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USAA is well-known for providing low-cost auto insurance and good customer service to military members, veterans, and their immediate families. But unfortunately, those are the only people eligible for USAA policies.
Liberty Mutual is one of the largest private passenger auto insurance companies in the U.S. Its coverage is expensive, but we like that it offers policy options you may not find at other companies, such as a Lifetime Repair Guarantee, New Car Replacement, and a Deductible Fund.
When you're comparing Liberty Mutual and USAA, USAA is likely the best option for car insurance, as long as you qualify for their coverage.
While Liberty Mutual could have the specialty policy you need, it is much more expensive than USAA. It also has a high number of customer complaints. However, we still recommend getting a quote from Liberty Mutual since comparing it with other car insurance companies can help you ensure you get the best deal for your specific needs.
How we rate products
FinanceBuzz researches a number of factors in each auto insurance provider to create our reviews. These factors include cost and discounts, complaints and customer satisfaction, coverage, and ease of use. We also gather information from sources such as Insurify, J.D. Power, AM Best, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), and the Better Business Bureau to ensure we provide the most useful information to our readers.
Liberty Mutual pros and cons
- Multiple coverage options, including Accident Forgiveness and New Car Replacement
- Offers usage-based insurance called RightTrack
- Deductible Fund helps you save up to cover your deductible after an accident
- More expensive than many other carriers
- Lower claims satisfaction score than USAA
- Significantly higher customer complaint index score compared to USAA
Learn more in our Liberty Mutual review.
USAA pros and cons
- Military-specific discounts, including garaging your car on base
- Generally offers much cheaper rates than other companies
- Received high claims satisfaction scores
- Only current military personnel, veterans, and their families are eligible for USAA
- Fewer discounts than some other companies
- Fewer policy options compared to Liberty Mutual
Learn more in our USAA review.
Which company is better?
| Liberty Mutual | USAA | |
| AM Best | A (Excellent) | A++ (Superior) |
| J.D. Power claims satisfaction | 717/1,000 | 726/1,000 |
| BBB | A+ | A+ |
| NAIC complaints (private passenger) | 4.21 (Private Passenger) | 0.99 (Private Passenger) |
When you're comparing USAA and Liberty Mutual, USAA beats Liberty Mutual in both financial stability and customer satisfaction scores.
USAA earned an A++ (Superior) from AM Best, which signals financial stability and the strong likelihood that it can pay claims, even after a natural disaster or other large-scale problem. Liberty Mutual earned an A (Excellent), showing it is financially sound, just not as sound as USAA.
In J.D. Power's 2024 Claims Satisfaction Survey, USAA scored higher than Liberty Mutual. However, USAA's score is only an honorable mention and isn't eligible for ranking because it doesn't meet the survey's award criteria, likely because it's not available to the general public.
Both companies earned an A+ rating from the BBB, indicating that they handle customer complaints quickly and fairly. However, Liberty Mutual had an extremely high number of complaints on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaint index, which is worrisome.
The index tracks customer complaints, and scores are expressed as an index of 1.00. For example, if a company earned a score of 2.00, it would have twice the number of expected complaints.
According to the NAIC, Liberty Mutual received more than four times the expected number of complaints, earning a shocking 4.21 on the complaint index. Comparatively, USAA received about the expected number of complaints in 2024, earning a score of 0.99.
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Which company is cheaper?
Comparing USAA and Liberty Mutual on price is no contest. Hands down, USAA is more affordable. The only real drawback with USAA is that most people don't qualify for coverage.
Liberty Mutual, on the other hand, is almost always the more expensive option, even among different carriers, but it's available to the general public.
Clean driving record
If you have a clean driving record, USAA customers pay an average of $105 per month for full coverage compared to $225 per month with Liberty Mutual. Liability-only coverage with USAA costs an average of $56 per month, while Liberty Mutual charges an average of $165 per month.
Average rate:
Speeding ticket on driving record
If you're looking for ways to lower your car insurance, avoiding speeding tickets is a good place to start.
Liberty Mutual charges an average of $291 a month for full coverage after a speeding ticket compared to $137 from USAA. If you only want liability coverage, you can expect to pay an average of $213 a month with Liberty Mutual and $73 a month with USAA.
At-fault accident on driving record
At-fault accidents on your record increase your car insurance premium; the only question is by how much.
USAA's liability-only coverage after an accident averages $74 a month and $139 for full coverage. Comparatively, Liberty Mutual charges $220 a month for liability-only coverage, and full-coverage car insurance costs, on average, $300 monthly.
DUI on driving record
With USAA, a DUI conviction will raise your rates to an average of $155 per month for full coverage and $82 for liability-only. Liberty Mutual is significantly more expensive, charging an average of $333 per month for full coverage and $244 for liability-only with a DUI on your record.
Teen driver
Teen drivers are well-known for being expensive to insure. While USAA charges teen drivers more than adults with a clean record, you'll still pay significantly less than insuring your teen through Liberty Mutual. USAA charges an average of $196 per month for full coverage compared to Liberty Mutual's $386. Liability-only coverage from USAA costs an average of $104 per month, while Liberty Mutual charges an average of $283 per month.
