 60 percent discount for storing an insured car (during deployment, for example), and a 15 percent discount for garaging a vehicle on a military base.
| USAA Insurance Discount | Discount Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Safe Driver Discount | Save money by having a good driving record for more than five years. |
| SafePilotTM | Earn a discount by using the SafePilot app to track your driving habits. |
| Defensive Driving | Get a lower premium by taking an approved defensive driving course. |
| Driver Training Course | Save money by taking a driver training course (only available for drivers under the age of 21). |
| Good Student | Save by maintaining a GPA of at least 3.0 (only available to students). |
| New Vehicle | Get lower rates when your vehicle is less than three years old. |
| Multi-Vehicle | Earn a discount when you own two or more vehicles. |
| Annual Mileage | Save money based on the number of miles driven each year (only available for drivers over the age of 19). |
| Vehicle Storage | Save up to 60% by storing an insured car. |
| Family Discount | Earn a discount when you have other family members insured with USAA. |
| Length of Membership | Save by remaining a USAA member for several years. |
| Military Installation | Save up to 15% by storing your vehicle in a garage on a military base. |
| Multi-Policy | Save up to 10% by bundling auto insurance with home or renters insurance. |
USAA Auto Insurance Payment Options
You can pay for your USAA insurance policy using a checking account, a savings account, or a credit card. You can even link your bank account to your policy for automatic payments, for which you'll get a discount.
Payments can be made by calling 1-855-430-8489, through the USAA website, through the USAA mobile app, or by mailing a check or money order to the following address:
USAA - Payment Processing
P.O. Box 650660
Dallas, TX 75265-0660
USAA Insurance Coverage
USAA offers all standard types of car insurance, which means you can get anything from your state's minimum to full coverage with high limits. Here are the main types of car insurance:
- Bodily injury and property damage liability
- Collision coverage
- Comprehensive coverage
- Medical payments
- Personal injury protection
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
Additional Coverage With USAA
USAA members can also get a variety of add-on products and services, from roadside assistance to glass coverage. Here’s a closer look:
| USAA Insurance Coverage | Details |
|---|---|
| Roadside assistance | This optional coverage gives you peace of mind if something should malfunction while you are driving. Services include towing, lockout services, jump-starts, flat tire changes, and gas delivery. |
| Rental reimbursement | While your vehicle is in the shop for repairs after an accident, you can receive rental car coverage through USAA. |
| Accident forgiveness | Though accident forgiveness insurance requires an additional charge, you receive no increase in premiums after an at-fault accident. If you remain accident-free for five years, this plan is available at no cost. |
| Glass coverage | You don’t have to pay out of pocket for windshield or window repairs. This plan is included with comprehensive plans in South Carolina, Kentucky, Florida, and Massachusetts. It is also available for an additional fee in New York, Minnesota, Connecticut, and Arizona. |
| Guaranteed asset protection (GAP) | If you finance a vehicle, this protection covers the difference between what the car is worth versus what is owed during a total loss. You pay only a deductible. |
| Car replacement assistance (CRA) | The biggest difference between this plan and GAP insurance is that CRA pays 20% more than the estimated cash value of your vehicle. |
| Rideshare insurance | If you drive for Uber or Lyft, you're covered when you're waiting to pick up or drop off a passenger. |
USAA Home Insurance
A USAA home insurance policy can cover fire, theft, vandalism, liability, most weather-related events, identity theft, and more. With the loss of use protection, USAA can cover an increase in living expenses if you need to find another place to live. Other homeowners insurance options include earthquake coverage and home-sharing coverage.
USAA Life Insurance
Like most national insurers, USAA offers a variety of life insurance options. You can get term coverage, which expires after a fixed period of time, or permanent coverage, which lasts indefinitely. USAA offers life insurance to anyone (you don't have to be a member of the military). Most plans will require a medical exam and questionnaire.
USAA Insurance Reviews And Ratings
USAA has top marks for customer satisfaction, which is one reason it's the best car insurance for veterans, active military, and their families. The J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Auto Insurance Study℠ lists USAA insurance as the highest-rated choice in every region of the U.S. – beating competitors like State Farm, Geico, Progressive, and Allstate.
USAA also scored 909 out of 1,000 on the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction StudySM, which shows most customers have a positive experience when filing a claim. Compared to other providers, USAA ranked first place.
Positive USAA Insurance Reviews
USAA auto insurance reviews typically mention expedient claims service and reliable agents. The majority of USAA insurance reviews indicate high customer satisfaction.
