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Enjoy discounts and coverage tailored for military members and their family.
Shopping for car insurance can be frustrating, and the confusing terms and company gimmicks can make your search for the best deal even more difficult. Not to mention that it’s no fun shopping and paying for something you hope you’ll never use.
USAA makes the business of car insurance as simple as possible. Its focus on service for its members makes it one of the highest ranking companies in customer satisfaction year after year. Military members and family will love services tailored to military families, including temporary insurance, deployed discounts and overseas vehicle purchase support.
USAA offers affordable car insurance with highly rated customer service to millions of military members and their families. Only available to military members, veterans and affiliated military members.
States served
All 50 states
Roadside assistance
Included free
Pay schedule
12 months, 6 months, custom
Claims methods
online
New car protection
No
Pros
Save when you bundle your home and car insurance
Driver & vehicle discounts
24/7 claims service through USAA’s free mobile app.
Membership savings
Get dividends from company profits
Flexible premium payments
Cons
Limited to current and former members of the US military and their families only
Online only support
Defensive driving discount
Yes
Good student discount
Yes
Loyalty discount
Yes
Homeowner discount
No
Military discount
Yes
Safety device discount
Special employment discount
Yes
Usage-based discount
Other discounts
vehicle storage - get up to 60% discount when storing an insured car
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Who is USAA best for?
USAA only offers financial services to members of the military and their families, meaning most of the general public won’t be able to take advantage of its products. You can become a member if you, your spouse or your parents were honorably discharged or are currently serving in any branch of the military including the National Guard and Reserves.
Of the many financial institutions that offer auto insurance and other financial services to members of the military, USAA is one of the highest rated. This company repeatedly gets high scores for customer service and online experience with its focus on quality customer support and an easy online process through its app and website.
USAA consistently offers low rates with good coverage, so in addition to military members, USAA is a solid option for drivers under 25, drivers who want cheap insurance and drivers who need temporary coverage.
What is USAA car insurance?
Founded in 1922, USAA serves members of the military and their families by offering competitive rates on car insurance and many other financial products and needs. Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, this provider serves over 12 million members across the nation. According to JD Power’s auto insurance studies, the company is one of the highest ranking providers for overall purchase experience and customer satisfaction.
Where is USAA available?
USAA is available in all 50 states.
Who qualifies for USAA car insurance?
You don’t need to be in the military to qualify for USAA car insurance, but you will need a connection with the military or USAA car insurance. Basically, you can qualify if you have ever been in the military or military training or if your parent or spouse has ever had USAA car insurance. You can qualify if you meet one of these criteria.
Current US military members. People who are currently serving in the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, National Guard, Navy or Reserves.
Veterans. People who have retired or left the military with an honorable discharge.
Spouses. People whose spouses had USAA car or property insurance while married. Also applies to former spouses who were widowed or divorced and not remarried.
Family of military members. Current spouses and people whose parents have ever had USAA auto or property insurance.
Military students. Cadets at US academies, students in advanced ROTC or on ROTC scholarship and officer candidates within 2 years of commissioning.
USAA car insurance quotes
Your exact quote is based on your driving history, vehicle and level of coverage. To give you an idea of how much you might pay for USAA car insurance, compare sample quotes for drivers living in the state of New York. These rates are for a married driver with good credit wanting great coverage for a newer sedan.
Age
Annual cost for men
Annual cost for women
15-18
$6,700
$6,012
18-21
$3,487
$3,230
22-25
$3,007
$2,917
26-30
$2,819
$2,814
31-35
$2,683
$2,728
36-45
$2,545
$2,614
46-55
$2,507
$2,530
56+
$2,530
$2,527
To get these quotes, we averaged rates across all New York state zip codes.
Good credit
Married
31-35 years old
2017 Toyota Camry LE
$100/$300 liability
$100,000 property damage
$25/$50 uninsured motorist bodily injury
$100/$300 underinsured motorist bodily injury
50,000 personal injury protection
50,000 personal injury protection medical
$100 personal injury protection deductible
$500 comprehensive
$500 collision coverage
What car insurance coverage does USAA offer?
Bodily injury liability. This protects you if you injure someone with your car, but it doesn’t cover damage to you or your car.
Personal injury protection coverage. Pays for the medical expenses of an injured driver and passengers in your car.
