USAA Car Insurance Review [Rates, Coverage, & More]
USAA offers some of the cheapest car insurance rates for members of the U.S. military. Read our USAA car insurance review if you qualify for coverage. We break down USAA car insurance rates by age, vehicle type, and more and explain how to file a USAA car insurance claim to give drivers a full overview of the company.
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Chris Harrigan
Former Auto Insurance Claims Manager
Chris Harrigan has an economic degree from Limestone College and an MBA from Clemson University. He previously managed auto insurance claims for Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Currently, he is using his business and insurance expertise to provide insurance data analysis and visualizations to enhance the user experience.
Former Auto Insurance Claims Manager
UPDATED: Apr 7, 2023
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UPDATED: Apr 7, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right car insurance coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our car insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different car insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
USAA Overview | Details |
---|---|
Year Founded | 1922 |
Current Executives | CEO Stuart Parker Executive VP and CFO Laura Bishop |
Number of Employees | 33,689 |
Total Sales Total Assets | $20.1 Billion $159 Million |
HQ Address | 9800 Fredericksburg Road San Antonio, TX 78288 |
Phone Number | (800) 365-8722 |
Company Website | www.usaa.com |
Direct Premiums Written | $14,467,936,000 |
Loss Ratio | 0.78 % |
Best For | Credit, Banking, Insurance |
Founded by a small group of Army officers as a means of insuring each other’s cars, USAA has been striving to meet the car insurance needs of military members and their families since 1922.
Its dedication to customer care combined with the quality of services that USAA offers also make it one of the most desirable car insurance companies on the market.
In fact, according to the Forrester Customer Experience Index, USAA has ranked as one of the top companies for credit, banking, and insurance for the last three years.
Fortune Magazine also ranked USAA 25th on its World’s Most Admired Companies list for 2017.
Staying on top and keeping premiums down for their customers in the process is hard work though. Enter your information above to get started and then keep reading to see how hard USAA will work for you.
Cheap Car Insurance Rates
USAA consistently has the cheapest average annual rates across the board. This can be seen by equating USAA to companies such as Liberty Mutal and Farmers who have a comparable share of the market.
With an average annual rate of around $2,500, USAA far outpaces Liberty Mutual who’s average annual rate for car insurance sits at around $6,100 and Farmers who has an average annual rate of $4,200. When you combine how much you can save on car insurance with the extraordinary customer care that you get as a USAA member the choice seems clear.
USAA also offers many of the same discounts as its competitors depending on your location. This could save you even more money. Keep reading to find out more.
USAA Availability and Rates by State
USAA is available in all 50 states.
In an effort to ensure that all military members and their families are taken care of, USAA also offers services to active duty servicemen and women stationed around the world.
This means that no matter which of the nearly 800 military bases worldwide that you are stationed at or reside near USAA will be there for you and your family.
USAA even offers a vehicle storage discount if you can’t take your car with you overseas.
Having a car insurance company that is on your side no matter where you live offers you peace of mind and allows you to focus on getting the job done and getting home.
It is also comforting to know that USAA’s rates don’t fluctuate wildly across their coverage areas.
In fact, the cost of the average annual premium in Florida where insurance prices are acknowledged to be among some of the highest in the country is around $2,800. This is only around $1,000 more a year than USAA members who reside in Maine are paying for the same type of policies.
Compare that to Allstate who charges residents of Florida about $7,500 annually compared to their customers in Maine who pay out approximately $3,600 for the same type of coverage.
Comparing the Top 10 Companies by Market Share
Even though USAA only commands around six percent of the total market share nationwide it can still stand toe to toe with some of its largest competitors.
Part of the reason for this is that USAA offers its services and customer care in all 50 states whereas its competitors are only available in certain areas.
