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Who has better benefits than USAA car insurance?

USAA offers a well-balanced package, but other insurers stand out in key areas.

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Sarah George
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USAA has a longstanding reputation for its customer service and low rates, and it works a lot like a AAA membership for the military. Most competitors don’t include the exact member offerings that USAA does. However, you have other choices if you’re looking for solid coverage and cheaper rates or want to compare military benefits.

Pros

  • Member benefits. Discounts and member benefits for insurance, banking and investing and active military support for overseas car purchases.
  • Dividend policies. Get an annual check or policy rebate for that year’s profits.
  • Flexible payments. Adjust payment to fit your military pay schedule.
  • Steep discounts. Find savings for low mileage, accident forgiveness and storing your car on base. Plus, reduce your premium up to 60% for a storage policy while on active duty.

Cons

  • Military-affiliated drivers only. Coverage made for military members and their families only.
  • Online claims focus. You can’t file a claim by phone, a personal touch that many customers prefer. However, there is a general support number.
  • Doesn’t cover other vehicles directly. What about your motorcycle or RV? You might have to use third-party coverage to bundle with your USAA policy.

Car insurance similar to USAA

Geico

4 / 5 ★★★★★

Read review
Comparable to USAA, this company offers government-minded service with military benefits like a dedicated customer service team. However, Geico covers drivers outside of the military, and has steep discount opportunities that could lead to a premium lower than USAA.
Pros
  • Discounted rates. Geico offers discount opportunities like bundling with home coverage, safety equipment and a good driver discount.
  • Diverse customer base. The company caters to a variety of customers including federal employees and high-risk drivers.
  • Military benefits. Geico offers exclusive military benefits, including 24/7 customer service, worldwide coverage and military discounts.
  • Flexible payments. The company lets you choose your payment schedule from one to six installments. Military members also have a military pay plan available.
Cons
  • Online claims focus. The company encourages customers to use its online customer service and claims primarily. However, it offers a convenient app.
  • Low customer reviews. Negative reviews on Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau, complain about the company's claims process and settlements.
  • Limited in-person locations. Geico has physical offices in several locations. But you might not get the facetime you're looking for if you don't live within a reasonable distance.
Available statesAll 50 states
Roadside assistanceOptional
Payment schedule12 months, 6 months, custom
Claims methodOnline, Phone, Agent
Accident forgivenessYes

Esurance

4.5 / 5 ★★★★★

Read review
Like USAA, this company stands out for competitive rates. However, you might find its payment options stingy and hidden billing fees unhelpful.
Pros
  • Low rates. Customers enjoy the company's competitive costs for standard and optional coverage like rental car and customized parts coverage.
  • Helpful website and online tools. Esurance provides you with quick online quotes and helpful resources for understanding coverage and lowering your premium.
  • No cancellation fees for military. The company helps its military customers by waiving fees and staying flexible with policy cancellations and reinstatement for active military.
Cons
  • Other possible hidden fees. Customers complain about charges for check payments and billing statements.
  • No local agents. The company keeps business dealings online or by phone, a deal-breaker for those wanting a personal experience.
  • Automatic payments. Setting up automatic payments might conflict with your payment schedule.
  • Negative customer reviews. Over 300 customer complaints on the Better Business Bureau website, include negative reviews about premium increases, billing problems and customer service. However, many drivers tend to only leave reviews after a negative experience.
Available statesAlabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin
Roadside assistance
Payment schedule12 months, monthly
New car protection
Claims methodOnline, Phone, In-person
Accident forgivenessNo

Progressive

4 / 5 ★★★★★

Get quotes
on Progressive's secure site
Similar to USAA, this top national insurer is a transparent company that helps you purchase only the coverage you need at a price that matches your budget. However, it doesn't offer the military benefits that USAA advertises.
Pros
  • Negative feedback. Although the company closes out its complaints, Progressive has over 2,000 complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau.
  • Standard six-month terms. The company keeps a six-month standard policy term, which could mean rate increases sooner than longer-term policies. However, this short term could help active military members on the verge of deployment.
  • No military benefits. The company doesn't advertise any military discounts or benefits, although it might work to meet these honored customers' needs on a case-by-case basis.
Cons
  • Many points of contact. Contact the company with your questions or account needs by phone, mail or online via your account, chat, email, social media or app.
  • Insightful rate tools. Stay inside your budget by using the company's coverage and comparison tools. These tools let you find the coverage you need at your named price and compare rates with competitors.
  • Accident forgiveness. Get small claims or your first major accident waived.
  • Top national insurer. Progressive is a top insurance name with decades of underwriting experience.
Available statesAll 50 states & DC
Roadside assistanceOptional
Payment schedule12 months, 6 months
New car protection
Claims methodonline, phone
Accident forgivenessYes

