USAA Auto Insurance Review: Does It Live Up to Its Perfect Score?
Ranking
9.6/10
USAA recently got a perfect score in overall satisfaction. But is it for you? Read our complete USAA auto insurance review so you can decide for yourself.
Highlights:
- Mobile App
- Accident Foregiveness
- Wide range of coverage options + perks
The interesting thing about USAA is that it provides banking and investing services in addition to auto insurance. This could make it a good choice if you’re the type who likes to bundle services with one provider. That would make it easier to pay bills and stay organized.
Of course, simply using the auto insurance portion of what this company has to offer is perfectly fine, especially considering all they have to offer.
Who Can Use USAA Auto Insurance?
Auto insurance from USAA is only available to policyholders who are affiliated with the military. You must be an active, retired, or honorably separated member of the United States Armed Forces to qualify for a policy. This extends to veterans and candidates in commissioning programs.
In addition, spouses, former spouses, and children of USAA members are also eligible to obtain policies.
Related: Learn More About the New Military Retirement Option
The Highlights of USAA Auto Insurance
USAA offers some perks that most other companies simply can’t touch.
Customers also get a very generous policy for accident forgiveness. USAA will forgive one at-fault accident after 5 years of membership without increasing your auto insurance premiums. The one stipulation is that for some states, this feature is an optional add-on (for a fee).
In addition to a standard auto policy, you can purchase extended vehicle protection, motorcycle insurance, RV insurance, and boat insurance. Drivers who store their cars at military bases can get a 15 percent discount on their comprehensive coverage in most states.
Resource: 23 Active Duty Military ID Card Perks You Need to Know About
USAA has also earned high scores for providing excellent customer service, speedy claims, and prompt adjustment approval in a number of customer surveys.
Filing a claim with USAA is a pretty straightforward process. Customers can place calls using a special claims hotline. They can also download a mobile app that allows them to report claims, submit photos, and view a claim’s status.
How Much Does USAA Auto Insurance Cost?
USAA offers three tiers of coverage from which customers can choose: basic, standard, and expanded.
In order to get a good baseline for comparison, here are the specs I included when requesting a quote :
- 2009 Honda Civic
- 75,000 miles
- located in the Northeast
- Two drivers, ages 30-39, with clean driving records
Basic Coverage
When I entered the car/driver info above, I got a quote of $115 per month for Basic Coverage for both my wife and I. This includes:
- Bodily injury liability totaling $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident
- Property damage liability totaling $10,000 per accident
- Comprehensive coverage with a $500 deductible per occurrence
- Collision coverage with a $500 deductible per occurrence
- Rental reimbursement
- Towing and labor
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
- Coverage for medical payments
The deductible and rental reimbursement are what I was looking for, so this was a pretty good option for me. This also meets the minimum required coverage for my state. However, I would like to have a bit more property and bodily injury liability coverage, so I continued on.
Want to Know Your State’s Required Liability Coverage? See a List of Each State’s Minimums Here
Standard Coverage
For just a few more dollars a month, I was offered a much higher liability limit for both property and bodily injury. This is, as mentioned, more than what my state requires by law. I prefer to hold coverage over the minimum anyway, though.
Standard Coverage for the same vehicle was quoted at $130 per month. Here’s what I’ll get in this tier:
- Bodily injury liability totaling $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident
- Property damage liability totaling $50,000 per accident
- Comprehensive coverage with a $500 deductible per occurrence
- Collision coverage with a $500 deductible per occurrence
- Rental reimbursement
- Towing and labor
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
- Coverage for medical payments
Everything is the same — I’ll still be reimbursed for my rental car fees; I’m still covered if someone who is uninsured or underinsured hits me or my car; and, my vehicle will still be towed if needed — except that I have significantly increased my liability coverage.
Expanded Coverage
If I want even more, USAA has one more option for me.