In the areas where USAA crosses paths with other car insurance companies though it consistently out prices them. Take a look
State | Average by State | Allstate | American Family | Farmers | Geico | Liberty Mutual | Nationwide | Progressive | State Farm | Travelers | USAA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alabama | $3,566.96 | $3,311.52 | $4,185.80 | $2,866.60 | $4,005.48 | $2,662.66 | $4,450.52 | $4,798.15 | $3,697.80 | $2,124.09 | |
Alaska | $3,421.51 | $3,145.31 | $4,153.07 | $2,879.96 | $5,295.55 | $3,062.85 | $2,228.12 | $2,454.21 | |||
Arizona | $3,770.97 | $4,904.10 | $5,000.08 | $2,264.71 | $3,496.08 | $3,577.50 | $4,756.25 | $3,084.74 | $3,084.29 | ||
Arkansas | $4,124.98 | $5,150.03 | $4,257.87 | $3,484.63 | $3,861.79 | $5,312.09 | $2,789.03 | $5,973.33 | $2,171.06 | ||
California | $3,688.93 | $4,532.96 | $4,998.78 | $2,885.65 | $3,034.42 | $4,653.19 | $2,849.67 | $4,202.28 | $3,349.54 | $2,693.87 | |
Colorado | $3,876.39 | $5,537.17 | $3,733.02 | $5,290.24 | $3,091.69 | $2,797.74 | $3,739.47 | $4,231.92 | $3,270.77 | $3,338.87 | |
Connecticut | $4,618.92 | $5,831.60 | $3,073.66 | $7,282.87 | $3,672.34 | $4,920.35 | $2,976.24 | $6,004.29 | $3,190.00 | ||
Delaware | $5,986.32 | $6,316.06 | $3,727.29 | $18,360.02 | $4,330.21 | $4,181.83 | $4,466.85 | $4,182.36 | $2,325.98 | ||
District of Columbia | $4,439.24 | $6,468.92 | $3,692.81 | $4,848.98 | $4,970.26 | $4,074.05 | $2,580.44 | ||||
Florida | $4,680.46 | $7,440.46 | $3,783.63 | $5,368.15 | $4,339.60 | $5,583.30 | $3,397.67 | $2,850.41 | |||
Georgia | $4,966.83 | $4,210.70 | $2,977.20 | $10,053.44 | $6,484.90 | $4,499.22 | $3,384.88 | $3,157.46 | |||
Hawaii | $2,555.64 | $2,173.49 | $4,763.82 | $3,358.86 | $3,189.55 | $2,551.83 | $2,177.93 | $1,040.28 | $1,189.35 | ||
Idaho | $2,979.09 | $4,088.76 | $3,728.79 | $3,168.28 | $2,770.68 | $2,301.51 | $3,032.19 | $1,867.96 | $3,226.29 | $1,877.61 | |
Illinois | $3,305.48 | $5,204.41 | $3,815.31 | $4,605.20 | $2,779.16 | $2,277.65 | $2,711.81 | $3,536.65 | $2,344.88 | $2,499.76 | $2,770.21 |
Indiana | $3,414.97 | $3,978.81 | $3,679.68 | $3,437.55 | $2,261.07 | $5,781.35 | $3,898.00 | $2,408.94 | $3,393.75 | $1,630.86 | |
Iowa | $2,981.28 | $2,965.86 | $3,021.81 | $2,435.72 | $2,296.16 | $4,415.28 | $2,735.44 | $2,395.50 | $2,224.51 | $5,429.38 | $1,852.57 |
Kansas | $3,279.62 | $4,010.23 | $2,146.40 | $3,703.77 | $3,220.65 | $4,784.42 | $2,475.59 | $4,144.38 | $2,720.00 | $4,341.43 | $2,382.61 |
Kentucky | $5,195.40 | $7,143.92 | $4,633.59 | $5,930.97 | $5,503.23 | $5,547.63 | $3,354.32 | $6,551.68 | $2,897.89 | ||
Louisiana | $5,711.34 | $5,998.79 | $6,154.60 | $7,471.10 | $4,579.12 | $4,353.12 | |||||
Maine | $2,953.28 | $3,675.59 | $2,770.15 | $2,823.05 | $4,331.39 | $3,643.59 | $2,198.68 | $2,252.97 | $1,930.79 | ||
Maryland | $4,582.70 | $5,233.17 | $3,832.63 | $9,297.55 | $2,915.69 | $4,094.86 | $3,960.87 | $2,744.14 | |||
Massachusetts | $2,678.85 | $2,708.53 | $1,510.17 | $4,339.35 | $3,835.11 | $1,361.86 | $3,537.94 | $1,458.99 | |||
Michigan | $10,498.64 | $22,902.59 | $8,503.60 | $6,430.11 | $20,000.04 | $6,327.38 | $5,364.55 | $12,565.52 | $8,773.97 | $3,620.00 | |
Minnesota | $4,403.25 | $4,532.01 | $3,521.29 | $3,137.45 | $3,498.54 | $13,563.61 | $2,926.49 | $2,066.99 | $2,861.60 | ||
Mississippi | $3,664.57 | $4,942.11 | $4,087.21 | $4,455.94 | $2,756.53 | $4,308.85 | $2,980.48 | $3,729.32 | $2,056.13 | ||
Missouri | $3,328.93 | $4,096.15 | $3,286.90 | $4,312.19 | $2,885.33 | $4,518.67 | $2,265.35 | $3,419.14 | $2,692.91 | $2,525.78 | |
Montana | $3,220.84 | $4,672.10 | $3,907.55 | $3,602.35 | $1,326.11 | $3,478.26 | $4,330.76 | $2,417.74 | $2,031.89 | ||
Nebraska | $3,283.68 | $3,198.83 | $2,215.13 | $3,997.29 | $3,837.49 | $6,241.52 | $2,603.94 | $3,758.01 | $2,438.71 | $2,330.78 | |
Nevada | $4,861.70 | $5,371.62 | $5,441.18 | $5,595.56 | $3,662.09 | $6,201.55 | $3,477.14 | $4,062.57 | $5,796.34 | $5,360.41 | $3,069.07 |
New Hampshire | $3,151.77 | $2,725.01 | $1,615.02 | $8,444.41 | $2,491.10 | $2,694.45 | $2,185.46 | $1,906.96 | |||
New Jersey | $5,515.21 | $5,713.58 | $7,617.00 | $2,754.94 | $6,766.62 | $3,972.72 | $7,527.16 | $4,254.49 | |||
New Mexico | $3,463.64 | $4,200.65 | $4,315.53 | $4,458.30 | $3,514.38 | $3,119.18 | $2,340.66 | $2,296.77 | |||
New York | $4,289.88 | $4,740.97 | $2,428.24 | $6,540.73 | $4,012.93 | $3,771.15 | $4,484.58 | $4,578.79 | $3,761.69 | ||
North Carolina | $3,393.11 | $7,190.43 | $2,936.69 | $2,182.71 | $2,848.03 | $2,382.61 | $3,078.65 | $3,132.66 | |||
North Dakota | $4,165.84 | $4,669.31 | $3,812.40 | $3,092.49 | $2,668.24 | $12,852.83 | $2,560.35 | $3,623.06 | $2,560.53 | $2,006.80 | |
Ohio | $2,709.71 | $3,197.22 | $1,515.17 | $3,423.01 | $1,867.19 | $4,429.74 | $3,300.89 | $3,436.96 | $2,507.88 | $3,135.16 | $1,478.46 |
Oklahoma | $4,142.33 | $3,718.62 | $4,142.40 | $3,437.34 | $6,874.62 | $4,832.35 | $2,816.80 | $3,174.15 | |||
