USAA Renters Insurance Review of 2023

Renters insurance is a type of insurance that combines property coverage and liability to protect people who rent their homes.

Any renter should purchase enough renters insurance coverage to protect them in the event that their belongings are damaged, destroyed, or stolen, or someone sustains an injury in their rental unit or home.

At PropertyNest, we want to make sure that everybody who rents their home understands why purchasing renters insurance is a smart decision and provide them with the information necessary to help them get the coverage they need at an affordable price.

USAA is a well-respected company that provides several types of insurance to active duty military service members, military veterans, and their families.

In this review of USAA renters insurance, we’ll provide you with details of the company’s history, its renters insurance coverage, how it compares with other companies that sell renters insurance, and list the pros and cons of choosing USAA for your renters insurance coverage.

Before we summarize our thoughts about USAA renters insurance and make our final recommendation, here are some pros and cons of USAA to consider.

There are a few downsides to choosing USAA as your renters insurance company if you are currently serving or have served in the military.

USAA History and Overview

USAA has been providing insurance to military service members since its inception all the way back in 1922.

A group of 25 Army officers gathered in San Antonio that year combined their resources and decided to insure one another’s vehicles.

By 1923, the company had expanded to serve officers in the United States Navy and the Marine Corps, and today, it serves millions of active duty and retired military service members and their families.

USAA was one of the first insurance companies to embrace technology; in 2006, the company became the first insurance company to allow members to deposit checks from home and in 2016, the first company to provide voice-guided mobile app deposits.

One of the hallmarks of USAA insurance is low prices, which are designed to make renters insurance and other types of coverage affordable for military members.

The company also provides special coverage for military members including uniform replacement and discounts for service members living on a military base.

USAA has received consistently high scores for its ethics and strives to treat every member with respect and integrity.

USAA Financial and Customer Service Ratings

There are many metrics that can be used to evaluate an insurance company, including financial ratings and customer service ratings.

We look at financial ratings because they serve as an indication of a company’s financial strength and stability, including their ability to pay claims fully and in a timely manner.

A high rating usually means that a company has enough liquidity to investigate and pay claims quickly to ensure that members don’t have to wait for necessary funds.

We should also note that a high financial rating means that there’s limited risk that an insurance company will go out of business, leaving policyholders scrambling to get the coverage they need.

Just as important are customer service ratings, which can tell you what to expect if you need to ask a question about your coverage or file a claim.

USAA Renters Insurance Overview

Renters insurance is not legally required in any state, but many landlords require their tenants to provide proof of renters insurance because it minimizes the risk of legal disputes related to property damage.

The average renters insurance policy covers renters’ personal belongings up to the chosen policy limit, and protects renters whether their belongings are in the rental unit or not when they are destroyed, stolen, or damaged.

PropertyNest recommends renters insurance to every renter because a landlord’s property insurance will not protect renters’ personal belongings or personal liability, only the landlord’s.

Policies & Coverage

USAA offers standard coverage for renters that’s similar to what you could find with other insurance companies, plus a few extras that make it a great choice for military service members.

Here are the basics of what’s covered by USAA’s renters insurance policy.

• Personal property. Personal property coverage protects your belongings, including clothing, electronics, furniture, and more. (Note: High-value items like jewelry and artwork must be scheduled if you want them to be covered.)
• Personal liability. Your personal liability coverage protects you in the event you are found to be personally liable for either a guest injury or the destruction or damage of their personal property while in your rental unit.
• Guest medical expenses. USAA renters insurance covers guest medical expenses on a limited basis if you are found to be liable for their injuries.
• Loss of use. Loss of use coverage provides the money you might need to pay expenses above and beyond your usual rent if you are temporarily unable to live in your rental, including the cost of staying in a hotel or eating in restaurants.

USAA offers a couple of additional items with their standard coverage that set them apart from other renters insurance companies, including the following.

• Flood insurance
• Earthquake insurance
• Replacement cost coverage (most companies offer actual cash value as the standard and sell replacement cost coverage at a premium.)
• Overseas insurance for deployed military service members
• Protection for military service uniforms and gear with no deductible

There are also coverage options that may be added to your policy at an additional cost.

• Valuable Personal Property coverage provides protection for jewelry and guns with no deductible.
• Electronics coverage protects computers, phones, and other devices from routine damage and loss, with a $250 deductible.

USAA doesn’t offer as many endorsement options as other insurers, but they make up for it with robust standard coverage that includes protection not included in other companies’ policies.

Limits

Unlike some other companies, USAA does not place a cap on the amount of personal property protection you may purchase.

Here are the limits for USAA renters insurance.

• Personal property: No maximum limit.
• Loss of use: No maximum limit.
• Personal liability: up to $1,000,000
• Medical payments to others: Up to $100,000
• Deductible: $250 and up

Remember that choosing a low deductible or a high policy limit will increase your costs and may make them higher than the national average.

Discounts

USAA offers its members a variety of ways to save on their renters insurance with discounts, many of which will apply to all renters.

