Getting an Insurance Quote from USAA

Why I began with USAA

USAA (United Services Automobile Association) has been insuring members of the military for over 90 years. As a loyal customer since my time in active service, I felt most confident beginning my insurance search directly through them. Some key reasons include:

Exclusive military benefits – USAA offers special rates, services, and benefits solely for current and former military members and their families. This is a big perk.
Trusted reputation – As one of the largest insurers in the US, they maintain an A++ financial rating for stability. I knew they would be there if I ever needed to file a claim.
Simple application process – Being an existing USAA customer made applying for a quote straightforward through my online account without extra paperwork.
Potentially lower rates – With their focus only on low-risk military groups, USAA is known for very competitive auto insurance premiums depending on one’s profile.
Additional products – They provide all types of insurance from renters to life which could allow bundling multiple policies for added savings.

Getting car insurance quotes online was easy

The first step was logging into my USAA account online and selecting the auto insurance quote option. It only took a few minutes to provide some basic information about myself and the vehicles I wanted to be insured.

Some of the details requested included:

My name, address, military status/history
Driver information for anyone else on the policy
Vehicle make/model/year plus VIN for each
Insurance coverages desired (liability limits, collision, comprehensive etc.)

Within seconds, I received customized quotes broken down by coverage type as well as estimated bundled and multi-vehicle discounts I’d be eligible for. Seeing potential rates upfront helped determine if pursuing a policy was worthwhile.

Comparing coverage options

In addition to liability, property, and medical payments, USAA offered several extra options worth considering:

Roadside assistance – Includes services like lockout help, flat tire changes, and fuel delivery at reasonable pricing.
Gap coverage – Pays out the difference between actual cash value and outstanding loan if totaled while “upside down” on an auto loan.
Rental reimbursement – Offers money towards a rental car while your insured vehicle is in the shop after an accident.
Usage-based/telematics programs – Tracking driving behavior via smartphone can earn safe driver discounts.

Being able to compare these add-ons side-by-side helped me determine the best coverage for my budget and priorities like frequently driving in remote areas. Seeing value-adds clearly presented facilitated informed decision-making.

Qualifying for discounts

Another advantage of the online quoting system was highlighting available discounts upfront based on my profile. Some of the savings I pre-qualified for included:

Multi-vehicle discount – Bundling home and auto policies for an additional 10% off.
Good student discount – 15% discount for being a full-time honor student.
Good driver discount – A record of no claims results in up to 40% lower rates after 3 years.
Paperless billing – Signing up for electronic documents rather than paper saves $20 annually.
Military discount – Additional 5-15% off depending on years of service.

Knowing I could lower costs through these options allowed narrowing rates even further. USAA aimed to reward good driving behaviors and recognize clients using multiple services.

Competitiveness of final rates

Once customized to maximize available discounts, I was pleased to see that USAA offered some of the most competitive premiums among other top carriers I received auto quotes from like Progressive, GEICO, and State Farm.

Some key comparisons included:

Liability coverage – About 5-10% lower than average competitor rates for my state.
Comprehensive – Nearly 15% less than other quotes for full coverage on my newer vehicle.
Bundle discount – Bundling properties saved an additional $150+ annually versus standalone policies elsewhere.
Additional drivers – Adding occasional teenage drivers only raised rates $10-20 monthly versus some insurers doubling costs.

Buying the policy

I was impressed by the easy process from the initial quote through to binding coverage online with USAA. Simply e-signing documents and entering payment info activated my new 6-month policy within minutes.

Items like proof of insurance documents and insurance ID cards also became instantly accessible through my online account center. Overall service matched the smooth digital experience I’d come to expect from USAA over the years.

Customer service when needed

While I hope to not require it, I take comfort in knowing that USAA maintains an outstanding reputation should any claims or questions arise down the road. As a military-focused company, they aim to handle issues promptly and treat clients with respect.

Some ways to get quick assistance include:

24/7 claims reporting by phone, app, or online.
Live online chat during business hours.
Message center to correspond about routine matters.
Local agents are available by appointment.

Understanding issues may be handled seamlessly gives extra peace of mind, especially if on active duty away from home. Their reliability provides needed confidence.

In Conclusion

All in all, I’ve been incredibly satisfied getting affordable, comprehensive auto insurance quotes and coverage through USAA. Their exclusive military benefits, financial strength, convenient online services, and customer focus make them an outstanding choice for many in the military community.

Taking just a few minutes to receive customized rates was well worth exploring and ultimately saved me hundreds annually. While not necessarily the cheapest for all scenarios, USAA’s combination of price, Value, and excellence has certainly won my brand loyalty for life. I recommend checking them out!