Oregon | $3,467.77 | $4,765.95 | $3,527.28 | $3,753.52 | $3,220.12 | $4,334.55 | $3,176.83 | $3,629.13 | $2,731.48 | $2,892.19 | $2,587.15 |
Pennsylvania | $4,034.50 | $3,984.12 | $2,605.22 | $6,055.20 | $2,800.37 | $4,451.00 | $2,744.23 | $7,842.47 | $1,793.37 | ||
Rhode Island | $5,003.36 | $4,959.45 | $5,602.63 | $6,184.12 | $4,409.63 | $5,231.09 | $2,406.51 | $6,909.45 | $4,323.98 | ||
South Carolina | $3,781.14 | $3,903.43 | $4,691.85 | $3,178.01 | $3,625.49 | $4,573.08 | $3,071.34 | $3,424.77 | |||
South Dakota | $3,982.27 | $4,723.72 | $4,047.47 | $3,768.80 | $2,940.29 | $7,515.99 | $2,737.66 | $3,752.81 | $2,306.23 | ||
Tennessee | $3,660.89 | $4,828.85 | $3,430.07 | $3,283.42 | $6,206.69 | $3,424.96 | $3,656.91 | $2,639.30 | $2,738.52 | $2,739.28 | |
Texas | $4,043.28 | $5,485.44 | $4,848.72 | $3,263.28 | $3,867.55 | $4,664.69 | $2,879.94 | $2,487.89 | |||
Utah | $3,611.89 | $3,566.42 | $3,698.77 | $3,907.99 | $2,965.57 | $4,327.76 | $2,986.57 | $3,830.10 | $4,645.83 | $2,491.10 | |
Vermont | $3,234.13 | $3,190.38 | $2,195.71 | $3,621.08 | $2,128.21 | $5,217.14 | $4,382.84 | $1,903.55 | |||
Virginia | $2,357.87 | $3,386.80 | $2,061.53 | $2,073.00 | $2,498.58 | $2,268.95 | $1,858.38 | ||||
Washington | $3,059.32 | $3,540.52 | $3,713.02 | $2,962.00 | $2,568.65 | $3,994.73 | $2,129.84 | $3,209.52 | $2,499.78 | $2,262.16 | |
West Virginia | $2,595.36 | $3,820.68 | $2,120.80 | $2,924.39 | $2,126.32 | $1,984.62 | |||||
Wisconsin | $3,606.06 | $4,854.41 | $1,513.27 | $3,777.49 | $3,926.20 | $6,758.85 | $5,224.99 | $3,128.91 | $2,387.53 | $2,975.74 | |
Wyoming | $3,200.08 | $4,373.93 | $3,069.35 | $3,496.56 | $1,989.36 | $3,187.20 | $4,401.17 | $2,303.55 | $2,779.53 |
The data confirms that USAA can hold its own against the top 10 companies by market share. USAA doesn’t just hold its own though.
The median average annual premium for USAA stands at $2,489.49. That is $300 less than its closest price competitor Statefarm and around $2,000 less than the median price of the average annual premium offered by Allstate.
Great prices and unbeatable customer care are what have kept USAA on top since 1922.
Average USAA Male vs. Female Car Insurance Rates
The average cost of car insurance for a 35-year-old female in the United States is $2,449.06. This is slightly higher than her male counterpart.
This is in keeping with the Consumer Federation of America‘s 2017 study which revealed that:
Female motorists with perfect driving records often pay significantly more for auto insurance than male drivers with identical driving records and other characteristics the insurers use to price auto insurance.
This comes as a shock to a lot of people since commonly held belief states that men are more risky drivers.
In an effort to combat gender inequality in the car insurance market the following states have enacted bans against the use of gender when setting car insurance rates:
- California
- Hawaii
- Massachusetts
- Montana
- North Carolina
- and Pennsylvania
If you don’t live in one of these states then you could be paying a significantly higher price for car insurance just because of your gender.
That is of course if you aren’t covered by USAA. Take a look.
Group | Married 35-year old female | Married 35-year old male | Married 60-year old female | Married 60-year old male | Single 17-year old female | Single 17-year old male | Single 25-year old female | Single 25-year old male |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Allstate | $3,156.09 | $3,123.01 | $2,913.37 | $2,990.64 | $9,282.19 | $10,642.53 | $3,424.87 | $3,570.93 |
American Family | $2,202.70 | $2,224.31 | $1,992.92 | $2,014.38 | $5,996.50 | $8,130.50 | $2,288.65 | $2,694.72 |
Farmers | $2,556.98 | $2,557.75 | $2,336.80 | $2,448.39 | $8,521.97 | $9,144.04 | $2,946.80 | $3,041.44 |
Geico | $2,302.89 | $2,312.38 | $2,240.60 | $2,283.45 | $5,653.55 | $6,278.96 | $2,378.89 | $2,262.87 |
Liberty Mutual | $3,802.77 | $3,856.84 | $3,445.00 | $3,680.53 | $11,621.01 | $13,718.69 | $3,959.67 | $4,503.13 |
Nationwide | $2,360.49 | $2,387.43 | $2,130.26 | $2,214.62 | $5,756.37 | $7,175.31 | $2,686.48 | $2,889.04 |
Progressive | $2,296.90 | $2,175.27 | $1,991.49 | $2,048.63 | $8,689.95 | $9,625.49 | $2,697.73 | $2,758.66 |
State Farm | $2,081.72 | $2,081.72 | $1,873.89 | $1,873.89 | $5,953.88 | $7,324.34 | $2,335.96 | $2,554.56 |
Travelers | $2,178.66 | $2,199.51 | $2,051.98 | $2,074.41 | $9,307.32 | $12,850.91 | $2,325.25 | $2,491.21 |
USAA | $1,551.43 | $1,540.32 | $1,449.85 | $1,448.98 | $4,807.54 | $5,385.61 | $1,988.52 | $2,126.14 |
With the exception of teenaged drivers, all of USAA’s members enjoy fairly equal pricing when purchasing their policies. Teen drivers pay more across the board though because of their general lack of driving experience.