Expanded Coverage offered increased protection for the same vehicle at a quoted price of $140 per month. Here’s what I’ll get at this tier of coverage:
- Bodily injury liability totaling $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident
- Property damage liability totaling $100,000 per accident
- Comprehensive coverage with a $500 deductible per occurrence
- Collision coverage with a $500 deductible per occurrence
- Towing and labor
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
- Coverage for medical payments
It is easy to see after looking at quotes from USAA that the company makes it possible to double, or even triple, your amount of coverage beyond the legal minimum. The added premium essentially boils down to a few extra cents per day.
Learn More: 15 Auto Insurance Discounts You May Be Missing
USAA Auto Insurance Pros and Cons
Pros
- Wide range of coverage options + perks
- Fantastic Mobile App
- Accident Foregiveness
- Excellent Customer Service
Cons
- No Guaranteed Renewal
Is USAA a Good Choice?
USAA should definitely be at the top of your list if your military status (or the military status of a spouse or parent) qualifies you to obtain a policy. This company delivers the total package when it comes to reasonable rates and great service. It consistently earns awards and high rankings from enterprises like J.D. Power and Consumer Reports, and has a great reputation in the industry.
USAA is especially convenient if you’re looking to bundle your auto insurance together with other services, such as checking and savings accounts, property coverage, or loans. To learn more or get a quote, visit their website at USAA.com.
Surprised that you have Collision coverage on a 2009 Civic.
This is just a bad article; likely paid advertising. Nearly all of the ‘perks’ and features you gave are identical to those offered by other large insurance companies. More goes in to pricing than the factors you gave. For me, the price quoted is incredibly high. Granted USAA has great service and most other insurance companies do not. But just because USAA does service well, it doesn’t mean their product is good. I used USAA’s checking, trading and retirement accounts and they were AWFUL.
Thanks for your feedback, Rick. It’s always good to hear all sides and opinions.
The article was simply intended to be informative (not a paid advertisement), especially considering USAA’s perfect customer satisfaction ranking — it would seem that a lot of people are very happy with their choice to use USAA. As a USAA member for over 10 years, I’m personally surprised that you found their services to be awful. That’s unfortunate; I hope you’ve found a different bank that you’re happy with instead.
Thanks for being a Dough Roller reader and offering your feedback!
-Stephanie
Not just him my dear but tens of thousands of others as well. I recently experience one of the worst customer experience situations I’ve had with any company every with USAA. As a result I am closing all of my accounts and I am writing one negative review a day for one year. I suggest you do a bit more homework before you presume that these ridiculous numbers reflect the true experiences people have had.
We have been with usaa for over 20 years.we had an accident in a parking lot. No other car involved just the pole and car. Someone threw eggs at the car. Anyways we just bought the car a few months ago. They considered it a loss. That took almost three weeks just to look at the car. Now we are going on six weeks and still nothing. I’ve called to ask why I’m still paying ins on the car they said they need to talk to claims. Waited a long time he said will call us back still nothing. This is ridiculous to still not have this taken care of. We have everything with usaa. I’m over this company. Very upsetting.
not pleased at all since switching to them 8 months ago. Going back to Farmers much better product and service.
I have been a USAA customer for more than 40 years and have been impressed with their honesty and service on several occasions, relating to things like home robbery, minor auto accidents, major hail damage to car and home, and auto road service. I have been treated well with personal attention. I did not notice any mention of the annual dividend distribution which may be given and kept in an account that one can collect when you terminate. There is also a senior dividend that I recently qualified for, and between the two, my insurance costs are reduced by almost $1000 per year. I am more impressed by their online services than their automated phone service though.
I’ve been with USAA for almost 20 years and love it! All my insurance as well as banking are with the company and they provide the value I want along with fast response, ourstanding customer service, and a yearly rebate. One of my most recent transactions was the loss of food during a statewide ice storm. One phone call was all I needed to have everything replaced in my refrigerator /freezer. The money was deposited within a day and receipts were not required. Having to use your insurance is already stressful and this company makes it as painless as possible.
You should check more carefully. USAA used to be this way, but over the last few years it has changed significantly. Including dropping guaranteed renewal. Now it is basically like any other insurance company. In the past when I would get cold calls to try a new insurance company I could just say I had USAA and that would end the call. Not anymore. I been looking around and I will probably change carriers when my renewal comes up.
