Do I have full coverage?
“Full coverage” doesn’t actually exist on your auto policy. But your lender may use that term when you buy your car.
They usually mean coverage for physical damage like comprehensive and collision in addition to the minimum liability required by your state.
That doesn’t mean you’re fully covered for every scenario.
If limits for liability coverage fall short of your net worth, then an umbrella policy can provide extra coverage.
When should you file an auto insurance claim?
Sometimes filing a claim is optional, like when there’s minimal damage to your own vehicle and the cost to repair is less than your deductible. Or you don’t want to fix your vehicle and it’s not owned by any other party, lease or finance company.
Examples of when you should file a claim:
- Someone got injured.
- There’s substantial damage to your vehicle.
- You caused damage to someone else’s vehicle or property or to a municipality’s property.
What should I do before my policy renews?
In most cases, we’ll automatically renew your policy. You’ll need to review it and make sure it still meets your needs. You may also want to check your discounts.
We understand things change. If you’re thinking about canceling, see how we can help.
What to Look for When Renewing Your Auto Policy
Video Duration: 2 minutes 11 seconds
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When it’s time to renew your auto policy, there’s often an opportunity to save money.
Here are 4 things you should do before a renewal to get the most out of your policy.
1. Check your discounts and savings: Elapsed time 0 minutes 9 seconds [0:09]
Check your discounts and savings.
Renewal is a great time to find new savings or make your current discounts stay active.
- Set up an automatic payment plan to get a discount on your policy.
- Safe driving programs could mean big discounts. Get up to 10% off your auto premium when you enroll in USAA SafePilot and up to 30% off at renewal.
2. Review your coverage: Elapsed time 0 minutes 32 seconds [0:32]
Review your coverage.
Next, you’ll want to make sure you have the right amount of coverage. It’ll come down to your budget and how much risk you’re willing to take.
- MedPay is an optional coverage in most states that helps with medical expenses from car accidents. It can cover out-of-pocket costs like your deductible. If you’re not required to have it, check to see if your health insurance or liability coverage already gives you enough protection.
- You could opt for a higher deductible and lower your monthly premium, which is great for saving money right now. Just make sure you have enough in your emergency fund to cover the deductible if you ever need to make a claim.
3. Review your renewal documents: Elapsed time 1 minute 9 seconds [1:09]
Review your renewal documents.
Double check what’s on your policy to know if it still meets your needs. Your renewal documents will have those details.
Here’s how to find them:
- Select your initials on your USAA profile. Then choose “Documents.”
- Go to the insurance section and select “Automobile Policy Renewal/Auto ID Cards (PDF).”
- After your ID cards, there’s a declarations page that shows your policy coverages, covered drivers and covered vehicles.
4. Review your billing details: Elapsed time 1 minute 44 seconds [1:44]
Review your billing details.
Check your bill details and payment settings to make sure everything is correct. To set up automatic payments or update payment amounts and dates, select “Pay Bills” on your Auto Property Insurance Statement.
By making some changes to your coverage and getting discounts, you could save up to 25% on your auto premium.
End: Elapsed time 2 minutes 11 seconds [2:11]
Find discounts and savings.
We offer several ways you can save. Here are a few:
- Get up to 3% off when you set up automatic payments. See note 1
- Save up to 10% with our safe driving program, USAA SafePilot. See note 2
- Save up to 10% with the Good Student Discount. See note 3
- You may save when you bundle your USAA policies.
In most states, your policy may provide coverage for rented vehicles. This coverage would go toward the cost of repairing or replacing a damaged vehicle.
You may also buy optional insurance coverage from the rental agency.
Also, if you use a credit card to pay for the rental, your credit card provider may include coverage.
For example, using a USAA credit card for a rental car gives you built-in auto rental coverage for physical damage or theft, towing and loss of use for up to 31 days around the world.
Contact your rental agency or credit card provider to find out more about their coverage options.
If you want to dig into more detail, you can read our advice about rental car insurance and coverage options.
International rental cars may not be covered.
If your policy is not based in the United States or you’ll be renting a vehicle outside the U.S., then your rental isn’t covered by your USAA Auto Insurance policy for liability and physical damage.
You can discuss your options by calling us at 800-531-USAA (8722).
If you give someone permission to drive your vehicle or someone reasonably believes they have your permission, then your policy covers them.
If someone drives your vehicle for more than 120 days, we consider them a regular driver. You’ll need to add any regular driver to your policy.
Keep in mind that there’s no coverage if a driver you let use your vehicle:
- Loans the car to another person.
- Is caught in an accident as a pedestrian.
- Gets injured as a passenger.
- Rents or borrows a vehicle not on your policy.
- Acquires a new vehicle.
If you have comprehensive coverage with your insurance policy, this covers your windshield for replacement or repair.
We encourage you to get your windshield fixed as soon as possible for your safety. You can report a glass claim online.
If you already paid for your replacement or repair and have comprehensive coverage, you may get reimbursed for a glass claim.
If your windshield must be replaced, you’re responsible for your comprehensive deductible unless you’ve bought the glass waiver, which isn’t available in all locations.
If your windshield can be repaired and you have comprehensive coverage, USAA will waive the deductible.
If your windshield damage is smaller than a dollar bill, Safelite AutoGlass may be able to repair it. Damage more than that will likely require full windshield replacement.
If you’ve stored your insured vehicle for any reason, like if you’re deployed, you could get up to 60% off.
For your vehicle to be eligible, it must not be driven for a minimum of 30 days in a row or while in storage in a secure location.
Before you drive it again, you need to call us to remove the storage status from your vehicle so you can be property insured while driving.
We note that vehicles undergoing repairs or vehicles that were declared a total loss aren’t eligible for the storage discount.
The discount comes with an amendment, or endorsement, to your policy.
Go to your auto policy summary to update a vehicle’s storage status. You can also read about storing a vehicle and other deployment advice.
You could also get a discount on your car insurance for driving less, based on the number of miles per year. See note 3