USAA doesn’t just have fair pricing when it comes to gender difference either, Keep scrolling to see what we mean.
Average USAA Rates by Make and Model
Did you know that some insurance companies base your rates on how other people drive their car?
It’s true. If you own a Ford F-150 and this is the type of truck that is most likely to have the most accidents then you are going to pay a higher rate for car insurance because of the carelessness of others.
If you choose USAA though your premiums stay consistent no matter which type of car you choose.
Make and Model | USAA | Geico | State Farm | American Family | Nationwide | Progressive | Farmers | Travelers | Allstate | Liberty Mutual | Grand Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015 Ford F-150 Lariat SuperCab | $2,551.56 | $3,092.11 | $3,204.23 | $3,447.30 | $3,571.01 | $3,914.05 | $4,093.50 | $4,023.47 | $4,429.74 | $5,830.16 | $3,791.74 |
2015 Honda Civic Sedan | $2,409.67 | $3,092.58 | $3,024.24 | $3,178.82 | $3,547.84 | $4,429.56 | $4,405.21 | $4,420.37 | $4,753.69 | $5,869.32 | $3,890.45 |
2015 Toyota RAV4 XLE | $2,454.58 | $3,090.89 | $3,226.02 | $3,326.18 | $3,517.03 | $3,647.22 | $3,728.22 | $4,383.78 | $4,324.99 | $5,825.33 | $3,721.25 |
2018 Ford F-150 Lariat SuperCab | $2,855.69 | $3,338.40 | $3,497.17 | $3,487.91 | $3,373.64 | $3,962.58 | $4,390.19 | $4,412.42 | $5,491.12 | $5,988.85 | $4,076.10 |
2018 Honda Civic Sedan | $2,422.66 | $3,338.87 | $3,189.99 | $3,721.32 | $3,361.93 | $4,528.90 | $4,779.51 | $4,661.22 | $5,380.28 | $6,682.63 | $4,166.72 |
2018 Toyota RAV4 XLE | $2,529.63 | $3,337.18 | $3,418.33 | $3,496.99 | $3,328.57 | $3,730.78 | $3,769.00 | $4,708.19 | $4,947.90 | $6,244.44 | $3,926.83 |
Owning a 2015 F-150 could cost you between $1,000 to $2,000 more a year than owning a 2018 Honda Civic if you choose a company like Progressive for your car insurance coverage.
If you choose USAA though the cost of your car insurance policy only increases around $300. USAA also charges well below the national average for both of these models when it comes to car insurance rates.
Average USAA Commute Rates
Insurance companies don’t just set your rates based on your gender or what you drive. Sometimes how far you drive can have an impact on the price of your premiums as well.
Take a look at the table below to see what we mean.
Group | 10 miles commute. 6000 annual mileage. | 25 miles commute. 12000 annual mileage. |
---|---|---|
Allstate | $4,841.71 | $4,934.20 |
American Family | $3,401.30 | $3,484.88 |
Farmers | $4,179.32 | $4,209.22 |
Geico | $3,162.64 | $3,267.37 |
Liberty Mutual | $5,995.27 | $6,151.63 |
Nationwide | $3,437.33 | $3,462.67 |
Progressive | $4,030.02 | $4,041.01 |
State Farm | $3,175.98 | $3,344.01 |
Travelers | $4,399.85 | $4,469.96 |
USAA | $2,482.69 | $2,591.91 |
As you can see, USAA has consistent pricing no matter how far you drive.
This is good news for military families who often have to commute a good distance to the base or post for things as simple as grocery shopping and healthcare.
USAA also offers an annual mileage discount in all states except Hawaii and North Carolina so be sure to ask your agent to see if you qualify.
Average USAA Coverage Levels
Everyone knows that the more car insurance coverage you purchase the higher your rates will be.
While USAA’s rates are no different it doesn’t have the wide variations in pricing that some of its competitors do.
Group | Low Coverage | Medium Coverage | High Coverage |
---|---|---|---|
Allstate | $4,628.03 | $4,896.81 | $5,139.02 |
American Family | $3,368.49 | $3,544.37 | $3,416.40 |
Farmers | $3,922.47 | $4,166.22 | $4,494.13 |
Geico | $3,001.91 | $3,213.97 | $3,429.14 |
Liberty Mutual | $5,805.75 | $6,058.57 | $6,356.04 |
Nationwide | $3,394.83 | $3,449.80 | $3,505.37 |
Progressive | $3,737.13 | $4,018.46 | $4,350.96 |
State Farm | $3,055.40 | $3,269.80 | $3,454.80 |
Travelers | $4,223.63 | $4,462.02 | $4,619.07 |
USAA | $2,404.11 | $2,539.87 | $2,667.92 |
The price of low coverage versus high coverage is only around $200 for USAA members which is almost $200 cheaper than the difference in coverage amounts put forth by most of its competitors.
Keeping rates low no matter how much coverage you purchase is another way that USAA demonstrates its commitment to customer care.
Average USAA Credit History Rates
When shopping for car insurance most people don’t even consider that their credit history might be a factor.
According to Consumer Reports though:
Car insurers are also rifling through your credit files…to predict the odds that you’ll file a claim.
People who are assumed to be more likely to file a claim fall into a higher risk category for car insurance providers. In order to protect their own bottom line the, car insurance providers divide the cost of this possible overhead across their clients.
