USAA Auto Insurance Review [2024]: It’s Not Just for Military Members

If you or a family member is a military-member, I suggest getting a quote from USAA to see how much you might save on your auto insurance. However, I encourage you to read reviews from customers in your state to see how the ratings stack up. Because they are available in all 50 states, the satisfaction ratings vary. I think their lower premiums make them worth a shot, but I’d compare it to other companies in your area too, determining which offers the best combination of affordability and great customer service. USAA can be hit or miss, depending on where you live, so I suggest looking at all options.

How we evaluate products

FinanceBuzz researches a number of factors in each auto insurance provider to create our reviews. These factors include

• Cost and discounts: We look for companies that offer discounts and lower than the national average premiums, or the opportunity to lower your premiums through various methods.
• Complaints and customer satisfaction: You must be able to trust your auto insurance company, so we thoroughly research a company’s reputation and how customers feel about the service. We use sources, such as J.D. Power, the Better Business Bureau, AM Best, and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
• Coverage: We only include insurance companies that offer the option for full coverage, unless we find value in the policies a company offers.
• Ease of use: We look for companies that offer many ways to access your account, make a claim, and get payouts including phone, online, and mobile app support.

USAA pros and cons

What is USAA?

USAA (United Services Automobile Association) has been providing active and retired military members with products and services to help them achieve financial security, including auto insurance since 1922.

Unlike other auto insurance companies, you must be a member of USAA to purchase auto insurance. However, the requirements to belong extend beyond just active and retired military members; you can also be a spouse, parent, or grandparent of a military member, which many people don’t realize.

Today, the association continues to have its headquarters in San Antonio, Texas, while serving more than 13.5 million U.S. military members and their families across the U.S. USAA employs more than 37,000 workers and has a net value of more than $29.1 billion as of May 2024.

Types of coverage	Varies by location but typically offers: Liability protection Comprehensive coverage Collision insurance Uninsured and underinsured coverage Roadside assistance Rental reimbursement
Where you can use it	USAA mobile app on Android and iOS USAA website
Customer support	Call 800-531-USAA (8722) Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET Closed Sunday

What insurance does USAA offer?

USAA offers several auto insurance coverages that vary based on where you insure your vehicle. While each state has different minimum insurance requirements, USAA offers insurance in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and even a number of overseas locations. Their website is extremely user-friendly and lets you search insurance requirements by state, provides suggestions for adequate coverage, and offers opportunities for optional coverage.

If you are a current, past, or relative of a military member, USAA offers four main types of auto coverage, including:

• Liability protection: Liability coverage helps pay for injuries of others or property damage you cause if you’re found to be responsible for an accident. Liability insurance is often required at the state level.
• Comprehensive coverage: This type of coverage helps pay for repairs to your vehicle if you hit an animal or face natural disasters such as flooding, fire, or hail. Comprehensive insurance may also cover glass damage and theft losses.
• Collision insurance: This insurance helps to repair or replace your car if you’re in an accident with a stationary object or another vehicle while driving. Comprehensive and collision insurance, sometimes referred to as full coverage, might be required if your car is financed or leased.
• Uninsured and underinsured motorist: This coverage assists with the costs of injuries to yourself and others in your car if you’re in an accident caused by another driver without insurance or their insurance is inadequate. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage may also help with repairs needed for your car.

USAA may also provide additional coverage options in specific areas, including:

• Roadside assistance: This may come in handy if your car breaks down as it helps with towing costs. It also helps with other problems on the road such as replacing a flat tire or filling up an empty gas tank.
• Rental reimbursement: This reimbursement helps pay for a rental car when your car is damaged in a covered claim and needs to be repaired.
• Accident forgiveness: USAA offers this additional feature for free once you complete five years of continuous coverage without having an at-fault accident.

USAA offers vehicle insurance for more than your car. You could also insure your motorcycle, ATV, recreational vehicle, classic car, boat, watercraft, and even aircraft.

Buying multiple policies with USAA, also known as bundling, might save you money. USAA offers several medical and property insurance products you could get along with vehicle insurance, including:

• Renters insurance
• Homeowners insurance
• Condo insurance
• Valuable personal property coverage
• Flood coverage
• Mobile home insurance
• Life insurance
• Health, dental, and vision coverage

How does USAA’s customer service stack up?

USAA has a long-standing history of high scores from J.D. Power, but I wanted to mention that within the last six months, there have been numerous one-star ratings from current customers on Trustpilot stating that customer service is less than satisfactory and many people have problems, especially when trying to cancel the insurance.

USAA auto insurance: how cheap is it?

Although there are several factors that affect car insurance rates, the average USAA auto insurance costs $164 a month, according to their site. The amount you pay may be higher or lower based on where you live, your driving habits, and any discounts you qualify for.

USAA discounts

While USAA has some of the lowest insurance rates compared to other companies, they also offer many opportunities for discounts, including:

• Clean driving record discount: This discount varies by state but generally gives a discount to policyholders with no incidents on their record within a five year period.
• Defensive driving course discount: Completing an approved defensive driving course or safe driver training may qualify you for a discount on your insurance premium.
• USAA SafePilot program discount: SafePilot is an app-based program that monitors driving habits and adjusts your auto insurance rates according to your risk level. The app shows you how well you drive and gives tips to improve your driving skills. It tracks and scores your trips whenever you drive and offers up to a 30% discount when you renew your policy based on your score.

You may also qualify for discounts if you use a safe vehicle or secure your car, such as:

• New vehicle discount: New cars may have better safety features. Policyholders with a car less than three years old may qualify for this discount.
• Anti-theft device discount: Having a vehicle that comes with an anti-theft device or installing one may provide you with a discount.
• Vehicle storage discount: You may be able to get a discount of up to 60% if your car is stored in a secure location without being driven. You could also get a smaller discount if you drive your car but have low annual mileage.
• Discount for garaging your car on a military installation: You may get a discount of up to 15% on your comprehensive insurance premium if you live in a qualifying area and park your car within a military base.

Additional discount options that USAA offers include:

• Good student discount: This form of family discount allows your student who has good grades to potentially qualify for lower insurance premiums. However, this discount isn’t available in North Carolina and Hawaii.
• Bundling discounts: You could receive a discount by having two or more vehicles on an insurance policy. You could also get a discount by bundling two or more policies, such as homeowners insurance with auto insurance.
• Loyalty discount: This discount is available to long-term USAA members and their family members. It takes off a portion of your premium after staying with USAA for a number of years.

FAQs

Bottom line

If you’re a military family or served in the military yourself, it’s worth comparing the auto insurance rates from USAA. You may save money on car insurance by switching to USAA, or perhaps you'd like to simply inquire about the discounts you may be eligible for. It takes less than 30 minutes to get a quote and there’s no obligation so you have nothing to lose.