Usaa
06-13-2014, 05:36 PM
#243
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2006
Position: Retired
Posts: 3,717
Originally Posted by Purple Drank
Well, "handgrips-raise, triggers-squeeze" on USAA insurance.
Any recent gouge from guys who have bailed out, as far as workable alternatives?
Thanks!
Any recent gouge from guys who have bailed out, as far as workable alternatives?
Thanks!
06-14-2014, 11:19 AM
#244
Line Holder
Joined APC: Dec 2013
Posts: 75
Originally Posted by Purple Drank
Well, "handgrips-raise, triggers-squeeze" on USAA insurance.
Any recent gouge from guys who have bailed out, as far as workable alternatives?
Thanks!
Any recent gouge from guys who have bailed out, as far as workable alternatives?
Thanks!
06-14-2014, 02:47 PM
#246
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2014
Posts: 180
Originally Posted by Jp8burner
I pulled the handles a few months ago and went to GEICO. 4 cars, 2x teen drivers, USAA was $305/month. EXACT same coverage, $160/month with GEICO. I have no doubt their policy service will not match USAA's, but at over $1700/year difference, I'll take crappy service and a little vacation money. Now my newest car is a 2007, so I'm not exactly concerned about losing a bunch of cash if things don't go my way in a claim.
06-14-2014, 07:23 PM
#247
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2006
Position: Retired
Posts: 3,717
I just logged on to Geico's web site to get a quote for our two "daily drivers." We live in Connecticut and without going into detail about the cars we own, here's what I did: First I logged on to USAA's site and printed out a copy of my automobile policy, which includes both cars. Then I built a "custom quote" on Geico's site, using the exact same coverages, benefits, and liabilities that I have with USAA. Needless to say, Geico was less expensive. My USAA auto bill is $1992.32 a year. For the exact same coverage through Geico, I'd pay $1493.64, for a difference of $498.68.
So on the surface it appears that going with Geico would save me about $42 a month. That's enough for one Friday night visit to our favorite pizza place. However, every year for the past 42 years, USAA has sent me a check, usually somewhere between $600 and $1000, in November or December and as well puts additional money into our "account", which eventually I'll withdraw, after leaving USAA. I think I'd be foolish to switch insurers. Truth be told, I wasn't going to switch anyway, regardless of the outcome of the comparison, but I did want to see if there was any real savings to be had, and for me, there just wasn't. YMMV, obviously.
So on the surface it appears that going with Geico would save me about $42 a month. That's enough for one Friday night visit to our favorite pizza place. However, every year for the past 42 years, USAA has sent me a check, usually somewhere between $600 and $1000, in November or December and as well puts additional money into our "account", which eventually I'll withdraw, after leaving USAA. I think I'd be foolish to switch insurers. Truth be told, I wasn't going to switch anyway, regardless of the outcome of the comparison, but I did want to see if there was any real savings to be had, and for me, there just wasn't. YMMV, obviously.
06-15-2014, 04:41 AM
#248
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2009
Posts: 5,193
I've been a member of USAA since 1972 and have never, not once, had a problem with either their claim service or their record-keeping, or anything else, come to think of it. Granted their premiums might be a little higher than you can find elsewhere, but that's to be expected in today's day and age. Besides, the lowest price is not always the lowest cost. As well, one needs to factor in the annual distribution that gets put into your individual account. We have close to $13,000 in that account, and although we can't withdraw it, it is available if we ever decide to leave USAA.
Another great service that USAA provides is their car buying service. I've just ordered a new car, and using USAA's service, have managed to save myself $6000. Granted, the car I'm buying is rather expensive and the lower the MSRP, the lower the savings, but that savings alone would probably last 15 more years and cover any increased cost incurred by using USAA's insurances.
The other thing I like about USAA is that they are a full service insurance company. I can shop for car, home, boat, plane, health, life, long term care insurances at one place, all using the same member number. As well, there's plenty of other financial services that they provide. All in all, I wouldn't go anywhere else for the vast majority of my insurance needs, with the one exception being to insure my classic car, for which I use one of the classic car specialty insurers.
JJ
Another great service that USAA provides is their car buying service. I've just ordered a new car, and using USAA's service, have managed to save myself $6000. Granted, the car I'm buying is rather expensive and the lower the MSRP, the lower the savings, but that savings alone would probably last 15 more years and cover any increased cost incurred by using USAA's insurances.
The other thing I like about USAA is that they are a full service insurance company. I can shop for car, home, boat, plane, health, life, long term care insurances at one place, all using the same member number. As well, there's plenty of other financial services that they provide. All in all, I wouldn't go anywhere else for the vast majority of my insurance needs, with the one exception being to insure my classic car, for which I use one of the classic car specialty insurers.
JJ
06-15-2014, 07:27 AM
#249
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2013
Posts: 3,443
Originally Posted by Grumble
Their car buying service is mediocre at best. It's a money/time saver if you don't know how to negotiate or shop around, or just don't want to. That's all it's good for though, is convenience.
06-15-2014, 07:34 AM
#250
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2013
Posts: 3,443
Originally Posted by Jetjok
I just logged on to Geico's web site to get a quote for our two "daily drivers." We live in Connecticut and without going into detail about the cars we own, here's what I did: First I logged on to USAA's site and printed out a copy of my automobile policy, which includes both cars. Then I built a "custom quote" on Geico's site, using the exact same coverages, benefits, and liabilities that I have with USAA. Needless to say, Geico was less expensive. My USAA auto bill is $1992.32 a year. For the exact same coverage through Geico, I'd pay $1493.64, for a difference of $498.68.
So on the surface it appears that going with Geico would save me about $42 a month. That's enough for one Friday night visit to our favorite pizza place. However, every year for the past 42 years, USAA has sent me a check, usually somewhere between $600 and $1000, in November or December and as well puts additional money into our "account", which eventually I'll withdraw, after leaving USAA. I think I'd be foolish to switch insurers. Truth be told, I wasn't going to switch anyway, regardless of the outcome of the comparison, but I did want to see if there was any real savings to be had, and for me, there just wasn't. YMMV, obviously.
So on the surface it appears that going with Geico would save me about $42 a month. That's enough for one Friday night visit to our favorite pizza place. However, every year for the past 42 years, USAA has sent me a check, usually somewhere between $600 and $1000, in November or December and as well puts additional money into our "account", which eventually I'll withdraw, after leaving USAA. I think I'd be foolish to switch insurers. Truth be told, I wasn't going to switch anyway, regardless of the outcome of the comparison, but I did want to see if there was any real savings to be had, and for me, there just wasn't. YMMV, obviously.
Sometimes, though, their products just aren't that good. When shopping around for life insurance for retirement, they wanted way too much for way too little. Navy Mutual blew them out of the water, and didn't charge extra for the privilege of flying for a living.
I think USAA is starting to cast their net too wide in an effort to appease their shareholders and make money in the short term. The ads on TV are telling. They used to have an extremely low risk pool of insured members, which kept rates fairly low. Now you can get USAA insurance if your mom or dad spent 6 months in the Army and got a general discharge.
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