“I've had USAA insurance, home and auto, for over 20 years [with] no problems. Last accident [I received] forgiveness. They were very courteous and no problems at all.”
– D. Thomas via BBB
“I’ve been a USAA customer since 1980. My premiums appear to be less than most other companies (even though I carry a great deal of liability coverage) and, what’s more important, I’ve had several claims. USAA’s claims department is without peer in the industry. They are, without question, exceptional.”
– Jim T. via Quora
Negative USAA Insurance Reviews
As with any insurance company, there are some complaints about USAA. A few customers felt that their premiums were especially high. It may be the case that some see higher rates with USAA, though our cost data indicates this is not the case for most drivers.
"My service keeps getting worse and my bill keeps going up … Currently, my yearly insurance is more than my car's total worth."
– Ryan A. via BBB
"Overpriced insurance with manipulative advertising. Find better elsewhere."
– Ian via Trustpilot
USAA Complaints
USAA has a complaint index of 0.98, according to the NAIC. This means USAA's complaint rate is slightly lower than average for its size. On the BBB website, USAA customer service agents respond to complaints and resolve them in a timely manner.
How To Cancel USAA Auto Insurance
To cancel an auto insurance policy with USAA, you can call an agent at 800-531-8722. You can also request a cancellation electronically by signing into your USAA account online. Lastly, you can cancel your account by mailing a cancellation request to USAA headquarters. If you still own a car, be sure to have another insurance policy in place to avoid a lapse in coverage.
USAA Mobile Apps
The USAA mobile app has a 4.5-star rating out of 5.0 in the Google Play Store. This app can be used to manage your insurance policies, banking needs, and other USAA services. It's easy to view your car insurance ID card, file insurance claims, and request roadside assistance. You can also view an accident checklist so you know what to do after experiencing an automobile accident.
SafePilot Program
Drivers interested in usage-based car insurance savings should download SafePilot. There's a discount of up to five percent just for downloading the app and enrolling in the safe driving program. Your trips will be automatically logged and scored, so you don't need to open the app every time you drive.
Practices like giving yourself enough time to brake when stopping help your score, while accelerating too quickly or driving late at night can decrease the score. When it's time for your USAA auto insurance policy to renew, you'll earn up to 20 percent off.
The SafePilot app has a 4.2-star rating out of 5.0 in the App Store. In the past, some customers left reviews saying the app gave them lower scores for behaviors they did not consider to be unsafe. USAA has since addressed some of these bugs.
Be aware that the SafePilot program is not available in the following states:
- California
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Vermont
- Wisconsin
Other Top Car Insurance Providers
Of course, not everyone will qualify for USAA auto insurance – and even if you do qualify, we still recommend getting multiple insurance quotes to ensure you end up with the coverage that’s right for you.
USAA insurance reviews are strong, and so are ratings for three more of the nation's top insurance companies. We scored each of these providers at 4.5 stars out of 5.0:
- Geico maintains an A+ rating with the BBB and has an A++ rating in financial strength from AM Best. The insurer has exceptional coverage for military members, as well as students, and it's the second-largest auto insurance company in the U.S. Learn more in our complete Geico auto insurance review.
- Progressive stands out for its accident forgiveness and low rates for high-risk drivers. Young drivers and those with a DUI on record may find the best coverage with the provider. Learn more about how Progressive compares in our Progressive auto insurance review.
- State Farm earned high rankings in J.D. Power insurance studies and has over 83 million policies and accounts. We found State Farm auto insurance to be one of the best choices for students and teenagers. Learn more in our full State Farm auto insurance review.
Methodology
In an effort to provide accurate and unbiased information to consumers, our expert review team collects data from dozens of auto insurance providers to formulate rankings of the best insurers. Companies receive a score in each of the following categories, as well as an overall weighted score out of 5.0 stars.
- Industry Standing: Insurers with strong financial ratings and customer-first business practices receive the highest scores in this category.
- Availability: We consider availability by state as well as exclusions for specific groups of drivers.
- Coverage: This rating is based on types of insurance available, maximum coverage limits, and add-on policies.
- Cost and Discounts: Our research team reviews sample quotes for a variety of drivers in every state. Companies with lower prices and many car insurance discount opportunities receive the best scores.
- Customer Service: We comb through customer reviews and consumer feedback studies from experts like J.D. Power.
- Technology: Auto insurers with mobile apps, advanced online services and telematics are more likely to meet consumer needs.
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