Usaa Auto Insurance: What Does My Plan Cover?

USAA auto insurance is a product of the United Services Automobile Association and is available only to current and former military members and their families. USAA offers four main types of coverage: comprehensive, collision, liability, and uninsured or underinsured motorist. Comprehensive insurance covers damage to your vehicle caused by things beyond your control, such as animal collisions, falling branches, theft, vandalism, fires, and weather-related damage. Collision insurance covers damage from accidents caused by you or another driver, as well as damage from hitting a non-moving object. Liability insurance protects you against other parties in an accident, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage protects you if you're hit by a driver without sufficient insurance.

Collision damage

Collision coverage is an optional part of a standard auto insurance policy that covers damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision with an object or another vehicle. This includes damage caused by potholes. It also covers your vehicle if it flips over. However, it's important to note that collision coverage does not cover wear and tear or damage to your tires due to bad road conditions.

USAA's collision coverage will pay for the repairs to your vehicle, minus your deductible. The deductible is the amount you are responsible for paying before your insurance coverage kicks in. The higher your deductible, the lower your premium will be.

Collision coverage is different from comprehensive coverage, which is also optional and offered by USAA. Comprehensive coverage reimburses drivers for theft, vandalism, flooding, and damage from fallen objects such as trees.

Collision coverage is required by most lenders if your vehicle is financed. It might also be required if you lease your vehicle. Even if it's not required, purchasing collision coverage is often a smart decision.

Non-collision damage

USAA full-coverage auto insurance covers non-collision damage from animals, extreme weather, vandalism, and theft. This includes pothole damage, but only if you have collision coverage included in your policy.

Collision coverage is an optional part of a standard auto insurance policy. It covers damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision with an object, including potholes. It also covers damage if you hit a non-moving object like a tree or pole. However, it's important to note that collision coverage does not cover wear and tear or damage to your tires due to bad road conditions.

The costs of repairing your vehicle due to pothole damage will be reimbursed, minus your deductible. The deductible is the amount you are responsible for paying before your insurance coverage kicks in. The higher your deductible, the lower your premium will be.

In addition to collision coverage, USAA also offers comprehensive coverage, which is another optional type of insurance. Comprehensive coverage reimburses drivers for theft, vandalism, flooding, and damage from fallen objects such as trees.

Liability insurance

Insurance companies communicate with each other to determine the percentage of liability each policyholder is responsible for and pay for damages, repairs, and medical bills accordingly. For example, if you are found to be 100% liable for an accident, your insurance company will pay 100% of the other party's claims. If you are deemed 25% liable for the accident and the resulting damage and injury, your insurance will cover 25% of the other party's claims, while the other party's insurance will pay the remaining 75%.

Without liability insurance, you will be responsible for the full cost of the accident and may face legal consequences such as license suspension, fines, vehicle impoundment, or even jail time, depending on the laws in your state.

Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage

Uninsured motorist (UM) insurance from USAA varies depending on the state. Some form of UM coverage is required in 22 states and the District of Columbia, and it's available in many others. Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage (UMBI) is required more frequently than uninsured motorist property damage coverage (UMPD) because UMPD overlaps with collision insurance.

In some states, UMPD from USAA will also pay for damage to your car if you are hit by a driver who flees the scene of the accident. However, in other states, UMPD can only be used if the driver/owner of the vehicle is identified and confirmed to not be insured. It's important to review the specific rules and regulations in your state to understand the coverage provided by USAA's uninsured motorist insurance.

To see if your USAA policy includes uninsured motorist coverage, you can check your policy details or contact USAA's customer service.

Personal injury protection

In some states, USAA full coverage may include personal injury protection. PIP is mandatory in 12 states, and in others, you have to sign a waiver to decline the coverage.

PIP covers:

• Reasonable medical costs, including surgeries, medications, diagnostics (X-rays, CT scans, etc.), prosthetics, nursing care, physical therapy, and medical devices.
• Lost income resulting from the accident.
• Replacement of necessary services provided by the injured party, such as childcare or household maintenance, if the injured person is not an income producer.

The amount of coverage you get varies. In Texas, for example, insurance companies must offer every driver at least $2,500 of PIP insurance, which you can increase to $5,000 or $10,000 if you want more financial protection.

Frequently asked questions