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Jing Jun Ma is an innovations expert at Finder. With a decade of experience in digital marketing and programming, Jing is a tech and data guy. He wrangles data to make it useful for consumers facing a decision.
Expert Review
Review by
Jing Jun Ma
Military members and their families can get some of the lowest rates and best customer service in the industry. And you don’t have to be in the military, though you do have to be related to someone who has a connection. Customers praise its cheap rates and great claims support, and USAA consistently tops the charts for customer satisfaction.
However, the list of drivers who will qualify is small, and while online account management is great, the online quoting process is lengthy. If you do qualify, it could be worth the extra time to get a quote and potentially save hundreds of dollars a year.
Expert review
Military members and their families can get some of the lowest rates and best customer service in the industry. And you don’t have to be in the military, though you do have to be related to someone who has a connection. Customers praise its cheap rates and great claims support, and USAA consistently tops the charts for customer satisfaction.
However, the list of drivers who will qualify is small, and while online account management is great, the online quoting process is lengthy. If you do qualify, it could be worth the extra time to get a quote and potentially save hundreds of dollars a year.
You don’t need to be in the military to qualify for USAA car insurance, but you will need a connection with the military. 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.
Where is USAA available?
USAA is available in all 50 states.
USAA car insurance quotes
California
New York
Texas
18 year old male
$1,089
$22,888
$1,176
18 year old female
$951
$20,186
$1,125
25 year old male
$489
$7,516
$784
25 year old female
$514
$6,499
$764
35 year old male
$347
$4,024
$460
35 year old female
$372
$4,024
$470
45 year old male
$344
$3,920
$448
45 year old female
$425
$3,920
$456
56 year old male
$403
$3,501
$400
56 year old female
$411
$3,501
$405
To determine our estimated cost, we aggregated quotes from insurance companies using this profile:
Single
Good credit
Sedan
State minimum
Currently insured
What car insurance coverage does USAA offer?
Choosing the right car insurance provider also means finding a policy that works for your situation. USAA offers a range of coverage options to get you the protection you need.
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 extra benefits and add-ons does USAA offer?
USAA offers additional programs and features to supplement its car insurance coverage:
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 file an claim, 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.
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.
Pros and cons of USAA car insurance
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.
How to apply for USAA car 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
Your passport or permanent resident card if you’re not a US citizen
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 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 car 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.
Case study: Adrienne’s experience
Adrienne Fuller
Head of Publishing
I’ve been a USAA member for more than 10 years, having held renters, personal property and auto insurance policies. USAA representatives are always friendly and available with little or no wait times when I call, though customer service is not open late.
I brought my policy to a friend who runs a local insurance agency to see if I could get a better deal. He told me, “Don’t bother — I won’t be able to get you this coverage for a better price.”
I’ve gotten two mortgage preapprovals through USAA, but didn’t end up using them because the rates weren’t as low as going through a broker.
At least as far as insurance goes, I fall into their tagline: It’s safe to say that I’ll be a USAA member for life.
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.
Frequently asked questions about USAA car insurance
Yes, you can either make a one-time payment with a debit or credit card or set up automatic monthly withdrawals from a USAA checking account.
No, but you must meet USAA’s eligibility requirements. Coverage is available to:
Those with current US military affiliation, including the National Guard and Reserves
Any military personnel with an honorable discharge
Those in the process of joining the US military
Spouses and parents of those who have served in the US military
Yes, USAA claims you’re covered across the country or around the globe, no matter where your military assignments take you.
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.
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.
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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