USAA insurance....anybody have experience with them?

[John Schmidt]

My home & auto coverage expires the end of August and I'm looking around. I currently have AAA and have had good service as well as pricing, just don't like their billing practice....long story. The one thing I do like about AAA is the annual auto policy, not a six month one. In the past every time I've had ins. with a company that only writes for six months at a time, the second six months I get screwed with an increase. Just looking for some input, if you have experience with another company I'd be interested in hearing about it....except State Farm. After the last hurricane hit us in '04, the State had to come down on them hard in order to stop the major screwing they were giving everybody. They had their excuses, but that's all it was....excuses. No solid reasons for the limited payouts they were giving and it got them in hot water. My neighbor finally took them to court and won in mere minutes. Was kinda funny, the judge asked the State Farm att'y. to read the applicable portion of the policy, which he did. The judge dropped the gavel about five minutes later and they paid up big time. They're a big seller here in Florida but I won't take a chance with them and a couple others. In '04 we had $100k in damage to the house, I have no intention of arguing with an insurance company when I'm fighting to prevent an indoor swimming pool from developing.

[cookiedough]

USAA I believe have to be in military only.  I tried going with them since my dad was a korean war veteran but passed 9 years ago, but not able to write with them since he is not alive.  I heard though they offer good rates and worth considering for sure if able to.   Considered AAA but did not go with them still tad bit higher than Progressive.

Liberty Mutual, Geico, and now Progressive all have pulled that B.S. bait and switch trick on me after initial first renewal premium was up.  10-22% increases upon first renewal for NO REASON.  Good luck, I use to have allstate and now will continue to keep looking and looking and looking.  I also had IMT/Wadena Insurance out of IA until they decided 10+% increase was also justified. 

Remaining loyal to one insurance company for life anymore is almost impossible.

[old2soon]

John I have my cage and my Phatt Ghurl with Shelter. Ask Ross how quick their claim service is. RIDE SAFE.

[solo1]

John, I just switched from State Farm after 35 years. Their rates for me kept going up just like cable. Their excuse was my age.

I switched my two car policies and my rental insurance to USAA.  The premium for both of my cars (6 months) was only 25 bucks more than just one car under State Farm.

Although all of the changes to USAA were done over the phone, they were courteous, helpful, and knew their business.  The billing was right on and I am satisfied with them.  I have no knowledge on how they treat claims yet. I do know while cheaper on the car rates, a claim is not necessarily settled with OEM parts, OEM is extra,  where State Farm was OEM.  Kinda minor if no accidents.  Overall, good rates and easy to work with.

No problem for me but being a vet, I was eligible.  I don't know the policy of non vet or non relation to a vet.  Overall, I'm glad that I switched (so far).

[ZekeValk]

I've had USAA for about 18 years now and I can't say enough good about them.  They do require a military affiliation.  All my kids are with them since I got them in before I retired.

Now, about 5-10 years ago they stopped doing motorcycles on their own.  They had a deal worked out with Progressive.  I was able to stay on for a while, but eventually made the switch.  Now, I'm not with Progressive either.  Went to Markel (https://www.markelinsurance.com/motorcycle).

I had bought a couple of big ticket items all at once about a year ago and my credit score temporarily dropped...about that time my policy renewed and Progressive raised my rates.  Markel was cheaper than I was paying before the rate increase for comparable coverage.

[Ice]

I have been with USAA since 1984 and they are a very good company, I would not switch. That said they are not always the cheapest, however they have always taken good care of me, Home, auto, banking, etc. you are required to have some military affiliation to be a member though.
USAA does not insure motorcycles anymore, they use Progressive via USAA, meaning that they are sponsored by USAA.
Very good company, I can only recommend them.

[John Schmidt]

Re. military affiliation, they told me I just needed to prove prior service if not currently enlisted...which I did. I've been with Markel for the bike for quite a few years myself, so far, so good. One thing in Florida, to get a decent rate for home ins. you need to have what's known as a "wind mitigation" inspection. It costs $95 for a member and the guy comes out and goes through the construction methods used, especially the roof. Ours was over 5 yrs. old so I just made an appt. to have it done again in case I do change companies. For USAA it makes about $1500 difference in the premium so it's well worth the $95 investment. If I stay with AAA, I don't need to renew the inspection. If I change company they will all require a current one so I'm having it done just in case. Good to hear the positives associated with USAA, there's a good chance I'll make the switch, just need to get the inspection done first so we can talk in real numbers but preliminary quotes are good.

Dennis, I'm not familiar with Shelter. Do you have a ph. # or some such I can call?

