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USAA, which is an acronym for United Services Automobile Association, is the premier insurance provider for former and current military members. Through its free membership, military service members can qualify for a range of insurance products, including auto insurance. Car insurance through USAA is competitively priced and offers numerous discounts, with potential savings of up to $725 per year by switching, according to the company website. 

USAA auto insurance is highly rated, with a stellar score of 871 in J.D. Power’s latest auto insurance customer satisfaction study. You can get auto insurance coverage through USAA across the US in all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia as well as some locations internationally.

Types of Car Insurance Plans from USAA 

Car insurance isn’t just a smart idea to protect you and others — generally, there’s a minimum requirement for liability coverage designated by your state. 

USAA offers four primary types of car insurance that cover a variety of events. You can mix and match and combine coverage types for maximum protection. Car insurance coverage offered by USAA includes:

• Liability coverage: Your state will likely have specific minimum liability coverage requirements. This coverage pays for damage to another party’s vehicle and can protect your finances if the other driver is injured or dies because of a car accident. It’s important to note that there are minimum limits and you may want to get higher limits. To get even more protection, you can opt for an umbrella policy that provides more robust limits. 
• Collision coverage: This option covers the costs of damages to your car related to collisions. So if you’re in a collision with another vehicle, or end up hitting an object like a pole or mailbox, you can file a claim to fix your car. 
• Comprehensive coverage: Getting comprehensive coverage protects you from other events that can damage your car that are not collision-related. These events can include such things as hail, debris, fires, flood, and more. 
• Uninsured and underinsured coverage: Though there are requirements, not every driver may have car insurance coverage or enough in the event of an accident. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage can pay for injuries if you’re hurt and there isn’t enough coverage to pay for it. In some cases, it may also cover damage to your vehicle in the event of a hit-and-run. 

These are the main USAA car insurance options to choose from if you’re looking for standard coverage. But you can also expand your benefits by choosing one of the optional coverage types. 

Additional Coverage Options From USAA Car Insurance

If you want to round out your car insurance benefits, you can look into optional coverages available through USAA. These include: 

• Roadside assistance: If you want to make sure you have someone to help you out if you need a tow or a jumpstart, getting roadside assistance is a smart idea. The best roadside assistance plans can also provide help with flat tires or bring gas to you if your car stops running because your tank is on “E.” Plus, you get help if you’re locked out or if you get stuck. Most of these services will be covered at no cost. USAA also has a high towing limit of 50 miles. You can request help through the app in a few minutes and someone will come within 1-1.5 hours. 
• Rental reimbursement: If your car is out of commission due to an accident or other qualified loss, this coverage can reimburse you for a rental. That way you still have a way to get around but won’t incur all the costs. 
• Rideshare gap protection: If you drive through ride-sharing apps, you may want to consider this protection which helps cover you while you wait for your next ride to be booked. Typically your regular coverage will cover you if you’re not working with the app and the ride-share company may cover some events if you’re performing duties related to the app. 
• Umbrella insurance: Liability coverage may have limits that don’t cover you in severe events and your personal assets may be at risk. Umbrella insurance through USAA can get you up to a million dollars in coverage.
• Classic car insurance: If you’re a classic car collector or enthusiast, you can get specialized auto insurance through USAA and American Collectors Insurance. This takes into consideration the worth of your car and mileage and can provide unique benefits catered to your situation. 

How Much Does USAA Car Insurance Cost?

Car insurance premiums are influenced by many different factors. These can include things like driving history, miles driven, type of car, age, where you live, your gender, your credit (which is not legal in all states), and more. 

Plus, your rate will depend on the car insurance provider as well as the coverage options you purchase. Based on USAA data, members could save up to $725 per year when switching auto insurance providers and getting a policy with USAA. 

According to The Zebra, USAA monthly premiums are an average of $114 per month. To find out how much USAA car insurance costs, it’s best to get a quote with your personal information for accuracy. 

