USAA home insurance contains coverage that must be purchased separately from other companies and comes at an additional cost. However, it is only available to active duty service members, veterans, and the families of those individuals USAA, one of the country's largest home insurers, provides insurance plans to active duty service members, veterans, and the families of both groups. Other companies' home insurance policies typically include coverage that you must purchase separately for an additional cost. On the other hand, USAA's home insurance policies include that coverage at no additional cost. Despite this, our rate comparison shows that USAA's premiums are still lower than the national average. It is strongly recommended that you give USAA Homeowners Insurance some thought if you are eligible to purchase it.
The advantages and disadvantages of USAA home insurance
Advantages
- Policies typically offer standard coverage that you must purchase separately elsewhere at an additional cost.
- A significantly lower number of customer complaints were filed with state regulators than expected for a corporation of its size.
- According to our examination, the state's average rate is lower than the average for the nation.
Disadvantages
- Exclusively for current service members, veterans, and the families of both groups.
- There aren't very many deals offered.
USAA home insurance –– its ratings
The overall performance of the USAA homeowners insurance was rated as five stars out of five. The formula for awarding points for homeowners insurance takes into account a variety of factors, including policy coverage options and discounts, the simplicity of filing a claim, the transparency of the website, the financial stability of the company, complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and other relevant information.State availability
Homeowners insurance is available from USAA in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.USAA home insurance –– their coverage
You have many options for adding extra coverage to your homeowner's insurance policy. Still, the following forms of protection are typically included as standard:Dwelling
- It is in your best financial interest to either repair or rebuild the structure of your home.
Other structures
- Damage to detached buildings such as a shed or fence is covered by this policy.
Personal property
- It covers the cost of repairing or replacing personal belongings such as clothing and furniture.
Loss of use
- If you are forced to live elsewhere while covered repairs are being made to your house, this benefit will pay for hotel accommodations, meals at restaurants, and other related expenses.
Personal liability
- Covers the cost of legal representation and damages in the event that you are found responsible for injuries sustained by other individuals or damage caused to their property.
Medical payments
- Regardless of who was at fault, injuries sustained by guests in your house are covered by this policy.
Identity theft coverage
- If your identity is stolen, USAA will reimburse you for up to $5,000 of the costs associated with rehabilitating your good name. In other states, you won't be able to get coverage like this.
Replacement cost coverage
- In case your personal property is lost, damaged, or stolen, USAA will often compensate you for the money necessary to purchase brand-new versions of the lost or stolen items. If restoring or repairing an item is less expensive than replacing it, the corporation will pay for that option instead. As opposed to charging extra for it as most other insurers do, USAA makes this coverage standard in all states, except for North Carolina.
Home-sharing coverage
- Whenever you rent out a room or your entire house on websites like Airbnb, this coverage will pay for any damage resulting from the rental transaction. It is standard in the majority of states.
Military uniform coverage
- Suppose you are on active duty or deployed when your uniform is destroyed or stolen during a covered event. In that case, USAA will compensate you without charging you a deductible for the loss.
USAA home insurance –– the rates offered
According to our research on rates, the typical cost of a year's worth of homeowners insurance via USAA is $1,724. This is lower than the national average of $1,784 a year. Still, it is higher than the average rates offered by State Farm and Allstate, two large companies competing nationally. The sample rates provided above were determined based on a homeowner who was 40 years old, had a $1,000 deductible, $300,000 in coverage for their house, and $300,000 in liability. Your charges will be different.Discounts
Based on where you reside, the list provides some ways that you could save money on your USAA homeowners insurance policy:- If you insure your vehicle with USAA, you could receive a discount of up to ten percent.
- A credit for protective devices can be received when purchasing an ADT home security system.
- Get a discount on the purchase and installation of selected smart-home products.
- Up to a ten percent discount for maintaining a claim-free status for a minimum of five years.
