USAA renters insurance stands out for offering excellent coverage, competitive pricing, and added benefits that go beyond what many renters insurance companies provide. USAA tailors its services specifically for military members, families, and veterans.
Policy features, like earthquake and flood protection and replacement value reimbursement for personal belongings, are available at no extra cost. These features qualify USAA for a high ranking in our overview of the best cheap renters insurance companies.
However, USAA insurance eligibility is limited to those with military affiliation. While the company is one of the most comprehensive and well-rated renters insurance options available, it's not available to those not associated with military service.
Pros
- No extra charge for earthquake coverage or flood damage
- Replacement cost for personal belongings comes standard
- Low premium rates
- App, phone, and online claims service
- Excellent customer service scores
Cons
- Membership limited to military personnel, veterans, and families
- Some reviews cite delays with complex claims
About USAA Renters Insurance
USAA started in 1922 and serves current and former military members and their families. It holds the highest A++ rating from A.M. Best and an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
The company offers comprehensive protection that often beats other insurers by including features like earthquake coverage and flood protection at no extra cost. It also offers life insurance options, bundling possibilities, and specialized plans tailored to military lifestyles.
USAA’s renters insurance stands out for offering full replacement cost coverage, generous liability coverage, and medical payments for guest injuries. Its online tools and mobile app streamline online insurance quotes, policy management, and claim filing. Policies are available nationwide and even to service members overseas.
Features and Benefits
USAA renters insurance offers user convenience and much more than just basic coverage protections. One feature that stands out is that it includes earthquake and flood coverage in policies at no additional cost. The coverage is meant to act as extra security as relocations and housing variability often bring unpredictable risk exposure for military members.
Another excellent feature is USAA's replacement cost coverage for personal property. If your belongings are damaged or stolen, USAA reimburses you for the full cost to replace them, rather than their depreciated actual cash value.
Additional living expense coverage also comes standard if your home becomes temporarily uninhabitable. Additionally, replacement coverage is available to cover that expense in case of a break-in.
USAA also offers liability coverage, medical payments for guest injuries, identity theft restoration, and emergency home repair services. Policyholders can take advantage of bundling discounts when combining renters insurance with auto, homeowners, or life insurance, also available through USAA.
Earthquake and flood coverage at no extra cost
Replacement cost for personal property
Coverage of additional living expenses if your residence becomes uninhabitable
Medical payments coverage for guest injuries
Liability coverage
Lock replacement support for stolen keys or break-ins
Identity theft restoration support
Emergency home repair service coverage available
Bundling discounts
Tailored options for military gear and overseas deployments
USAA Renters Insurance Reviews: Editorial Rating
Trusted Company Reviews Rating Score: 9.5
USAA ties with Amica renters insurance for the top position among the best cheap renters insurance companies. It earns excellent customer service ratings, due to its highly competitive pricing, strong claims process, and inclusion of disaster coverage without additional fees.
However, its eligibility requirements mean you must have a military association to purchase a policy. This fact keeps USAA from scoring nearly perfect in our review.
Average Monthly Premium Cost | $10 to $18 |
Deductible Options | $250 to $2,000 |
BBB Rating | A+ (not accredited) |
Why We Like It
USAA offers excellent value and coverage options. Unlike most insurers, it includes earthquake and flood protection in its standard protection policies. The company is also one of the most affordable renters insurance companies available, and bundling options can sweeten the deal even further. We also like that USAA provides several methods of making claims and tracking your coverage, such as a mobile app, online tools, and phone support.
What We Don’t Like
The requirement for military affiliation means civilian renters cannot enroll directly with USAA. The only other flaw we could find in our research was a few complaints regarding complex paperwork where overseas deployments are involved.
USAA Renters Insurance Customer Reviews?
USAA renters insurance earns consistently high marks across multiple review platforms for its affordability, coverage quality, and claim responsiveness. Customers often cite how easy it is to file a claim and the excellent customer service.
While a small number of BBB reviews mention customer service inconsistencies, these are the exception, not the norm. Overall, USAA maintains high ratings and stands out as one of the most trusted names among insurance companies.
Who Is USAA Renters Insurance Best For?
USAA is ideal if you’re in the military, a veteran, or a family member of either. Those without military affiliation, however, will have to look elsewhere. The company offers excellent service, has a solid financial outlook, and offers comprehensive coverage at affordable prices.
USAA vs Geico Renters Insurance
USAA and Geico both offer solid renters insurance, but they cater to very different customer bases. USAA clearly leads regarding value, offering broader standard protections, lower premiums, and more flexible deductible options than Geico. However, USAA is unavailable to those without a direct military connection.
Geico, on the other hand, is available to any renter in any of the 50 states and Washington, D.C., and also offers some premium services.
USAA renters insurance typically costs between $10 and $18 per month, which is below the national average and often more affordable than Geico’s average premium range of $15 to $20. Additionally, USAA offers more flexibility on deductibles, ranging from $250 to $2,000, compared to Geico’s narrower range of $500 to $1,000. This can help renters better fit their policy into their budget.
Both companies hold A+ BBB ratings, though neither is currently accredited, and each has online claims availability.
USAA | Geico | |
Average Monthly Premium Cost | $10 to $18 | $15 to $20 |
Deductible Options | $250 to $2,000 | $500 to $1,000 |
BBB Rating | A+ (not accredited) | A+ (not accredited) |
State Availability | All 50 states + D.C. | All 50 states + D.C. |
Filing a Claim with USAA
You can file a claim with USAA using its mobile app, website, or phone service. You can also upload photos, track progress, and receive your payment online and directly to your account.
Your claim will typically process within a few days, especially for standard property loss. Overseas claims receive similar attention but typically require additional service member deployment documentation to process the claim.
USAA Alternatives
If you're not affiliated with the military or USAA just isn't right for your needs, consider these other contenders. Most offer broad availability and digital claims tools, and each scores well among customers.
Amica: Excellent for claims handling, disaster endorsements, and customer service
Erie: Offers replacement value reimbursements, but it only available in 22 states
Lemonade: Provides fast, app-based quotes and claims
State Farm: A full-service insurer with online tools as well as agent availability
Frequently Asked Questions
Source
Logo image source: usaa.com
About Author
Deane Biermeier
Deane Biermeier is a certified financial educator through the University of Minnesota and a respected authority in financial research, writing, and editing, renowned for his in-depth analyses and expert advice. With a distinguished career that previously spanned home improvement, real estate, and finance topics, Deane's role at Trusted Company Reviews focuses exclusively on finance. Deane has contributed to leading publications such as Forbes Home, US News and World Report, Newsweek Vault, and others. Since joining TrustedCompanyReviews.com in 2023, he has solidified his reputation as a crucial resource for clear, factual financial guidance.