American Family vs. USAA: Which one is the cheapest?

USAA costs an average of $335, while American Family has average rates for state minimum coverage of $602.

For full coverage with 100/300/100 liability and $500 deductibles for comprehensive and collision, USAA averages $1,381 per year. American Family costs more, averaging $1,698 a year.

Always compare quotes because prices and required coverage vary by state and your individual situation.

CompanyAverage annual rate for full coverageAverage annual rate for state minimum coverageAverage annual premium for liability-only (50/100/50) car insurance
American Family$1,698$602$870
USAA$1,381$335$435

American Family vs. USAA: Rates by age group

For teens—one of the most expensive age groups to insure–USAA offers the lowest rates at $4,385 per year. American Family is more expensive, with an average cost of $4,515 for a teen driver.

Age affects insurance rates greatly. Companies consider factors like speeding, accidents, and distracted driving. They see teen drivers as high-risk, making them one of the most expensive groups to insure. Rates usually drop as you get older.

For example, adults pay an average of $1,406 with USAA, while American Family costs $1,701 for an adult, on average.

Age groupAmerican FamilyUSAA
Teens$4,515$4,385
Young adults$2,424$2,159
Adults$1,701$1,406
Seniors$1,813$1,400

American Family vs. USAA: Rates for high-risk drivers

USAA has the best rates for high-risk drivers. A high-risk driver is someone who has multiple speeding tickets, accidents or a serious offense like a DUI on their record. This can make it a challenge to find affordable auto insurance.

For the drivers with DUI, USAA is cheaper, with average rates of $2,786.

Take a look at the table below for American Family rates compared to USAA rates.

Type of violationAmerican FamilyUSAA
1 At-fault property damage accident over $2K$2,447$2,075
1 At-fault property damage accident under $2K$2,447$2,066
At-fault bodily injury accident$2,542$2,133
Careless driving$2,205$1,834
DUI$2,908$2,786
Reckless driving$2,805$2,100
Speeding$2,321$1,680

American Family vs. USAA: Rates in your state

Insurance rates are different in every state. Companies use information from your ZIP code, like weather, crime and traffic patterns, to calculate the risk. The table below shows where American Family and USAA offer the lowest rates. Don't forget to compare quotes from different companies, since your price also depends on your location, driving history and personal details.

StateUSAAAmerican Family
Alabama$1,458N/A
Alaska$1,166N/A
Arizona$1,581N/A
Arkansas$1,090N/A
California$1,827N/A
Colorado$1,559N/A
Connecticut$606N/A
Delaware$1,463$2,709
Georgia$1,562N/A
Hawaii$1,067N/A
Idaho$742N/A
Illinois$1,745N/A
Indiana$783N/A
Iowa$1,165N/A
Kansas$1,151N/A
Kentucky$1,820N/A
Louisiana$1,973N/A
Maine$827N/A
Maryland$1,043N/A
Massachusetts$1,442N/A
Michigan$1,514N/A
Minnesota$1,382N/A
Mississippi$1,320N/A
Missouri$1,086N/A
Montana$919N/A
Nebraska$1,328N/A
Nevada$1,672$2,429
New Hampshire$852N/A
New Mexico$1,054N/A
New York$1,557N/A
North Dakota$826$1,092
Ohio$994N/A
Oklahoma$1,447N/A
Oregon$1,277N/A
Pennsylvania$1,806N/A
Rhode Island$1,147$1,833
South Carolina$1,451N/A
South Dakota$1,780N/A
Tennessee$1,194N/A
Texas$1,812N/A
Utah$1,237N/A
Vermont$803N/A
Virginia$1,192N/A
Washington$853$1,750
Washington, D.C.$1,230N/A
West Virginia$1,189N/A
Wisconsin$984N/A
Wyoming$1,230N/A

American Family vs. USAA: Which offers better discounts?

Discounts matter to insurance customers and can significantly lower yearly costs. Below are some discounts American Family and USAA offer their customers.

DiscountsUSAAAmerican Family
Marital status9%11%
Payment typeN/A9%
Multi policy4%9%
Days advanced purchase5%8%
Daily commuteN/A6%
Paperless/electornic documentsN/A5%
Loyalty5%5%
Lower annual mileage5%3%
Electronic funds transfer3%5%
HomeownerN/A4%
Anti-theft device3%1%
Safety devices1%2%
Air bags0%2%

Always ask about discounts when comparing insurance options to see what you might qualify for.

American Family vs. USAA: The bottom line

Both American Family and USAA are solid insurance companies, but if rates are what matter most to you, USAA may be the choice for you. However, we always recommend considering more than just rates to find the best car insurance for your needs and comparing quotes from multiple companies.

Methodology

National and state average rates are based on three coverage levels: state minimum, 50/100/50 liability-only, and full coverage with 100/300/100 liability and $500 deductibles.

Unless otherwise indicated, averages are based on our full coverage data set. This data set is based on:

  • Bodily injury liability of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per incident
  • Property damage liability of $100,000 per incident
  • Comprehensive and collision deductibles of $500
  • 40-year-old driver
  • Honda Accord LX
  • Good credit
  • A clean driving record
  • 12-mile commute, 10,000 annual mileage

Additional rate data is drawn based on:

  • Ages ranging from 16 to 75
  • Excellent, fair and poor credit
  • All available traffic violations
  • One or more at-fault accidents
  • All available year, make and model data

Rates were fielded by Quadrant Information Services, with more than 220 companies and 34,588 ZIP codes surveyed.