Consumer complaints
According to statistics compiled over the course of three years by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, USAA was found to have received a significantly lower number of house insurance complaints from state regulators than expected, given the company's size. Complaints filed with the NAIC regarding home insurance also involve other homeowner policies, such as mobile homes, renters, and condominium insurance.Consumer experience
Website
The website of USAA contains a section titled "Advice," in which visitors can read up on various topics, such as what homeowners insurance does not cover and how to prevent water leaks. There is also a chatbot available to provide answers to quick questions. You may pay your bill, change your insurance, file and monitor a claim, set up autopay, or talk with a live agent by logging in to the user site for USAA.App
You may pay bills, you can file claims, and you can track claims all through the USAA mobile app. Other USAA services, such as checking, savings, and credit card accounts, may be accessed through the app, which you can download for free on iOS and Android devices.Guide for purchasing homeowners' insurance
You can acquire estimates for the cost of home insurance by going online, calling a company, or working with an agent. But before you get started, make sure you've completed these steps:Determine the level of coverage that is necessary
Is a basic policy sufficient for your needs, or do you want to add additional insurance to cover things like identity theft and backups in the sewer system? Check to see if any firm you're thinking about doing business with offers the required choices.Conduct a comprehensive inventory
Conduct a thorough inventory of your goods to check that you have adequate insurance coverage for them. Include every piece of furniture, electronic device, article of clothing, and piece of jewelry in addition to household stuff. Determine how much you would have to spend to replace them. This total represents the bare minimum of personal property insurance coverage that you ought to have.Create an accurate comparison
Ensure that all insurers offer the same limits and deductibles before beginning your price comparison.Investigate any complaints from customers
Before deciding on a policy, it is crucial to consider the number of customer grievances lodged against each insurer, even though it may be tempting to choose the option that offers the lowest price. If you ever need to make a claim, poor customer service could considerably impact your overall experience.Instructions for submitting a claim on a homeowner's insurance policy
File the claim as soon as it's not a risk
Suppose you report a theft or damage to your house as soon as it occurs. In that case, your insurance company can appoint an adjuster and begin working on paying out your claim as quickly as possible. When filing a claim, you may be able to do so online or using a company's mobile app; however, in other instances, you may be required to phone your insurance agent or provider instead. Keep your insurance policy number close at hand.Gather evidence of the harm
Before contacting your insurance carrier about a stolen item, you should first report the theft to the authorities. Your insurer may request a copy of their report. Take pictures or videos of the damage to bolster your insurance claim.Stop any more damage from occurring
Take pictures of anything broken or destroyed, and then immediately begin taking measures to prevent any additional harm. A blown-out window or a leaking roof, for instance, can both benefit from having a tarp placed over them. Keep your purchase receipts, as your insurer may pay you for the items you've purchased later.Other homeowners insurance providers to take into consideration
You are not prepared to make a choice, are you? It's possible that you might be interested in these more house insurance providers:- Allstate
- Nationwide
- State Farm
- Travelers
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does homeowner's insurance from USAA provide coverage for tree removal?
It depends. If a tree topples into your house, USAA will often pay to have the tree cut down and removed from the premises before any repairs are made. The coverage to cut down a tree from your property may be more limited; typically, it's limited to $500 for a single tree or $1,000 in total. It is considered routine home maintenance. Thus you will not pay the cost of removing a tree from your property to protect it from future damage.Does the homeowner's insurance with USAA have any dog breed restrictions?
On your homeowners policy, under the liability section, USAA does not place breed restrictions on the dogs it will cover. However, suppose the animal has a history of violence or destroying property. In that case, this may affect your eligibility for coverage and the amount of coverage you receive. Find out more about the insurance coverage available to homeowners for dog bites.Does USAA provide coverage for mobile or prefabricated homes?
Regarding providing insurance for manufactured and mobile homes, USAA collaborates with another organization called Foremost. Learn more about mobile home insurance.Does the USAA home insurance provide coverage for mold?
In most cases, USAA will not pay for damage caused by mold or dry rot. On the other hand, if the mold was caused by a disaster that was covered by your insurance, you may have some coverage for the mold damage. Coverage for mold varies from state to state. The endorsements or add-ons could determine it on your insurance policy. Find out more information about the coverage offered by home insurance.What additional kinds of coverage does USAA provide for its members?
USAA sells a variety of insurance policies, including condo, auto, life, umbrella, and flood insurance, in addition to homeowner's insurance. USAA is also a provider of various financial services and products, including mortgages, bank and investment accounts, credit cards, and annuities. Check out our analysis of the USAA auto insurance policy.Does the homeowner's insurance offered by USAA cover the cost of replacing a roof?
It depends on why your roof was damaged in the first place. If the damage were caused by a catastrophe covered by your insurance policy, such as a fire or strong winds, USAA would typically assist in repairing the damage and, if required, replacing the affected items. There are certain exceptions: in coastal areas of some states, damage caused by wind or hail is not covered by the policy, and the insurance company does not usually compensate for cosmetic damage to the roof.