Looking at the table below demonstrates what we mean.
Group | Fair | Good | Poor |
---|---|---|---|
Allstate | $4,581.16 | $3,859.66 | $6,490.65 |
American Family | $3,169.53 | $2,691.74 | $4,467.98 |
Farmers | $3,899.41 | $3,677.12 | $4,864.14 |
Geico | $2,986.79 | $2,434.82 | $4,259.50 |
Liberty Mutual | $5,604.24 | $4,388.18 | $8,802.22 |
Nationwide | $3,254.83 | $2,925.94 | $4,083.29 |
Progressive | $3,956.31 | $3,628.85 | $4,737.64 |
State Farm | $2,853.00 | $2,174.26 | $4,951.20 |
Travelers | $4,344.10 | $4,058.97 | $5,160.22 |
USAA | $2,219.83 | $1,821.20 | $3,690.73 |
There are some states where using your credit history is prohibited, but on the average having poor credit could end up costing you almost $2,000 if you go with a company like Allstate when purchasing your car insurance policy.
Average USAA Driving Record Rates
While people may or may not agree on the use of your gender or your credit history to set your car insurance rates we all agree that how you drive should determine how much you pay for car insurance.
Take a look below to see how much one ticket or accident could impact your car insurance premiums depending on who you chose to insure your car with
Group | Clean record | With 1 accident | With 1 DUI | With 1 speeding violation |
---|---|---|---|---|
Allstate | $3,819.90 | $4,987.68 | $6,260.73 | $4,483.51 |
American Family | $2,693.61 | $3,722.75 | $4,330.24 | $3,025.74 |
Farmers | $3,460.60 | $4,518.73 | $4,718.75 | $4,079.01 |
Geico | $2,145.96 | $3,192.77 | $4,875.87 | $2,645.43 |
Liberty Mutual | $4,774.30 | $6,204.78 | $7,613.48 | $5,701.26 |
Nationwide | $2,746.18 | $3,396.95 | $4,543.20 | $3,113.68 |
Progressive | $3,393.09 | $4,777.04 | $3,969.65 | $4,002.28 |
State Farm | $2,821.18 | $3,396.01 | $3,636.80 | $3,186.01 |
Travelers | $3,447.69 | $4,289.74 | $5,741.40 | $4,260.80 |
USAA | $1,933.68 | $2,516.24 | $3,506.03 | $2,193.25 |
Choosing the wrong car insurance provider could end up costing you hundreds or even thousands of dollars as you can see from the table above.
No matter who you choose you should never drink and drive.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
Every day, 29 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver.
This means that one person dies every 50 minutes because of drunk driving.
Alcohol-related crashes also total more than $44 billion annually.
Because of this, USAA makes sure to hammer the anti-drinking and driving message home by not only charging you a significant amount of money for one DUI but by offering things such as the SafePilot discount to its members who are more responsible behind the wheel.
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Coverages Offered
USAA has a variety of car insurance coverage options that members such as you can choose from.
Some of these include:
- Full coverage which will protect you and/or your lender by bundling liability coverage with comprehensive and collision coverage.
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) which covers medical expenses for you and your passengers regardless of who is at fault.
- Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist which covers both property damage and bodily injury claims should one of the parties in a crash be determined to have no insurance or not enough coverage to pay for all of the claims.
- Roadside Assistance which can help you pay for a tow truck or other minor roadside repairs so that you aren’t left stranded along the highway.
- And Rental Reimbursement which will help you cover the cost of a rental car while your car is in the repair shop as a result of an insurance claim.
As you can see, USAA has your back no matter what you encounter on the road.
If your car is ever stolen or damaged in a natural disaster USAA’s comprehensive coverage can help you pay the bills.
USAA even offers you a way to rent a car in case of loss or damage is you opt into rental reimbursement.
Your passengers are just as important to USAA as you are as well which is why it offers you coverage like PIP.
USAA Bundling Options
In an effort to provide you with superior customer care USAA offers a variety of billing options, payment plans, and bundle offers.
If you want to go green then USAA is there to help with its paperless billing. USAA also has a plethora of online options for getting the documents you need quickly and securely. Need to make a payment? USAA has an online payment option for that.
USAA will even help you spread the cost of your car insurance premiums over time through one of their many Auto Insurance Payment Options.
Want to save even more? USAA can help you do that with its home and auto bundle. If you have homeowners, life, and auto insurance USAA also offers you a way to combine these coverage types into one policy to save you money.
USAA even offers classic car coverage if you have an antique baby that you only roll out once in a while for a Sunday afternoon cruise.
No matter what your insurance needs are USAA is there to make sure that you get a quality product at a price that you can afford.
USAA’s Discounts
Even though USAA boasts some of the least expensive rates on the car insurance market everyone loves to save money. USAA knows this which is why it offers even more savings to its members in the form of discounts.
Some of these discounts include:
- The Safe driver discounts for those members who maintain a clean driving record
- The Defensive driving discount becomes available to drivers upon taking an approved course.
- The Driver training discount is available to a driver who is under 21 and who has taken a basic driver training course.
- The Good student discount is available for certain drivers who maintain good grades.
- The New vehicle discount could help you offset the cost of that new car if it is under three years old.
- The Multi-vehicle discount helps extend your coverage to two or more vehicles.
- The Annual mileage discount can help you save money if you are over 29-years-old and only drive a certain number of miles each year.
- The Vehicle storage discount helps cut the cost of storing your vehicle while you are deployed.
- The Family discount –offers savings to dependents under the age of 25 who have clean driving records.
- And the Military installation discount offers you a percentage off your comprehensive coverage if you garage your vehicle on base.
