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finder.com's rating: 5 / 5
★★★★★
optional
Roadside assistance
New car protection
Accident forgiveness
States served | All 50 states |
---|---|
Roadside assistance | Optional |
Accident forgiveness | Yes |
New car protection | No |
Pay schedule | 12 months, 6 months, custom |
Claims methods | Online, Phone |
Rideshare coverage | Yes |
SR-22 support |
Yes |
Anti-theft device discount | Yes |
---|---|
Bundling discount | Yes |
Defensive driving discount | Yes |
Good student discount | Yes |
Loyalty discount | Yes, up to 10% |
Homeowner discount | Yes |
Military discount | Yes |
Safety device discount | Yes |
Special employment discount | Yes |
Usage-based discount | Yes |
Review by
Roslyn McKenna is an insurance publisher for Finder, where she's driven to help people get a great deal on insurance to protect their families and finances. Roslyn earned a BA in writing and communications from Maryville College and has written professionally for more than a decade, showing up on Bankrate, MSN and Reader's Digest.
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 qualify is small, and while online account management is great, the online quoting process is long. If you qualify, it could be worth a quote to potentially save hundreds of dollars a year.
To enroll in USAA auto insurance, you’ll first need to be a member of the institution.
You’ll enter basic contact information about yourself, and you’ll need the personal information of whichever family member was in the military, including their Social Security number.
USAA understands the unique needs of military members and their families, offering standard plus several rare discounts you won’t find elsewhere.
Choosing the right car insurance company also means finding a policy that works for your situation. USAA offers a range of coverage options to get you the protection you need.
USAA offers additional programs and features to supplement its car insurance coverage:
USAA is one of the highest-ranking auto insurance companies according to J.D. Power along with other online resources. This company repeatedly gets high customer and online experience scores with its focus on quality support and a convenient app and website.
USAA also holds an A- rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) for customer interactions as of February 2021, though it’s not BBB accredited.
However, Trustpilot reviews trend slightly negative, although most reviews involve mortgages and financial products other than car insurance.
Customers reviewing on forums generally are satisfied with USAA’s cheap prices, claims and customer service. And comparison sites like NerdWallet and WalletHub agree that those who qualify should get a quote.
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.
Roslyn McKenna
Insurance Publisher
I applied for a quote with USAA when my policy was up for renewal. The quote process to become a member is quite lengthy, so be prepared with info on your military connection, such as a Social Security Number and details about your or your family member’s service. Also note that your family member will get an email or call to notify them that you’ve set up a membership.
After going through the entire process and getting a car insurance quote, unfortunately the rates I was quoted were roughly 30% higher than my current policy.
I know USAA is well known for having the best service, but I decided to stick with Geico because I like the online account management and cheap rates.
However, now that I’m a member, I can use my USAA membership to get other insurance quotes and get discounts unrelated to car insurance.
Interested to see how USAA compares to other top-rated insurers? Check the compare box for up to four companies to see how they stack up side by side.
Our editorial team grades every insurance company in four categories: coverage options, customer satisfaction, cost and financial strength. USAA scored the highest marks in customer satisfaction, according to the BBB and NAIC.
However, we found poor reviews on Trustpilot, citing denied or delayed auto insurance claims. Its low 1.4 out of 5 stars is similar to Geico and Progressive, but far below the 3-star average that most companies get. Consider that many people only write reviews when their feedback is negative.
USAA also provides some of the cheapest rates available for coverage and discounts that fit many drivers’ needs. It includes unique military perks like support for buying a car overseas, discounts for storing your car on base and customized payment plans.
In our editorial opinion from comparing hundreds of car insurers, the only reason not to get a USAA quote is that you don’t qualify for membership. Otherwise, you could save hundreds of dollars each year and enjoy top customer service.
You don’t need to be in the military to qualify for USAA car insurance, but you need a connection with the military. You qualify if you’ve been in the military or are in military training, or if your parent or spouse has ever had USAA car insurance.
You qualify if you meet one of these criteria:
To get an idea of what you may pay, we got USAA quotes for state minimum coverage for a man and woman in the two most populated states.
These are some of the cheapest rates you can find, especially for younger drivers who pay on average $100 per month or more.
California | Texas | |
---|---|---|
18 year old man | $91 | $98 |
18 year old woman | $79 | $94 |
25 year old man | $41 | $65 |
25 year old woman | $43 | $64 |
35 year old man | $30 | $38 |
35 year old woman | $31 | $39 |
45 year old man | $29 | $37 |
45 year old woman | $35 | $38 |
55 year old man | $34 | $33 |
55 year old woman | $34 | $34 |
USAA doesn’t sell insurance through local agents, but some specialty products like motorcycle or commercial auto insurance are sold through third-party companies. If you don’t live near a branch location, contact a representative by phone at 800-531-8722.
USAA has four branch locations nationwide. If you’re near one of these locations, you can meet with a representative about your insurance or financial needs. Contact or visit a location at:
Location | Phone number | Address |
---|---|---|
Phoenix, Arizona | 800-531-8722 | 1 Norterra Drive Phoenix, AZ 85085 |
Annapolis, Maryland | 410-919-9197 | 125 Prince George St Annapolis, MD 21401 |
Colorado Springs, Colorado | 719-244-9041 | 1855 Telstar Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80920 |
Highland Falls, New York | 845-839-7021 | 529 Main Street Highland Falls, NY 10928 |
San Antonio, Texas | 210-301-9947 | 10750 McDermott Fwy San Antonio, TX 78288 |
USAA offers standard options for bundling car and property insurance together. And taking advantage can turn into savings of 10% off your total premiums. You can bundle these policies with car insurance to save:
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