My car was hit by an insured of USAA and they accepted fault. USAA then accepted to do repairs and cover the rental. When I picked up the car and dropped off the rental, I was told USAA would not cover the rental because the actual repair time exceeded the actual repair time. At no point was this conveyed as a risk as they simply agreed to cover the rental. There was no communication to Enterprise that the rental would not be covered and no communication to me that the rental was only covered through a certain date. I could have returned the car to avoid the expense. Now, after three calls to USAA, they are outright refusing to pay for the rental. USAA is a scam company just like all the others. Sleazy sleazy sleazy.
I have USAA the cost of my coverage is a little high but am happy with the company.
USAA will not negotiate with individual claimants, and they prey on your lack of knowledge on the ins and out of managing claims. Who gets a lawyer for a 4000 ish claim. There settlement is so unacceptable, that I now have to sue the insured in small claims court for the difference between what I got and what they should have paid me. Lawyer says it’s a pretty clear cut case. Insured was at fault. Also, googled USAA and reviews 2 days ago . . . the bad reviews abounded, could not find a good one. Guess the SEO office has been busy this week stacking the GOOGLE deck. If you ever end up facing these guys . . . don’t even call them . . . just get a lawyer even for a small claim.
Placed a call to USAA to speak to a claims examiner and the rep who answered wasn’t willing to assist me. He said he has no way of looking up an extension for another examiner. How ridiculous that he wouldn’t lift a finger to assist.
I’m in the middle of a claim and like so many others am getting the run around. I am not a usaa (not good enough for capital letters) but was run off the highway by one sustaining injury. Faxed paperwork requested the same day and 15 days later was told the fax was not received (apparently the number was wrong on the face sheet) this company does not cater to veterans since I am one and have many in my family some highly decorated. Very disappointed with their claims of being this great company with high morales. It does not show in the least when you really have to deal with them. I’m thinking I may need a lawyer just to get through ii
First I will say being a USAA member does have perks (I got 5k off of a new built house) but this institution is not Santa Clause and is a bank just like Wells Fargo. My grievance comes in 3 parts. First, I was hit by a woman who ran a red light. She frantically was crying and the police did not right her a citation. USAA gave me the fault for it. I was just starting a new job that was a 70-80 hour work week so I did not have the time to fight over it. It costed me 3k out of pocket (I was a fool without GAAP insurance).
Part 2: I had 2 body shop guys from looking at pictures tell me that the car would not be totaled. The guy at the scrap yard where the car was being kept told me “I’ve been doing this for 30 years and I guarantee that care is not totaled” USAA totaled out the car and would not let me buy it back from them (they fixed it up and sold it for a profit)
#3) I called USAA to get a quote on the new vehicle I bought. They gave me a quote and the first bill was $450 higher on the policy that the guy quoted me before I bought the truck. That one accident was my first accident in 12 years and I had an accident forgiveness policy that was not honored. I will keep my membership for future perks, but this bank is no different than any other bank. If they give you the best deal, go for it…if not, leave like I did for the best price and same coverage.
I have only been with USAA for 2yrs, previously did not have a car and before that was on my parents still. I have not had a single accident or ticket until this week. It was my fault and they have had no issues. I dropped off my car the day of the accident for repairs because it wasn’t legally drivable as per the cop. Had no issues getting my rental and it’s covered for the whole time my car is in the shop. The other guy was uninsured at the time and I live in a state where if you don’t have insurance and there was no injuries, they only honor a claim up to a certain amount. I only pay $150 for their 2nd tier package for my spouse and I for 1 car even though I am under 25 and our renter’s insurance covering up to $100,000. I imagine it will go up now, but still isn’t worth it to switch from looking at quotes. And they told me once I get out all I have to do is upload my dd-214 through the app to keep my discount.
USAA also covers current and former U.S. government 1811 Special Agents. Regardless, I’ve found significantly better rates with other carriers…