Although USAA is in all 50 states not all of these discounts are so be sure to ask your agent about what is available in your area. You should also ask your agent about any limitations or disqualifying events when it comes to applying for these discounts.
You should also ask your agent if any of the equipment on your vehicle might qualify you for a discount.
Some of the things that USAA gives discounts for include:
- Anti-lock braking systems
- Anti-theft devices
- Daytime running lights
- and VIN etching
Being a USAA member also has other privileges such as discounts on everything from flowers to FedEx.
USAA’s Programs
In addition to the SafePilot program that offers discounts and privileges to its members that are safe drivers, USAA also has a wealth of other programs designed to make life easier.
There are shopping and travel discounts available to you as a USAA member. USAA also has discounts and deals on rental cars that are offered exclusively to its members. Retail Me Not lists monthly coupons offered through USAA on everything form business shipping and ridesharing coverage gap to VPP insurance.
USAA will also forgive one at-fault accident after five years of membership.
Rating Agencies
USAA’s dedication to offering quality goods and services to its customers is what keeps it on top.
This commitment to military members and their families is also why it has such a high credit rating among the various credit reporting agencies that keep their eyes on the car insurance marketplace. Take a look.
Ratings Agency | Rating |
---|---|
AM Best | A++ |
Better Business Bureau | B+ |
Moody's | Aaa |
S&P | AA+ |
NAIC Complaint Index | 0.74 |
Consumer Reports | Excellent |
Consumer Affairs | Two Stars |
Some of these ratings may look confusing to you as a car insurance consumer so let’s break them down.
Ratings from AM Best, Moody’s and S&P indicate that USAA is financially strong and stable. What this means to you as a customer is that USAA has the ability to pay out quickly if you ever need to file a claim.
The NAIC complaint ratio also indicates that USAA does just that. So why does the Better Business Bureau (BBB) only give USAA a B+ and Consumer Affairs only award USAA two stars?
The BBB bases its entire rating on customer feedback and people tend to give negative more than positive feedback since we all tend to just take things for granted until something goes wrong.
Given the size of the market share that USAA holds in the United States then a B+ means that most customers are happy with the service that they receive.
Consumer Affairs also concentrates its focus on customer care, but the limited amount of feedback that Consumer Affairs is using to calculate its rating has worked to keep their rating low.
Part of the reason for the imbalance for the customer care ratings that USAA has with both the BBB and Consumer Affairs also has to do with the fact that USAA’s customer base is smaller than your average car insurance company because they only take care of military members and their families.
It is worth noting that JD Power has rated USAA among the best when it comes to customer care, policy offerings, price, billing processes, interaction, and claims handling.
Consumer Reports has also rated USAA as excellent when it comes to being able to reach an agent, promptness of response from the company, damage amounts, and agent courtesy.
USAA’s Company History
Organized in San Antonio Texas, USAA has been based there since the early 1920s. This means that USAA truly is a hometown company.
Started by 25 Army officers and expanded to include members of the Navy and Marine Corps in 1923, USAA has been able to maintain its Military family-oriented business model over the course of its history as well.
The 1930s brought with it the Great Depression and big changes for USAA as a result. The company’s ability to remain fiscally conservative helped them weather one of the hardest times in United States history; even expanding along the way.
USAA was also at the forefront of the social changes in America in the 1930s as Stuart Gwyn became the first woman to join the management team at USAA in 1934.
With the onset of World War II, the military saw a great boost in its numbers and USAA was right there to ensure that military personnel and their families would be taken care of no matter what might lie ahead.
As the war came to an end USAA also expanded its membership to Air Force officers in 1948.
Keeping pace with the times, USAA added another woman to the ranks in the 1950s. This time her name was Consuelo Kerford and she became the first female officer within the company.
USAA also went international in 1952 when it opened an office in Frankfurt, Germany to help better serve military members who were stationed abroad.
In the 1960s USAA was automated using the latest IBM technology to keep up with the ever-changing world.
The 1960s also saw the beginning of the Vietnam War, and just as it had done during WWII, USAA stepped up to take care of the expanding military personnel and their families. USSA also rewrote its by-laws to allow veterans to maintain their membership even after they had resigned their commissions.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, USAA continued to keep up with technological advancements such as email and the rise in personal computer use so that they could offer their customers the best service that money could buy.
As the 1990s brought the internet with it, USAA was also right there making sure to keep its members and agents connected with advancements like Electronic Funds Transfers.
USAA also doubled down on its desire to take care of all members of the military and their families by expanding its coverage offerings to enlisted personnel in 1996. By the 2000s USAA.com was allowing members to conduct most of their business online. USAA also began offering special deployment assistance to members who were engaged in the war or terrorism.
The year 2009 saw another expansion in eligibility as active-duty members, veterans, military retirees, and their immediate family members all became eligible for coverage.
USAA is still at the forefront of customer care and service today. In 2010 it added a Mobile App for iPads to its list of technological advancements making life easier for customers.
In 2016 USAA also became the first to offer a voice-guided mobile app to its banking services in order to make life easier for its visually impaired customers.
With all of these advantages and advancements, it is no wonder that so many military servicemen and women and their families chose USAA to do business with.
USAA Market Share
USAA has a reputation for being a fiscally conservative company and all of its careful planning for the future has really paid off.
Over the last four years, its fiscal policies have translated into a steady growth trend that has allowed USAA to command almost six percent of the total market share nationally. Take a look.
Year | Direct Premiums Written | Loss Ratio | Market Share |
---|---|---|---|
2015 | $9,843,321,000 | 77.28% | 5.17% |
2016 | $11,691,051,000 | 86.24% | 5.45% |
2017 | $13,154,939,000 | 79.6% | 5.68% |
2018 | $14,467,936,000 | 77% | 5.87% |
Six percent may not seem like much but that number is huge when you consider that USAA only caters to military members and their families since military members only make up about 0.5 percent of the United States population.
