CrvtBB

I've been a USAA member since I went on active duty over 25 years ago. When I first signed up they offered the best insurance rates available by a considerable margin, and I always trusted I was paying the best rates given their reputation among the military. I trusted their insurance rates so much, I never really considered shopping the competition and I've been insuring all of my cars with them exclusively.

Today, I got online to remove a car we just sold and when my new premium rate popped up I noticed the rate for my GS seemed high (~$600 for 6 months for full coverage) for a 47 year old with a clean driving record. I know I should have noticed it earlier, but we had a young adult on the policy and with auto-pay and my inherent trust in USAA, I didn't really think about it that much.

So - out of curiosity I decided to plug my info into Progressive's and Geico's online calculators and to my genuine surprise they both came in at less than half USAA's rate with the same coverage and a lower deductible. Based on the quotes, I can insure the Corvette and my two other cars for less than what I'm currently paying for the Corvette alone.

I'll be making several phone calls on Monday to give USAA a chance to explain why they're so much more expensive and to validate the other quotes, but needless to say I'm sick to my stomach that it appears I've been wasting THOUSANDS of dollars trusting USAA was providing me the best rates available. Clearly that is no longer the case.

I am really mad at myself for not being a better informed consumer and just assuming I was getting a great rate from USAA. They're still a good company to bank with, but I recommend other USAA members not take it for granted you're getting the best auto insurance rates from them anymore. Do some price shopping if you haven't done so for a while.

shawnaj7731

Yup! I been a Usaa member for 13 years and seen my rate went up by 30 bucks for no reason this year (3 vehicles) $180 a month no tickets etc. I was like hmmm let me see what geico has to offer. They quoted me $110 a month for better insurance meaning 250 deductible and apples to apples insurance compared to USAA. When I called usaa to tell them they said they have different under writers and they can renew there insurance every 5 years as a company to get lower rate blah blah. I said well if you cant match them I have to join them sorry. I didn't even bother with progressive since usaa partners with them on the motorcycle insurance figured they would be comparable.

RocketDawg

They've got to pay for the ubiquitous and incessant advertising they do on television. I don't think I've ever seen one company have so many ads (or actually the same one repeated over and over).

I don't know how USAA treats its policy holders, but they're not so hot for the other side. My son got rear-ended by a USAA policy holder once, while he was sitting at a red light. The guy who hit him was dialing his cell phone. It totaled our car, and USAA only wanted to pay the wholesale value ... and the car can't be replaced for wholesale. So I contacted my company, State Farm, and they paid full retail for out car, the subrogated with USAA to get reimbursed. And they must have gotten it, because I got our deductible back from SF in a couple of months. So I wasn't impressed with USAA. I was in the military and never had it, though others swore by it.

I think my full coverage with SF is something like $350/6 months. I have $500 deductible and pretty high coverages on liability and medical, and also comprehensive and collision. It also covers using genuine carmaker parts, not generic.

cuspid

I have a 2013 corvette, 2011 Avalon, 04 explorer with a $1000 deductible for $2700/ year

The Director

Hmmm...I've been a USAA member for 45 years and I never even thought of checking on them. Guess I'm gonna do that tomorrow for sure.

MikeERWNC

Also try Amica.
I pay a fraction of that for a year.

NVR LAT

I have been with USAA since 1996 and their rates have always been pretty good, however, I just traded my '05 Coupe for a '12 Grand Sport Coupe and when I called them to inform them of the switch, they informed me my 6 month premium would increase by $106.00. My premium didn't increase by that much when I added the '05 Coupe in '05.

I will say that USAA has been the best insurance company I have ever dealt with when it comes to questions, problems, or claims. I've only had a few claims over the years, but they each have been paid without questions or delays, or even premium increases.
I do think that after reading some of this, I might have to check around for different rates. My monthly premium will increase less than $20.00, but still, I guess I better check around...

lar66BB

I kept getting their stuff in the mail so I checked the rates compared to Statefarm. They weren't even close. I pay $304.80 every 6 mos. for my GS, and that is for the standard full 300/150 coverage.
Oh, forgot to mention I only drive it less than 5k a year and get a big discount for that.

Strake

Thanks for the head's up....... I'll check other rates as well. Just got my new policy..... I've been with USAA since 1969 and they've always been hard to beat, and outstanding service.

On the '13 427 used only 3k miles per year, and 300/500k coverage and a $500 deductible the 6 month policy is $466.59. Seems kind of steep as we've never had a ticket or a claim...

blitzebill

yup, I was with USAA for 22 years and dumped them because of their increasing rates. Bundled my house with cars and got some great discounts with State Farm.

jrose7004

Unfortunately these days you can't blindly trust any insurance company. You should see what Liberty Mutual did to my rates this year. I have no claims, no tickets and I'm over 60. The 4 cars were bundled with 2 houses. I'm now with State Farm.