Senior driver
While senior drivers typically pay the least for car insurance, if you use Liberty Mutual, you'll be spending money needlessly. With USAA, people in their 60s may pay as little as $133 a month on average for liability-only coverage and $80 for full coverage. Senior drivers who use Liberty Mutual pay on average $133 for liability-only and $182 for full coverage.
Discounts
Both Liberty Mutual and USAA offer discounts to help customers save money on car insurance.
Many of their discounts are similar, such as discounts for bundling multiple policies or being a safe driver.
As you'd expect, USAA offers military-specific discounts. Liberty Mutual does as well, but it's not specific about how much service members save.
| Discount | Does Liberty Mutual have it? | Does USAA have it? |
| Loyalty | No | Yes |
| Multi-policy/bundling | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple vehicle | Yes | Yes |
| Airbag | No | No |
| Anti-lock brakes | No | No |
| Anti-theft | No | Yes |
| Safe driver | Yes | Yes |
| Good student | Yes | Yes |
| Away-from-home student | Yes | No |
| New car | No | Yes |
| Pay in full | Yes | No |
| Automatic payments | Yes | No |
| GAP insurance | No | No |
| Senior | No | No |
| Military | Yes | Yes |
| Defensive driving course | Yes (select states) | Yes |
USAA SafePilot vs. Liberty Mutual RightTrack
Telematics programs generally offer drivers a discount for allowing the insurance company to monitor their driving habits. To track your information, you typically have to install a plug-in device or run a phone app while driving.
I don't like the idea of someone monitoring my driving habits. However, if you're looking to save as much as possible, using a telematics program (if it's available in your area) and driving safely can be a good way to go.
USAA offers the SafePilot program through a phone app. After you sign up, you'll receive a 10% discount. You can save more by adopting safe driving habits, such as slowing down earlier to reduce harsh braking, limiting how often you touch your phone while driving, and limiting phone calls while the car is in motion. You can also save more by enrolling all eligible drivers on your policy in the program.
Liberty Mutual's RightTrack is also available via a phone app and offers a 10% or 15% discount for signing up, depending on where you live.
You'll drive for a 90-day test period so the app can gather data on your driving. Factors like hard braking, nighttime and rush-hour driving, and how long you spend at lower speeds will affect your premium. It also monitors distracted driving in most states.
At the end of the test period, Liberty Mutual will issue you a driving score and calculate your premium. You could save up to 30%, depending on your specific habits.
Coverage
When it comes to coverage types, both USAA and Liberty Mutual offer multiple options, like liability and comprehensive coverage as well as some specialty policies.
However, specific coverage types are only available in some states, so it's best to request a quote directly from USAA or Liberty Mutual to ensure the coverage you want is available in your area.
| Coverage | Does Liberty Mutual have it? | Does USAA have it? |
| Liability | Yes | Yes |
| Collision | Yes | Yes |
| Comprehensive | Yes | Yes |
| Medical Payments coverage (MedPay) | Yes | Yes |
| Personal Injury Protection (PIP) | Yes | Yes |
| Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage | Yes | Yes |
| Roadside assistance | Yes | In some areas |
| Rental car reimbursement | Yes | In some areas |
| Rideshare insurance | Yes ( through partnerships with Uber or Lyft, not as an add-on to personal policies) | Gap coverage; not available in all states |
| Accident forgiveness | Yes (after 5 years of accident-free driving) | In some areas |
| Loan/Lease payoff | Yes (called GAP coverage) | No |
Liberty Mutual also has a lot of specialty coverages, including:
- New Car Replacement
- Lifetime Repair Guarantee
- Liberty Mutual Deductible Fund
- Original Parts Replacement
- Teacher's Auto Insurance
- Mexico Car Insurance
FAQs
How do I contact Liberty Mutual?
You can contact Liberty Mutual online or by logging in to their customer portal. Customers can call 800-290-8711 or text 501-439-4998 for policy, billing, or service questions. You can also visit the Liberty Mutual Claims Center to file or track a claim.
How do I contact USAA?
USAA's general support number is 210-531-USAA (8722) or 1-800-531-USAA (8722). Current customers can reach a virtual agent by clicking the chat button on the USAA website.
You can also try the shortcut mobile number #USAA (8722), though it may not work with all carriers.
Bottom line
USAA definitely offers the best auto insurance pricing, but it's only available to a relatively small population. It also doesn't provide as many coverage options as some other carriers, which might be a deal breaker for some. Liberty Mutual is much more expensive, but if you need the specialty policies it offers, it could be the right fit for certain people.
As you search for the best car insurance, make sure you're getting multiple quotes from carriers. Compare not only pricing but coverage availability, limits, and customer satisfaction and complaint scores. Double check that whatever company you select is financially stable and easy to work with before starting a policy.
Average rate:
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