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Founded in 1922, the United Services Automobile Association (USAA) offers auto insurance, banking, and investment products to U.S. Armed Forces service members, families, and veterans. USAA provides safe driving discounts, usage-based insurance, international insurance, and more. Its online services and autopay capabilities make getting and maintaining a USAA auto insurance policy easy, whether you’re at home and abroad.
USAA caters to its unique clientele with flexible and specialized coverage options. If eligible, you’ll find lower-than-average insurance rates and higher-than-average customer satisfaction ratings. That’s why we ranked USAA as the best auto insurance for military and veterans in 2023.
Usage-based insurance: USAA offers usage-based insurance, or UBI, to offer savings to people who drive under a certain number of miles annually. This type of insurance is especially relevant to service members who are deployed overseas and do not drive stateside. Drivers usually pay for coverage monthly instead of six or 12 months, offering flexibility.
Robust safe driving discounts: You can save up to 30 percent with USAA’s telematics program, SafePilot. USAA also provides defensive driving and driver training discounts.
International insurance: USAA’s insurance policies make your deployment seamless with liability coverage, vehicle storage, and personal injury coverage while you’re abroad.
Customer satisfaction: USAA outranks every other insurance company on J.D. Power’s U.S. Auto Insurance Customer Satisfaction Study.
Only available to USAA members: USAA only provides coverage to active duty military, veterans, pre-commissioned officers, and military families.
No electric/hybrid car discounts: USAA does not offer a specific auto insurance discount to electric vehicle owners.
Slow claims processing: Delayed claims processing is a common concern among online reviewers.
Because USAA doesn’t have an electric vehicle discount, check out which companies do. Read the best electric vehicles insurance.
The average annual cost of an auto insurance policy from USAA is $1,151. USAA’s average rate is nearly 50 percent lower than the national average of $2,071. Factors that determine your individual auto insurance rate include how many miles you drive a year and your driving record.
USAA offers auto insurance in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., U.S. territories, and select international locations, including the following:
Contact USAA Customer Service at 800-531-8722. Deployed military members should call 1-877-233-7569 for 24/7 customer service. USAA’s virtual agent is an automated chat feature that can answer questions about your online ID and password, auto claims status, and membership eligibility. USAA’s user portal allows you to access your insurance cards, pay bills, and manage your auto policy.
Apple users give the USAA app 4.8 stars in the App Store and Android users give the app 4.3 stars in the Google Play Store. The USAA mobile app offers the following features on iOS and Android devices:
In 1922, 25 Army officers met in San Antonio and decided to insure each other’s vehicles. The group elected William Garrison as its first president. Major Walter Moore purchased an auto insurance policy and became USAA’s first member in 1922. The next year, USAA expanded its membership to include Navy and Marine Corps officers.
The first half of the 20th century saw USAA expand internationally. In 1934, its membership grew to include Foreign Service officers, State Department officials, and their widows. In 1948, USAA opened membership to Air Force officers after the National Security Act of 1947 established the department. USAA opened its first location outside San Antonio in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1952.
In 1961, USAA changed its bylaws to include veterans. USAA reached another milestone in 1969 when its millionth member joined. The company grew in other areas, including banking, over the second half of the 20th century. In 1996, enlisted personnel became eligible for membership for the first time.
USAA’s eligibility requirements expanded again in 2008 to include military retirees regardless of when they retired, as well as their spouses and children. In 2009, all men and women currently serving or who have honorably served in the U.S. military and their families became eligible for membership. USAA’s mobile app launched in 2009. As of 2017, USAA serves over 12 million members with a net worth of $31 billion.
Cancel your USAA auto insurance policy by dialing 800-531-8722. There is no cancellation fee, but make sure you find a new insurance policy before you cancel your USAA policy so you don’t have a gap in auto insurance coverage.
USAA is one of the cheapest car insurance companies, but it may not always be the cheapest. According to our research, other insurance companies, including Metromile, Root, and Clearcover may offer lower average annual rates; however, we ranked USAA the best cheap auto insurance for military families and veterans.
USAA is a good insurance company. It receives high ratings for customer satisfaction and offers reasonable rates for multiple coverages.
USAA requires an acceptable military document and government-issued identification to join. Below are some examples of acceptable military documents:
Your USAA insurance may go up by 10 to 20 percent or higher after a speeding ticket. With USAA, there is no distinction between a speeding ticket for driving six to 10 miles per hour versus 11 to 15 miles per hour over the limit.
Company Profile. AM Best. (2022).
https://ratings.ambest.com/CompanyProfile.aspx?ambnum=4049&URatingId=3070794&bl=0&AltSrc=9&PPP=&AltNum=0&Ext_User=&Ext_Misc=&Portal=0&Site=
USAA. Better Business Bureau. (2022).
https://www.bbb.org/us/tx/san-antonio/profile/insurance-companies/usaa-0825-23452
Auto Insurance Customer Satisfaction Stalls Despite $18 Billion in Premium Relief, J.D. Power Finds. J.D Power. (2021, Jun 15).
https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2021-us-auto-insurance-study
Press Releases. S&P Global. (2022).
https://disclosure.spglobal.com/ratings/en/regulatory/org-details/sectorCode/INS/entityId/110579