Compare other car insurance companies

Name Product Roadside assistance New car protection Accident forgiveness Safe driver discount Available states
Allstate
Allstate
Optional
13%
All 50 states
Your dedicated agent can help you find the best savings with multiple discounts and rewards programs.
Get quotes
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Progressive
Progressive
Optional
30%
All 50 states & DC
Discover coverage that’s broader than competitors, valuable discounts up to 30% off and perks like shrinking deductibles that reward no claims.
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More Info
Pretected
Pretected
Optional
Yes
All 50 states
Get your most compatible insurance options via a "smart matching" method aimed at finding you value.
Get quotes
The AARP Auto Insurance Program from the Hartford
The AARP Auto Insurance Program from the Hartford
Optional
Yes
All 50 states
Enjoy low rates for mature drivers, plus perks like new car replacement and lifetime repair guarantees. Only for drivers over age 50.
Get quotes
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Clearcover
Clearcover
Optional
Yes
AZ, CA, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MD, MO, MS, NE, OH, OK, PA, TX, UT, VA, WI & WV
Get instant online support and score a low rate thanks to online data that sets premiums automatically.
Get quotes
More Info
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Compare up to 4 providers

Who has cheaper insurance than USAA?

These top companies compete with USAA in value for coverage, and a few may be cheaper depending on your area, age or driving record.

Cheaper across many age groups
In our comparison, Esurance beat USAA in California and New York across all age groups. But this insurer might not bring the lowest rates by age in other states like Texas or Georgia.
Cheapest for specific geographic areas
Many customers tout this insurer’s cheap rates above all other companies. We found that Geico had lower rates than USAA, especially for New York drivers.
Cheaper in high-density areas
This top insurer has the lowest cost in New York compared to other companies listed here. So it might be a strong option for highly populated areas or states with high average premiums. On the downside, there’s no military discount for extra savings.
On par with Progressive, plus a military discount
Rates here mirrored Progressive’s low rates for highly populated areas, but it also includes a military discount and is bent toward high-risk drivers.

How we compared rates

We compared rates from several USAA competitors using quotes from similar driver profiles. Profile details included:

  • Single
  • Good credit
  • Sedan
  • State minimum insurance
  • Currently insured
  • Driver ages 18, 25, 35, 45, and 56
  • Men and women

Which insurers have military benefits like USAA?

USAA beats many competitors with military benefits because of its wide range of products and membership savings. But Geico and Esurance cater to the military crowd with several benefits also:

Geico

  • 24/7 military-dedicated customer service
  • Custom insurance card
  • Military pay plan
  • Worldwide coverage
  • Military discount up to 15%
  • Emergency deployment discount up to 25%
  • Professional association membership discount, like Navy Federal Credit Union

Esurance

  • No cancellation fees
  • Simple policy reinstatement with proof of deployment
  • No reinstatement surcharges
  • Help to find a new policy if you move outside Esurance service areas

Insurers with military discounts

A handful of insurers also extend a thank you with a discount for military service:

  • Arbella
  • Electric Auto
  • Geico
  • Liberty Mutual
  • Progressive
  • Titan
  • The General

Which insurers have flexible payments like USAA?

CompanyPayment options
Connect (formerly Ameriprise)6-month or customized
ArbellaAnnual or customized
Auto-OwnersAnnual or customized
CameronAnnual or customized
ChubbAnnual or customized
Country Financial6-month, annual or customized
FarmersMonthly or customized plans
Geico1 to 6 installments, annual or customized
Michigan Farm BureauMonthly, 3-month, 6-month or annual
National General6-month, annual or customized
SafecoMonthly or customized

Bottom line

You might not find an exact match to USAA for insurance products, banking and investing products. However, you can compare other car insurance companies to find the flexibility, low rates and military benefits you’re looking for.

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