⚡ Quick Verdict
$1,407
Avg annual premium
A++
AM Best rating
0.51
NAIC complaint index
#1
Customer satisfaction
🏆 USAA Is the Exception to Every Rule
In an industry full of trade-offs, USAA somehow offers the lowest prices AND the highest satisfaction:
0.51
NAIC Complaint Index
Half the expected complaints
$1,407
Avg Premium
~40% below national avg
#1
J.D. Power
Beats all ranked competitors
The catch: Membership is restricted to military members and their families.
🎖️ Who Is Eligible for USAA?
✓ Full Membership
- • Active duty military (all branches)
- • National Guard and Reserves
- • Veterans with honorable discharge
- • Cadets and midshipmen
- • Officer candidates
- • Adult children of members
ℹ️ Important Notes
- • Spouses can use member's account
- • Former spouses may retain eligibility
- • Parents of members are NOT eligible
- • Siblings of members are NOT eligible
- • Once eligible, always eligible
Pro tip: If a parent is a USAA member, their adult children automatically qualify—even if the children never served. Check if your parents have USAA.
Why USAA Is Different
Member-Owned
No shareholders demanding profits. Profits return to members as lower rates and better service.
Mission Alignment
Built specifically for military families. Understands deployments, PCS moves, overseas postings.
Selective Membership
Military members tend to be lower-risk—vetted, employed, stable. Better risk pool = lower rates for all.
Military-Specific Benefits
Deployment Storage Discount
Reduced rates when your vehicle is stored during deployment. Other insurers often don't accommodate this.
Overseas Coverage
Coverage that follows you to foreign duty stations—try getting that from GEICO.
No PCS Penalty
Frequent moves don't hurt you. USAA understands military families relocate often.
Car Replacement Assistance
Pays 20% more than actual cash value if your car is totaled—better than standard gap insurance.
💰 Pricing Comparison
| Coverage Type | USAA | National Avg | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Coverage Auto | $1,407 | $2,314 | -39% |
| Minimum Liability | $417 | $680 | -39% |
| Homeowners | $1,790 | $2,200 | -19% |
⚠️ The (Minor) Downsides
No Local Agents
USAA is entirely digital/phone-based. No local offices to visit. Fine for most, frustrating for some.
Eligibility Restrictions
The biggest "downside"—most people simply can't join.
NAIC Index Quirk: 1.178
Some data shows higher complaint ratio—but this is likely due to members more engaged with formal processes. Customer satisfaction surveys tell the real story.
Our Verdict
USAA is the best insurance company in America—lowest prices, highest satisfaction, strongest financial ratings. The only reason it's not 10/10 is that most people can't join. If you're eligible, there's no reason to look elsewhere. If a parent served, check if you qualify through them. This is the one company we recommend without hesitation.