Does USAA Offer Rental Car Insurance?
Last Updated on February 5, 2026
USAA is consistently ranked among America’s best-rated insurance companies. If you already have a USAA auto policy, it will often extend to a rental car you’re driving for personal use—similar to how most personal auto policies treat a “non-owned” vehicle.
That said, rental coverage details can vary by state, policy form, and where you’re renting. The safest approach is to understand what usually carries over (and what commonly doesn’t) before you decline the rental counter’s add-ons.
- Your Policy Often Follows You: A USAA auto policy commonly extends to personal-use rental cars, but your limits, deductible, and exclusions still apply.
- Collision/Comprehensive Decide Rental Car Damage Protection: If you don’t carry these on your own policy, you may have little to no coverage for damage or theft of the rental vehicle.
- Rental Counter Coverage Can Fill Real Gaps: LDW/CDW, supplemental liability, and other add-ons may be worth it depending on your policy limits, deductible, and risk tolerance.
- International Rentals Need Extra Due Diligence: Cross-border rentals—especially Mexico—can involve different legal requirements and policy territory rules, so verify coverage before you go.
- Does USAA Cover Rental Cars?
- What Coverage Usually Carries Over to a Rental?
- How USAA Rental Claims Typically Work
- Should You Buy the Rental Company’s Coverage?
- Common Gaps: Fees the Rental Company May Bill You For
- Coverage Limits and Exclusions to Know
- Renting in Mexico, Canada, or Outside the U.S.
- How USAA Rental Reimbursement Coverage Works
- Final Word on USAA Rental Car Insurance
- FAQs on USAA Rental Car Insurance
Does USAA Cover Rental Cars?
If you have an active USAA auto insurance policy, your rental car is typically covered when the rental is a temporary substitute or non-owned vehicle and you’re using it for normal personal driving. In plain English: your policy often follows you.
A good baseline rule is this: whatever coverages you carry on your personal auto policy are the coverages you can generally expect on a rental—subject to your policy’s limits, exclusions, and deductible.
What Coverage Usually Carries Over to a Rental?
Your rental doesn’t automatically become “full coverage” just because you rented it. If you only carry minimum coverage, you may have little to no protection for damage to the rental car itself.
| Coverage Type | What It Helps Pay For | What To Watch For |
|---|---|---|
| Liability | Injuries and property damage you cause to others (e.g., bodily injury and property damage) | Your policy limits apply; low limits can leave you exposed. |
| Collision | Damage to the rental car from a crash or impact | Deductible applies; confirm you have collision coverage on your policy. |
| Comprehensive | Theft, vandalism, weather, animal hits, and other non-collision losses | Deductible applies; confirm comprehensive coverage is in force. |
| MedPay / PIP | Medical bills for you and passengers (varies by state) | Some states use PIP; others may offer MedPay. Rules differ. |
| Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist | Injuries if you’re hit by a driver with too little (or no) insurance | Not every state requires it; check your declarations page. |
| Rental Reimbursement | Reimburses you for a rental after a covered claim when your car is in the shop | This is optional and separate—learn more below. |
Quick tip: Before you leave the lot, take photos/video of every side of the rental, the odometer, and the fuel gauge. Save the rental agreement and inspection sheet—this can prevent disputes later.
How USAA Rental Claims Typically Work
USAA’s rental car insurance process usually works like any other standard auto policy (here’s a simple breakdown of rental car insurance): you report the loss, document what happened, and USAA adjusts the claim based on your coverages.
- Rent the vehicle in your name. If you add drivers, make sure they’re authorized on the rental agreement.
- If there’s an accident or theft, report it right away. Call the police when appropriate and notify the rental company.
- File the claim with USAA. Damage to the rental is usually handled under collision or comprehensive (if you carry them). Liability claims follow your liability coverages.
- Expect your deductible to apply. If you’re at fault, the claim may also affect your premium at renewal (some members have accident forgiveness, depending on eligibility and state).
