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Comment by RHSeeger | Hacker News Reader

I have USAA and can't say enough good things about them. Whenever I call them, they're there to walk through whatever I need with me. The first thing they ask is if everyone is ok; it's trivial, but means something. In general, their rates are really good; it used to be that, when other companies called, you could tell them you have USAA and they're acknowledge they can't match the rates and hang up.

Admittedly, not everyone has access to USAA but, if you do, I highly recommend them.

Noting this because I've been using them for insurance for decades with no intention of switching.

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Another USAA member here. I haven't had to do an auto claim yet, besides simple windshields, but have had several property claims.

They have been great. In fact, right now USAA is in the subrogation process against the offending party for a claim on a bicycle.

I've been happy with their insurance products, their even better customer service, and have no plans of changing.

When I had a bicycle accident, they fully covered my new bike and related damaged equipment under my renters insurance policy. Service has been uniformly excellent for car claims as well.

Counterpoint, had USAA auto for 20+ years, added 2 young drivers and premiums went up 4200 per year. Switched to Geico and recouped 2700 of that.

Always shop around.

Geico is so huge I expected their customer service to be an absolute shitshow. Then I totaled my car, and they were actually helpful and easy to work with. I remain shocked to this day, and I’m still 90% convinced it was a fluke.

Geico seems to do a good job at auto insurance. But like everybody, they try to get you to also sign up for other insurance, and it appears all other insurance under their banner is actually from random other companies that aren't run by them or seamlessly integrated with their systems. And furthermore, their partners seem to be only interested in the association so they can overcharge, more than making up for any multi-line discount.

Tip, Geico will give you an 8 percent discount for owning shares of Berkshire Hathaway.

Do you just let the customer rep know?

Probably a joke from a bored Allstate agent.

> when other companies called, you could tell them you have USAA and they're acknowledge they can't match the rates

This is funny, I actually do say this. I co-founded Goodcover, we provide renters insurance and USAA is an inspiration. But we still have a really hard time beating them! I'm also a USAA Member (car insurance) and also can't say enough good things about them.

Recently filed a collision claim with USAA. They undershot the original estimate but had no issues paying the full amount for repairs when getting the quote.

They refused to replace car seats for me when a USAA member hit me.

Not sure what the specifics of the accident were, but car seats are rarely damaged unless the accident is major, which may very easily total the car. If the car wasn't totaled, which certainly sounds like the case, then it seems unusual to have an accident serious enough to damage the seats. Unusual, but not impossible. Maybe that's the reason for the denial.

I personally had no issues when one of their insured drivers hit my car. I waited for the police report, which clearly stated the other driver was at fault, and I was promptly paid by them for the damage to my vehicle. I didn't have to file anything through my insurance and they were very easy going about the whole thing.

They sent me to the only authorized repair center within 200 miles, then the repair center left my car outside in the rain and filled with water for two months), then USAA fought me over my demands to have the car replaced. Only for the repair shop to have an unlicensed tech work on the car and do 80k in damage due to his failed welding / repairs.. It took 9 months to get that sorted out and USAA was horrible the whole time. I couldn't believe it.

Previously I had an M3 that had the bumper ripped off while parked and they had it taken care of fast, even going after the repair shop for non oem parts under the bumper.

I guess it's a really mixed bag with them over the past few years they've been expanding.

I was hit in a chain reaction collision started by a USAA member. No particular problem with them paying, but I chose subrogation.

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