MoneyGeek Logo IconBadge ribbonscore81

1/5

discounts

4.5/5

complaints

5/5

satisfaction

5/5

stability

4.9/5

affordability


pros

checkmarkCheap insurance policies for all types of drivers
checkmarkHigh customer satisfaction rating and good claim management record
checkmarkRideshare insurance is available

cons

closeOnly provides auto insurance to veterans, active military personnel and their family members
closeNo unique coverages

Verdict

USAA has an excellent customer satisfaction rating and an above-average score for customer complaints. USAA is inexpensive for all driver types. MoneyGeek found that it has cheap auto insurance for drivers with a violation, young drivers and those who want minimum or full coverage.

Check out MoneyGeek's resources on the cheapest car insurance companies and best auto insurance providers to learn more about USAA and other insurers. To compare USAA to other insurers, use MoneyGeek's car insurance company comparison tool.

How Does USAA Rank for Customer Service?

Global and third-party rating agencies put USAA ahead of the competition. From its financial health to its consumer satisfaction, USAA insurance is one of the best insurance companies in the industry. According to the Satmetrix Net Promoter Benchmark Study, USAA is ranked as a leader in the auto insurance industry from 2010 to 2018. The Net Promoter Score is issued by NICE Satmetrix, a trusted industry-standard rating agency in gauging the loyalty of a company’s customer experience. A high score suggests that a certain organization provides superior service compared to its competitors and is used to predict revenue growth.

Customer Satisfaction Rating

First Notice of Loss:
5/5
Estimation of Process:
4/5
Repair Process:
4/5
Claims Servicing:
5/5
Rental Experience:
5/5
Settlement:
4/5

According to J.D. Power's 2019 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Survey metrics, USAA’s casualty insurance contingent stands out.

Customer Complaint Ratio

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is an organization that measures customer service standards. It’s a national regulatory body with a joint purpose of establishing best-practice insurance standards.

The NAIC issues the Company Complaint Index, which tracks the number of public complaints against insurance companies. The index is calculated by comparing the number of each insurer’s complaints to the national median. The default national median is 1.00. It’s ideal for companies to fall below this number, which indicates fewer than expected complaints. USAA is rated at 1.74.

USAA Auto Insurance Quotes: How Much Does it Cost?

MoneyGeek gathered auto insurance quotes from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., which includes the 47 states where USAA sells auto insurance and averaged them for sample drivers. In every state that USAA is available for car insurance, MoneyGeek’s data determined it is inexpensive, costing an average of $883 per year.

During our research, we examined numerous driver profiles and determined that USAA is inexpensive for all — drivers who purchase full coverage insurance, the state minimum mandated coverage, young drivers or those with a speeding ticket.

You should do some comparison shopping if you want to find the cheapest auto insurance coverage. And always consider that price isn't the only thing to evaluate; financial strength, complaint ratios and other factors are also important.

Average Annual Cost of Car Insurance with USAA versus National Average

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  • Driver Type
    USAA Average Rate
    National Average
  • Full Coverage
    $883
    $1,405
  • Minimum Coverage
    $409
    $740
  • Speeding Ticket on Record
    $1,015
    $1,796
  • 18-Year-Old Driver
    $2,382
    $4,997

Is USAA Car Insurance Expensive or Cheap? Why?

USAA is cheap for young or inexperienced drivers, drivers with a speeding ticket and those choosing minimum or full coverage.

Insurance company's, including USAA, are not transparent about how they calculate car insurance costs. But USAA has cheap and competitive auto insurance rates for all driver types and strong ratings for customer satisfaction and claims management. Young drivers are especially likely to save with USAA for auto insurance since many other insurers charge them high rates because of inexperience.

Remember, though, that you must have a military background to be eligible for USAA.

Insurance Rates

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Discounts Offered by USAA That Can Help You Save

You can apply discounts to reduce the cost of your USAA auto insurance coverage. USAA offers many of the market's typical auto insurance discounts, including bundling, multiple car, good student, safe driving and defensive driving. The only typical discounts it does not provide are anti-theft system, pay-in-full, paperless and airbags.

USAA does offer discounts that are not available through some insurance carriers. The discounts include loyalty and military, which apply to garaging your vehicle on base. The vehicle storage discount can also help you save substantially on your policy (up to 60%).