• Policy bundling. You can save 10% on your premium if you bundle USAA renters insurance with auto insurance.
• Claims-free. You can save up to 20% on renters insurance if you haven’t filed a claim in the past three years.
• Security. Claim a 5% discount if your rental has a monitored fire alarm or security system, or has automatic sprinklers installed.
• On-Base. Save up to 28% if you live in the barracks or in other on-base military housing.
• Service academy. Students at US military academies can save 45% if they purchase personal property protection from USAA.

Rates

Thanks to USAA’s generous discounts, the average cost for renters insurance is well below the national average.

According to PropertyNest research, the average annual cost of renters insurance with USAA is $164.40, totaling $13.70 per month, below the $17 monthly national average.

The important thing to keep in mind is that if you opt for a high policy limit for your personal belongings or your personal liability, you will likely pay more than the average we’ve listed here.

Choosing a low deductible instead of a high one will also impact your costs and may mean that you pay more than average.

Claims

USAA has streamlined their claims filing process to make it as easy as possible to place a claim and track the progress of your payment.

You can file a claim online at their online claims center, or by using their free mobile app, and you can also call the company at (800) 531-USAA.

You should make sure to have the following information at hand before you begin the claims filing process.

• Your policy number
• The date and time the claim occurred
• The nature of the personal property affected
• The location of the incident
• The cause of the damage
• Details of any injuries
• Your contact information

You can follow up on the status of your claim using the online portal or mobile app, or by calling USAA directly to inquire about your claim.

Make sure to have your claim number when you follow up, as you will need it to get the status of your open claim.

Customer Service Options & Availability

Customer service should always be a priority when you buy renters insurance because nobody needs added stress when it becomes necessary to file a claim.

USAA policyholders can get assistance in a variety of ways, as follows.

Online Support

USAA has a customer portal that allows policyholders to log in and get the support they need, and they also have a live chat option on their website and a library of FAQs and other resources.

Telephone Support

As we noted above, USAA has a 24-hour customer service number, (800) 531-USAA, which you can call to get support related to your policy as well as technical support.

Mobile Support

USAA has a well-received mobile app, and you can get support within the app whenever you need it, whether you want to follow up on a claim or get tech support.

How Does USAA Compare with Other Companies?

A stand-alone review of USAA is helpful, but we also think it’s useful to see how their renters insurance coverage compares to some of their competitors.

Here’s our overview of how USAA compares with two top competitors, Amica and Progressive.

USAA vs. Amica Mutual

USAA and Amica are both well-respected companies with solid financial histories and customer service ratings.

As we have noted, USAA is available in all 50 states plus Washington D.C., while Amica is available in 48 states but not in DC, Alaska, or Hawaii.

Both companies offer a total of five renters insurance discounts, but Amica comes out slightly ahead with a 15% discount on bundling, while USAA offers more total savings due to its generous claims-free and on-base discounts.

Both USAA and Amica do well on customer service, with USAA receiving a higher rating from J.D. Power and Amica receiving a lower volume of customer complaints, according to the NAIC.

Claims filing is another area where these competitors are evenly matched, making it possible for policyholders to file claims online or via a mobile app.

Finally, both companies offer high limits and an array of deductibles, but Amica has the lowest deductible option at just $100.

Read a full Amica Mutual renters insurance review.

USAA vs. Progressive

Like USAA, Progressive is a large insurance company with solid ratings and a long history of providing renters insurance.

Both companies offer renters insurance in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, which is ideal for military service members who may be required to move frequently.

These companies are well matched with discounts, with each offering five, but USAA has a clear advantage in terms of the amount of money that layering discounts may save.

USAA’s basic policy is more comprehensive than Progressive’s, thanks to the inclusion of flood and earthquake insurance and default replacement cost coverage.

Progressive offers a few more policy endorsements than USAA, including personal injury coverage and a single deductible option for policyholders who bundle renters and auto insurance.

Read a full Progressive renters insurance review.

Summary and Conclusion

Overall, we can confirm that USAA is a reliable and ethical company with a century-long history of excellent customer service and responsible claim payments.

They have received top-tier financial ratings, including the highest possible rating from A.M. Best, one of the most respected insurance rating companies in the world.

We consider USAA’s average cost to be low, especially given that their policy provides coverage that would normally not be included with renters insurance.

The breadth of renters insurance protection offered by USAA is impressive because it includes coverage that would normally cost extra, including flood insurance, earthquake insurance, and replacement cost coverage for personal belongings.

We also appreciate USAA’s excellent and ethical customer service, and their technology, which makes it easy for policyholders to get information online, file and track claims, avail themselves of mobile services thanks to their well-reviewed mobile app, and talk to an agent using the live chat option on their website.

Renters insurance claims may be filed online, in the mobile app, or by phone thanks to USAA’s 24-hour toll-free phone line.

On the whole, we find that USAA is an excellent choice and arguably the best choice for those who qualify thanks to the special accommodations and coverage options for active duty and retired military service members and their families.

While USAA’s coverage may be the most affordable option in some areas, we do still recommend obtaining at least three quotes from three different carriers before you decide on a renters insurance company.