USAA auto/home insurance

[PrincessSuzanne]

We switched our Auto Insurance to USAA in Dec 2010 and will be saving $600/year and I don't know why we didn't switch sooner. I had been with Liberty Mutual and had no trouble, but they couldn't save me what USAA is and they are giving me a little bit better coverage.

We also opened a checking acct with them and so far we have been really happy with that.

They were quite a bit more for homeowners, so we just stayed with Liberty Mutual for now.

Suzanne

 

[azdizzymom]

Had them for 17 years for homeowners and 20+ for auto. Last fall our rates increased (noticed that without any claims or incidents our rates had almost doubled over 3 years). I called and had a great CSR go over everything....I had a $1000 deductible on home and only way they came close to other companies was if we did a 10% of home value (it would have be a $3000+) deductible...sorry no way! The auto was basically similar to all other companies. After many calls and checking we switched to All State in October...no problems at all switching EXCEPT with USAA. For All State I had to have some letter of claim history which by law they other company is supposed to supply (USAA to All State). Well, USAA didn't want to write one...refused to do this. All State did a 3 way with me on the line with USAA (this was after at least 10 calls by me to USAA to get this simple letter and numerous hours). Amazingly the supervisor who I had spoken to before suddenly with All State on the line said if they got off the 3 way they would write me the letter and within 1 hour it was emailed to me.

I loved USAA and wouldn't hesitate to go back if rates dropped more comparable with all other companies. They were almost double for less coverage on homeowners for my state (and I called State Farm, Farm Bureau, All State and several others). I have better coverage with All State now. I think the switching incident left a bad taste in my mouth but I will continue to get quotes from USAA to see if they become more competative.

 

[princessnoelly]

LOVE LOVE LOVE USAA! I joined my husbands policy a little over 10 years ago and they are GREAT!
They insure our home, cars and now we have our life insurance through them (super low rates!). We also have a credit card and a some other stuff with them.
We had a homeowners claim and they paid without problem. Our cinder block wall fell over. They asked if we had any pictures of it from before it fell down and then sent them pictures of the wall on the ground. They were very cooperative and sent us a check.

I was in a car accident- got rear ended and they took care of it all with the other persons insurance. All I did was drop the car off at a body shop.

2nd car accident- I hit a chunk of ice off the back of a big truck in a snow storm (if I had avoided it I would have hit a guard rail to the right and another car to the left). It caused huge damage to my front end. They covered it- no problems.

Our rates haven't increased after any of these events- they have all happened in the last 3 years.

Switch over!

 

[Megkel]

My husband has only ever had USAA and I have been with USAA for 4 years now. We have renters and car insurance through them and never had a problem. They have always been great, friendly and easy to talk to with problems.

Two years ago my husband received a phone call from USAA that someone was suing him over a minor accident that happened while he was in high school. He had backed up in the parking lot and bumped another car. Cops came out said there was no damage blah blah blah nothing really resulted from it. Well the guy's mother was suing someone and the statute of limitations was almost up on the accident with my husband so they decided to sue him as well. USAA took care of everything. He didn't have to see them (we had moved three states away at this time) or deal with anything really. They settled with him (sadly) but our rates didn't go up and we didn't see any effects of being sued.

 

[JamesMom]

I've already posted but I thought it was interesting that many thought USAA home insurance was too expensive. About 3 years I was with State Farm and they raised my rates so I checked with USAA and for the same premium USAA got me more coverage (a higher deductible but we could swing it) including water, foundation & liability and computer riders.

 

[rnorwo1]

I am a long-time USAA member and as we speak, am putting them "to the test"...

Watch the details unfold right here.

OP here! After getting all the quotes, we were still not sure because the rates were not that much lower, and our current insurance (Farm Bureau) has been fine... although honestly we never have made a claim really. Anyway, just realized that DH was looking at a very old premium bill, so it will actually save us about $1200 a year! So we will prob go on and switch to USAA, based off of the positive reviews here.

So I was just wondering how you're "test" went with them?!

 

[Swimalie]

OP here! After getting all the quotes, we were still not sure because the rates were not that much lower, and our current insurance (Farm Bureau) has been fine... although honestly we never have made a claim really. Anyway, just realized that DH was looking at a very old premium bill, so it will actually save us about $1200 a year! So we will prob go on and switch to USAA, based off of the positive reviews here.

So I was just wondering how you're "test" went with them?!

I'm glad you have found out you will save with them. I have had them for over 25 years thanks to my dad. When I got married, my husband had them as well. We currently have home owners insurance, auto insurance and each of us has a separate Master Card through them. We haven't had any claims against home owners but have had 1 claim against auto. An accident I caused and they were great. Paid out quickly to all involved and paid well, too.

For those who are still military, if you are a member of the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation you can get a Master Card through USAA that will give you a percentage through rebates and will also give the Navy Museum in Pensacola a percentage. I just switched my card over this week and am excited to be supporting the museum where my husband is on a plaque for his days as a Navy pilot.

 

[DIS_MERI]

Have had USAA for many years (probably 12, but could be longer), always for auto and for renters when I've not had homeowners. They are wonderful. Single auto claim in that time was easily taken care of. I *love* getting money back most years. I have an old car and renters insurance right now; they returned the equivalent of 2 months premiums to me this last year! A very close friend is an insurance agent, and he doesn't even hold it against me that I stick with USAA

 

[gibsontrio]

we have a checking,savings,loan, and car insurance through them and so far love them I'm pretty sure we could get a cheaper rate through Gieco for car insurance, and will probably switch next year when we are in Germany, but as far as accounts you cant beat them! We get all of our ATM fees back, and a % back for credit card purchases (even when I'm using my checking account, free money!) I've only heard good things about them!

