Why Did My USAA Insurance Go Up?

USAA auto rates went up because the association lost money and decided to raise prices to rebuild its finances. USAA posted a net loss of about $1.3 billion in 2022, its first since 1923, and its chief executive told members that rate increases in 2023 "were necessary to ensure the association remains financially strong" ^{3 4}. Industry data put USAA's 2023 auto rate increase at 16.9% ³. Increases continued into 2025 in some states, including two in California ^{1 2}.

The direction is now changing. In its 2025 annual report, USAA said approximately half of its policyholders are expected to see an auto premium decrease in 2026, depending on state and individual circumstances ⁵. If your USAA auto bill went up anyway, the reason may be a state filing that took effect later, or a change on your own policy. We are not affiliated with the insurers named.

USAA is a member-owned association that serves military members, veterans and their families. Its auto policies are written by more than one legal company, and each files its own rates in each state. In California, for example, two separate auto filings were settled in 2025: one by United Services Automobile Association and one by USAA Casualty Insurance Company ^{1 2}. The company that writes your policy is named on your declarations page.

That matters when you read about a USAA rate change. A filing percentage is an average for that company's existing policyholders in that state, so two USAA members in the same state may be with different companies and see different changes.

USAA's own reporting describes how it got here. After the 2022 loss, USAA reported net income of about $1.2 billion in 2023 and paid nearly $24 billion in claims that year, including more than 350,000 catastrophe-related claims ³. Premiums rose to $32.2 billion in 2023 from $28 billion in 2022 ⁴.

Chief executive Wayne Peacock told members that USAA "made the difficult decision" to raise auto and homeowners rates even after cutting operating expenses ³. USAA pointed to "historic catastrophes, elevated interest rates, record inflation and a banking industry crisis" ³. Peacock also wrote that these pressures "drive up the cost to fix and replace cars and homes" ⁴.

USAA was not alone. S&P Global Market Intelligence found that all 10 of the largest U.S. auto insurers raised rates by double digits in 2023 ³. And in Texas, where USAA is based, average auto rates across the market rose 25.5% in 2023 after 23.8% the year before, according to Texas Department of Insurance figures reported by the San Antonio Report ⁴. Those Texas numbers are market-wide, not USAA's own.

California requires approval before an auto rate change takes effect, and the Department of Insurance publishes the settlement documents for contested filings. Two concern USAA auto companies, both signed in April 2025:

In both cases the increase agreed with the department was well below what USAA asked for ^{1 2}. These are overall averages for each company's California auto policyholders. A California member renewing after mid-2025 may have seen a change above or below them depending on coverage, vehicle, driving record and location.

USAA's 2025 annual report describes auto insurance rates as stabilizing, "with notable rate reductions in states like Florida" ⁵. Florida's regulator confirms it: the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation said USAA lowered rates by 7%, taking effect by May 2026 ⁷.

Lindsey O'Neill, USAA's chief communications officer, told the San Antonio Report that half of members would see a premium reduction in 2026, that there is a process "to file those decreases," and that the timing was still to be decided ⁶. The report says the cuts depend on driver history, location and safety. O'Neill named three things that push premiums up: the cost to repair homes and cars, severe weather, and what USAA calls "legal system abuse" ⁶.

Read that carefully: "approximately half" of policyholders also means about half are not expected to see a decrease ⁵.

• Your state's filing came later. USAA files separately in each state, so an increase approved in one state in 2025 may only reach your renewal now, while another state is already seeing cuts.
• You are in the half not getting a cut. USAA's own statement ties decreases to state and individual circumstances ⁵.
• Your rating factors changed. A claim, a ticket, a new driver, a newer or more expensive car, a move or a change in how much you drive can all move the price. Military moves to a new base can change your rating location, sometimes into a pricier area.
• A discount ended. Bundling or safe-driving program discounts can change when circumstances do. See why discounts disappear at renewal.
• Coverage changed. Higher limits, lower deductibles or new coverages cost more even when rates are flat.

1. Read your renewal notice line by line. Compare each coverage with last term; our guide to reading a renewal notice shows where to look.
2. Ask USAA what changed. You can ask whether the change came from a state rate filing, from your policy details, or from a discount, and which USAA company writes your policy.
3. Check whether a decrease is coming in your state. Since USAA says decreases are filed state by state, it is reasonable to ask whether one is pending where you live ⁶.
4. Review coverage and deductibles for each vehicle, especially older ones.
5. Compare quotes from several insurers. Prices for the same driver can vary between companies. You can compare quotes here.
6. Contact your state insurance department with questions about a filing or how your policy was handled.

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• Why did my car insurance go up? covers reasons that apply to every insurer.
• Are car insurance rates going down? looks at the wider trend.
• Other insurers: Progressive, GEICO, State Farm and Allstate.

• ¹ Official record: the California Department of Insurance settlement for United Services Automobile Association's private passenger auto filing (19.7% requested, 12.5% settled, target effective on or after June 12, 2025), checked October 11, 2026.
• ² Official record: the California Department of Insurance settlement for USAA Casualty Insurance Company's private passenger auto filing (19.8% requested, 11% settled, same target date), checked October 11, 2026.
• ³ Reported: news coverage of USAA's 2023 results and member letter, including the 2022 loss, 2023 net income, claims paid, the 16.9% auto rate figure from S&P Global Market Intelligence and the chief executive's statements, checked October 11, 2026.
• ⁴ Reported: news coverage of USAA's 2023 premiums, the chief executive's member letter and Texas Department of Insurance market averages, checked October 11, 2026.
• ⁵ Reported: USAA's own 2025 annual report release on stabilizing auto rates and expected 2026 decreases for about half of policyholders, checked October 11, 2026.
• ⁶ Reported: news interview with USAA's chief communications officer on 2026 decreases and cost drivers, checked October 11, 2026.
• ⁷ Official record: the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation release on USAA's 7% Florida decrease, checked October 11, 2026.