USAA insurance and a bit of luck:

[speeder]

So I finally got around to checking on USAA and seeing if I was eligible to get it due to my father's military service, plus of course I wanted a quote to see their pricing. I have WAY too many vehicles and pay a fortune to AAA for insurance, even though I have a spotless driving record currently. It probably doesn't help that I'm now a geezer living in a huge city and an expensive zip code.

My AAA insurance is about to cancel or renew in a matter of days, so I got off of my ass and called them. Gave them some basic info and sure enough, I can join and be insured because of my dad's service way back in the Korean War. They just needed some documentation that he served honorably, etc. Their rates for identical coverage, (actually slightly better coverage), was slightly less than 50% of what I paid last year!!

Of course, I'm kicking myself for not acting years sooner on this one but oh, well. The only slight hitch was finding documents for my dad who died 11 years ago, and in short order. I vaguely remember some old military paperwork while cleaning out his place back then but where on earth would it be now?? So this morning, I drove over to my storage place where I pay a couple of grand a year to store $1000 worth of stuff, (for 10 years or more but who's counting?

What's left of my dad's stuff is in boxes and not well marked, just things I could not throw away. I have a problem discarding stuff that might have value but that's for another thread entitled, "Any shrinks here?"

The second box I looked in, among photos and random files was this...Vahalla:

[Zeke]

Sometimes when you walk into AAA the hustle you for auto insurance. I replied that I had USAA. The person said ok never mind.

[A930Rocket]

Interesting. My dad was in the Air Force and stationed in Germany during the Korean War. I have no idea where his records are to get a quote. Is there a way to get them?

[speeder]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

Interesting. My dad was in the Air Force and stationed in Germany during the Korean War. I have no idea where his records are to get a quote. Is there a way to get them?

if your dad is still alive, you could ask him if he has any paperwork from his discharge. If he is not and you don't know where they might be, there are other ways to get the documentation that he served from the government but I did not have to explore those, due to finding the packet above which had his formal discharge and even a form letter from the General he served under, thanking him for his service to the U.S. and wishing him a good life! I'm sure that everyone got one but still, it was kind of touching to read today.

[speeder]

[Evans, Marv]

Every once in a while, I check around for auto insurance rates. I'm a veteran, so qualify for USAA. I have car insurance through Costco (used to be Connect but now American Family Insurance). The last time I checked with USAA, the Costco insurance was about half the price of USAA and other companies. I've had good experience with claims also. Since it was such thrifty insurance, I thought claim payment could be a hassle. I've had two claims, one for a windshield, & the other for rodent damage. They settled almost instantly and fairly.

[A930Rocket]

Do you guys have all of your insurance bundled… home, auto, umbrella with Costco or USAA?

[LWJ]

USAA used to be about the very best thing going. Like many things, it isn't always the best now. I use Cincinnati for my home / auto but while they have advantages. there is no single miracle cure.

[sc_rufctr]

(From Australia)

As a veteran I qualify for reduced health care insurance only (my ex wife and kids also qualify).

My cars & house are with one company, "Shannons". They're one of the few insurance companies that insure classic cars.

IMO Like everything else with insurance you get what you pay for.

[Baz]

My late Mom and stepfather had USAA for their house and car(s) bundled.

As far as rates go, I don't think they shopped around much - being veterans, they just felt USAA was going to look out for them better than others.

They were involved in a car accident back in 2007 which ultimately led to my stepfather's life. Eventually they were able to win a settlement but it took a personal injury lawyer and a whole lot of work to get that done.

USAA did their part in what was in their policy though.

And when we had Hurricane damage they paid for a new roof minus a sizeable deductible. But not the flood damage because Mom missed that years flood policy after 20 straight years of having it.

USAA sends their customers a check every year that has something to do with how their invest your premiums.

After Mom passed away we eventually got a sizable check from them that was owed from this fund but it took quite a while.

I'm not bashing them - just sharing my experience.

I've always had Hagerty for my classics and Progressive for my truck. I do not carry any insurance for my motorcycles.

Denis - thanks for your father's service.

[Seahawk]

Welp, there goes the neighborhood

There was a few year period when I was in college that USAA recommended I not remain on my Dad's policy...they were profiling teenage boys with Vodka and car keys

That been the only gap and I really don't have any complaints other than they do not insure farms.