[Jess from VA]

For decades, USAA was only for serving and retired military officers.  If you joined while on duty and stayed with them when you separated, you could keep them for life (and your immediate family, could also join, while they were your dependents, and if continuous, they could stay for life too).

I think in the 90s, they expanded to enlisted, with the same rules.

Now it looks like you can join if you can produce any proof of honorable prior service (officer or enlisted).  DD 214, Honorable (or General) discharge certificate.

Like Yuri, I've been with them since 1984 (auto, home), never motorcycle (absolutely never Progressive).  I ditto others comments, they are not the cheapest, but they are the best professional company to deal with (and they have always been fair and reasonable cost-wise, though I have never had a claim, except maybe a windshield).  They always have the highest ratings of any insurance co bar none, by independent and objective reviews.  And if I lost my house to a hurricane or tornado, I would not want to be insured with anyone else.  I carry replacement/rebuild value, and they will keep their word.

I have had small upward fluctuations in my USAA rates, over many years.  But they have never hit me with the kind of increases people complain about on here all the time.  It helps to have never had a single claim (except maybe that windshield that got rocked).  

After my wife had three at-fault accidents (with rate increases), I did what my dad did to me, I kicked her off my joint policy (to keep MY rates down) (I had always paid all premiums, but after I kicked her off, she paid her own bills).  She went with USAA alone (at a higher rate than mine) for a number of years, until they cancelled her after two more at fault accidents (mostly small to medium benders, no catastrophic losses).  She was mad about it, but I was happy.  I want MY company to kick all bad drivers out, so the collective membership costs stay as low as possible. It's good business.  She wasn't happy about my attitude either (what else is new???).

She went with Geico (who originally was the USAA insurance for enlisted folks before they went public), on my recommendation.  I've been with Geico for my bikes for years and years.  No claims, no complaints, no big increases ever.

[old2soon]

Re. military affiliation, they told me I just needed to prove prior service if not currently enlisted...which I did. I've been with Markel for the bike for quite a few years myself, so far, so good. One thing in Florida, to get a decent rate for home ins. you need to have what's known as a "wind mitigation" inspection. It costs $95 for a member and the guy comes out and goes through the construction methods used, especially the roof. Ours was over 5 yrs. old so I just made an appt. to have it done again in case I do change companies. For USAA it makes about $1500 difference in the premium so it's well worth the $95 investment. If I stay with AAA, I don't need to renew the inspection. If I change company they will all require a current one so I'm having it done just in case. Good to hear the positives associated with USAA, there's a good chance I'll make the switch, just need to get the inspection done first so we can talk in real numbers but preliminary quotes are good.

Dennis, I'm not familiar with Shelter. Do you have a ph. # or some such I can call?

                John my puter givin me fits BUT enter shelter ins in your search bar and then your zip code. When it comes up you'll see what I'm talkin bout.  RIDE SAFE.

[BudMan]

I started with USAA in 1973 and will NEVER have any other! Both of my kids use them also.
There's something just kind of special about calling a company and they address  you by rank as soon as you enter your account number.

[Serk]

Been with USAA 29 years (Keep in mind I'm "only" 45 years old). Love 'em, BUT do shop around. No one's been able to touch them for price AND service for car insurance (Their motorcycle insurance is through Progressive) however, for home owner's they were almost double the cost of other providers, and we just couldn't justify using them for that any longer.

[Rams]

Been with USAA 29 years (Keep in mind I'm "only" 45 years old). Love 'em, BUT do shop around. No one's been able to touch them for price AND service for car insurance (Their motorcycle insurance is through Progressive) however, for home owner's they were almost double the cost of other providers, and we just couldn't justify using them for that any longer.

38 years with USAA and I agree, never a problem with getting a claim paid and excellent pricing.   
One of the few benefits of having served.   Highly recommend them.

[cookiedough]

give USAA a shot if eligible military,  I would if I could as well.  Keep shopping around until that 1% chance on all insurance companies do not pull that old bait and switch crap they have been pulling on me the last 3+ years. 

I called today 2 more insurance companies and NO dice,  one was double the price and one was 4x's the price of my current renewal rate with Progressive.  Guess I gotta stay with them until next renewal jacking up the rates once again for NO reason other than them stating we had a price increase in WI that we have to pass along to all customers. 

For those of you that do not have under age 21 year old drivers,  feel lucky!  One company called THE GENERAL is a bunch of crooks was over 4x's the rate and only allowed on teenage drivers considering them high risk to ONLY offer 50/100/50 vs. my 250/500/250 I have now.  Such a scam.