Uninsured motorists’ coverage. Covers you for damages and injuries caused by an uninsured driver.
Comprehensive coverage. Covers you for damages other than a collision, like vandalism, weather or theft.
Collision coverage. Pays for damage to your car when your car hits or is hit by another car.
Emergency roadside service. Helps if you break down and you need roadside repairs.
Rental reimbursement. Covers the cost of a rental car while yours is being repaired.
SR-22. A certificate of insurance for users who’ve have DUI convictions or are caught driving uninsured.
Temporary or non-owner insurance.Temporary liability coverage for rented or borrowed vehicles used stateside, including for personal leave or temporary military assignment.
What discounts can I get with USAA?
USAA understands the unique needs of military members and their families. Not only does it provide auto insurance at competitive rates, it offers a handful of discounts that can further reduce your premiums.
Accident forgiveness. After five years of no accidents, your premium won’t go up after one at-fault accident.
Low mileage discount. If you’re deployed and don’t use your car much, you’ll save based on your annual mileage.
New vehicle. Reduced premiums on vehicles that are less than three years old.
Multi-vehicle. Receive a discount when you extend your coverage to two or more vehicles.
Safe driver. Receive a discount for maintaining a clean driving record for three years.
Driver training. Drivers under the age of 21 can get better rates upon completion of a basic driver training course.
Good student. You can receive discounted rates for maintaining good grades as a student.
Defensive driving. Improve your driving skills and reduce your premiums by taking an approved course.
Family loyalty discount. Save up to 10% by staying on your parents’ USAA car insurance policy.
Military installation discount. Save up to 15% on comprehensive coverage when you store your vehicle on a military base.
Length of membership savings. Save more money on your policy based on how long you stay with this provider.
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Does USAA offer any special programs?
Some providers offer discounts or special programs if certain conditions are met. These programs can make for cheaper premiums, better coverage, or added convenience. Here are the programs that USAA offers:
Pay based on your schedule. If your paydays don’t fall on a typical schedule, you can set up premium payments based on when you get paid.
Manage your account online. When you can’t get to an agent in person, USAA’s convenient online tool makes it easy to put in claims, pay bills, request ID cards and more.
Car buying support. USAA’s Overseas Vehicle Purchase Program helps military members get a car if they’re stationed overseas for more than 30 days, with car purchase discounts and delivery to duty stations.
Learning center. USAA offers a handful of resources to help customers learn about the products and services it offers. Visit a USAA Financial Center in person in Colorado, New York, Maryland or Texas, or use their online resource center to get all your car insurance and finance questions answered.
Member rewards. Once you’ve become a USAA member, you can earn membership rewards and discounts, similar to a AAA membership. You don’t have to sign up for USAA car insurance to receive these rewards.
What’s not covered by USAA auto insurance?
Some providers can be a bit picky regarding the vehicles that they insure. Not USAA. This provider offers auto insurance for all types of personal vehicles. For special vehicles like motorcycles, collector cars and motor homes, USAA offers coverage through third party carriers. This means that your policy will be underwritten by one of the carriers affiliated with USAA.
Pros and cons
Pros
Driver discounts. Get discounts for safe drivers, good students, driver training and defensive driving courses.
Vehicle discounts. Get discounts for new vehicles, low mileage, coverage on multiple vehicles and vehicles that are in storage.
24/7 claims service. Report or check your claim through USAA’s free mobile app.
Membership savings. Savings are offered to military families and to those in military installations.
Company profits. Members are entitled to a portion of the company profits each year, paid out by check or as a rebate on coverage fees.
Flexible payments. Pay premiums yearly, monthly or on your military pay schedule.
Cons
Limited membership. USAA is only available to current and former members of the US military and their families.
Online only. You won’t be able to talk with a USAA agent in person.
What do customers say about USAA?
USAA is one of the highest ranking auto insurance providers according to JD Power and a handful of other online resources. While it isn’t accredited on the official BBB website, it does hold an A+ rating and a composite score of 3.79 out of 5 stars, based on 302 customer reviews.
Reviews on the Trustpilot website seem to be more negative in nature, but the majority of these complaints address concerns with mortgages and other financial products, not auto insurance.
Most USAA auto insurance customers seem very satisfied with the service. After browsing multiple forums for any downsides to this provider, the general consensus was that customers seem to be very happy with the prices, claims and customer service that this provider offers.
