Twice the auto insurance at half the price
Someone recently told me about USAA.com that covers the islands for auto and homeowners insurance. YOU MUST BE AN HONORABLY DISCHARGED VET OR SPOUSE to qualify for the coverage.
I went to the site yesterday and while the site failed to get through the registration process, I called the contact number and they set up the site account for me. Once the account was set up, I was able to log on and get a quote for auto insurance that totaled half what I am currently paying, $1500 down to $800 for two vehicles with full coverage.
I am going to call the Dept of Insurance and Finance today to verify they are on the island "list". If they are, I guess a trip to Interocean is in order today.
Hi, VIOberge,
Good work ., sounds great. Please keep us formed. I'm a vet too.
Thanks,
PT
USAA does cover autos in the USVI and they are on the "approved" list (I have USAA ins.). However, they do not currently provide homeowners insurance. I have been told by two different employees of USAA that they are going to try to enter the homeowners market here in 2010. If you insure your autos with USAA please call and ask about homeowners - more calls may help the cause!
Also, USAA banking is fabulous! You can get miles/points on the use of your Debit card and deposit checks via scan/computer or on your iPhone - yep, there's an app for that!
We have USAA and it's GREAT. The people are HELPFUL, COURTEOUS, and just all around nice.
Funny about homeowners, because I called just the other day and asked about it. She told me that they do not even cover Florida for homeowners, due to the storms.
Contact info?? I'm a Vet and saving a coupla bucks would be nice!!
usaa.com
phone number is on the site pages
USAA offers motorcycle insurance in the VI - something they don't offer in the states.
Vroberge, your'e AWESOME! Thanks so much for starting this thread! I just got off the phone with them and I switched over from Guardian...I was paying over $700/year for my car and my Harley...it's now $185 PER YEAR!!! FOR BOTH! I asked about banking and I'm going to be switching over from ScotIa, too...and I got a credit card (M/C) from them (saved myself over 5% on the APR) and I also got Renter's Insurance for my apartment, which INCLUDES Hurricanes! (my $13,000 Home Theater is now COVERED!) I suppose I'll be adding other services from them very soon, but I just got off the phone with them, so I haven't had a chance to look at all of their services...I just wanted to praise you, Vroberge!! I'm mighty happy with these guys already! Heck, I'm going to go get an iPhone today , just so I can do my banking with it! Plus, it SHOULD be deductible for my business! This USAA company ROCKS!!!
Marty - how did you get renters insurance? I was told they do not write any property insurance in the VI. Just curious - if they do renters and cover hurricanes, why wouldn't they do homeowners. USAA is the best!
That's great news, Marty. AARP also offers auto and homeowners insurance at great rates here in the USVI. Just wanted to mention, though, that some policies either exclude or limit the values on certain household contents such as musical instruments, jewelry, electronics...it may require a rider to add specific coverage for an expensive home theater system. Plus, many policies are written on an Actual Cash Value basis ( depreciated cost) rather than replacement cost. Just a head's up in case you want to look into it further. And you may already have. 🙂
The do homeowners, as well...and my renter's insurance covers the replacement cost of anything lost, up to 20K....I tell ya, this USAA company is just the BEST! Can't say enough good things about 'em...they have over 150 services for Vets!!
With USAA banking, if you use an ATM and the local bank charges you a fee for using their ATM, USAA Bank reimburses you that fee!
USAA is not a "company;" it is a co-op, established years ago by a group of army officers to provide lower-cost insurance. Over the years the doors to admission included any commissioned officer of the United States government (which is how we foreign service officers were included). They've been expanding their base for the whole time I've been a member (over 30 years), first by including children, then all active duty personnel; now all honorably-discharged vets and their spouses. AND it still remains a co-op, and one gets a check every year that USAA's balance on hand exceeds certain goals.
Good info, jefgar! Thanks!
USAA banking is not FDIC Insured
USAA Banking is FDIC insured - see the bottom of the main page of the website (it notes that the investments/insurance is not FDIC insured but the banks are FDIC members).
A note of caution. I have used USAA for about as long as they have been in existence and had always been satisfied with them until they canceled my credit card at the sole request of my soon-to-be-exwife. Insurance yes.
Be careful of their "customer service." They were impossible to deal with from outside the toll-free telephone zone of the US and Canada. I even registered a complaint with the Texas Attorney General's Consumer Affairs Department. The AG was easier to deal with than USAA.
So as long as you don't have problems and live in the toll-free zone, relax with USAA.
my roommate has a USAA policy that covers him for other people's vehicles that he's driving, and totalled my truck out. that was 3 months ago, claim is still open. i always had usaa back in the states, and always had a great experience with them. however, they would have been more expensive for the basic liability required on island. i'm cheap, and now seeing how poorly usaa has handled this claim here on island i'm happy with my decision to switch 🙂
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