USAA Auto & Home Insurance Review
Editor's Rating
USAA's low rates and good customer service make it a top choice for those who are eligible for USAA membership. It consistently offers low rates for both auto and home insurance, despite the limited number of available discounts. Overall, USAA is a great choice for insurance.
USAA insurance: Our thoughts
Auto insurance takeaway: USAA is a great option for auto insurance — especially for young drivers — considering its low prices. USAA is also particularly desirable for drivers who plan to store their cars, as they may be able to qualify for large discounts on their premiums.
Home insurance takeaway: Homeowners who are eligible for USAA home insurance should consider it a strong contender because of its highly competitive rates and special perks that cater to its military-specific clientele.
Along with cheap rates, USAA also provides some of the best customer service in the insurance industry.
It routinely receives high ratings for claims satisfaction and a low rate of complaints for many of its insurance products. USAA provides great perks for active service members — including waived deductibles for uniforms and a discount of up to 60% for stored cars while you're deployed.
One of the drawbacks is that USAA doesn't have many in-person locations, and they're mostly located in or near military bases. Most USAA customers will interact with their insurer exclusively online.
Additionally, USAA has strict eligibility requirements. Only a few groups of people can buy a policy.
Compare USAA to other top auto insurance companies | |
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Can you get USAA insurance?
You must be in one of the following four categories to be eligible for USAA membership.
- Active-duty service members: Includes those in the national guard and reserves.
- Veterans: Requires an honorable discharge or general under honorable conditions discharge.
- Precommissioned officers: Includes contracted cadets and midshipmen, plus warrant officer candidates.
- Family members: Must be a child, a spouse or in some cases a former spouse of a USAA member.
USAA auto insurance review
USAA auto insurance quotes
We compared quotes from multiple auto insurers and concluded that USAA's rates are well below the average for most drivers. For full coverage, USAA's annual premium is 38% cheaper than the average across all insurers, while the company is 42% cheaper for minimum coverage.
Good driver
Driver with accident history
18-year-old
Good driver
Driver with accident history
18-year-old
Find the Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes in Your Area
Average monthly car insurance rates
Minimum coverage
Full coverage
Company | Monthly rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
| USAA | $36 |
| Farm Bureau Insurance | $39 |
|
| State Farm | $45 |
| American Family | $53 |
|
| Geico | $56 |
Minimum coverage
Company | Monthly rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
| USAA | $36 |
|
| Farm Bureau Insurance | $39 |
|
| State Farm | $45 |
|
| American Family | $53 |
|
| Geico | $56 |
Full coverage
Company | Monthly rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
| USAA | $98 |
|
| State Farm | $110 |
|
| Farm Bureau Insurance | $131 |
|
| American Family | $146 |
|
| Geico | $160 |
For drivers who have recent accidents on their records, USAA's rates are 42% below the mean. USAA's prices are especially good for 18-year-olds, at less than half the average among major national insurers.
USAA auto insurance coverages
USAA provides standard coverages, such as liability, comprehensive and collision insurance, that you would expect from an auto insurer or that might be required in your state. In terms of additional coverage options, USAA has a wide variety of insurance offerings but does not offer anything that you wouldn't likely be able to find with a similar national insurer.
Car replacement assistance coverage
This is essentially what other insurers might call "new car replacement coverage." Car replacement assistance (CRA) pays 120% of the actual cash value of your vehicle if it is totaled. This coverage is not available for leased cars, and you'll need both comprehensive and collision coverage. Signing up for CRA could increase your premiums by 9%.
Rental reimbursement
In the event of a covered loss where your vehicle is in need of repair, USAA will pay for a rental vehicle. Unlike other insurers — which let you select a daily limit as well as a limit per claim — USAA lets customers select a type of vehicle: economy, standard, multi-passenger truck or large SUV. The specific coverage limits for rental reimbursement will be spelled out in your insurance policy. According to the quotes we gathered, adding this coverage for an economy rental costs around $53 per year.
Towing and labor
If you are in need of roadside assistance, having this coverage will pay for the costs of towing to the nearest repair shop, gas delivery, a tire change and any labor performed where your car broke down. USAA will specify coverage limits on your individual policy. We found this coverage to cost an additional $18 per year.
Rideshare gap protection
This coverage protects rideshare drivers during times when they may not be covered by their personal auto insurance policy or the coverage provided by their rideshare service — such as Uber or Lyft. Coverage raises rates by around 7%.
Glass coverage
USAA will cover your windshield and waive the deductible if it can be repaired. If it has to be replaced, you will likely have to pay your deductible, though it may be waived in some states.
Gap insurance
Gap insurance is designed for drivers who finance or lease their vehicles, and it covers the difference between what drivers owe and what their cars are worth in the event of a total loss. USAA does not offer gap insurance for leased vehicles, though it does provide similar products for purchased vehicles.
Drivers who get a car loan through USAA have the option to purchase Total Loss Protection, which functions similarly to gap insurance. This will cover the gap between what you owe and your car's actual cash value (ACV).
