AAA vs. USAA Car Insurance Comparison [2024]
AAA is famous for roadside assistance, while USAA has low rates but only services military personnel and their families. If you're considering AAA or USAA, check out our AAA vs. USAA car insurance comparison, which spotlights AAA boasting a superior overall customer satisfaction rating and USAA offering broader coverage.
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Laura D. Adams
Insurance & Finance Analyst
Laura Adams is one of the nation’s leading finance, insurance, and small business authorities. As an award-winning author, spokesperson, and host of the top-rated Money Girl podcast since 2008, millions of readers and listeners benefit from her practical advice. Her mission is to empower consumers to live healthy and rich lives by planning for the future and making smart money decisions. She rec...
Insurance & Finance Analyst
UPDATED: Dec 30, 2023
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- AAA may be a better option because of their excellent roadside assistance program
- USAA is only available to those who have served or are currently serving in the military and their families
- AAA has an overall better customer satisfaction rating
- USAA provides more comprehensive coverage
Is the Automobile Club of Southern California (AAA) car insurance or the United Services Automobile Association (USAA) car insurance better?
Read through our USAA and AAA comparison, and then read our AAA car insurance review and USAA car insurance review for more detailed information.
When selecting an insurance provider, it’s crucial to thoughtfully assess the type of plan you need. The optimal approach is to obtain quotes from the best car insurance companies to secure the most favorable deal. Occasionally, spending a bit more is worthwhile.
Use our FREE quote tool to explore car insurance comparisons! Enter your Zip code above to get started.
What is roadside assistance?
In the case of AAA insurance versus the well-established USAA, you may want to consider AAA for car insurance. AAA has a long history of customer satisfaction with car insurance plans and has a famous roadside assistance program.
Read more: The General Roadside Assistance
The USAA roadside assistance program isn’t quite as reliable and has had a lot of complaints over the years from Consumer Reports and other professional reviewers such as the Better Business Bureau.
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What do you need to know about AAA and USAA?
USAA has a long and established history in this country which gives it the edge when acquiring new customers. Perhaps the most profound thing about USAA is their lack of a proper marketing plan.
You almost never see a USAA commercial on TV because they acquire clients on a word-of-mouth or inheritance basis. USAA car insurance is also only available to those who have served or are actively serving in the military, making it one of the best choices for car insurance for military members and their families.
USAA was such a hegemonic and well-established business that it dominated home and auto insurance from the early 1900’s onward.
This hasn’t kept USAA from retrofitting their policies or their prices, and they have an updated website and powerful E-marketing campaign in the works.
USAA generally has more comprehensive plans than AAA insurance, but AAA still has an overall better customer satisfaction rate when it comes to car insurance, which is probably a result of the emergency roadside service.
For more information on each roadside assistance service provider, check out both AAA’s and USAA’s websites.
Read more: AAA vs. Nationwide Car Insurance Comparison
What services do you get with each program?
These two roadside assistance plans are pretty comparable. Both plans include the following services:
- Lockout service
- Jump starts
- Flat tire change
- Emergency fuel delivery
- Towing service
- Trip interruption coverage
With AAA roadside assistance coverage, you get a few more options. With AAA’s battery service, a technician will come to your location and test your battery for you or switch out a dead battery for a new one. AAA will also do minor repairs to your vehicle if you are broken down, or tow you to the nearest repair facility. You also get extrication/winching service with AAA.
Which roadside assistance program is cheaper?
Like any kind of auto insurance coverage, there are a variety of factors that affect car insurance rates, including your age, gender, location, credit history, and driving record. It would be best to get a personalized auto insurance quote before making a decision.
Both companies offer the following discounts:
- Good student discount
- Multi-policy discount
- Multi-vehicle discount
- Safe driver discount
- Defensive driver discount
AAA does not offer a military discount, so military personnel may find a better deal with USAA. Check out our guides to AAA car insurance discounts and USAA car insurance discounts for more information.
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Which is better, USAA or AAA?
Both companies offer a wide variety of full coverage car insurance plans and everything in between. USAA is a well-established company with a good track record.
USAA has offices all around the U.S. as does AAA. AAA generally has cheaper auto insurance rates and offers a membership-based roadside assistance program.
Before you narrow down to just USAA and AAA, you should take a look at what other roadside assistance providers have to offer as well. Shop around to find the best deals on car insurance, and you could end up saving more than a hundred dollars yearly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is AAA or USAA car insurance better?
AAA car insurance generally has better customer satisfaction and offers a famous roadside assistance program. However, USAA car insurance is known for its comprehensive plans and is a great choice for military members and their families.
What is the difference between AAA and USAA?
AAA is open to the general public and offers a membership-based roadside assistance program. On the other hand, USAA car insurance is exclusively available to military personnel and has a long-established history of serving them.
What services are included in AAA and USAA roadside assistance?
Both AAA and USAA roadside assistance programs offer similar services, including towing, lockout assistance, fuel delivery, and tire changes. However, AAA also provides battery testing and replacement, minor vehicle repairs, and extrication/winching service.
Which roadside assistance program is cheaper?
The cost of roadside assistance coverage depends on various factors such as age, location, driving record, and more. It is recommended to get personalized quotes from both companies to determine the most affordable option for you.
Which is better overall, USAA or AAA?
Both companies have their strengths. USAA is known for its comprehensive plans and military focus, while AAA has a better overall customer satisfaction rate and a popular roadside assistance program. It is advisable to compare quotes and consider individual needs to determine the better option for you.