OK, I just compared rates for for San Diego, married couple, two cars and a home

Progressive with max liability of $500k on auto/home
Auto 6 months - $1000 ($2,000 annually)
Home 12 month - $2500

USAA
I am currently paying $290 per month for home (value of $3 million), auto ($1 million liability), and umbrella $2 million

$290 per month broken down as follows

$2 million umbrella $24 per month ($288 per year)
Auto $178 per month ($2146 per year), includes $1 million liability
Home $1046 per year (includes $500k liability)

Comparison
USAA $3192 per year total (minus umbrella which progressive does not do)

Progressive with far less coverage $4500

USAA cheaper by $1308 per year

I check/compare every few years and the auto is always close, but the home insurance is always more than double compared to USAA. Not sure why. Also, most carriers won't insure my home since it is on a canyon albeit with low fire danger. I guess they are still licking their wounds from the CA wild fires over the past few years.

Also as you get older and net worth increases, you will find many carriers will not provide adequate insurance to protect you from lawsuits. CA is a very litigious state so something to think about if you have assets worth protecting. The standard 15/30 auto liability stuff does not fly in CA, to much risk.

 

Not sure why Progressive won’t quote you $1M liability for car insurance, like I said that’s what I have through them. That must be unique to the state of CA, or maybe they just don’t quote that online. I have exactly the same coverage you do through Progressive, $1M liability car insurance and a $2M umbrella. They require $1M liability on the car insurance to offer an umbrella. At least Allstate did when I was with them I assume Progressive does too. I had the same coverage at Allstate.

I am well aware of the need for higher coverage for higher net worth people, hence why I also have the same coverage you do. My point is that’s not something only USAA can offer, USAA is not a specialty high net worth insurer at all. Progressive is also a very strong and highly rated insurance company.

USAAs rates are good for car insurance, but in my experience their homeowners rates are not good. I have seen them be 2 even 3 times as much as other quality insurers. Issue is, people who have USAA have a odd attachment to it, like it’s something they earned (which they did in a way) and they many times don’t even have an interest in shopping even when the savings is thousands of dollars.

 

I think zip code has a lot to do with the variation in rates. Progressive might be ok in one but not in another. By in large, everyone’s auto rates should be going up 10-20% due to inflation, repair delays causing longer rental car needs, and part supply issues. But I agree, regardless of carrier shopping around every year is a good idea. I will most like try a broker next time as the typical insurance web sites are limited in assessing coverage needs.

also I just checked Progressives web site and they show $500k max for liability. So either they reduced the max, or it is a CA thing.

and this hot off the press from Forbes. Go figure.

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/car-insurance/cheap-car-insurance-rates/

https://www.usnews.com/insurance/auto/cheapest-car-insurance-companies

 

The quotes I got for USAA weren’t good at all. I have tried to switch several times but whenever I get a quote it’s never better than what I had at State Farm so I never switched. Right before I switched companies last month I checked again and they were still terrible.

 

It all varies by state and locality, Insurance companies want to do business in one state so they lower rates, and they dont want to do business in another state so they price themselves out. My guess is Progressive just doesn't quote over $500k for liability on their website, my policies were written through an agent I have known for 20 years. You definitely need an agent/broker, I don't even look at websites.

USAA's auto rates are generally quite good, like I said the issue is homeowners rates.

 

interesting. The sad part is insurance companies can discriminate and never have to give a reason why they don’t want you as a customer.

 

Sometimes they DO give you a reason. Their reps are not all the same.

 

It just didn’t make much sense to me because I’ve never had a moving violation or accident but of course now I just jinxed myself. My wife is the same way but she got a speeding ticket once over 15 years ago but went to court and got the points taken away. I would be the perfect customer because I’m low risk and pay on time.

 

It may literally just be that they don't want to increase risk in your zip code, a lot of times it doesn't have anything to do with you.

 

USAA home coverage got so high i went to Farmers in 2017 and cut there homeowners in half but my auto went up a little higher but saved $800 a year. do not get the attachment to USAA either.I was with Geico for 30 years and left because there homeowners got to expensive.I have no loyalty towards a insurance company.

 

Yeah, exactly.

People actually get insulted sometimes when you suggest that they should shop a homeowners rate from USAA. I saw one guy accept a $1,200 condo policy from USAA and never shopped it when that policy should have been $300. I've seen $3K homeowners policies that should be $1,200, Crazy. USAA knows about this loyalty too I'm sure and exploits it by knowing that people who already have USAA car insurance go to buy a house they're not even going to shop the USAA homeowners quote.

 

This, unfortunately, is true. Insurance regulation should get involved. This practice should be illegal.

 

Yup! But, more like 99%