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When I was in CO USAA was always expensive and had an additional deductible for hail. Now that I have been in CA for 3 years USAA is priced competitive and their service is really good. They don't nickel and dime on claims from my experience so I keep them being in CA.
Last time I checked AMICA and USAA rank the highest. AMICA is very good used to deal with them at Enterprise, but they are the most $$$ from getting quotes.
I've found it really depends on what state you're in when it comes to USAA. We ditched them for State Farm after moving to Florida from Texas. Then we ditched State Farm for Progressive. We don't drive much and don't have fancy new cars that require loads of insurance so we went the low price route.
I did file a claim years ago through USAA and the process was quite efficient. In 23 years of driving, that's been the only claim I've filed. My rate did not go up.
I've read some opinions saying when USAA opened membership to family members, service changed significantly and it changed for the worse. Now they're just trying to get as many customers as they can whereas before it was focused on military members. But it seems the once military-only financial institutions are doing it. PenFed and Navy Federal allow family members to join, too.
I still use USAA for banking and investments, though.
I haven’t heard that about it getting poorer due to allowing family members. But there was a bit of an uproar when they started allowing enlisted members rather than just officers. But regardless even after those changes they still rate #1.
Thanks guys! I have always heard great things about USAA, but good to know that is always not true.
USAA operates under an affinity business model. As such, the 'exclusive" nature of these businesses makes it's clientele feel special. Historically, a company using an affinity business models have the highest customer ratings as nobody wants to feel their special club is just average. They can also get a boost when that affinity relationship extends to the employees of the company. It's difficult for a person to feel their "brother" or "sister" isn't really looking out for their best interest. I'm sure all the clients of the Baptist Foundation was giving them rave reviews even after they found out their money was being stolen by their "special" club.
I've had USAA for over 20 years. Homeowners, renter's, car, PPI, investments, banking, real estate, car buying. Never a problem. They are amazing compared to some of the companies I deal with.
USAA operates under an affinity business model. As such, the 'exclusive" nature of these businesses makes it's clientele feel special. Historically, a company using an affinity business models have the highest customer ratings as nobody wants to feel their special club is just average. They can also get a boost when that affinity relationship extends to the employees of the company. It's difficult for a person to feel their "brother" or "sister" isn't really looking out for their best interest. I'm sure all the clients of the Baptist Foundation was giving them rave reviews even after they found out their money was being stolen by their "special" club.
We had an accident a few years ago. We were with State Farm and the person who hit us was with Liberty Mutual. We were treated so poorly. The accident was a nasty one and one with made me swear to never deal with either of these companies moving forward.
More recently, our car was stolen. USAA has treated us so well and did not raise our rates (comprehensive claim) despite the car getting totaled.
Whether an affinity model or not, I absolutely have had nothing but amazing experiences and no longer than a 1-2 minute hold tmie.
And no, you don't qualify unless your father was already a member. Neither would you qualify for banking, that's not open to everyone.
You're right.. I thought the banking was open, but appears it is not. At one point, SC had a law that said you could not offer insurance to members only. So, to insure anyone in SC, they had to accept everyone.. Once that law was changed, they kicked the non-qualifiers out.
I have heard that the rates are different whether you're a dependant or a 'qualifier'.. I think my dad, who I got membership through, gets a better rate because he was an officer than I get just being a dependent member.
That distribution check at the end of the year also affects the overall rate that you pay. Usually winds up being somewhere in the 5 to 10% of what you paid in coming back.
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