Highlighted benefit: Accident forgiveness
With accident forgiveness, USAA auto insurance customers will not see their rates go up after one at-fault accident. Similar to accident forgiveness programs offered by other large companies, including Geico, this coverage can either be earned or purchased.
Qualifying drivers who have had no at-fault accidents for five years while being insured with USAA will automatically receive this benefit. Purchasing this coverage could cost drivers an additional $59 per year on their auto insurance premiums, based on quotes we gathered.
USAA auto insurance discounts
In terms of discounts, USAA's offerings are, overall, similar to what might be available to you with other insurers. Discounts that USAA provides include multipolicy discounts, multivehicle discounts, as well as discounts for vehicle equipment — such as anti-theft devices. The discounts available can change based on your driving history and location.
Highlighted discount: Stored vehicle discount
- Value: Up to 60% off your insurance premiums
-
Best for: Members of the military who might be deployed for long periods of time
- Drivers can qualify for this discount only if their vehicles are stored in secure locations and aren’t driven for at least 30 consecutive days.
Essentially, the savings that you get with this discount result from USAA changing or reducing coverages that you won't use when you aren't driving your vehicle, such as collision coverage. Other insurers might sell comprehensive-only insurance policies to protect a stored vehicle, but USAA's stored vehicle discount makes it really easy for drivers to save on insurance if they need to store their cars.
Military installation
If you garage your vehicle on a military base, you can receive a discount on the comprehensive coverage portion of your premium of up to 15%.
Annual mileage
USAA will give you a discounted rate based on the number of miles that you drive in a year.
Safe driver
Having a good driving record for over five years qualifies you for this discount. Additionally, you also qualify for accident forgiveness.
Defensive driving course
Driver training course
Completing a driver's education course — within 3 years of getting your license — can earn drivers a discount on their car insurance.
New vehicle
Insuring a vehicle with USAA that is less than 3 years old qualifies you for a discount on your auto insurance premiums.
Good student
Full-time students who have a GPA of at least 3.0 are eligible to receive a discount. Drivers are also able to qualify if they are in the upper 20% of their class academically or on their school's scholastic achievement list — such as the honor roll or dean's list.
Family discount
Having a family member who is also insured with USAA qualifies you for a discount.
Automatic payments
Scheduling automatic payments can save drivers up to 3% with USAA.
Telematics
USAA homeowners insurance review
USAA's home insurance combines rates that are slightly cheaper than average and top-tier service with mostly typical coverage options. However, there is one exception — its military-specific benefits make its coverage extra-appealing to people on active duty.
USAA rates are 3% less expensive than average — a savings of $52 per year.
USAA's home insurance customer service is some of the best you'll find. It has a complaint index of just 0.38 — that means it receives just 38% as many complaints as a typical company of its size, suggesting homeowners tend to be happy with the service they receive.
It's the top-scoring company on J.D. Power's homeowners insurance satisfaction survey as well. However, USAA's military-only eligibility criteria kept it from receiving J.D. Power's award for "best."
USAA home insurance quotes: How much does it cost?
USAA's price are slightly cheaper than average, providing a rate 3% cheaper than average, compared to other large insurers nationally. With an average rate of $1,518 per year, USAA is cheaper than Farm Bureau, Chubb and Progressive but more expensive than State Farm, Allstate and Nationwide.
Find Cheap Homeowners Insurance Quotes in Your Area
Average annual home insurance rates
Company | Annual rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
| State Farm | $1,363 |
|
| Allstate | $1,369 |
| Nationwide | $1,390 |
| Farmers | $1,475 |
|
| American Family | $1,495 |
|
| USAA | $1,518 |
Homeowner coverage options at USAA
USAA homeowners insurance provides all the coverage types you'd expect from a top national insurer. Beyond those, USAA offers a few special benefits that many insurers don't offer.
Military-specific benefits
USAA provides several benefits and perks in its homeowners insurance policies that specifically cater to active service members and their families. For one, USAA covers your belongings worldwide, even in an active war zone — many insurers don't cover their policyholders' items in war zones. USAA homeowners insurance policies also cover your military uniforms and equipment, and you won't have to pay a deductible if those items are damaged on duty.
Identity theft
All USAA homeowners policies provide up to $5,000 of coverage for losses related to identity theft. USAA also offers identity protection services, and the least-expensive level of ID protection offered is free for USAA customers.
Full replacement cost for home and belongings
USAA homeowners policies always cover the full replacement cost of your home and belongings. For example, if you buy a laptop for $1,000 and it's stolen after you own it for two years, USAA will pay you $1,000 to replace it, even if the laptop is only worth $500 at the time of theft. Some insurers only provide the actual cash value (ACV) or charge extra for replacement cost coverage.
Increased dwelling coverage
USAA offers what it calls Home Protector coverage, which adds 25% extra to your coverage for rebuilding costs, as well as paying for the removal of debris.
USAA also offers customers a contractor network for home repairs. If you use a network contractor, which the company says it vets, the workmanship will come with a five-year warranty.
