How Is USAA’s Non-Owner Car Insurance?

Last Updated on November 14, 2023

USAA, like other major insurers, offers non-owner car insurance.

Also known as non-owned car insurance, non-owner car insurance is for people who don’t own a vehicle but still drive a vehicle occasionally.

How is USAA’s non-owner car insurance? How does USAA’s non-owner car insurance work? Keep reading to discover everything you need to know about USAA’s non-owner car insurance.

Table of Contents:

What Is Non-Owner Car Insurance?

Non-owner car insurance is a special type of car insurance policy for people who don’t have their own vehicle but still need to drive occasionally.

Maybe you bike or walk to work most days, for example, but you borrow a friend’s vehicle for errands. Or, maybe you live in the city but rent cars when on vacation. In all of these situations, you may want to carry non-owner car insurance.

Some also use non-owner car insurance when reinstating their license. If you need to submit an SR-22 or FR-44, for example, then you might buy non-owner car insurance to prove you have insurance.

Non-owner car insurance is not ideal for those who borrow a specific person’s vehicle regularly. In this situation, you should be listed on that person’s policy as a named insured individual. If you’re borrowing a roommate’s vehicle, then you may need to be listed on that insurance policy.

Does USAA Offer Non-Owner Car Insurance?

USAA, like other major insurance companies, offers non-owner car insurance. You can buy car insurance through USAA even if you do not currently own a vehicle.

USAA’s car insurance is ideal for those who regularly rent or borrow cars, need insurance for car-sharing services, or need to reinstate their license.

USAA is exclusively available to members of the military and their families. If you qualify, USAA offers top-rated car insurance at discount rates. According to J.D. Power rankings, USAA is the best insurance company in most states and subregions (although the insurer is not officially ranked due to its eligibility restrictions).

USAA’s auto insurance is available across the United States, including all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and certain international locations.

How Does USAA’s Non-Owner Car Insurance Work?

USAA’s non-owner car insurance works similarly to other non-owner car insurance policies.

You buy car insurance without owning a vehicle. That car insurance provides certain protections. Depending on your policy, you are protected against property damage and bodily injury liability, for example, up to the limits of your policy.

You make a claim through USAA’s non-owner car insurance for covered events. If you hit someone else while driving a rental car, for example, then you might make a claim through your USAA non-owner car insurance policy.

Alternatively, you might make a claim through USAA’s non-owner car insurance when you cause an accident while driving a friend’s vehicle. In this situation, your friend’s insurance is the primary coverage (assuming you had permission to drive the vehicle). Then, your non-owner insurance could cover any remaining costs.

What’s Covered by USAA’s Non-Owner Car Insurance?

USAA’s non-owner car insurance typically covers liability damages. Most non-owner car insurance only covers liability damage, which is the minimum required insurance in most states.

Non-owner car insurance can cover the following:

Bodily Injury Liability Coverage: Required in most states, bodily injury liability coverage covers medical expenses, ambulance costs, and similar damages you inflict upon other people when driving. If you caused an accident that led to someone paying $15,000 in medical bills, for example, then your non-owner insurance policy could cover that expense through your bodily injury liability coverage.

Property Damage Liability Coverage: Required in most states, property damage liability coverage covers damage you cause to other vehicles and property. If you crashed into someone’s car or fence, for example, then the other party can make a claim through your property damage liability coverage.

Other Minimum Required Coverages in Your State: Most states only require bodily injury liability coverage and property damage liability coverage. However, some states require you to carry uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance, personal injury protection insurance, and other types of coverage. If your state requires any of these coverages, then your non-owner USAA car insurance policy will also include these coverages.

What Else Is Covered by USAA’s Non-Owner Car Insurance?

USAA’s non-owner car insurance may cover other minimum required insurance options in your state, including:

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Some states require uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. These coverages pay out if you’re injured by a motorist with too little insurance – or no insurance whatsoever. If your state requires uninsured or underinsured motorist insurance, then your USAA non-owner car insurance policy will include this coverage.

Medical Payments or Personal Injury Protection Coverage: Some states require drivers to carry medical payments coverage or personal injury protection. These coverages cover certain medical bills after an accident for you and your passengers. Some states require these coverages, while others do not. If your state requires medical payments coverage or personal injury protection, then your USAA car insurance policy will include these coverages.

What Is Not Covered by Non-Owner Car Insurance?

Non-owner car insurance never includes collision or comprehensive coverage. These are coverages you buy to protect your own vehicle from accidents, theft, vandalism, fire damage, and similar costs. Because you don’t own your vehicle, you cannot buy collision or comprehensive coverage.

Collision Coverage

Non-owner car insurance from USAA (or any insurer) does not include collision coverage. Collision coverage is optional in every state. It’s part of full coverage car insurance. It covers damage to your own vehicle after a collision where you were at fault. If you collided with another vehicle, for example, and were found at fault, then collision coverage could cover the cost of repairing your own vehicle. Without collision coverage, you need to pay for this damage out of pocket.

Because non-owner car insurance does not include collision coverage, it does not cover the following:

  • Damage to the vehicle you were driving (assuming you were at-fault for the accident)
  • The cost of replacing the vehicle you were driving (assuming the vehicle is a total loss)

If the other driver is found at-fault, then you can make a claim through the other driver’s property damage liability coverage. If you were found at fault, however, then your non-owner car insurance may not be sufficient.

Comprehensive Coverage

Non-owner car insurance does not include comprehensive coverage. Comprehensive coverage covers other damage to your vehicle that occurs outside of an accident. It covers theft, vandalism, fire and water damage, and other damages, for example.

Because non-owner car insurance does not include comprehensive coverage, it does not cover the following:

  • Theft and vandalism
  • Fire or water damage
  • Windstorm damage
  • Collisions with animals
  • Fallen tree branches and similar environmental damage

Because you don’t own a vehicle, you cannot buy comprehensive coverage. Insurers price their comprehensive coverage policy based on the value of your vehicle. Without a specific vehicle to value, you cannot buy comprehensive coverage.

When Should I Buy USAA’s Non-Owner Car Insurance?

You may want to buy USAA’s non-owner car insurance in all of the following situations:

Final Word on USAA’s Non-Owner Insurance

Yes, USAA offers non-owner car insurance. If you do not own a vehicle but want to stay protected, when non-owner car insurance may be the right choice for you.

USAA is a top-rated insurance provider known for its affordable premiums and strong customer service and claims satisfaction ratings. However, eligibility is restricted to military personnel and their families.

To learn more about USAA’s non-owner car insurance and how it works, request a quote from the company today.

James Shaffer
James Shaffer James Shaffer is a writer for InsurancePanda.com and a well-seasoned auto insurance industry veteran. He has a deep knowledge of insurance rules and regulations and is passionate about helping drivers save money on auto insurance. He is responsible for researching and writing about anything auto insurance-related. He holds a bachelor's degree from Bentley University and his work has been quoted by NBC News, CNN, and The Washington Post.
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