Short for the United Services Automobile Association, USAA offers a variety of car insurance policies that cater to all of its customers’ needs. The company is famous for its high customer satisfaction and low prices. But, there is a catch.
To get a USAA policy, you have to be in the United States military, a veteran, or a spouse or child of a current or former military member.
USAA offers a variety of insurance policies for all types of vehicles, including classic cars and campers. The insurer provides the common types of insurance coverage, including:
The insurer also offers additional types of coverage, including:
USAA could be an excellent fit for you if you are a current or former member of the military. The insurer gets high customer satisfaction ratings. Also, with its large number of coverage and discount options, USAA saves its customers money. However, its availability only to military personnel and relatives means it is not an option for most people.
USAA offers typical discounts like loyalty, good student, multiple vehicles, and a family discount for additional drivers.
The insurer also offers a break for the following:
Several factors will influence the amount you have to pay to receive USAA coverage. Those include age, marital status, and gender.
According to The Zebra, the average monthly price for USAA car insurance is $106, while the industry average is $124.
Using data Kelley Blue Book obtained from Savvy, you can better understand how age, gender, and marital status will affect car insurance costs in the below chart on USAA’s average monthly costs. Savvy collects data from consumers’ current policies, including rate information, age, marital status, and other demographics.
The statistics offer a representative sample used as a general guide. See more about Savvy’s methodology.
| Average Monthly Cost | |||
| Age Group | Gender | Marital Status | Value |
| 25 to 34 | female | married | $190.18 |
| 25 to 34 | female | single | $166.24 |
| 25 to 34 | male | married | $203.75 |
| 25 to 34 | male | single | $178.27 |
| 35 to 49 | female | married | $242.57 |
| 35 to 49 | female | single | $173.52 |
| 35 to 49 | male | married | $218.40 |
| 35 to 49 | male | single | $155.86 |
| 50 to 69 | female | married | $230.15 |
| 50 to 69 | female | single | $160.18 |
| 50 to 69 | male | married | $268.74 |
| 50 to 69 | male | single | $143.59 |
Source: Savvy
In addition to age, gender, and marital status, insurers consider your location and driving history, including DUIs, car accidents, and speeding tickets, among other factors.
In most states, insurance companies are also allowed to charge individuals according to their credit history.
Let’s look at how some of these factors may impact your quote from USAA.
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In addition to the above factors, location also impacts insurance costs. Living in a large city with higher crime and accident rates means car insurance costs go up, compared with smaller towns with low crime and accident rates. Living in Tornado Alley or America’s Plains states can affect how insurers build your insurance quote.
According to The Zebra, USAA is the most affordable insurer following a DUI. Data shows that USAA drivers will pay an average of $805 more for car insurance after a DUI incident. Because not every driver can obtain USAA insurance and each insurer use formulas and factors to qualify drivers, it’s wise to shop around and check rates with different providers.
Following an at-fault accident, The Zebra said rates increase an estimated $340 each year for at least three years after an accident. However, USAA offers an accident forgiveness program to help first offenders from seeing such an increase.
According to The Zebra, drivers with the lowest credit scores generally pay at least twice as much as those with excellent and exceptional scores. In some states, drivers with very poor scores can expect to pay 115% more than those with exceptional credit.
For example, drivers with exceptional credit pay $1,349 on average, while those with very poor credit pay $2,895.
The good news is that four states do not allow insurers to check credit scores or history for calculating auto insurance. Those states are California, Michigan, Massachusetts, and Hawaii.
Overall, USAA’s customer satisfaction is relatively high. The insurer is among the top-rated companies by Investopedia in many of its reviews, including Best Car Insurance, Best Car Insurance for Teens, and Best Military Car Insurance.
USAA also ranks well in the top-rated companies in J.D. Power’s reviews. USAA received excellent ratings in J.D. Power’s latest customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction surveys.
In 1922, 25 Army officers formed USAA in San Antonio. The company reached more than 13 million members and now operates with a net worth of nearly $36 billion in 2019.
Rating services rank USAA as a top provider. The company received A++ rating from A.M. Best and AA+ from S&P, demonstrating outstanding financial stability.