Should You Buy the Rental Company’s Coverage?
Sometimes the rental counter coverage is unnecessary. Other times it fills real gaps—especially if you don’t carry collision/comprehensive, you have a high deductible, or you’re renting a vehicle that would be expensive to repair.
| Rental Counter Option | What It Does | When It Can Make Sense |
|---|---|---|
| LDW/CDW | Waives (or reduces) your responsibility for damage/theft of the rental | If you don’t have collision/comprehensive, you want to avoid a deductible, or you want fewer claim headaches. (Related: collision damage waiver explained.) |
| Supplemental Liability | Increases liability protection beyond what you carry | If your liability limits are low or you’re renting for higher-risk driving situations. |
| Personal Accident / Medical | Limited medical benefits for you and passengers | If you don’t have strong health coverage and you don’t carry PIP/MedPay. (See: MedPay and PIP.) |
| Personal Effects | Coverage for stolen items from the car | If you don’t have renters/homeowners coverage or you’re carrying high-value items. (See: personal effects coverage.) |
| Roadside Assistance | Towing/lockout/jump-start assistance | If you don’t have roadside on your policy or through another membership. |
Common Gaps: Fees the Rental Company May Bill You For
Even with solid auto coverage, rental claims can come with extra charges that aren’t always paid by a personal auto policy. Depending on your policy and state, you could see line items like loss of use, administrative fees, towing/storage, or diminished value.
If the rental company sends you a bill, ask for a detailed breakdown and forward it to USAA as part of the claim. This is also one reason some renters prefer an LDW/CDW: it can reduce the back-and-forth over fees.
Quick tip: If you’re relying on a credit card benefit for rental damage coverage, you usually must pay for the rental with that card and decline the rental company’s CDW/LDW. Always confirm the exact requirements in your card’s benefits guide.
Coverage Limits and Exclusions to Know
USAA coverage isn’t one-size-fits-all. Policies vary by state and by what you purchased, and most personal auto policies have “non-owned vehicle” rules that can limit coverage in certain situations.
- Low limits still mean low protection. Your rental generally follows your policy limits—so if your liability limits are minimal, you may not have enough protection after a serious crash.
- “Regular use” can be a problem. If a vehicle is furnished or available for your regular use (for example, a long-term arrangement or frequent rentals for the same purpose), it may not qualify as a temporary/non-owned vehicle under many policies.
- Vehicle type matters. Specialty rentals may require separate coverage. A standard policy may not apply to certain larger vehicles, like a moving truck or cargo van, or to RVs.
Renting in Mexico, Canada, or Outside the U.S.
Cross-border rentals add complexity. Some USAA policy forms may provide limited coverage in certain situations, but Mexico is a special case—drivers often need a Mexico-issued liability policy to satisfy local requirements. If you’re planning to drive in Mexico, verify in writing what your USAA policy does and doesn’t cover and ask the rental company what proof they require.
For Canada and other international destinations, confirm the policy territory, required documents, and whether your coverage is primary or excess. When in doubt, purchase the coverage you need at the counter or through a specialized policy for that country.
How USAA Rental Reimbursement Coverage Works
USAA also offers optional rental reimbursement coverage. This is different from “rental car insurance” for a car you rent on a trip.
Rental reimbursement helps pay for a temporary rental after a covered claim (like a collision or comprehensive loss) when your own car is being repaired or replaced. Coverage is typically capped by a daily maximum and an overall limit, and availability varies by state.
Final Word on USAA Rental Car Insurance
In many everyday rentals, USAA coverage can extend from your personal policy to the rental car—but your limits, deductibles, exclusions, and state rules still apply. The rental company’s add-ons may be worth it if you have gaps (like no collision/comprehensive), a high deductible, or you’re renting in a situation where coverage gets complicated.
If you want a definitive answer for your policy and trip, the fastest move is to contact USAA and ask them to confirm how your current coverages apply to the specific rental, driver list, and destination.
