What USAA Car Insurance Covers and Who Can Buy It

USAA is a car insurance company that only sells to military members and their families

USAA (United Services Automobile Association) is an insurance company that restricts membership to active-duty military personnel, veterans, and their spouses and adult children. You cannot buy USAA car insurance if you do not fall into one of these categories. If you do may have access to, USAA offers standard coverage types — liability, collision, comprehensive, uninsured motorist — and also sells home, renters, and life insurance.

Whether USAA is a good choice depends on your specific situation: your driving record, the type of vehicle you own, where you live, and what coverage you need. The company has strengths in some areas and weaknesses in others, just like every insurance company. This guide walks through what USAA offers, how its rates compare, and what customers report about claims and service.

Key Takeaways

• USAA membership is limited to military members, veterans, and their when ready family — you cannot buy a policy if you do not meet these requirements.
• USAA offers the same basic coverage types as other insurers but adds military-specific discounts and perks like waived fees for active-duty deployment.
• USAA's rates vary by location and driver profile, so comparing quotes from USAA against other companies is the only way to know if you will pay less.
• Customer satisfaction scores for USAA are consistently high, though complaint rates to state insurance regulators are also higher than some competitors because USAA has a large customer base.
• USAA does not have local agents — all service happens online, by phone, or through the mobile app, which works well for some customers and poorly for others.

How USAA's coverage types and limits work

USAA offers liability coverage (which pays for damage you cause to someone else's car or property), collision coverage (which pays for damage to your own car from a crash), comprehensive coverage (which covers theft, weather, and vandalism), and uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage (which protects you if hit by someone without insurance or without enough insurance). These are the same categories every car insurer sells.

You choose your own limits for each type of coverage when you buy a policy. USAA's minimum liability limits vary by state — your state sets the floor, and you can buy higher limits if you want. The same is true for collision and comprehensive: you pick a deductible (usually $250, $500, $1,000, or higher), and a higher deductible means a lower monthly premium.

USAA also offers add-ons like roadside information, rental car reimbursement, and gap insurance (which covers the difference between what you owe on a car loan and what the car is worth if it is totaled). These are optional and cost extra each month.

Discounts USAA offers and how they affect your rate

USAA advertises discounts for safe driving, bundling home and auto insurance, paying in full upfront, and completing a defensive driving course. The size of each discount varies and is not published, so you only see the final price after you enter your information.

USAA also offers discounts specific to military life: a waived monthly premium during active-duty deployment, a discount for military service members, and a discount for members of the military reserve or National Guard. These discounts exist because USAA was founded to serve military families, but again, the dollar amount is not public.

One thing to know: discounts do not stack infinitely. If you may have access to for five discounts, USAA will not subtract all five from your base rate. The company applies them in a way that produces a final price, but the math is not transparent to you as a customer.

How USAA's rates compare to other insurers

USAA does not publish its rates, and rates change based on your age, driving record, location, vehicle type, and coverage choices. This means a rate that is low for one person can be high for another, even if both are USAA customers.

The only way to know if USAA's price is competitive for you is to get quotes from USAA and from at least two other companies (such as State Farm, Geico, or Progressive) using the same coverage limits and deductibles. Many people find that USAA is cheaper; others find that a different company costs less. Your own quote is the only number that matters.

If you are a military member or veteran, you may also want to compare USAA against other insurers that offer military discounts, such as Geico (which has a military discount) or Armed Forces Insurance. Again, the only way to know is to request quotes.

What customers report about USAA claims and service

USAA consistently ranks high in customer satisfaction surveys. J.D. Power's 2023 U.S. Auto Insurance Customer Satisfaction Study ranked USAA above the national average. Customers often praise USAA's mobile app, the speed of claims processing, and the ability to handle everything online without visiting an office.

However, USAA also receives a higher number of complaints to state insurance regulators than some competitors. This does not necessarily mean USAA is worse — it partly reflects that USAA has millions of customers, so a higher absolute number of complaints is expected. The complaint rate (complaints per customer) is what matters, and USAA's rate is in line with or better than many large insurers.

Common complaints about USAA include difficulty reaching a human by phone during busy times, frustration with the claims process for certain types of damage (like hail), and disagreement over the value assigned to a totaled vehicle. These issues occur at most insurance companies, not just USAA.

USAA's lack of local agents and what that means for you

USAA does not have local insurance agents. You cannot walk into an office or call a local number to speak with someone who knows your area. Instead, all service happens through the USAA website, the mobile app, or by calling a national customer service number.

For many customers, especially those comfortable with technology, this is a strength: you can file a claim at 2 a.m., upload photos of damage, and track progress on your phone. For others, particularly those who prefer face-to-face interaction or who live in areas with poor internet, this is a drawback.

If you need to discuss a complex claim or have questions that require detailed explanation, you can request a callback from a USAA representative, but you cannot schedule an in-person meeting. This is a real difference from companies like State Farm or Allstate, which have local agents.

Situations where USAA may or may not fit your needs

USAA is often a good fit if you are a military member or veteran, comfortable managing insurance online, want to bundle auto and home insurance, and do not need face-to-face service. It is also worth considering if you have a clean driving record, because USAA's safe-driver discounts can be substantial.

USAA may be less of a fit if you have a poor driving record (because discounts will be smaller and your base rate may be higher), if you live in a state where USAA's rates happen to be uncompetitive for your profile, or if you strongly prefer working with a local agent. You also cannot use USAA if you do not meet the membership requirements.

The only way to know if USAA is right for you is to get a quote and compare it against at least one other company. Even if USAA is not the cheapest option, some customers choose it anyway because they value the military focus and the digital experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy USAA car insurance if I am not military?

No. USAA membership is limited to active-duty military, veterans with a discharge other than dishonorable, and their spouses and adult children. If you do not fall into one of these categories, you cannot buy a USAA policy. You will need to look at other insurance companies.

Does USAA offer roadside information?

Yes, USAA offers roadside information as an optional add-on that you can purchase when you buy your policy or add later. It covers towing, lockout service, fuel delivery, and jump starts. The cost varies and is not published on the website — you see the price when you build your quote.

How do I file a claim with USAA?

You can file a claim through the USAA website, the mobile app, or by calling customer service. Most customers use the app to upload photos of damage and track the claim status in real time. USAA will assign an adjuster to your claim, and you can communicate with them through the app or by phone.

Does USAA charge a cancellation fee if I want to switch insurers?

USAA does not charge a cancellation fee to drop your policy. You can cancel anytime by contacting customer service. However, you may owe a prorated premium for the days you were covered in the current billing period.

What is USAA's financial strength rating?

USAA's parent company, USAA Group, has a financial strength rating of A+ (Superior) from A.M. Best, which is the highest rating. This means USAA has the financial resources to pay claims. You can verify this on A.M. Best's website.