USAA vs. AAA
Exploring the benefits and services of USAA and AAA can help determine which insurer aligns best with your specific insurance needs and eligibility.
Powered by Coverage.com (NPN: 19966249)
USAA is the fifth-largest auto insurance company by market share and has been providing insurance since it was founded in 1922. Unlike most standard car insurance companies that are available to the general public, USAA specializes in coverage for military members, exclusively serving active-duty military, veterans and qualifying family members. Although eligibility for coverage is limited, the company tied for Best Auto Insurance Company Overall in the 2025 Bankrate Awards for offering affordable policies, receiving consistently high J.D. Power overall satisfaction scores and tailoring savings opportunities for the military community, such as discounts for garaging a vehicle on base.
AAA, formally known as the American Automobile Association, is another top auto insurance company, positioned as the 17th-largest provider by market share. The company was founded in 1902 and similar to USAA, has eligibility requirements for its insurance offerings. AAA offers membership for an annual fee that varies based on your selected plan. As part of the association, members gain access to the company’s insurance options, as well as several other benefits including savings on rental vehicles.
Our verdict
Our insurance editorial team identified several key highlights when comparing USAA vs. AAA. Both companies have eligibility requirements: AAA involves a membership fee, while USAA requires a military connection. Both carriers have a fairly standard selection of coverage options and discounts, but your policy choices may vary with AAA based on your state. USAA typically has lower average rates than AAA, so if you’re eligible, you may find it to be a more affordable option.
USAA vs. AAA comparison
Since both USAA and AAA are membership-based, you might be curious about how they compare. Comparing their strengths and weaknesses side by side can help you get a clearer sense of which carrier best meets your needs.
|
Featured
USAA
4.3
Bankrate scores primarily reflect a weighted rank of industry standard ratings for financial strength and customer experience, in addition to average quoted rates. A secondary assessment of each provider's online and mobile resources and policy management options also contributed to overall ratings
|
AAA
3.8
Bankrate scores primarily reflect a weighted rank of industry standard ratings for financial strength and customer experience, in addition to average quoted rates. A secondary assessment of each provider's online and mobile resources and policy management options also contributed to overall ratings
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
OVERVIEW
Bankrate identified key carrier features, coverage offerings, discounts and more
|
||
|
USAA might be a good fit for individuals connected to the military looking for tailored benefits and competitive rates, but it is not accessible to the general public due to its specific membership criteria.
Read More
|
AAA offers relatively affordable auto insurance options, as well as membership perks. Those who like convenience may also appreciate that some of AAA’s offices also offer DMV transactions, notary services and travel planning.
Read More
|
|
|
STANDOUT FEATURES
These features are some of the carrier’s most impressive
|
||
|
Military on-base discount
MyUSAA Legacy discount
SafePilot telematics program
|
Local agents available
Robust roadside assistance
Access to additional AAA perks
|
|
|
AVG FULL COV. AUTO RATE
Average national annual cost of a full coverage auto insurance policy
|
||
$2,049 |
$2,316 | |
|
AVG MIN COV. AUTO RATE
Average national annual cost of a minimum coverage auto insurance policy
|
||
|
$589 |
$622 | |
|
J.D. POWER AUTO SCORE
J.D. Power’s Auto Claims Satisfaction Study assesses customer satisfaction with the claims experience on a 1,000-point scale
|
||
|
726/1000 |
701/1000 | |
|
AM BEST RATING
AM Best ratings assess companies’ financial strength based on historical ability to pay out claims, among other financial obligations
|
||
|
A++(Superior) |
A(Excellent) | |
USAA pros and cons
-
Unique military-geared discounts
-
Average policy rates are below the national average
-
Consistently high-scoring in J.D. Power auto insurance customer satisfaction studies
-
Flexible payment options that can align with military pay schedules
-
Coverage not available to civilians who are not immediate family of a military member or veteran
-
No local agents available for members who prefer an in-person experience
-
Customer service is not available 24/7
-
Limited customization options for policy features
AAA pros and cons
-
Membership comes with additional benefits, such as vehicle rental discounts
-
Regional clubs may have tailored coverage options
-
Above-average score from J.D. Power for claims satisfaction for some specific clubs
-
Robust roadside assistance coverage
-
Coverage limited to the states AAA is available in
-
Average rates are above the national average
-
Membership comes at an annual fee
-
Customer complaints per NAIC vary based on underwriting company
Is USAA cheaper than AAA?
Price is often a top priority when it comes to choosing a car insurance company. To help drivers compare AAA vs. USAA, Bankrate’s insurance editorial team analyzed annual quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services for each company across several driver profiles and situations. On average, AAA rates are higher than USAA, but both providers offer competitive rates compared to the national average for full and minimum coverage.
| Driver profile | USAA avg. full coverage premium | AAA avg. full coverage premium |
|---|---|---|
| Young driver (age 25) | $2,535 | $2,785 |
| Senior driver (age 70) | $2,132 | $2,274 |
| Good driver, good credit | $2,068 | $2,316 |
| Good driver, poor credit | $3,616 | $4,823 |
| Speeding ticket with good credit | $2,462 | $3,151 |
| At-fault accident with good credit | $2,959 | $4,167 |
| DUI conviction with good credit | $3,887 | $4,167 |
Bankrate's take
USAA often outshines AAA with lower average rates across various driver profiles, which could make it a budget-friendly choice for those who qualify. While both insurers offer valuable services, USAA’s competitive pricing and strong coverage may make it a standout option for eligible policyholders. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your specific needs and circumstances.