This means that USAA has proven its trustworthiness and stability well enough to be held as one of the top companies by the specific group of people that it serves.
USAA’s Position for the Future
Looking at USAA’s market share growth demonstrates that it has a bright future ahead.
USAA’s ability to stay on top of technological advancements and its continual improvements in customer care also exhibit the company’s commitment to providing the best services on the market.
This commitment to excellence is why USAA’s market share has been on the steady increase and its loss ratio has remained stable in the process which is unlike some of its bigger competitors.
In fact, State Farm has seen a steady decrease in its market share over the last four years, and its loss ratio has also seen an upward spike indicating some financial wavering.
USAA has also seen a steady increase in the number of direct premiums written which is another indicator of financial growth and stability since, according to Investopedia:
Direct written premiums represent the growth of a company’s insurance business during a given period.
This means that if you choose USAA as your car insurance provider you will be getting a company with a long history of growth and stability who has a bright future ahead.
USAA’s Online Presence
As part of its commitment to customer care, USAA has established a huge online presence. As a member, you will have access to everything from your free checking account to your auto insurance policy.
You can file a claim, make your payment, and check on the status of your portfolio all with the touch of a few keys. You can even apply for a job with USAA right from the convenience of your own home.
Don’t have a home computer? Most of USAA’s goods and services can also be accessed through their mobile apps. USAA can also be accessed through Twitter and Facebook.
USAA Commercials
Having a commanding online presence absolutely has a commercial appeal. USAA’s actual commercials are pretty impressive as well.
The dedicated marketing staff at USAA wants to make sure that all military members, veterans, and retirees understand just how important their service is to the United States and how they deserve to be rewarded for it.
Anyone who has ever been a military family member also understands that military life is different which is why USAA rewards them for their sacrifices as well.
Military members from all branches, veterans, retirees and their immediate family really are one united community and USAA wants to make sure that this community is well taken care of.
USAA in the Community
USAA’s commitment to the communities that it serves runs deep.
As a company and a partner in these communities, USAA supports military members and their families through various charitable contributions and works within the neighborhoods and cities that these families call home to improve the quality of life.
Some of the cities that USAA is working to make life better in include:
- San Antonio, TX
- Tampa, FL
- Phoenix, AZ
- Chesapeake, VA
- and Colorado Springs, CO
Within these cities, USAA helps struggling families and individuals fill their basic needs such as food and shelter.
USAA is committed to hiring veterans as well since they are particularly vulnerable.
USAA is also heavily involved in education and offers financial aid assistance and guidance to struggling college students.
Disaster preparedness and relief efforts are two other areas that are big on USAA’s list of charitable causes. After all, no one can prevent a natural disaster, but USAA understands that after Mother Nature has done her worse it is the families and communities that need the most help to recover.
If you know of a philanthropic cause that could benefit from USAA’s generosity you should encourage them to reach out through the USAA’s website.
USAA’s Employees
With all of the good work that USAA is doing it is no wonder that so many people want to work for them. In fact, USAA enjoys an 89 percent employee satisfaction rating according to Great Place to Work.
USAA also puts its employees through boot camp on occasion so that they can appreciate the jobs and sacrifices that their customers experience.
Most of the employees at USAA are Millennials, and they have an average tenure of two to five years. Great Place to Work even named USAA as one of America’s Best Work Places in Financial Services and Insurance for 2018. Great Place to Work also named USAA as the 75th Best Workplace for Millennials in 2019.
Fortune also ranked USAA as the 19th Best Employer in the United States in 2018. All of these awards and accolades prove that USAA is as good to its employees as it is to its customers.
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Canceling Your Policy
Sometimes you and your car insurance provider just have to part ways for a little while. When this happens USAA dedicates the same amount of customer care to its departing members as it did when they first joined.
USAA offers you three fast and easy ways to cancel a policy with USAA
- Online by logging into your account and placing a request for cancelation.
- By Mail by printing out your cancelation request form and sending it to USAA, 9800 Fredricksburg Rd, San Antonio, TX 78288
- By Phone 1–800–531–USAA (8722)
You can also go to your local USAA office in person to cancel your policy.
No matter how you chose to part ways you will need to provide USAA with the following information to cancel your policy:
- Your full name, address, date of birth and Social Security number.
- Your policy number and the effective date of cancellation.
- The reason for the cancellation
- The name of your new insurance company and the policy number if applicable
There is no fee for canceling your policy with USAA, and any questions that your representative might ask you will only be intended to make sure that you don’t suffer from unintended consequences of canceling your car insurance down the road.
How to Make a Claim
Canceling your policy isn’t the only thing that USAA makes easy. The customer-focused employees also make the claims process as painless as possible.
https://youtu.be/5VxNXLnBnlw
Dedicated and well-trained claims representatives will walk you through the process, answer all of your questions, and make sure that you have all of the paperwork in order to expedite the procedure. Keep reading to find out more.
Ease of Making a Claim
Should you ever be involved in a car accident USAA wants to make sure that you recover as quickly as possible both physically and financially.
In an effort to help you do so USAA provides you with several convenient ways to get the claims process started. You can report a claim using the USAA Mobile App or by visiting usaa.com. USAA also has several ways to contact them by phone or by mail in order to file a claim.
Once you file your claim it will be reviewed by an adjuster who will call or email you with the details once the adjustment process is over. Damages will then be appraised and a solution will be determined between all parties involved. Once an agreement has been reached your claim will be closed and you can move on with your life.
