USAA
- No extra charge for flood or earthquake coverage.
- Fewer consumer complaints than expected for a company of its size.
- Has options tailored for active-duty military.
- Available only to veterans, active military, some federal workers and their families.
About USAA renters insurance
USAA renters insurance earned 5 out of 5 stars for overall performance, thanks to its strong coverage. USAA serves veterans and active military with renters policies that are more comprehensive than most. Nearly every insurer will cover things like theft and fire damage, but USAA also covers flooding and earthquakes. (Insurance for these disasters usually costs extra.)
Even with this bonus coverage, USAA renters insurance is cheaper than average, according to NerdWallet’s rate analysis. The insurer is among our Best Renters Insurance Companies.
Best for: Members of the military community seeking broad coverage.
Not ideal for: Renters who don’t meet the company’s eligibility requirements.
Where USAA stands out
Generous coverage. It’s tough to find a renters insurance policy that will cover flood and earthquake damage, but USAA’s does. Add replacement cost coverage for your stuff, and USAA has some of the most complete coverage available for renters.
Customer satisfaction. USAA draws a low rate of consumer complaints to state regulators. Its renters insurance also scored highly for consumer satisfaction in J.D. Power’s 2025 Home Insurance Study.
Military perks. USAA doesn’t charge a deductible if your military uniform or equipment is damaged in a covered claim. The company may also cover your belongings if you’re deployed overseas or living outside the U.S.
Where USAA falls short
Availability. USAA renters insurance is available only to members. The following people are eligible for USAA membership:
Active members of the U.S. military, including the National Guard and reserves.
Military veterans who were honorably or generally discharged.
Precommissioned officers.
Current or former employees of certain federal agencies, such as the FBI or Secret Service.
Children of USAA members.
Spouses of active military or veterans.
Widowed spouses of USAA members, or divorced spouses who haven’t remarried.
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What USAA renters insurance covers
Landlords sometimes require tenants to buy a policy with a minimum amount of liability insurance, but otherwise, the coverage you choose is generally up to you. Below are the four types of coverage included in most standard renters policies:
- Personal property
Personal property coverage can replace belongings such as furniture and electronics if they're stolen or damaged.
- Personal liability
Renters liability insurance pays out if you're responsible for injuring other people or damaging their property.
- Loss of use
Loss of use coverage pays for hotel stays, meals or other expenses if you have to live elsewhere while your home is repaired.
- Medical payments
Medical payments coverage pays to treat injuries to other people in your home, regardless of fault.
For more details, see What Does Renters Insurance Cover?
USAA also includes the following types of coverage, which often cost extra from other companies:
Flood insurance. USAA works with the National Flood Insurance Program to cover your items in case of flood damage.
Earthquake coverage. USAA will also pay for damage due to earthquakes.
Replacement cost coverage. Some renters policies cover your items on an actual cash value basis. Say a fire damages your 5-year-old leather recliner. The insurance company would pay out only what the chair is worth at the time of the accident (likely far less than what you originally paid for it). With replacement cost coverage, USAA will pay enough to buy a new recliner.
Optional coverage
You may be able to add the following types of coverage to a USAA renters policy:
Electronics. Adding USAA’s tech package gives your gadgets coverage beyond what’s offered in a standard renters policy. Say you spill coffee on your laptop keyboard or lose your phone on the subway. USAA will cover your device, minus a $250 deductible.
Valuable personal property. Got expensive jewelry, musical instruments or guns? Because renters policies often have limited coverage for these items, you may want to buy extra insurance to be sure they’re fully covered. Unlike your renters policy, the valuable personal property coverage has no deductible. An appraisal may be required.
Personal cyber insurance. This coverage can help you recover from identity theft and online fraud.
USAA renters insurance rates
The average cost of USAA renters insurance is $146 a year, or about $12 a month, according to NerdWallet’s rate analysis. That’s cheaper than the national average of $151 per year. Here’s how USAA’s rates stack up against some of its competitors.
Company | Average annual rate |
|---|---|
$110 | |
$118 | |
$143 | |
$155 | |
$193 | |
$202 | |
USAA* | $146 |
*USAA renters insurance is available to active military, veterans, some federal workers and their families. | |
Our sample rates were calculated for 30-year-old renters with a $500 deductible, $30,000 of personal property coverage and $100,000 in liability coverage.
Discounts
Depending on where you live, you may be able to save on your renters policy by:
Bundling it with a USAA auto policy.
Not filing any claims.
Having a home security system, automatic sprinklers or monitored fire alarm.