[GH85Carrera]

I have been a USAA member since 1978, so 48 years. I used their home and automobile insurance for many years. When I got married, I got a quote for what was my wife's house, as an add on to my house. It was better than what my wife had been paying.

Several years later I sold my rent house, (never again want to be a landlord) and we bought our current house, and sold my wife's house, and rolled all that into out house.

USAA was expensive, and I had zero claims. At a club meeting one of the members said he was an insurance company agent. He gave us a quote on our house and cars and it was way cheaper. ANAPAC was great for decades. Then last year they pulled out of Oklahoma for home insurance.

I contacted USAA for a quote and they were way higher, and we ended up with Mercury, Insurance. I kept my tow cars with ANAPAC as they have agreed value policy and it has been inexpensive. We bundled my wife's Macan with the house to get the bundle discount.

USAA had some financial problem and they had to divest the USAA retirement and investment funds I had with them. Now, all I have left with them is my credit cards.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Evans, Marv

Every once in a while, I check around for auto insurance rates. I'm a veteran, so qualify for USAA. I have car insurance through Costco (used to be Connect but now American Family Insurance). The last time I checked with USAA, the Costco insurance was about half the price of USAA and other companies. I've had good experience with claims also. Since it was such thrifty insurance, I thought claim payment could be a hassle. I've had two claims, one for a windshield, & the other for rodent damage. They settled almost instantly and fairly.

That's interesting info, Marv. I do not have a Costco membership but maybe I should reconsider that if their insurance is cheaper. I've been with AAA forever and when I shopped them against State Farm, the SF was considerably more expensive for apples/apples coverage. The AAA was getting very expensive even with a clean driving record and no claims, USAA is 50% of cost with (slightly) better coverage.

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

Do you guys have all of your insurance bundled… home, auto, umbrella with Costco or USAA?

I did have everything bundled w/ AAA but the renters insurance, (alternative to home owner's for renters), turned out to be worthless. Here is why... my truck got stolen back in 2021 and eventually recovered by LAPD. It was moderately damaged and everything inside the cab and large tool storage box in bed was gone. I lost a lot of valuable tools and equipment. AAA was actually about to pay out a very fair settlement for the truck when it got recovered but of course did not have to. They gave me a fair check for the damage done by thieves but for the missing contents, I had to file that with my renters policy. If I owned my home, it would have been with the home owners policy.

I thought it was a little strange since I had comprehensive coverage on the truck but whatever. It turned out that they wanted receipts or other evidence of everything I lost, which of course I did not have. Who has receipts for $1k worth of Snap-on tools and a Stihl chainsaw that was in the box, etc.? Most of that stuff I had for years and I was going off memory as to what was even in there. I understand that they need to protect themselves against fraud and made-up claims but what would stop a dishonest person from claiming a bunch of stuff w/ receipts that wasn't actually stolen? At some point, they need to either believe you or not.

This is where it gets stranger. I did not have photographic proof or receipts, so I had to drop the claim and just eat it. The next time I renewed my insurance, they denied me the renters insurance because I had filed a claim. I asked, "what claim?" They looked it up and it was the PU truck dropped claim. Even though I dropped it, they counted it as a claim. It was also news to me that if you ever had a paid claim, they would immediately cancel you. What a racket.

The moral of the story is to make a video on your phone of everything in your house or apartment, plus valuable tools in garage or truck, they would have apparently accepted that as proof.

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

(From Australia)

As a veteran I qualify for reduced health care insurance only (my ex wife and kids also qualify).

My cars & house are with one company, "Shannons". They're one of the few insurance companies that insure classic cars.

IMO Like everything else with insurance you get what you pay for.

Your last sentence is true often in life but with insurance, I have found it not to always apply. Sometimes identical coverage can vary widely in price. You have to ask around online, (this forum is a good place), to find out how a particular company services claims. My one time family fortune, (lost way before I was born), was made in insurance. My great-grandfather was a math professor who invented the tables that were used to create group coverage insurance, believe it or not. He was a brilliant guy and became a founder of a large company that still exists today, 100 years later. Insurance is a racket...the house never loses.

[Evans, Marv]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

Do you guys have all of your insurance bundled… home, auto, umbrella with Costco or USAA?

No, I only have auto insurance through Costco. The company insures homes, but mine doesn't qualify brecause it has three fire placed - go figure. House insurance for me has to be throught the California Fair Plan, which is just as much as a rip off as any other insurance.