Premiums Written
We talked a little bit about direct premiums written in a previous section but it is important for you to understand how the number of premiums written by a company can impact a companies ability to payout for your claim.
Investopedia defines premiums written as:
An accounting term in the insurance industry used to describe the total amount customers are required to pay for insurance coverage on policies issued by a company during a specific period of time
Simply put, premiums written are the principal source of a car insurance company’s revenue. The more premiums written the stronger a car insurance company is doing financially.
This financial strength translates into more benefits and discounts for USAA members, and it means that USAA is more likely to pay out claims quickly.
Loss Ratio
The loss ratio is another financial indicator that you should look at when you are shopping for car insurance because it can tell you how good of a job a particular carrier has done in setting their rates.
Looking at USAA’s loss ratio also indicates financial stability when you consider how the loss ratio works.
- A High Loss Ratio (over 100 percent) indicates that the companies are losing money because they underpriced risk.
- A Low Loss Ratio could mean that companies are paying to few claims which might result in you having your claim rejected by such a company should ever need to file one with them.
With a stable loss ratio of around 77 percent, you can count on USAA to handle your claim quickly if you should even be forced to file one.
How to Get a Quote Online
Because USAA is a member-based company that only extends benefits to active-duty military members, veterans, retirees, and their families you must establish eligibility through their website before getting a quote.
You will need several things to determine your eligibility including your social security number and details about the military member who will qualify you for membership. Once you have all of the relevant information collected you can start the process of joining USAA.
After you have joined USAA you will be prompted to enter the rest of the relevant information which will get you a quote based on your specific car insurance needs.
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Design of USAA’s Website/App
With its clearly marked menu and easy to read content, USAA.com is very user-friendly.
USAA also has a convenient mobile app which has 4.8 stars in the iPhone mobile app store. Because the mobile app is relatively new though there have been some growing pains.
One of the most common complaints having to write statements particular statements on checks as part of the mobile banking process.
USAA has continued to try to stay on top of things like this in an ongoing effort to improve customer care.
One of the places that te mobile app seems to shine is with its ability to help insurance customers find out about claims and contact agents.
You can get an insurance ID card, request roadside assistance, and even report a claim all from your mobile device.
USAA also has an easy to use FAQs page if you ever have trouble navigating their sites or services.
Pros and Cons
Doing business with any company comes with some pros and cons.
Some of the pros of being a USAA member include some of the lowest car insurance rates in the country and great discounts on shopping and travel.
The biggest con when it comes to USAA is that its discounts and benefits only extend to active-duty military members, veterans, retirees, and their immediate family members.
This type of exclusivity allows USAA to remain the leader in customer care though. It has also allowed USAA to weather things like World War II, the Great Depression, and the Great Recession of 2009.
With such excellent customer service and great benefits, it is no wonder that most USAA members stay for life.
USAA FAQs
We have done our best to give you a clear overview of who USAA is and what it stands for but there are always a few lingering questions.
Take a look at some of the ones that are most frequently asked.
Where can I find out about the various types of coverage that USAA offers?
USSA has provided the public with a clear outline of the types of car insurance that it offers on its insurance coverage page.
Do I need to add all of the drivers in my household to my car insurance policy?
Some states require that you add every licensed driver living under the same roof to your car insurance policy. You should ask your agent about the specific laws and regulations in your area or contact USAA directly to be sure.
What types of vehicles can be insured under USAA?
USAA can handle your insurance need on everything from everything motorcycles to classic cars. USAA also offers boat and RV insurance. If it has wheels the USAA probably insures it.
Can I keep my benefits if I am deployed?
As an active-duty service member USAA aims to serve you which means that you can absolutely keep your benefits while you are deployed so long as you maintain your payment schedule.
Am I required to carry certain coverage types if I buy a new car?
If your new car is financed for over a certain amount you will most definitely be required to carry comprehensive and collision coverage alongside you liability coverage.
You might be able to drop these coverage types once you have paid your vehicle down if you so chose. Be sure to check with your lender and your agent before adjusting your coverage types or amounts though.
Does USAA cover me if I am driving someone else’s car?
Typically car insurance policies are written to cover the car, not the driver. That doesn’t mean that your coverage won’t extend to covering you if you find yourself behind the wheel of another person’s car. The extension of benefits depends on your coverage type so talk to your agent to be sure.
Does USAA offer rideshare insurance?
Yes, USAA does offer Rideshare Gap Insurance. When you and your passengers are covered and by how much depends on whether you are off-duty, ready to pick up, or in ridesharing mode.
The bottom line is that USAA really is a great company overall. Its superior customer care and dedication to being at the forefront of technological advancements are two of the main reasons that almost everyone wants to become a member.
Before making any final decisions on your insurance company, it is important to learn as much as you can about your local insurance providers, and the coverages they offer. Call your local insurance agent to clear up any questions that you might have. Questions to consider asking include, “What is the best coverage plan for me/my family/my situation?” “What are the minimum coverage requirements in my state and what form of coverage do you recommend?” “Do you guys offer any bundle discounts if I take out both my auto insurance and home insurance with you?” and “What is the average rate of insurance quotes you guys offer?”
Before making any big insurance decisions, use our free tool to compare insurance quotes near you. It’s simple, just plug in your zip code and we’ll do the rest!
If you have any more questions just stop back by or enter your zip code below to get started. Whichever way you choose to go, will be here to help you through it all.
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Chris Harrigan
Former Auto Insurance Claims Manager
Chris Harrigan has an economic degree from Limestone College and an MBA from Clemson University. He previously managed auto insurance claims for Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Currently, he is using his business and insurance expertise to provide insurance data analysis and visualizations to enhance the user experience.
Former Auto Insurance Claims Manager
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