USAA insurance discounts for homeowners
USAA doesn't offer much in the way of discounts for its homeowners insurance customers. Customers can save 15% on their annual premiums if they have been claim-free for five years on their homeowners or renters insurance policy, and they can save up to 10% for bundling home and auto insurance together.
USAA also provides up to 5% in discounts for equipping your home with certain safety features, such as a centrally monitored home security system or fire alarm, an active sprinkler system and other smart home features.
Add-on coverage from USAA
USAA offers a few other add-on coverages that are purchased separately from your homeowners and auto insurance policies, but they are only available if you're already getting at least one of the two from USAA.
Valuable personal property insurance
Valuable personal property (VPP) insurance protects:
- Art
- Cameras
- Collectible stamps
- Currency
- Guns
- Jewelry
- Musical instruments
- Silverware
As with standard USAA homeowners or renters insurance coverage, items covered by VPP insurance are covered against theft worldwide. However, unlike homeowners insurance coverage, VPP insurance covers items that are lost or broken, and it does not have a deductible.
Umbrella insurance
Umbrella insurance protects you from liability claims and lawsuits that go beyond the limits of your homeowners or auto liability coverages.
Example of umbrella insurance
Suppose you have homeowners liability coverage up to a limit of $100,000. If someone injured themselves on your property and successfully sued you for $200,000, umbrella coverage would cover the remaining $100,000. You might consider umbrella coverage if you have significant at-risk assets or if you regularly participate in high-liability activities.
Flood insurance
Standard home insurance policies from USAA do not cover damage from flooding. The company offers policies through the National Flood Insurance Program. You can get up to $250,000 of coverage to protect the structure of your home and $100,000 of coverage for its contents.
Other USAA services and insurance
USAA offers a range of insurance policies beyond just home and auto coverage. It also offers a large set of noninsurance products to former, current and future members of the military, as well as their families.
- Motorcycle insurance
- ATV insurance
- RV insurance
- Classic car insurance
- Boat insurance
- Renters insurance
- Life insurance
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Medicare plans
- Landlord insurance
- Flood insurance
- Mobile home insurance
- Farm insurance
USAA can offer banking services, as well as a variety of loans and investment services.
- Checking and savings accounts
- Credit cards
- Auto loans
- Mortgages
- Personal loans
- RV/boat/motorcycle loans
- Investment education
USAA insurance reviews and ratings
USAA provides better customer service than many of its competitors. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) reported USAA as having fewer customer complaints — relative to company size — than the industry median for home policies and average numbers for auto policies. Moreover, USAA ranked extremely well for its claims satisfaction, receiving the highest score in the most recent J.D. Power Claims Satisfaction Study.
People with USAA insurance do not need to worry about whether the insurance company will have the funds to pay out for a claim. USAA received top marks for its financial strength from AM Best. A good rating implies that the company will probably have the funds to pay out for the assets it insures.
USAA insurance ratings
Reviewer | Rating |
|---|---|
| NAIC: Auto | 1.02 |
| NAIC: Homeowners | 0.38 |
| AM Best | A++ (Superior) |
| J.D. Power | 1st out of 20 |
Contact USAA
Customers who need to get in contact with USAA representatives have multiple options by phone as well as online. You will need your USAA ID number or will have to explain how you are eligible to get rate information.
- USAA main phone number: 210-531-8722 or 800-531-8722
- Roadside assistance: 800-531-8555
- Claims fax number: 800-531-8669
- Online claims center
Alternatives to USAA
The majority of Americans will not qualify for USAA membership. If that includes you, or if you do qualify but want to compare USAA with other options, a few other national companies may offer attractive policies or rates.
Frequently asked questions
Is USAA a good insurer?
Yes. USAA consistently offers good rates, as well as top-notch customer service. Some of the downsides are its strict eligibility requirements and very few in-person offices.
Who is eligible for USAA insurance?
You can get insurance from USAA if you meet one of these three criteria: if you've ever served in the U.S. military, if you are an officer candidate, contracted cadet or midshipman or if your parent or spouse has had USAA insurance at some point in their life. Otherwise, you won't be able to get coverage.
Is USAA cheap?
Yes, USAA's rates for both home and auto insurance are very competitive, and USAA is often the cheapest option available. But keep in mind that every person will pay a different price for insurance based on where they live, what coverage they need and their claim history.
What is the USAA phone number?
The primary phone numbers for USAA are 210-531-8722 and 800-531-8722. Those numbers can be used for claims, insurance needs or most other services offered by USAA.
Methodology
USAA was rated based on its prices, coverage offerings and customer service compared to other large insurance companies,
We analyzed home and auto insurance quotes from every ZIP code in the United States to find prices for USAA and its top competitors. Auto insurance rates are for a 30-year-old man with a 2015 Honda Civic and average credit. Home rates are for a home with the average value in each state, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Customer service ratings took into account customer complaints compiled by the NAIC as well as the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Home Insurance Study.
ValuePenguin's analysis used insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services. These rates were publicly sourced from insurer filings and should be used for comparative purposes only — your own quotes may be different.