How to apply for USAA auto insurance
In order to enroll in USAA auto insurance, you’ll first need to be a member of the institution.
Once you’ve joined USAA, log in and follow the steps to set up your online account.
After you’ve logged in and set up online access, enter your details and get a free customized quote.
Read through the full details of your quote and then sign up to get coverage that can start today.
What information do I need to apply?
You’ll enter basic contact information about yourself, and you’ll need some personal information about whichever member of your family was in the military, including their Social Security number.
Your birthdate, contact info and Social Security number
Information about you or your family member’s military service, possibly including Social Security number
Your passport or permanent resident card if you’re not a US citizen
How to file a claim with USAA auto insurance
If you get in an accident and need to file a claim, USAA makes it very easy to get the claims process started. You can file online or with their mobile app.
Visit the auto insurance claims page on the USAA website.
Select the type of claim that best explains your situation.
Log in to your online account.
Follow the steps to provide all necessary information and documentation.
How to contact USAA
Fortunately, USAA makes it very easy to get in touch. For general questions, you can visit the contact and support center, which offers answers to a handful of popular questions for each of its services. For more specific questions, you can use the find a phone number/address section to locate the relevant contact information.
USAA provides a wide variety of financial products to service members. You can manage them all from the mobile app, which lets you do anything from report an insurance claim to check stock quotes and pay bills. You can also qualify for some of them without the same military affiliation requirements.
Insurance for cars, life, homes, rentals, businesses, health and dental
Banking including checking accounts and credit cards
Vehicle loans including motorcycles, cars, boats and RVs
Investments
Retirement portfolios and wealth management services
Home loans including VA loans and HELOCs
USAA auto insurance competitors
Bottom line
USAA is a great one stop shop for current and former members of the US military and their families. You’ll get competitive rates on car insurance and a trusted source for your insurance, banking, investment and real estate advice. But you’ll need to be eligible for a membership with USAA before you can take advantage of its deals.
Hi, I would like to know the rules for a 15-year-old drivers get using my vehicle to learn how to drive, I am insured with usaa and we all live in the same household
The rules for a 15-year old looking to learn how to drive depends on the state you live in.
As for the state of Florida, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) has implemented a graduated driver licensing (GDL) law. The program requires all teen drivers to achieve certain milestones prior to obtaining a driver’s license. Many of these milestones are based on age and experience.
For driver’s under the age of 18, must complete the following stages of the Florida GDL program:
Learner’s permit – starts at age 15
Intermediate driver’s license/provisional license – 16 to 17 years old.
Full privilege driver’s license – 18 years old.
I am currently looking for a short term (temporary) insurance for our truck when we come into the USA, our coverage that we have now, does not allow for short term. Thank you
Thanks for reaching out to us. I hope all is well with you today.
Kindly go to this page for a list of short-term car insurance options. We have a panel on the said page wherein you may enter the zip code in your area so you would be able to view the list.
Please take time in reviewing the relevant information as well as the Product Disclosure Statements / Terms & Conditions of each option before making a decision on which one would suit your needs.
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Hi, I would like to know the rules for a 15-year-old drivers get using my vehicle to learn how to drive, I am insured with usaa and we all live in the same household
Hi Kristin!
Thanks for your message!
The rules for a 15-year old looking to learn how to drive depends on the state you live in.
As for the state of Florida, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) has implemented a graduated driver licensing (GDL) law. The program requires all teen drivers to achieve certain milestones prior to obtaining a driver’s license. Many of these milestones are based on age and experience.
For driver’s under the age of 18, must complete the following stages of the Florida GDL program:
Learner’s permit – starts at age 15
Intermediate driver’s license/provisional license – 16 to 17 years old.
Full privilege driver’s license – 18 years old.
For more information, you can contact DHSMV.
Hope this helps!
Nikki
I am currently looking for a short term (temporary) insurance for our truck when we come into the USA, our coverage that we have now, does not allow for short term. Thank you
Hi Janet,
Thanks for reaching out to us. I hope all is well with you today.
Kindly go to this page for a list of short-term car insurance options. We have a panel on the said page wherein you may enter the zip code in your area so you would be able to view the list.
Please take time in reviewing the relevant information as well as the Product Disclosure Statements / Terms & Conditions of each option before making a decision on which one would suit your needs.
I hope this helps.
Warm regards,
Judith