USAA Car Insurance Discounts

To lower USAA car insurance costs, you may qualify for the following discounts:

• Get up to 30% off with USAA SafePilot if in a qualifying state. You download an app, which can track your safe driving habits. 
• Save up to 10% when you bundle home insurance with car insurance policies with USAA. 
• You can get up to 15% off if you’re on a military base and put your vehicle in a garage. 
• You may qualify for additional discounts if you store your car or have low annual mileage.
• Automatic payments can get you up to 3% off of auto insurance coverage through USAA. 
• Get up to 10% off if your parents have a USAA policy through the MyUSAA™ Legacy Discount. 
• Score a discount when teen drivers get good grades. 
• If you insure more than one vehicle, you can get a multi-vehicle discount. 

How to File a Claim With USAA Car Insurance

You can file a claim with USAA via the mobile app. The app allows you to submit photos of your car’s damage and keep tabs on your claim so you know the status. 

You can also file a claim on your USAA account on your desktop. The process will take about 15 minutes and can be done at any time. Once you submit, you’ll get a claims representative assigned to your case. 

You’ll need to include:

• Names of all parties involved
• Insurance info for all parties involved
• Time, date, and location of the incident
• Vehicle make and model for all parties involved 

You’ll want to take good-quality photos of the damage as well. According to the USAA website, you submit a claim sharing details of the incident, get an inspection, then receive your payment after the deductible is taken out. Then you can proceed with repairs so you can get back on the road. Depending on the nature of your claim, it may take up to several weeks to resolve your claim. 

USAA Car Insurance Frequently Asked Questions

Methodology: How We Evaluated USAA Car Insurance

To review USAA car insurance, we followed our insurance rating methodology. We looked at major auto insurance providers and their offerings, and we focused on competitive pricing, customer satisfaction, accessibility, technology, coverage options available, and eligibility requirements. 

Though USAA has a limited audience, its technology-forward claims process, affordability, and high customer satisfaction make it an enticing option for those who qualify. Plus, USAA covers all the standard auto insurance bases and has optional coverage for additional protections. 

How USAA Auto Insurance Compares

USAA vs. GEICO Car Insurance 

GEICO is well-known for its affordable car insurance coverage. According to The Zebra, the average monthly premium for GEICO is $129 per month. This is slightly higher than USAA’s $114 per month average premium. Though the cost is a bit higher, GEICO doesn’t have the eligibility restrictions that USAA has. 

GEICO offers similar coverage options, but has a unique option that USAA doesn’t — mechanical breakdown insurance. This can help cover repairs in the event your car breaks down. Similar to USAA, GEICO also has a high level of customer satisfaction. 

Read our GEICO auto insurance review.

USAA vs. Progressive Car Insurance 

Progressive car insurance has many of the same coverage options as USAA but also has a unique additional coverage option called custom parts and equipment value. This can help you cover costs for any specific custom parts that you added to your vehicle. So if you’ve made changes to your vehicle, this can be an attractive option.

Progressive also has a unique deductible savings account bank feature, which can help lower your deductible if you don’t file a claim during a specified period. You can also use Progressive’s Name Your Price tool to see what options are within your budget. 

Both USAA and Progressive offer bundling discounts, but USAA estimates up to a 10% discount whereas Progressive estimates an average of 4% savings, so USAA may be better for bundling. 

Read our Progressive auto insurance review.

USAA vs. State Farm Car Insurance 

USAA is only available for a certain population, whereas State Farm car insurance is a major national provider of car insurance coverage. 

State Farm and USAA both offer standard coverage options and have similar optional coverage types. State Farm states that you could save up to 24% if you have multiple policies with State Farm, which is more than USAA’s estimated savings of up to 10%. 

State Farm coverage stands out for its teen driver coverage and discounts available. Good grades could lower costs by 25% and through Steer Clear, drivers under 25 with no moving violations within three years could qualify for discounts of up to 15%. 

There are also many State Farm agents that can support you in the insurance buying process, but it may be wise to get quotes and shop around first. 

Read our State Farm auto insurance review.