Auto claims overview

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What our auto policies typically cover

  • Liability

    • Bodily injury liability helps cover injuries you may cause.
    • Personal injury protection covers injuries and lost wages.
    • Property damage liability helps cover repairs to someone else's vehicles, home, and surrounding structures.
  • Comprehensive coverage

    • Your vehicle is stolen or damaged by fire, riots or explosions.
    • Your car's damaged by falling trees, branches or rocks.
    • You hit an animal, or hail, flooding or other weather-related events damage your vehicle.
  • Collision

    • You're covered if your car flips during an accident.
    • You're covered if you collide with another vehicle.
  • Uninsured or underinsured motorist

    • This coverage helps protect you or others on your policy if you're hit by a driver with little to no insurance.
    • You're covered if you're the victim of a hit-and-run.

How deductibles work

Your deductible is the amount you'll have to pay out of pocket for repairs before your coverage kicks in. If you have a $500 deductible and $1,500 in vehicle damages, you'd pay for the first $500 and we'd cover the rest.

Where do I find my deductible? View my policy

Sample Payment

Total Cost of damages
$1,500
Your deductibleSee note for See notea  is
 Minus $500
Our payment for repairs will be
$1,000

See notea This is an example of a deductible payment.
Log on to view your policy details.

How the claims process works

Step 1 Tell us what happened.

Provide details and upload photos of the damage.

Step 2 Get an inspection.

Get a photo estimate or visit a USAA-approved repair shop.

Step 3 We'll send payment.

USAA will send the repair amount minus your deductible.

Step 4 Get your car repaired.

Select a USAA-approved repair shop or choose your own.

When you should file an auto claim

It's optional if:

  • There's minimal damage.
  • The cost of vehicle repairs is less than your deductible.
  • You don't want to fix your vehicle and it's not owned by any other party, lease or finance company.

You should file if:

  • You, your passengers or others are injured.
  • You caused damage to someone's vehicle or property.
  • You caused damage to a municipality's property.
  • What to do at the scene of an accident

    Whether you've just been in a collision or simply need a refresher, this checklist gives you the steps you can take at the scene of an accident.

  • When your vehicle is considered a total loss

    Your car is deemed a "total loss" when the cost to repair it exceeds what it's worth. We'll offer to pay out your vehicle's actual cash value.

Let our claims videos help show you the way.

Get an in-depth look at common auto and homeowners claims topics.

Nonpolicyholder claims

If you were in an accident with a USAA member, you can file a claim here.

Manage your claim faster on the app

  • Upload photos of the damage.
  • Schedule repairs and a rental car.
  • View estimates and claim status 24/7.
Download the app

Auto claims FAQ

Still need help?

If you can't find the information you need, help is available by phone or on the app.

Ready to report your auto claim?