What Does USAA’s Full Coverage Auto Insurance Cover?

USAA’s full coverage auto insurance is a great (and affordable) option for most drivers—but is it right for you?
Written by Kara Vanderbeek
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
background
USAA’s full-coverage auto insurance includes basic liability protection, collision coverage, and comprehensive insurance. If you want your
car insurance
to cover collisions and other damages to your vehicle, you’ll need full coverage—and USAA has some of the best rates available for eligible customers.
If you’re trying to decide what level of car insurance coverage you need, we’re here to help. While your state’s minimum insurance requirement is the least expensive option, a liability-only policy can leave you underinsured and underprotected. 
USAA offers full-coverage auto insurance policies that include collision and comprehensive coverage. Let’s find out what the USAA full coverage policy actually covers—and whether it’s worth it for you. 
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What does USAA full coverage insurance cover?

The term “full coverage” can be a little misleading, particularly because full coverage doesn’t refer to a specific type of insurance. Rather, the term is often thrown around by insurance providers and lenders and refers to
a policy that includes
at least three types of coverage: 
  • Liability insurance:
    Required by law in almost every state, liability coverage pays for other driver’s expenses (e.g., medical bills, vehicle repairs) if you’re at fault in an accident. 
  • Collision insurance:
    Collision coverage from USAA pays for damages to your vehicle following a collision with another vehicle or a stationary object. 
  • Comprehensive insurance:
    Comprehensive insurance pays for damages to your vehicles due to events other than a collision (e.g., fire, flood, hail, vandalism, theft, or falling objects). 
A full coverage insurance policy from USAA includes
bodily injury liability coverage
,
property damage liability coverage
, collision coverage, and comprehensive coverage. In other words, full coverage can protect your car from a variety of the most common vehicle accidents and events.

Does full coverage really cover everything?

No—contrary to what its name suggests, full coverage car insurance doesn’t cover everything. Simply selecting “full coverage” on your insurance paperwork doesn’t guarantee you’ll have all the coverage you want or need. 
Here’s the difference between liability insurance and full coverage: unlike liability insurance, “full coverage” refers to a policy that allows you to submit claims for your own vehicle. That’s why it's often required by lenders before you can lease or finance a vehicle.
“Full coverage” offers a broader scope of protection than liability-only insurance, but USAA customers can choose from a variety of other coverage options to create an even more robust policy. Check out the table below for more details. 

Other types of USAA auto insurance coverage

Type of coverage
Description
Uninsured motorist coverage from USAA covers damages and injuries if you’re in an accident with someone who doesn’t carry liability insurance or who has insufficient coverage. 
You can add Medical payments (MedPay) coverage to your USAA policy to help cover “reasonable” medical costs for injuries that were the result of a car accident, regardless of who’s at fault.
Another car insurance add-on, PIP coverage helps to pay for medical bills, lost income, psychiatric treatment, physical therapy, and replacement services. PIP is required in
no-fault states
USAA’s roadside assistance is an affordable add-on that covers towing, flat tires, fuel delivery, lockout services, battery jump-starts, and even stuck vehicles.
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In addition to the types of car insurance coverage listed above, USAA offers other insurance products, including property insurance, life insurance, and business insurance to customers. 

Is full coverage car insurance from USAA worth it?

For most drivers, a full-coverage car insurance policy from USAA is worth it—especially because USAA offers some of the lowest insurance rates available. In fact, USAA’s rates are 35% below the national average!
While full coverage isn’t mandated by law, it’s often
required by lenders
, so you may need to purchase it if you’re driving a leased or financed vehicle. Even if you’re driving a vehicle that you own, the protection you’ll get from full coverage is usually worth the cost. 
If your vehicle is of high value or you live in a high-risk area for inclement weather, theft events, or collisions, full coverage is almost always worth the money

Benefits of full coverage USAA car insurance

If you carry full-coverage car insurance from USAA, you’ll: 
  • Meet the requirements from your lender or leasing company 
  • Be covered from damages due to dangerous weather and theft
  • Be able to file a claim for a totaled vehicle

Drawbacks to full coverage USAA car insurance

Like any policy type, full coverage has its own negative aspects, including the following:
  • You’ll pay more for full coverage than basic liability insurance
  • Your premiums will likely go up after you file a claim
  • You’ll have to pay a
    deductible
    to get a reimbursement on a collision or comprehensive claim
If the costs associated with full-coverage insurance are preventing you from getting the protection you need, there are ways to save. USAA offers discounted rates for bundling
homeowners insurance
or
renters insurance
with your auto policy, maintaining a clean driving record, and even achieving good grades in school. Check out the USAA website or contact an agent to find out more.

Does USAA have the best full-coverage auto insurance?

Not necessarily. The coverage offered by USAA isn’t much different than any other insurance provider’s coverage. However, USAA is a top contender when it comes to cheap auto insurance rates
If you’re a good driver, you can find full coverage insurance from USAA for an average of $1,113 per year, which is significantly less than the national average of around $1,732!
Before you rush to purchase a policy with USAA, there are some factors you should consider. Each auto insurance company places a different weight on factors such as age, gender, marital status, and driving record to determine rates for policyholders. As such, it’s worth checking out how favorable USAA’s algorithm is to your personal profile. 
In general, if you have a
clean driving record
and good credit, you’ll be able to find an affordable policy with USAA. Nevertheless, it’s worth comparing rates from other companies.
Nationwide
or
GEICO
may offer a more affordable rate after your driving history and credit rating is taken into account.
Another strength of USAA? Customer service! According to U.S. News, USAA took the top spot out of 10 auto insurance companies in the
Best Car Insurance Companies of 2023
rating. Based on survey results, USAA ranked first in the categories Best for Customer Service, Best for Customer Loyalty, Most Likely to be Recommended, and Most Likely to be Renewed.

The bottom line

USAA offers some of the lowest rates on full-coverage car insurance, especially if you have a good driving record and strong credit. The benefit of full coverage? It allows you to submit claims for damage to your own vehicle. While it costs more to have full coverage, it’s almost always worth having the added protection.
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While there isn’t a specific cutoff at which full coverage becomes pointless, you can stick to this guideline: If the cost to replace your vehicle is less than the full coverage premium, it’s not worth it.
Liability coverage pays for medical bills and vehicle repairs for other drivers when you’re at fault. Liability coverage is the most basic type of auto insurance and is often required by the state. Full coverage, which includes collision, comprehensive, and liability insurance, allows you to submit claims for your own vehicle.
A car insurance deductible is the amount you pay on a claim out-of-pocket before collision or comprehensive coverage kicks in.
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