USAA is the gold standard in insurance satisfaction — AM Best A++, the lowest NAIC complaint ratio among major carriers, and consistently the highest J.D. Power scores in the industry. The only catch: it's exclusively available to military members, veterans, and their eligible family members.
⚠ Eligibility Required
Active Duty Military
Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Space Force, National Guard, Reserves
Veterans
Honorably discharged from any branch of U.S. military service
Officer Cadets/Midshipmen
U.S. service academies and advanced ROTC programs
Spouses of Members
Spouse of current USAA member; membership retained even after member's death
Children of Members
Children (including stepchildren if adopted) of any USAA member
Widows/Widowers
Surviving spouses of USAA members retain their membership
USAA serves eligible members in all 50 states, Washington D.C., and internationally for military members stationed overseas. USAA also offers coverage for vehicles driven in certain allied nations. State-specific product availability varies; confirm your state's options at usaa.com.
USAA's NAIC Complaint Index of 0.41 is the lowest among all major national carriers — it receives less than half the complaints expected for a company of its size. Combined with its industry-leading J.D. Power claims satisfaction scores, USAA consistently demonstrates the best overall claims experience of any national insurer. USAA processes claims via its app, phone, and online portal. For auto claims, USAA offers both virtual photo estimates and in-person inspection options. Settlement times for total-loss vehicles typically average 7–10 business days.
ℹ USAA vs. Industry on Complaints
Stored Vehicle Coverage
During deployment, reduce your auto policy to comprehensive-only at significantly reduced rates while your vehicle is in storage. Standard liability and collision can be suspended without canceling the policy.
Overseas Coverage
Coverage for personal vehicles operated in select allied countries during military assignment abroad. Available in Germany, Belgium, Japan, South Korea, and other U.S. military presence countries.
Military Gear Protection
Auto policies include coverage for military uniforms and equipment damaged in covered vehicle losses, typically with no deductible applied to these items.
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) Protections
USAA assists members in understanding and exercising their SCRA rights, including interest rate caps on pre-service loans and certain policy adjustments.
| Company | AM Best | J.D. Power | NAIC | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | A++ | 884* | 0.41 | Military/veterans/families only |
| State Farm | A++ | 829 | 0.52 | All drivers, all states |
| GEICO | A++ | 821 | 0.97 | All drivers; military discounts available |
| Allstate | A+ | 824 | 0.93 | All drivers, all states |
| Progressive | A+ | 794 | 0.85 | All drivers including high-risk |
* USAA ineligible for official J.D. Power ranking due to membership restrictions; shown as benchmark. All scores approximate, April 2026.
USAA offers a comprehensive suite of financial products beyond insurance, making it a one-stop financial institution for military families. These services are only available to USAA-eligible members:
USAA Bank
Checking, savings, CDs, and money market accounts. No ATM fees at 100,000+ locations. Highly rated mobile banking app.
USAA Mortgage
Home loans including VA loans. No-origination-fee option. Specialized in VA loan products for eligible members.
USAA Investment Services
Brokerage accounts, mutual funds, managed portfolios through USAA/Charles Schwab partnership.
USAA Life Insurance
Term, whole, and universal life insurance for members. Competitive rates given member risk profile.
USAA Credit Cards
Cashback and rewards cards. Competitive APRs. Travel benefits for deployed members.
USAA Financial Planning
Financial advice services for retirement, college savings, and military transition planning.
If you don't qualify for USAA membership, these carriers offer the strongest combination of financial strength, customer satisfaction, and pricing:
Closest to USAA in satisfaction for non-military. AM Best A++, NAIC 0.52, best agent network.
Best pricing alternative for standard drivers who want digital self-service.
Strong telematics and accident forgiveness for drivers who want added protection.
USAA's homeowners insurance earns J.D. Power scores of 884 — matching its auto score and placing it at the top of the industry. Key features for eligible members:
Military Uniform Coverage
Covers military uniforms damaged during a covered event with no deductible applied.
