I've been with USAA for a few years now, and honestly, I've noticed the slow creep you're talking about. At first, their rates were fantastic—especially since I'm pretty cautious behind the wheel. But lately, it's started to feel like they're taking advantage of my habit of auto-renewing without a second thought. Last year I shopped around just for kicks and was surprised to find a couple other insurers offering noticeably lower premiums.
Still, I stayed with USAA mainly because their claims process has always been smooth for me. A close friend had a nasty accident last year, and USAA stepped up big-time—no hassles, quick payout, rental car coverage the whole nine yards. That peace of mind counts for something.
But yeah, loyalty discounts are definitely not as generous as they sound. Insurance companies thrive on complacency...and sometimes we pay extra just because we don't wanna deal with the hassle. So even if you're military-affiliated and think you're getting the best deal, it never hurts to double-check every few years.
- Loyalty discounts are mostly marketing fluff—it's always smart to shop around every 2-3 years.
- USAA does have great claims handling, but they're not always the cheapest. No company consistently is.
- Military affiliation can help, but insurers still vary widely based on your location, driving history, and even credit score.
- Auto-renewal is convenient, sure, but insurers count on exactly that complacency to gradually hike rates without you noticing.
- If you're comfortable with USAA's claims service and willing to pay a bit extra for peace of mind, that's fine. But if price is your main concern, seriously consider shopping around more regularly.
- Quick tip: Call USAA once you find a lower quote elsewhere; sometimes they'll match or at least come close. Doesn't hurt to ask...
I get the point about shopping around, but honestly, switching insurers every couple years can be a hassle. I've stuck with USAA for a while now—not because they're always cheapest (they're not), but because when I had an accident last year, they handled everything smoothly and quickly. Sometimes paying a bit extra is worth it if it means less stress when things go sideways... just my two cents.
I hear you on sticking with a good insurer—I mean, nobody wants to deal with extra headaches after an accident. But I wonder if we're sometimes overestimating the hassle of switching? A couple years back, I finally bit the bullet and switched from USAA to Geico. Took me maybe half an hour online, tops. Saved me like $250 a year, which adds up. Haven't had an accident yet (knock on wood), but customer service has been solid so far... makes me think loyalty isn't always worth the premium.
"makes me think loyalty isn't always worth the premium."
Totally agree with this. I stuck with USAA for years thinking they had the best rates for military, but after my last renewal jumped again, I shopped around out of frustration. Ended up switching to Progressive—took less than an hour online and saved over $300 a year. Honestly, I felt kinda dumb for not checking sooner. Loyalty’s nice and all, but it shouldn’t cost you hundreds extra each year...