USAA vs. AAA: discounts
Both USAA and AAA have robust discount offerings. AAA is perhaps best known for its discounts relating to roadside assistance and available trip planning tools, but there are other member discounts, as well. USAA has several discounts aimed at savings for active military members.
Discounts available from both carriers
Both carriers offer a variety of discounts that can help policyholders reduce their insurance costs. These USAA and AAA discounts reward responsible behavior and the bundling of services, which can make managing multiple policies more convenient and cost-effective. Here are some common discounts provided by both insurers:
- Home and auto bundle: Policyholders can typically save on their overall insurance costs by bundling auto and home insurance policies with the same provider.
- Good student discount: Available for students who maintain a high academic standard, which is generally recognized as achieving a B average or better.
- Multi-vehicle discount: Savings may be available for those insuring more than one vehicle under the same policy, which can simplify management and reduce overall premiums.
USAA discounts
- Vehicle storage: Policyholders who are deployed or who choose to store their vehicles long-term for another reason could save up to 60 percent on their policy.
- Garaging a vehicle on base: Policyholders who live and garage their vehicle on base could save up to 15 percent on comprehensive coverage.
- New car: Drivers with a car less than three years old could earn a discount on their policy due to the vehicle’s modern safety features.
AAA discounts
- AAA membership: Drivers could save up to 10 percent on their auto policy because of their AAA membership.
- Professional/association: Policyholders within certain professions or educational associations may receive an extra discount on their car insurance.
- Loyalty: Drivers who maintain AAA auto insurance for more than a year may be eligible for a special loyalty discount.
USAA and AAA telematics programs
Both USAA and AAA offer usage-based telematics insurance programs that policyholders can choose to participate in for potential discounts. USAA SafePilot and AAADrive track your driving habits and provide feedback, as well as ways to improve.
| USAA SafePilot | AAADrive | |
|---|---|---|
| Device | Mobile app | Mobile app |
| Can it raise your rate? | No | Increases depend on accidents and other events but not on driving performance alone |
| Availability | Select states | Select states |
| Discount | 10% for signing up, up to 30% at renewal based on driving score | 10% for signing up, up to 15% for enrolling all family members and up to 30% at renewal based on score |
| What it monitors |
Location Time of day Phone handling Speed Acceleration Harsh braking Hours driven per year Swerving Cornering Mileage |
Time of day Distracted driving Speed Acceleration Harsh braking Driver fatigue Location Route traveled Distance driven |
USAA vs. AAA: customer experience comparison
USAA scores well in the 2024 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, with 726 out of 1,000 points. However, it’s technically ineligible for ranking based on the company’s military-based coverage restrictions.
AAA is more complex to analyze, as multiple subsidiaries are scored in the J.D. Power Study. Two AAA companies (Auto Club of Southern California and CSAA) performed above average at 706 and 704, respectively. However, Automobile Club Group came in below the study average (697) at 692.
Both companies have highly rated mobile apps in both the App Store and Google Play Store, with over four-star ratings. In addition to insurance account and claims handling access, the USAA app also provides access to its banking and investment services while the AAA app provides access to other membership benefits like AAA-approved restaurants, hotels and auto repair centers.
| USAA | AAA | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple store | 4.8 of 5 | 4.7 of 5 |
| Google play | 4.7 of 5 | 4.6 of 5 |
| J.D. Power claims satisfaction | 726/1,000 |
Auto Club of Southern California: 706/1,000 CSAA Insurance Group: 704/1,000 Automobile Club Group: 692/1,000 |
Customer complaints
When choosing an insurance provider, it's helpful to consider how they handle customer complaints. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Complaint Index serves as a valuable tool for this assessment. This index measures an insurance company's customer complaints relative to its size, calculated by comparing the number of complaints a company receives against its share of premiums in the industry. An index score of 1.00 suggests an insurer receives complaints proportional to its size. Scores higher than 1.00 indicate more complaints than average, while scores below that suggest fewer complaints. Understanding this index can help you gauge an insurer's reliability and customer service effectiveness.
USAA auto insurance customer complaints
The NAIC Complaint Index for USAA has been hovering above the average amount of complaints for the last couple of years. However, as with any average, you must consider the equal possibility of a positive or negative experience of your own. This is why it’s important to speak with current USAA customers in your local area and read insurance reviews to gain insight.
AAA auto insurance customer complaints
Analyzing customer complaints for AAA auto insurance involves considering the NAIC Complaint Index for various underwriting companies due to AAA’s structure of multiple independent clubs. We focus on two of the largest AAA insurers: Automobile Club Group and CSAA General Insurance Company. Upon review, CSAA General Insurance Company has consistently shown more positive results than Automobile Club Group, but both have had a below-average rate of complaints over the past couple of years.
Automobile Club Group NAIC complaint Index
Frequently asked questions
Methodology
Rates
Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze May 2025 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates for our base profile are based on the following characteristics and full coverage limits with bundling and paperless billing discounts applied:
Bodily injury liability
$100,000 per person$300,000 per accident
Property damage liability
$50,000 per accidentPersonal injury protection
$100,000 per accidentUninsured motorist bodily injury
$100,000 per person$300,000 per accident
Collision deductible
$500Comprehensive deductible
$500To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes. Your quotes will differ.
If otherwise specified, the base profile has been modified with the following driver characteristics:
