USAA Insurance Review
- With an overall score of 4.6/5 in 2024, USAA is a top-notch insurance company
- Read more about USAA's reviews, complaints and prices before you buy
USAA insurance: Ratings and reviews
USAA is one of the top car insurance companies in the nation by market share. Perhaps more importantly, the company regularly tops customer satisfaction surveys, including those conducted by The Zebra and JD Power. USAA currently has some of the industry's best overall scores in terms of customer and claims satisfaction. Below, we'll dive into our ratings, pricing data and policy options to see if USAA car insurance is right for you.
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Top customer satisfaction scores
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A wide range of coverage options and benefits
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Affordable premiums
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Car buying tools and discounts with some manufacturers
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Limited eligibility
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Limited physical locations for those who prefer in-person meetings
Is USAA a good insurance company?
The Zebra's review focuses heavily on how well USAA scores in terms of customer service. We looked at the following third-party ratings to help determine our ratings.
Claims Satisfaction:Â Above average
- USAA earned Above average marks in J.D. Power's most recent auto claims satisfaction study[1]
Customer Satisfaction: Above average
- J.D. Power also rated USAA as Above average in overall auto customer satisfaction[2]
Complaint Index: Below average
- The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) receives Below average customer complaints for USAA[3]
Financial Strength: A+ Superior
- USAA received an A+ Superior financial strength rating from A.M. Best for its ability to pay out claims[4]
The Zebra Customer Satisfaction Survey
Alongside third-party ratings, we also used the results from The Zebra's consumer survey ranking car insurance companies based on real customer feedback. In this survey, USAA ranked an impressive 8.95/10 overall, coming in 1st among large car insurers and near the top in many individual categories.
9.08/10 — USAA was the top-ranked car insurance company in terms of trustworthiness
8.91/10 – USAA ranked 4th for claims satisfaction among large insurers
8.89/10 – USAA ranked 3rd for ease among large insurers.
8.98/10 – USAA ranked 1st for customer service satisfaction among large insurers.
8.93/10 – USAA ranked 1st for likelihood to recommend among large insurers
8.98/10 – USAA ranked 3rd for online satisfaction.
USAA vs. other top insurance companies
How much does USAA insurance cost?
Currently, the national average for a 6 month car insurance policy is $880, whereas USAA is about $683 or roughly 22% cheaper than than a typical policy, so definitely one of the cheapest auto insurance options available, although it is worth mentioning that they are one of the cheaper companies for home insurance.Â
The table below shows how USAA auto insurance compares against other top insurers.Â
| Company | Avg. Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| USAA | $114 |
| State Farm | $131 |
| Progressive | $157 |
| Nationwide | $123 |
| GEICO | $129 |
| Farmers | $149 |
| Allstate | $201 |
Similar to any insurance company, pricing for USAA auto insurance does vary based on your age and generally will get cheaper the older you get.
The table below shows USAA's car insurance premiums for different age brackets.Â
| Age Group | Avg. Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Teens | $327 |
| 20s | $147 |
| 30s | $112 |
| 40s | $104 |
| 60s | $101 |
| 50s | $99 |
The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool data methodology
The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool for home and auto insurance rates utilizes the latest ZIP code-level rate filings from across the U.S., sourced from Quadrant Information Services and S&P Global. These filings, typically updated annually or biennially by insurers, are verified through Quadrant’s QA process and then integrated into The Zebra’s estimator.
The displayed rates are based on a dynamic home and auto profile designed to reflect the content of the page. This profile is tailored to match specific factors such as age, location, and coverage level, which are adjusted based on the page content to show how these variables can impact premiums.
For a comprehensive understanding, see our detailed methodology.
Discounts offered
USAA offers a number of car insurance discounts for its members. Below are some highlights.
- Safe driver discount:Â Drivers without accidents for at least five years could save on their premiums.
- Defensive driving:Â This discount applies to drivers who have completed a defensive driver's training course.
- Driver training:Â Young drivers (under 21) can earn a discount if they have taken a basic training course.
- Insurance bundling:Â Bundling your car insurance with home or renters coverage could save you up to 10%.
- New vehicle: Applicable for vehicles under three years old may land a savings on their policy.
- Multi-vehicle: Policyholders with multiple vehicles can expect a discount.
Along with those listed above, USAA offers even more driver-based discounts including good student and those for teen drivers. In addition, there are many other service-based discounts to take advantage of. View all of USAA's discounts here.
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What types of coverage does USAA offer?
USAA offers a variety of basic auto insurance coverage options: liability coverage, uninsured motorist coverage, collision and comprehensive. We've outlined below some of USAA's average rates as well as some unique coverage options and add-ons for policyholders.
- USAA extended benefits: This covers lost wages, essential disability services and death benefits in the event of a collision.
- USAA roadside assistance: This optional coverage provides lockout services, gas delivery, tire change and towing service if your vehicle will not start. Learn more about roadside assistance programs.
- Rental reimbursement: This is a tiered coverage that provides rental car reimbursement costs, depending on your chosen coverage tier. If your vehicle is damaged by a covered loss, i.e., not routine maintenance, you can use this coverage for a pre-determined time, up to a predetermined amount, based on your coverage level.
- Accident forgiveness: If you stay accident-free for five years as a USAA customer, your premium won’t increase after your first at-fault accident. See more information on how accident forgiveness works.
- USAA rideshare coverage: USAA provides rideshare coverage for Uber and Lyft drivers. The company's website advertises rideshare coverage for as low as $6 per month. This coverage is not available in every state, however.
Read more about USAA's coverages here.
