USAA was founded in 1922 by a group of 25 army officers who wanted to self-insure their cars. Based in San Antonio, USAA operates a handful of satellite offices in the United States as well as in London, Frankfurt and Luxembourg.
In addition to homeowners insurance, USAA's insurance products include renters, life, health, auto, small business, pet and personal property. USAA has approximately 37,000 employees and 13 million members worldwide.
Benefits:
- Standard policies include replacement cost coverage
- Active-duty military members receive service-specific benefits
- USAA home insurance plans are available in every state and Washington, DC.
Disadvantages:
- Discounts for bundling home and auto policies are not available in all states
- USAA membership is open to the military community only
USAA is ranked No. 3 in our 2023 Best Home Insurance Companies ranking. Its standard coverages include the most common homeowners coverage, such as dwelling coverage, personal property, liability, and loss of use coverage, which helps cover living expenses if a home is uninhabitable after damage.
Standard plans include replacement cost coverage that determines the value of your property without taking depreciation into account. Many insurance companies will value your belongings using their depreciated value. USAA policies include up to $5,000 in identity theft protection, except policies issued in North Carolina.
Company home policies are not available to everyone - only USAA members can apply. Membership is open to current and former members of the US military and their spouses and children.
Active-duty military members get extra benefits with a USAA policy. Uniforms are covered with no deductible, and if personal property is destroyed in combat, the deductible can be waived.
Members can expand standard home insurance plans with optional coverage, such as water backup coverage and valuable property coverage. They can save with discounts on their premiums, including a no-claims discount and price breaks for bundling policies.
USAA's policies are available in every state, and prospective customers can get quotes online. The company has an A++ rating for financial strength from AM Best, the highest rating given.
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USAA home insurance is only available to members, but those who qualify can take advantage of standard plans that include replacement cost coverage. Discounts are available to help premiums and military members enjoy additional benefits, such as coverage for uniforms and personal items lost or damaged in combat.
Is home owners insurance coverage available from USAA?
USAA's standard homeowners insurance policy includes the following:
- Dwelling coverage pays to repair or rebuild a home's structure after a covered loss. This also extends to attached structures, such as a garage, porch or deck.
- Coverage for other structures not directly attached to the dwelling, such as pools, fences or detached garages, applies to repairs or replacements. Coverage for other structures is generally based on a percentage of the residential coverage amount.
- Personal property covers your belongings if they need repair or replacement due to a covered claim.
- Personal liability provides lawsuit protection if you are sued or are legally responsible for accidental injuries or damage to others or their property.
- Loss of use pays for expenses such as staying at a hotel or eating out while your home is unlivable after a covered loss. It is also called Excess Living Expenses (ALE).
- Identity Theft covers up to $5,000 in identity recovery costs if you are a victim of identity theft. This coverage is not available in North Carolina.
- Replacement costs are included in USAA's standard homeowners policy and do not factor into depreciation when you file a claim for your personal belongings.
- Military uniforms are also automatically covered against damage if you are on active duty or deployed.
Is additional homeowners insurance coverage offered by USAA?
USAA doesn't offer additional coverage on its home insurance policies like the other carriers in our rating, but it does highlight the following two on its website:
- Earthquake Coverage: Earthquakes are not covered by most standard homeowners insurance policies, but for an additional premium, you can add earthquake coverage with USAA.
- Home-sharing coverage: Whether you rent out a room, several rooms, or your entire home, home-sharing coverage protects you and short-term renters.
This additional homeowners insurance coverage may not be available in all states. Contact USAA directly to learn more about specific optional coverage available to you.
How much does USAA homeowners insurance cost?
A variety of factors affect cost, so contact USAA directly for a home insurance policy quote based on your needs.
Are home owners insurance discounts offered by USAA?
USAA offers the following discounts on its home insurance policies:
- Bundle and save: USAA's multi-policy discount offers 10% savings on your home insurance when you have auto insurance. The company is No. 1 in our Best Home and Auto Insurance Bundles of 2023 rating.
