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Coverage options About average Discounts Average set of discounts NAIC complaints Far fewer than expected 5.0 NerdWallet rating Offers perks and affordable rates for the military community. Coverage options About average Discounts Average set of discounts NAIC complaints Far fewer than expected
USAA
About USAA home insurance
5.0
NerdWallet rating
USAA homeowners insurance earned 5 out of 5 stars for overall performance. USAA offers policies to active-duty military members, veterans and their families. Its home insurance includes coverage that often costs extra when issued by other companies, but even so, the company’s rates are still lower than the national average, according to NerdWallet’s rate analysis.
USAA’s homeowners policies also include special benefits for members of the military. In addition to deductible-free coverage for your uniform, USAA also covers up to $10,000 worth of belongings destroyed in a war.
Based on this star rating, USAA is among NerdWallet’s Best Home Insurance Companies for 2024.
What’s new with USAA?
As of March 2024, USAA will write new policies only for California homeowners with the lowest possible wildfire risk. It’s just one of many companies choosing to reduce their risk in the state of California, where some insurers have been losing money on homeowners insurance. Learn more about California home insurance.
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State availability
USAA offers homeowners insurance in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Availability may change at any time. Coverage may not be available to all homeowners in a given state.
Find the best homeowners insurance in your state
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Included coverage
You can customize your homeowners policy with numerous add-ons, but below are the types of coverage that generally come standard:
Dwelling. Pays to repair or rebuild the structure of your home.
Other structures. Covers damage to unattached structures such as sheds or fences.
Personal property. Pays to repair or replace personal belongings such as furniture or clothing.
Loss of use. Pays for hotel stays, restaurant meals or other expenses if you have to live elsewhere while your home undergoes covered repairs.
Personal liability. Covers legal expenses and damages if you're responsible for injuries to other people or their property.
Medical payments. Covers injuries to guests in your home, regardless of fault.
For more details, see What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover?
USAA offers homeowners insurance with all the standard features, plus:
Identity theft coverage. If you’re a victim of identity theft, USAA will cover up to $5,000 to pay expenses to restore your good name. This coverage is not available in all states.
Replacement cost coverage. If your belongings are damaged or stolen, USAA will generally reimburse the cost to replace them with new items rather than the depreciated value. USAA includes this coverage standard in all states but North Carolina rather than charging extra for it, as most insurers do. The company will pay to replace an item or to restore or repair it, whichever costs less.
Home-sharing coverage. Available as standard coverage in most states, this pays out for damage that occurs when you rent out a room or your entire home on sites such as Airbnb.
Military uniform coverage. If your uniform is damaged or stolen during a covered event and you are on active duty or deployed, USAA will reimburse you without a deductible.
» MORE: Homeowners insurance for veterans and military
Optional coverage
Depending on where you live you may be able to customize your USAA home insurance policy by adding the following types of coverage:
Extra insurance for valuables. Items like jewelry, musical instruments and fine art may need additional coverage. Learn more about jewelry insurance.
Flood insurance. USAA can help you get a flood policy from the federally funded National Flood Insurance Program or through a private insurer. Learn the difference in our guide to the best flood insurance.
Earthquake insurance. This coverage may be worth adding if you live in an at-risk area.
Home Protector coverage. This upgrade includes extra coverage for debris removal and bringing your home up to the latest building codes after a claim. It also comes with additional dwelling coverage in case it’s more expensive than expected to rebuild.
🤓Nerdy Tip
Construction costs often go up due to increased demand for labor and building supplies after a disaster. That could leave you underinsured if your dwelling coverage limit isn’t high enough. Adding extended replacement cost coverage can offer a financial cushion.
What’s not covered
Like other home insurers, USAA doesn’t cover damage from flooding or earthquakes in its standard policies. In certain high-risk areas, it may also exclude coverage for wind damage, requiring you to buy that insurance separately.