USAA SafePilot
The USAA SafePilot app is critical for the company's SafePilot telematics program, as it monitors driving habits such as hard braking that can influence your rates. The company offers a 10% discount just for enrolling. A further discount of up to 30% is possible at your policy renewal.
USAA also offers a highly-rated mobile app for accessing ID cards and policy info, requesting roadside assistance and reporting claims. USAA also offers banking services to its members, which are also accessible through the same app.
Real-life customer experience
To help readers get even more insight into the USAA customer experience, we contacted actual customers of USAA to hear their thoughts. Below is what some USAA real-life customers had to say.
EmilyÂ
Quick facts:
- Customer for 5+ years
- Only has car insurance through USAA
- Has not filed a claim
Q: How do you feel about the coverage level USAA provides, your monthly premiums, and the overall level of customer service provided?
I have been with this insurance company since I started driving, and they've always been positioned to me by my family as being the best/cheapest, so I have rarely bothered to look into finding a better rate.
I have been very lucky not to have used this much over the years, and my rates have remained pretty low. I *did* get into a bit of a kerfuffle with them a few years back when I was trying to lower my coverage and insisting that I did not actually drive 10k miles a year.
Sometimes, because of the way the business is structured, at the end of the year, I'll get a kickback applied toward my premium if the company has some sort of money surplus.Â
Q: Would you recommend USAA coverage to others?
USAA is like an 8/10 for me for auto. I won't complain and probably won't shop around for other coverage unless I get another vehicle.
Dani
Quick facts:
- Customer for 5+ years
- Also has home insurance through USAA
- Has filed a claim
Q: How do you feel about the coverage level USAA provides, your monthly premiums, and the overall level of customer service provided?
USAA Customer Service is amazing. I was in a traffic collision on my birthday (not my fault - I was stopped at a stoplight). The customer support agent made a note that it was THE DAY OF MY BIRTH in her report and USAA sent me flowers later in the week. Where else can you get that kind of service?
Q: Have you ever filed a claim? If so, how would you rate the experience?
Yes, and I would rate it 10 stars on a scale of 1-5 stars.
Page
Quick facts:
- Customer for 5+ years
- Also has home insurance through USAA
- Has filed a claim
Q: How do you feel about the coverage level USAA provides, your monthly premiums, and the overall level of customer service provided?
Coverage is good. Monthly premiums have become much more costly in the last year or so, but that seems to be true across the board after doing some shopping around with other carriers. USAA's customer service is top-notch — I rarely have to wait on hold when I call in for support and they're quick to answer my questions and solve problems.
Q: Have you ever filed a claim? If so, how would you rate the experience?
Yes. The reimbursement amount for repairs was as expected and the checks arrived quickly.
USAA insurance review: Summary
In essence, USAA stands as a progressive leader in the insurance industry, providing an extensive array of coverage possibilities at competitive rates. With its versatile bundling solutions and advanced technology integration, USAA empowers policyholders with numerous avenues to customize their protection. All in all, The Zebra considers USAA to be a top choice for a broad spectrum of clients.
Methodology — how The Zebra reviews insurance companies
The team of insurance experts at The Zebra considers the company's standing in five main categories to come up with an overall rating. These metrics are weighted according to importance and are detailed below:
- Price (20%): Using the base profile detailed below, we compared the company's average rate with the national average. If it surpassed this average, we gave a lower rating; if it fell below, we awarded a higher rating.
- Coverage (20%): The highest-scoring companies offer a variety of coverage options, including bundling options, roadside assistance, telematics, beyond-basic coverage levels, and a variety of other coverage types.
- Customer service (30%): We averaged ratings from JD Power, the NAIC complaint index to come up with a rating for the company's customer service. In instances when a company is not rated, we may use alternative rating agencies such as the Better Business Bureau and Trust Pilot.
- Financial strength (10%): We use AM Best to determine a company's financial standing. In some cases when a company is not rated by AM Best, we may use an alternative measure such as Demotech.
- The Zebra's Customer Satisfaction Survey (20%): The Zebra conducts an annual survey measuring customer satisfaction for many of the top insurance companies with the goal of ranking both the best auto insurance companies and best home insurance companies. Read more below.
For our auto insurance review, we analyzed more than 83 million insurance rates spanning every U.S. ZIP code using a sample user profile: a 30-year-old single male driver with a Honda Accord, good credit and full coverage at these levels:
- $50,000 per person/$100,000 per incident for bodily injury liability
- $50,000 per incident for property damage liability
- $500 deductibles for collision and comprehensive coverage
For our home insurance review, rates are based on a sample user profile: a 45-year-old married homeowner living in a 2,500-square-foot single-story home built in 2011 with these coverage levels:
- $200,000 for the dwelling
- $20,000 for other structures
- $100,000 for personal property
- $100,000 for personal liability
- $1,000 deductible
These sample premiums are dynamic and automatically refresh whenever the newest data is made available.
To generate pricing for particular rating factors, we adjusted this profile based on common pricing factors used by major car insurance companies. These factors include credit score, coverage level and others.
For The Zebra's Customer Satisfaction Survey, findings are based on an online quantitative survey of 4,134 current U.S. auto and home insurance customers, with Census-balanced sampling by age, gender and region. Categories with n=<20 responses are considered insufficient sample size and are not reported. This survey was developed by The Zebra and executed by independent research firm Maru/Blue in 2023.
USAA insurance: Frequently asked questions
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Customer Questions About USAA
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About The Zebra
The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.
- The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
- The Zebra’s insurance editorial content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
- The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
- The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.