- Claim-Free Discount: If you've been claim-free on your home policy for at least five years, USAA extends a 10% discount.
- Protective Device Credit: USAA partners with ADT to offer discounts on smart security systems and security hardware, free sensors, and a three-year rate-lock guarantee on home monitoring.
Discounts may vary by state. Consult your USAA insurance agent for specific information in your state.
How do I buy USAA homeowners insurance?
To purchase USAA homeowners insurance you must be a USAA member and create an online account. Once enrolled, you can access its various services and get quotes for insurance. Before you begin the process of buying home insurance, determine how much coverage you need by calculating how much it would cost to rebuild your home and replace all of your possessions.
Follow these steps to purchase USAA homeowners insurance:
- Apply for membership on the USAA website or by calling You will need to provide details about your or your family member's military service. Membership is free.
- Register for digital access to your USAA membership account on its website.
- Request a quote for homeowners insurance online, by calling or in person at one of the available locations
- Have details about your home's age and construction type, as well as your insurance history, such as past claims, previous insurance companies, how long you've been insured, and policy renewal dates, ready to give to the agent.
How do I file a homeowners insurance claim with USAA?
You can file a homeowners insurance claim online, through a mobile app, or by calling USAA directly.
Follow these steps:
- In some cases - such as theft or vandalism - contact the police first to file a police report.
- Contact USAA as soon as possible, either online, through the mobile app, or by calling.
- Take pictures and video (if possible) of the damage and download any relevant security camera footage.
- Make repairs immediately to avoid further damage to your home. Keep all receipts for work.
- Be prepared to provide a detailed description of the damage, its cause, and when it occurred. Have any photos, videos, receipts and repair estimates handy when you file.
- USAA will assign an insurance adjuster to your claim and says you should hear from them within 2 business days.
USAA v. State Farm
State Farm is No. 2 in our ranking of the best home insurance companies, while USAA is tied for No. 3 with Allstate. Both companies have an A++ rating, the agency's highest rating, from independent rating agency AM Best and both allow customers to get policy quotes online for financial strength.
USAA and State Farm offer the most common home insurance coverages as part of their standard policies, including home and other structure coverage, personal property, liability and guest medical coverage, which can help cover costs if a visitor is injured on the policyholder. Property, as well as Additional Living Expenses (ALE). Identity theft coverage is standard for both.
USAA counts replacement cost coverage among its standard offerings. Both offer optional coverage for valuable assets and against damage from water backups.
In terms of exemptions, State Farm has a loyalty exemption. USAA offers some discounts specifically for active-duty members of the military.
Both State Farm and USAA are sold in every state, but USAA home insurance policies are not available to everyone. Only USAA membership consisting of military members, veterans and their spouses and children may apply.
State Farm and USAA offer flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program.
USAA v. Allstate
USAA and Allstate ranked No. 3 in our 2023 ranking of the best home insurance companies.
USAA and Allstate offer many of the same standard home insurance coverages, including dwelling coverage, which insures the physical structure of a home, personal property coverage, ALE, personal liability coverage, and guest medical coverage. Both companies also offer options to customize and extend coverage. Options include valuable asset coverage, water backup coverage, and earthquake coverage.
Identity theft protection is standard with USAA, but optional with Allstate.
Discounts that allow policyholders to save on their premium costs are available from both USAA and Allstate. A wide variety of policies, loyalty and claims-free waivers are offered by both. Allstate offers a loyalty discount and a new home credit, two discounts USAA does not have USAA offers some unique discounts for military personnel, such as coverage for uniforms.
USAA has an A++ rating for financial strength from AM Best, compared to an A+ rating for Allstate. Both companies have a mobile app and both allow customers to get quotes online.
Allstate and USAA sell home insurance policies in every state, but to buy a USAA policy, a membership is required. USAA membership is reserved for military members, veterans and their spouses and children.