While homeowners policies include liability coverage, it may not apply to lawsuits for libel or slander. For this type of coverage, you may want to consider umbrella insurance.
» MORE: 10 kinds of damage home insurance won’t cover
Rates
USAA’s average annual homeowners insurance cost is $1,875, according to NerdWallet’s rate analysis. This is lower than the national average of $1,915 per year and cheaper than many of the company's large national competitors. Below, see how USAA's rate stacks up to those of other large insurers.
Company | Average annual rate |
|---|---|
Progressive | $1,815 |
State Farm | $1,935 |
Travelers | $2,010 |
Allstate | $2,205 |
Nationwide | $2,270 |
Farmers | $2,415 |
USAA* | $1,875 |
*USAA homeowners insurance is available only to active-duty military members, veterans and their families. | |
The sample rates above are for 40-year-old homeowners with good credit, a $1,000 deductible, $300,000 in dwelling coverage and $300,000 in liability insurance. Your rates will be different.
» MORE: What is the average cost of homeowners insurance?
Discounts
Depending on where you live, you may qualify for discounts on your USAA home insurance policy for:
Insuring your car with USAA.
Buying and installing certain smart-home devices.
Being claims-free for at least five years.
Staying insured by USAA for three consecutive years.
Adding other USAA insurance products like renters, umbrella and life insurance.
You may also qualify for a protective device credit for an ADT home security system.
🤓Nerdy Tip
Another way to lower your premium is to raise your homeowners insurance deductible, the amount that will be subtracted from your payout if you ever file a claim. Just be sure to choose an amount you’d feel comfortable covering out of your own pocket.
Get home insurance quotes in minutes
Answer a few questions to see custom quotes and find the right policy for you.
Consumer complaints
USAA had far fewer than the expected number of complaints to state regulators relative to its size for home insurance, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
» MORE: How to compare home insurance quotes
How to file a claim
You can file a claim on the USAA website, through the app or by calling 800-531-8722. You can track your claim or contact your adjuster through the site's claims center. For help, see how to file a home insurance claim.
Digital experience
USAA’s site has an advice section where you can read up on topics like what homeowners insurance doesn’t cover and how to avoid water leaks. A chatbot is also available to answer quick questions. Log in to USAA’s user portal to pay your bill, manage your policies, file and track a claim, set up autopay or chat with a live representative.
USAA also has a mobile app, which you can use to pay bills and file and manage claims. Other USAA services such as checking, savings and credit card accounts are accessible through the app, which is available on iOS and Android.
» MORE: Home insurance calculator: Estimate your rate
Help is available by phone at 800-531-8722 every day except Sundays and major holidays. You can also use USAA's virtual agent at any time for basic questions.
The bottom line
If you’re an active-duty or former member of the military or there’s someone in your family who is, it’s probably worth getting a quote from USAA. The company’s combination of reasonable rates, low consumer complaints and generous coverage makes it worth considering for most eligible homeowners.
USAA vs. competitors
USAA vs. State Farm home insurance
The biggest difference between USAA and State Farm home insurance is that USAA’s policies are available only to active-duty military members, veterans and their families, while State Farm sells to a broader population.
Each company includes a different but valuable type of coverage in its standard policies. USAA covers your belongings on a replacement-cost basis, ensuring that a claim payout will be enough to buy new items. State Farm offers this coverage but at a higher cost than actual cash value coverage.
State Farm also includes extended replacement cost coverage for the structure of your home, providing a cushion in case your dwelling limit isn’t enough to rebuild your house completely.
Get more details in our State Farm home insurance review.
Current Product
NerdWallet rating 5.0/5 | NerdWallet rating 4.5/5 |
Complaints to NAIC Far fewer than expected | Complaints to NAIC Fewer than expected |
Coverage About average | Coverage More than average |
Discounts Average set of discounts | Discounts Average set of discounts |
Bottom line Offers perks and affordable rates for the military community. | Bottom line Well-established insurer with a lengthy list of coverage options. |
Compare Quotes | Compare Quotes |
USAA vs. Allstate home insurance
The key difference between USAA and Allstate home insurance is that Allstate sells policies to the general population while USAA serves the military community. Beyond that, in most states, USAA includes certain coverage that Allstate charges extra for. Examples include personal property replacement cost and home-sharing coverage.
