Will my insurance rates increase if I file a car insurance claim with USAA?
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Heidi Mertlich
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Heidi works with top-rated life insurance carriers to bring her clients the highest quality protection at the most competitive prices. She founded NoPhysicalTermLife.com, specializing in life insurance that doesn’t require a medical exam. Heidi is a regular contributor to several insurance websites, including FinanceBuzz.com, Insurist.com, and Forbes. As a parent herself, she understands the ...
Licensed Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Apr 30, 2026
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UPDATED: Apr 30, 2026
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
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Subhead: If you’re filing a collision claim, your insurance rates will increase if you file a car insurance claim with USAA. Comprehensive claims are a little different but can also see increases. You can avoid a rate increase if this is your first accident in five years, but restrictions do apply.
What to Know
- Filing a claim can lead to higher rates through USAA, but it depends on the claim
- Collision claims will usually see an increase in your current insurance rates, whether you’re at fault or not
- Comprehensive claims are handled a little differently, and it depends on the amount of your deductible
There are a lot of difficult decisions to be made in the wake of a car accident. Now, you may have followed our guide on how to file a car insurance claim, but that doesn’t account for increasing rates. Thankfully, if you’re insured through USAA, there is some information available on what to expect after a claim. Let’s take a closer look at what happens to your insurance rates with USAA.
Rate Increases After Filing a Claim
Your rates can definitely see an increase after filing a claim with USAA, but as with many insurance companies, it will depend on your coverage. If you need more information on the types of coverage, you can check our guide on car insurance coverage. Collision coverage will usually see an increase in insurance rates. The same can be said of liability coverage.
Comprehensive coverage is a little different, given that it isn’t two parties involved. You may find your rate increases, but it will depend on the damage incurred to your vehicle and the severity of the claim. Hail damage, for example, might not lead to a rate increase. A falling tree totaling your car very well could lead to an increase, however.
Other Factors to Keep in Mind
There are multiple factors that affect car insurance rates, which can also apply after a claim. While you may not be found at fault in the aftermath of a collision, you can still see increased rates. With many insurance companies, this is due to being seen as at-risk following an accident.
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How to Lower Your Insurance Rates with USAA
USAA is generally very receptive to its customers, as you can see in our USAA insurance review. As such, the rate increase may not be as severe as it would be with other insurance companies. You can, of course, reverse some of the rate increase through safe practices and a clean driving record.
USAA also offers accident forgiveness coverage, which is applicable to customers who have had no at-fault accidents over the last five years. This is a per-policy arrangement, not per driver.
The Last Word on Insurance Rates Increasing Filing a Claim with USAA
You might have to deal with an insurance rate increase following a claim with USAA. However, this isn’t a permanent arrangement. You can easily reverse rate increases through careful driving, a clean record, and a few other deciding factors. You might also find your rate drops when entering into other situations like getting married or purchasing a newer vehicle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are rate increases guaranteed when filing a claim with USAA?
Not necessarily, but as mentioned it will greatly depend on the nature of the claim itself. If you find yourself in an auto accident and have been deemed at fault, you can certainly expect to see a rate increase.
Are rate increases assigned to a driver or the policy with USAA?
Any rate increases applied to your coverage will be applied to the policy. If you have a policy covering multiple members of your household, it will be applicable to everyone under the insurance coverage. Thankfully, this also applies to the accident forgiveness program offered by USAA.
Can I use any discounts following a rate increase?
It will greatly depend on your history with the company and any other pre-determined qualifiers for discounts from USAA. You may find that talking with your insurance agent can net you some savings. At any rate, it is at least worth trying to see if there is anything available to help offset the rising costs with your coverage.
Title Tag: If I file a car insurance claim with USAA will my insurance rates increase?
Meta Description: Can your insurance rates go up if you file a car insurance claim with USAA? The outcome will be determined by the specifics of the claim. Learn why.
Are you looking for free insurance quotes?
Your one-stop online insurance guide. Get free quotes now!
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Heidi Mertlich
Licensed Insurance Agent
Heidi works with top-rated life insurance carriers to bring her clients the highest quality protection at the most competitive prices. She founded NoPhysicalTermLife.com, specializing in life insurance that doesn’t require a medical exam. Heidi is a regular contributor to several insurance websites, including FinanceBuzz.com, Insurist.com, and Forbes. As a parent herself, she understands the ...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by insurance experts.