Car Insurance Comparison Tool

Compare your personalized insurance options side by side, in 3 simple steps

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Note: The cost of car insurance is highly personalized and varies from driver to driver. Auto insurance companies weigh several factors when considering your rate, including age, driving record, address, the type of car you drive and more. The MoneyGeek calculator estimates how much you could pay for car insurance, without entering your personal information. The estimator can help you decide if it's time to switch car insurance companies or find a provider that fits your needs and budget.

Does USAA Offer Broad or Unique Coverage?

USAA offers standard liability coverage, comprehensive and collision insurance like other auto insurers. The company also provides some of the most common add-on auto insurance coverages: roadside assistance, rental car and/or travel reimbursement and accident forgiveness. Rideshare insurance coverage is also available through USAA. But, a USAA policy cannot include other common add-on coverages like new car replacement, better car replacement, gap insurance and deductible modification.

Additionally, USAA does not provide any unique insurance coverages.

What Online Auto Insurance Tools Does USAA Offer?

USAA isn’t too innovative in providing ways to customize your policy. But its customer support platform is dense with helpful informational resources, clearly not an afterthought like some insurers’ features are. Special discounts for active military personnel make up for the lack of creativity in policy design.

  • Type of Feature
    Description
  • Online Price Quotes
    To get an estimate, you’re screened to determine eligibility, and you need to create an online account first.
  • Payment Options
    USAA allows you to set a flexible payment plan at no additional cost. But restrictions apply and you must live in certain states.
  • Mobile App
    Their mobile app is robust. You can manage a variety of insurance, banking, investing and other services through it.
  • Calculators
    Auto, home, savings and debt and retirement calculators are available.
  • Financial Advice
    USAA goes above and beyond to provide consultation for its policyholders. Personalized expertise ranges from buying a home and car, retirement planning, military life and more.

Other USAA Insurance Products

In addition to auto insurance, USAA offers a broad portfolio of casualty insurance products. Bundling your auto insurance with either your home or renter’s insurance policy can save you up to 10% on your premium. Below are other types of insurance USAA sells. Each description below is subject to various terms, conditions and restrictions.

  • Type of Product
    Description
  • Homeowners Insurance
    Covers dwelling, personal belongings, home-sharing, earthquake, loss-of-use, personal liability and other structures. Allows you to customize your policy.
  • Renters Insurance
    Covers liability and personal assets. Flood and earthquake coverage are standard features of USAA’s basic policy. Also protects belongings during moving, but doesn’t cover damages due to temperature changes.
  • Condo Insurance
    Goes beyond the condo association master policy coverage. Options include all-in-one, bare walls and personal belongings policies.
  • Landlord Insurance
    Offers protection for property that you rent out; also called landlord insurance. Includes income replacement, personal liability and home-sharing coverage.
  • Flood Insurance
    Damages from floods aren’t covered in home insurance policies. This insurance covers situations where floods could arise.

Financial Strength

AM Best verifies insurance companies' financials to certify that they have enough capital to stay in business. That certification check is known as the AM Best Financial Strength Rating.

Rankings are not a warranty for policyholders. They’re meant to signify fiduciary strength. USAA received an A++ as their AM Best Financial Strength Rating.

Insurance Rates

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How to Make a Car Insurance Claim With USAA

Claims with USAA are filed online. After logging into the claims portal, follow the online prompts. You can also use the USAA mobile app.

Contact USAA Car Insurance

Methodology and Assumptions

To evaluate and review auto insurance companies, MoneyGeek carefully weighs factors such as price, financial strength, policy features, customer satisfaction, service and other leading indicators. MoneyGeek also references publicly available data from industry leaders such as J.D. Power, AM Best, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and the Better Business Bureau. Learn more about MoneyGeek’s review methodology here.

About Eric Brown


Eric Brown headshot

Eric is a senior writer and content strategist who writes about personal finance, insurance, real estate, investing and more. His lived experience informs his expertise on these topics: Eric served as a Licensed Real Estate Salesperson for Century 21 Metropolitan in New York City and sold commercial, residential and rental real estate. He also holds an Investment Foundations certification issued by the CFA Institute. Eric earned his Master of Science in Interactive Media from DePaul University.


sources