Allstate and USAA are among the largest insurance companies in America. Their websites offer a variety of useful features, including online quotes, bill payment and claim filing. Both companies also have robust mobile apps that can help you manage your policy.
Read our Allstate home insurance review for more information.
Current Product
NerdWallet rating 5.0/5 | NerdWallet rating 4.0/5 |
Complaints to NAIC Far fewer than expected | Complaints to NAIC More than expected |
Coverage About average | Coverage About average |
Discounts Average set of discounts | Discounts Great set of discounts |
Bottom line Offers perks and affordable rates for the military community. | Bottom line Widely available across the U.S. with lots of ways to customize your policy, but receives more complaints than expected. |
Compare Quotes | Compare Quotes |
USAA vs. Geico home insurance
The primary difference between USAA and Geico home insurance is that USAA sells its own policies while Geico offers homeowners insurance through third parties. Your coverage options with Geico depend on the company you’re matched with, and if you need to file a claim, you’ll have to file directly with the third-party provider.
Geico serves a wide swath of homeowners, not just active-duty military members and veterans. Geico and USAA offer bundling discounts if you buy home and auto insurance.
Check out our Geico home insurance review to learn more.
Current Product
NerdWallet rating 5.0/5 | |
Complaints to NAIC Far fewer than expected | Complaints to NAIC No data |
Coverage About average | Coverage No data |
Discounts Average set of discounts | Discounts No data |
Bottom line Offers perks and affordable rates for the military community. | Bottom line Best for Geico car insurance customers looking to bundle their auto and homeowners policies. |
Compare Quotes | Compare Quotes |
Other home insurance companies to consider
Not ready to make a decision? You may be interested in these other homeowners insurance companies:
See all NerdWallet home insurance reviews
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Why you can trust NerdWallet
Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines that ensure fairness and accuracy in order to help you choose the financial products that work best for you. Our star ratings are based on dozens of data points, including:
Financial strength ratings
Consumer complaints
Coverage and discounts
Frequently asked questions
Does USAA home insurance cover tree removal?
It depends. If a tree falls on your home, USAA will generally pay to remove the tree from the structure to make repairs. Coverage to get the tree off your property may be more limited — often up to $500 for one tree or $1,000 total.
Removing a tree from your property to prevent potential damage is considered basic home maintenance and would not be covered. Read more about home insurance and tree removal.
Does USAA home insurance have restrictions on dog breeds?
USAA doesn’t restrict the type of dog it will cover under the liability portion of your homeowners policy, but if the animal has a history of aggression or property destruction, it may affect your eligibility for coverage. Learn more about homeowners coverage for dog bites.
Does USAA cover manufactured or mobile homes?
USAA works with a partner company, Foremost, to insure manufactured and mobile homes. Learn more about mobile home insurance.
Does USAA home insurance cover mold?
USAA typically won’t pay for damage related to mold or dry rot, but you may have limited coverage if the cause of the mold is a disaster covered by your policy. Mold coverage differs from state to state and may depend on which endorsem*nts, or add-ons, you have on your policy. Learn more about homeowners insurance and mold.
What other types of insurance does USAA offer?
USAA sells several types of coverage, from flood to umbrella insurance. You can read our USAA auto insurance review, USAA renters insurance review and USAA life insurance review for more information on those policy options.
Does USAA home insurance cover roof replacement?
USAA will pay to replace your roof if it has been damaged in a covered disaster, regardless of the roof’s age. The full repayment for reconstruction costs are paid after repairs have been made using materials similar to what’s already on your roof and up to the same build quality. Learn more about homeowners insurance and roof leaks.