 

[wlake]

Count me as another vote for how great USAA is! When our house got broken into a couple of years ago, they even covered the loose change that got stolen! To top it off, the rep I dealt was extremely professional, especially considering that my DH's underwear and socks were taken too. (Yes, those were covered too!)

 

[Goofyzgurl]

Our 17 y/o daughter was just in a accident two weks ago. A truck ran into her and crushed her brand new car that only had 3K miles on it. USAA has been wonderful! We've been with them for almost 15 years. We have our house, cars, savings, checkings, etc with them and love the ease of deposits, payments, transfers of the accounts.

 

[JB2K]

As I said in a previous post, I've been with USAA for years. As with everyone, there is some "good" and some "not so good" stuff to tell...

• Banking - they run a top-notch banking operation. If you travel frequently and do the majority of your banking at ATMs or over the internet, they are definitely worth a look, as they don't nickle-and-dime you like some of the nation's big banks. They also have a really good reloadable, prepaid MasterCard debit card for teens.
  
• Homeowner's Insurance - I have my home insured with USAA. Though I am yet to use their services, according to my next-door neighbor, they do go "above and beyond" - especially with wide-scale disasters, such as hurricanes.
  
• Auto Insurance - this is my only criticism. Fender-benders are fine - their claims/repair service is quick and painless. However, if you are in an accident that "totals" your vehicle and you are looking for USAA to pay for the loss, their comps do tend to run low (which can put the car owner at a serious financial disadvantage), so if you don't mind fighting it out with insurance companies, then this may be for you. However, if you are one of those people who meticulously maintains your automobiles, you may want to check out other insurers, too.

Hope this helps someone in making a good, informed decision.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

We have had all of our insurance through USAA for over 35 years - no complaints.

Keep in mind that USAA has different insurance programs for military officers (which is what we have) than civilians (such as OP, who will be eligible through her FIL).

 

[JB2K]

Keep in mind that USAA has different insurance programs for military officers (which is what we have) than civilians (such as OP, who will be eligible through her FIL).

USAA expanded their insurance offerings in the mid/late-90's to include enlisted members, as well.

USAA recently expanded coverage to all honorably-discharged veterans (which I suspect may be the same policies that are extended to other civilians).

Banking services are available to anyone who can open a bank account.

 

[Swimalie]

USAA expanded their insurance offerings in the mid/late-90's to include enlisted members, as well.

USAA recently expanded coverage to all honorably-discharged veterans (which I suspect may be the same policies that are extended to other civilians).

Banking services are available to anyone who can open a bank account.

It's still a bit different in a way. The military or former military member will always be a full member of USAA but if a dependent (child or spouse) were to suddenly be their own member (through divorce or death of the primary member) then the dependent is considered a secondary member and would not get the same rates. I would guess, based on this, that honorably discharged veterans would get better benefits than dependents. I hope that makes sense.

 

[rnorwo1]

As I said in a previous post, I've been with USAA for years. As with everyone, there is some "good" and some "not so good" stuff to tell...

• Banking - they run a top-notch banking operation. If you travel frequently and do the majority of your banking at ATMs or over the internet, they are definitely worth a look, as they don't nickle-and-dime you like some of the nation's big banks. They also have a really good reloadable, prepaid MasterCard debit card for teens.
  
• Homeowner's Insurance - I have my home insured with USAA. Though I am yet to use their services, according to my next-door neighbor, they do go "above and beyond" - especially with wide-scale disasters, such as hurricanes.
  

• 
  
  I found your other post with all the details! Sorry it was such an ordeal. No, I'm definitely not up for that, but I know people who had equal hassles with my current insurance co, so like you said, there prob is no perfect one. For this savings, I think it's worth the gamble to try. Hopefully our luck will keep going and we never have to make a claim!
  
  The agent said we could get a greater discount if we opened an account so I'm interested... the only thing is we use a great credit union that pays 5% for checking, so I wouldn't use the savings account for much. I guess it wouldn't hurt to put a small amount in there for the discount? I could even use it to hide away fun money for trips or something, as long as I don't start losing money b/c of the interest difference.
  
  We live in southern LA so hurricanes are a problem for us! Everytime one comes we're out of electricity for at least a week too, so I'm always stressing about food in the freezer (we have a generator but for the really bad storms like Katrina and Gustave, we have to drive an hour and a half to MS to get gas to run the generator, there's never any to be found around here!)
  
  
  
  

  Our 17 y/o daughter was just in a accident two weks ago. A truck ran into her and crushed her brand new car that only had 3K miles on it. USAA has been wonderful! We've been with them for almost 15 years. We have our house, cars, savings, checkings, etc with them and love the ease of deposits, payments, transfers of the accounts.

  
  Oh my goodness, hope she's ok!! Good to hear that you didn't have to worry about insurance on top of that!
  
  

  Count me as another vote for how great USAA is! When our house got broken into a couple of years ago, they even covered the loose change that got stolen! To top it off, the rep I dealt was extremely professional, especially considering that my DH's underwear and socks were taken too. (Yes, those were covered too!)

  
  Wow (for the thieves as well as the insurance, ha ha!)