Replacement Cost Coverage
USAA's standard homeowners policy includes replacement cost (not actual cash value) by default in most states.
Identity Theft Coverage
Included in USAA's standard homeowners policy. Particularly valuable during deployments when mail goes unmonitored.
Earthquake Coverage
Available as an endorsement in earthquake-prone states. Not included in standard homeowners.
Flood Insurance
Available through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) as a separate policy facilitated by USAA.
Home Sharing Coverage
Coverage available for members who rent their home or rooms through platforms like Airbnb during deployment.
USAA offers life insurance to eligible members and their families. Military life insurance needs are unique — USAA's policies are designed with these factors in mind:
USAA membership — and therefore USAA insurance products — is available to: (1) Active-duty military members serving in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Space Force, and National Guard/Reserves; (2) Veterans who were honorably discharged; (3) Officer Cadets and Midshipmen at U.S. service academies and in advanced ROTC; (4) Eligible family members of USAA members, including spouses, widows/widowers, and children of members. Critically, once a USAA member, children of members can maintain their membership even after the parent's death. Stepchildren are eligible if the member adopts them. Civilian employees of the military, non-military federal employees, and those with other-than-honorable discharges are generally not eligible.
USAA scores 884 out of 1,000 in J.D. Power's auto satisfaction study — consistently 50–80 points above the industry average. J.D. Power measures five components: interaction, price, billing, claims, and policy offerings. USAA excels across all five due to several structural advantages: its membership is self-selecting (military families tend to be financially disciplined and lower-risk), it has no shareholders demanding profit maximization, it operates digitally with low overhead, and its member-service culture is embedded through decades of military-family focus. Note that USAA is ineligible for official J.D. Power ranking due to eligibility restrictions, but it consistently appears as a benchmark comparison.
Yes, in most cases. USAA's average auto premiums are typically 20–40% lower than the national average for comparable coverage, due to its lower-risk member base and non-profit-driven cost structure. However, rates vary significantly by state, vehicle, age, and individual risk factors. USAA is consistently among the cheapest options for active military, particularly for vehicles stored on deployment (special reduced-rate storage coverage is available). For young drivers under 25 who are children of members, USAA rates are often competitive with or below GEICO and State Farm. Always get a quote to verify.
USAA offers several coverage features specifically for military deployment: (1) Stored Vehicle Coverage — significantly reduced premiums for vehicles not being driven during deployment, with just comprehensive coverage maintained; (2) Overseas Coverage — auto insurance for vehicles operated in certain international locations; (3) Deployment Discount — rate reductions for active military members on extended deployment; (4) Identity Theft Restoration — heightened risk during deployment when mail is unmonitored; (5) Moving Coverage — military permanent change of station (PCS) relocation assistance. These features are unique to USAA and represent substantial value for active-duty members.
If you leave the military with an honorable discharge, your USAA membership continues for life. You remain eligible for all USAA insurance, banking, and investment products. Your premium may adjust at renewal because the active-duty discount no longer applies, but you retain full member status and pricing advantages over the general public. If you are separated with a less-than-honorable discharge, you lose USAA eligibility. Spouses who are USAA members retain their membership even in the event of divorce, but children of a divorced non-member parent lose access if the sponsoring USAA parent dies and no other USAA-eligible family member sponsors them.
💡 Verify Your Eligibility Early
Michael Torres
Editorial Lead, Catastrophe & Commercial Property
This article was researched and written by the Cover Forge USA editorial team against federal sources (NAIC, CMS, FEMA, DOL, SSA, state DOIs) and standard policy forms. Bylines organize content by topic — they do not assert individual licensure. See our editorial-policy for details.
Reviewed May 2026
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This site provides general educational information only and is not a substitute for professional insurance advice. All rates, data, and coverage details are estimates and may not reflect your actual premiums. Insurance availability and pricing vary by state, insurer, and individual risk factors. Always consult a licensed insurance professional in your state before making coverage decisions.