Living on a base or in a service academy.
Attending a senior military college as a cadet.
If you own a car, consider bundling your auto and renters insurance policies with the same company. In some cases, the discount you get on your auto insurance could be enough to pay for the renters policy. See the best renters and auto insurance bundles.
Consumer complaints and satisfaction
Complaints: One strong sign of consumer satisfaction is how many people complain about their insurance company to state agencies. USAA scores highly on this measure, drawing a low proportion of home insurance complaints compared to other U.S. insurers.
How we determined our complaint scores We analyzed three years' worth of complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. When comparing insurers, we accounted for company size and total premiums. NAIC home insurance complaints cover various policy types, including homeowners, renters, mobile home and condo insurance.
J.D. Power rating: USAA renters insurance scored above average for customer satisfaction in J.D. Power’s 2025 U.S. Home Insurance Study.
Where USAA renters insurance is available
USAA renters insurance is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. It may also be available if you're stationed outside the U.S. Contact USAA directly for specifics.
Availability may change at any time. Coverage may not be available to all renters in a given state.
» MORE: The cheapest renters insurance
Consumer experience
Website: You can use the USAA website to get a quote, pay your bill, view policy documents and file claims. The site offers advice on topics like insurance and prepping for natural disasters.
App: The company’s highly rated mobile app lets you access insurance policies and other USAA products, such as bank accounts and credit cards. You can use the app to pay bills, report claims and see policy information.
Claims: You can submit a renters insurance claim online or through the app. Once filed, you can log into your account to track the status of your claim. If you have trouble, call USAA’s main number at 800-531-8722.
Customer service: Get answers to quick questions from USAA’s “virtual agent" or call 800-531-8722.
Get renters insurance quotes in minutes
Answer a few questions to get custom quotes and find the right policy for you.
Other renters insurance companies to consider
Not ready to make a decision? You may be interested in these other renters insurance companies:
Other USAA products
NerdWallet's reviews of other USAA products can help you find the right coverage for your needs:
How we review renters insurance
Our editorial team considers these factors when reviewing renters insurance companies:
- 📞 Customer experience
This rating is based primarily on consumer complaints to state regulators, as reported by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. We also evaluate whether companies have customer-friendly features such as online claims filing and quotes.
- 🛡️ Coverage
We look at how companies cover your personal belongings and how many common optional endorsements they offer.
- 💲Affordability
We evaluate the discounts a company offers and, when available, its median rates.
- 🏦 Financial strength
We use AM Best and Demotech ratings to confirm each insurer’s long-term financial stability and ability to pay claims.
See our complete renters insurance rating methodology.
Why you can trust NerdWallet
In our research, we analyzed:
More than 175 million renters insurance rates.
More than 100 insurance companies.
More than 150 renter profiles.
Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines that ensure fairness and accuracy in order to help you choose the financial products that work best for you. Here is a list of our partners and here’s how we make money.
Frequently asked questions
Can I add a roommate to my USAA renters insurance policy?
Can I add a roommate to my USAA renters insurance policy?
Your policy covers your spouse, children or other family members who live with you. However, roommates will need their own policy. Learn more about sharing renters insurance with roommates.
Does USAA renters insurance cover items in a storage unit?
Does USAA renters insurance cover items in a storage unit?
Yes, USAA covers your belongings while they’re in a storage unit either in the U.S. or overseas.
What other types of insurance does USAA offer?
What other types of insurance does USAA offer?
USAA also sells auto, homeowners, boat and life insurance, among other policies.
Article sources
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines.
- 1.J.D. Power. 2025 U.S. Home Insurance Study. Accessed Dec 16, 2025.
Renters insurance star ratings methodology
NerdWallet’s renters insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including affordability, financial strength, consumer experience and coverage options. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our full renters insurance rating methodology.
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners from 2022 through 2024. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.
Renters insurance rates methodology
To find the average cost of renters insurance in the U.S., NerdWallet calculated the median rate for 30-year-old tenants from multiple insurance companies in every ZIP code across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Sample tenants were nonsmokers with good credit and no recent claims, living in a two-bedroom apartment. They had a $500 deductible and the following coverage limits:
$30,000 in personal property coverage.
$100,000 in liability coverage.
$10,000 in additional living expenses coverage.
$1,000 in medical payments coverage.
We made minor changes to the sample policy in cases where rates for the above coverage limits or deductibles weren’t available.
We then compared the insurer's median rates to the median rates for other companies.
These are sample rates generated through Quadrant Information Services. Your own rates will be different.
