Liberty Mutual vs. USAA Car Insurance

In our most recent ranking of the best overall car insurance providers, USAA was named the best insurer for veterans and military. If you’re eligible, USAA will likely offer you the lowest premiums, but try getting quotes from multiple insurers before committing to a policy.

Liberty Mutual Is Better For:

• Teachers seeking discounts and special coverage add-ons
• Customers who prefer shopping policies online
• Military members who want military discounts

USAA Is Better For:

• Most military members due to low average rates
• Drivers with a financed or leased vehicle
• Policyholders who prioritize customer service

Across the board, USAA has far lower average rates than Liberty Mutual. Plus, Liberty Mutual’s premiums are pricier than the national average for almost all categories except senior drivers.

As with all average rates, keep in mind that your quoted rate might differ, so plan to get quotes from multiple companies before making a decision.

Drivers will find standard coverage options from both Liberty Mutual and USAA, including liability, comprehensive and collision, medical payments, personal injury protection and uninsured/underinsured motorists.

Both companies also offer optional coverages you can add to your policy. Coverage options vary by state, so verify what’s available to you by checking your quote or reaching out to your agent.

*USAA offers car replacement assistance, which pays 20 percent more than your car’s actual cash value if it’s totaled or stolen. You can use this to pay off your loan or buy a new vehicle.

Liberty Mutual and USAA offer many auto insurance discounts that eligible policyholders can take advantage of. These include common discounts like bundling and telematics discounts, which are discussed in more detail below.

Being eligible for more discounts from one company may mean you get the lowest rate from it. The table below lists the main discounts both companies offer. Remember that discounts vary by state, so confirm what’s available where you live.

USAA generally outperforms Liberty Mutual on customer service based on various industry studies and data. There are a couple exceptions, however. Here’s how the companies compare in various customer experience areas:

Claims Satisfaction

In the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, USAA scored 741 out of 1,000, well above the average of 700.² The company is not officially ranked because it “does not meet study award criteria,” likely due to its limited membership. Meanwhile, Liberty Mutual has a slightly lower score of 730 out of 1,000.

USAA outscored Liberty Mutual in the 2026 CRASH Network Report Card, which tracks auto shops’ experiences dealing with insurers. While USAA received a C-, Liberty Mutual received a D+. It’s worth noting that none of the 10 largest insurers scored higher than a C+.³

Customer Service

In J.D. Power’s 2025 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, which tracks overall customer satisfaction with insurers, USAA scored far higher than Liberty Mutual in every region. Again, USAA isn’t officially ranked, but its scores are well above average and competitive with those of top competitors.

Here is a breakdown of each company’s score (out of 1,000) by region:

The NAIC Complaint Index measures the number of complaints made to a company. The higher the number, the higher the number of complaints; a score of 1 is considered average. Liberty Mutual’s score of 2.34⁴ is better than USAA’s score of 3.01⁵, which indicates that Liberty Mutual receives fewer complaints.

Shopping

Customers tend to be more satisfied with USAA when it comes to shopping for a policy, per J.D. Power’s 2025 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study.⁶ Both companies allow customers to get quotes and purchase policies online or by phone.

The J.D. Power study also evaluates other factors, like policy offerings, price, and distribution channel. This may indicate customers are satisfied with aspects of USAA like its cost and availability of agents.

Liberty Mutual and USAA both have robust online platforms and mobile apps on which policyholders can file claims, access policy information, get roadside assistance, and more. Here’s a breakdown of each app:

J.D. Power’s 2025 U.S. Insurance Digital Experience Study indicates customers are more satisfied with USAA’s digital tools over Liberty Mutual’s. USAA scored 732 out of 1,000 in the service category, while Liberty Mutual earned a 684. USAA’s score is above the segment average, while Liberty Mutual’s is below average.⁷

In the shopping category, Liberty Mutual came out ahead with a score of 535 out of 1,000 compared to USAA’s 513.

USAA and Liberty Mutual are both popular auto insurers, but only military and their families can apply for a USAA policy. Members may benefit from USAA’s military-centric coverage on top of its competitive rates, though Liberty Mutual does offer military discounts that may reduce premiums. You can get a quote from both companies to verify which offers better pricing.

If you’re non-military, Liberty Mutual is the only insurer of the two for which you’d qualify for a policy. However, its customer service ratings are far lower than USAA’s, and its rates are pricier than both USAA’s and the national average.

Both companies have great financial strength ratings from AM Best and high ratings from the BBB, and are trustworthy and able to pay out claims. They also both have usage-based telematics programs that offer savings.

At AutoInsurance.com, we use four key factors to evaluate auto insurers:

• Price (40%): We analyze average premiums for both full and minimum coverage for a standard driving profile of a good driver with good credit. We also looked at rates for other driver profiles, including those with violations or low credit. We also consider available discounts. Full coverage averages use the following limits:
  • Bodily injury liability: $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $50,000 per accident
  • Uninsured and underinsured motorist bodily injury: $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident
  • Comprehensive and collision: $500 deductible
• Claims handling (25%): An auto insurer’s claims handling process should be quick, transparent and efficient, with clear communication, fair evaluation of damages and timely payment or resolution. We assess claims practices using sources like the CRASH Network Insurer Report Card and J.D. Power’s Claims Satisfaction Report and financial strength from sources like AM Best and S&P Ratings. We also include real-life customer experiences when possible.
• Customer experience (25%): We evaluate the ease of the customer journey, from getting a quote and purchasing a policy to making changes or accessing documents. We consider the availability and quality of both online and agent interactions, as well as the functionality of the company’s website and mobile app. Our sources include J.D. Power studies, the NAIC complaint index, BBB ratings and app store reviews.
• Coverage options (10%): We review each company’s coverage offerings and prioritize providers with options beyond the state-required minimums, such as accident forgiveness, gap coverage, rideshare coverage and more.

Read more about our ratings and methodology.