C6Loach

Dropped Nationwide after 25 years for the same reason. Constant increases the last few years with no real explanation.

Google "Auto Insurance Price Optimization".
Also, I wouldn't submit to any "Snapshot" device either.
I am not an conspiracy guy but they aren't collecting that data for your benefit!

Scuba Ghost

If Erie Insurance is available in your area check them out.

billyboy47

i have NJ MANUFACTURERS insurance for the past 12 years or so, got it thru my wife's business. i called other agencies like USAA, STATE FARM, AND ALLSTATE and all three couldn't match my rate or come close. and when i spoke to someone at NJM she told me to be careful because some insurance companies bait you in with a low quote when you first sign up. not the 3 i listed, they went right for the throat. we'll stay with who we have because i trust that company.

billyboy47

matter of fact, here is what i pay for 3 vehicles. 2006 honda cr-v, 2014 ford escape titanium and my present 013 base vette. keep in mind that we have full tort on all vehicles. i have the $500 deductible and $300,000. for each accident. hope that gives my fellow forum members some kind of idea. and my rate is, $2700.00 for the year. NJM goes a full year, not 6 months. now keep in mind, i never said it was the cheapest insurance, just a little better than the 3 i posted above.

djfury05

Careful going with Geico.. I was shopping around awhile back and they had the best quote by far of anyone. I went ahead and submitted the change and then I got an email later on with a confirmation of coverages and costs etc. The actual coverage they gave me was nothing near what the quote was. It cost me $100 more than they quoted a month with less coverage and a higher deductible. Lucky for me I caught it immediately and needless to say I was insured by Geico for about all of 10 minutes.

I'm with USAA now. I am 27 with a couple previous tickets and I added the C6 Z06 at about $100 extra a month to policy. Didn't think that was too terrible and I haven't shopped around much since the Geico deal but NCM Insurance looks pretty good as it's an agreed upon value policy and I won't drive the Z much.

Cogf16

I've been with USAA for 33 years and also have noticed a big increase in cost. I called them and had a LONG conversation with a specialist that handles LOTS of these calls from disgruntled members. Homeowners went from $400 to $1600 in 7 years and car insurance (hard to compare apples to apples since I have added a car and 2 teenage boy drivers) has exploded as well.
The rep went over all my coverages and lowered my mileages and tweaked my homeowners to save me a few hundred bucks but still very upset with where these rates have gone.
I think there has been a fundamental shift in the company with all the advertising and now allowing family members from distant military relatives to become members. Excuse me, but HOW does having your grandfather from WW2 make you a good insurance risk? I really wonder how the gross numbers of the corp. have changed as they have opened it up to just about anyone. Not being a snob here but when I joined, it was just available to military officers.

Oh and I pay like 3 to 4 thousand a year to insure 4 vehicles and 4 cars, and not vette among them yet

Rky Mtn C6

Been with USAA almost 30 years. Agree that in the beginning no other company could touch them. This was when they only insured military "officers." Now they insure anybody who was military. Broader client base and broader risk and payouts. I have my annual rebate applied directly to my insurance policies.

Went through similar experiences with my motorcycle insurance (not USAA). Went the cheap route, and changed companies. After two years my rates were jacked up. Was told that it was because my "insurance score" (even though there was never a claim) wasn't good, and I didn't have a credit card from an oil company. Told them why do I need an "oil" credit card with a 20% interest rate when I have bank credit cards with 8% interest rates. Took my business elsewhere. After two years with another company, the rates got jacked again. Talked with a friend in the business and he said I reached the end of the "honeymoon" period, where companies offer you low rates to get your business and them raise it later hoping you won't notice.

Strake

WOW....... just did a Progressive Direct quote online and for nearly identical coverage and usage for both vehicles my USAA 6 month rate of $773.45 was quoted at $388.00 ...... think I will call USAA tomorrow morning. I hate to jump ship since I've been with them since 1969 and our house and lake home are also insured with them.

Our boat is insured with Progressive through USAA (their partner).....

Hameister

Geeesh, another thread where you guys are comparing insurance premiums.

You're different ages, have different credit ratings, different driving records, different vehicles, live in different parts of the country, drive under different conditions, have different familial drivers, different laws regulating insurance, different coverages, different multiple policy discounts, etc., etc., etc.
And, not a single person has "full coverage", ever! It doesn't exist.

Absolutely a total waste of time comparing premiums.

What is a common factor, to all of us, is the need to research your policy coverages, with other carriers, at least once every 3 years.

It's not at all unusual, after being a "loyal" customer with a carrier for many years, to find that other carriers will provide you the exact same coverages, for a much lower premium.

Then, over a period of years, your new carrier will slowly raise your rates, and it will be time to shop around once again.
Do not be "loyal". Trust me when I tell you, that no insurance carrier will be "loyal" to you. It's strictly business.

That's my 2 cents.