State Farm vs USAA Car Insurance

State Farm

Program Drive Safe & Save

Tracks acceleration, hard_braking, cornering, phone_use, speed, mileage

Can raise rate? Yes

Enrollment max Initial discount for enrolling

Renewal max Up to 30% based on how you drive; some states permit above 30%; New York capped at 30%

State exclusions CA, MA, RI

State Farm re-adjusts premium at each policy renewal (typically every six months) using up to the prior 12 months of data. The adjustment CAN be a discount OR a surcharge. State Farm specifically notes that if mileage exceeds 7,500 miles annually, premium may increase. That is a meaningful difference from telematics programs that only offer a discount. Not available in California, Massachusetts, or Rhode Island; a discount may not be available in North Carolina depending on individual facts. Enrollment uses the State Farm mobile app plus a mailed Bluetooth beacon paired with the app. Tracked behaviors include acceleration (described as starting fast off the line), braking (fast, hard stops), cornering (quick, sharp turns), phone distraction (defined as phone moving while vehicle moving and screen on), speed over posted limit by 8+ mph, and annual mileage.^{TIER 1}

USAA

Program SafePilot

Tracks acceleration, hard_braking, cornering, time_of_day, mileage, phone_use

Can raise rate? No

Enrollment max Up to 10% initial enrollment discount per publisher summaries

Renewal max Up to 30% continued safe-driving discount per publisher summaries

State exclusions CA

Publisher summaries describe SafePilot as a discount program (up-to-10% enrollment, up-to-30% safe-driving) with no documented rate-increase mechanic in the materials fetched at review. Treat the no-increase framing as derived from publisher summaries rather than a direct USAA statement; state program materials in your state are the source of truth. State availability per publisher summaries: 47 states plus Washington, D.C.; California NOT included. State availability changes over time as USAA files or withdraws products by state; confirm with USAA before enrolling.^{TIER 1}

State Farm

AM Best FSR A+ (Superior)

Long-Term ICR aa (Superior)

Outlook Stable

Affirmed 2025-11-14

MATERIAL RATING EVENT: On November 14, 2025, AM Best DOWNGRADED the Financial Strength Rating of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and its affiliates to A+ (Superior) from A++ (Superior), and downgraded the Long-Term ICR to "aa" (Superior) from "aa+" (Superior). Outlook was revised to stable from negative. AM Best attributed the action to a revision in the group's operating performance assessment to adequate from strong, reflecting adverse underwriting experience in private-passenger auto and homeowners, a challenging regulatory environment, and elevated weather-related losses. A+ (Superior) remains a strong rating in absolute terms; the direction of the change is the honest context to attach to it.^{TIER 1}

USAA

AM Best FSR A++ (Superior)

Long-Term ICR aaa (Exceptional)

Outlook Stable

Affirmed 2026-06-25

On June 25, 2026, AM Best affirmed the FSR of A++ (Superior) and the Long-Term ICR of "aaa" (Exceptional) of United Services Automobile Association and its property/casualty and life/health subsidiaries, with a stable outlook. AM Best cited improved operating performance in recent years supported by rate increases and other underwriting and claims actions, and assessed risk-adjusted capitalization at the strongest level as measured by BCAR. A++ is the top tier on AM Best's FSR scale; "aaa" is the top tier on the Long-Term ICR scale. Among the four other R6-A baseline reviews, only GEICO also carries A++ (Superior); State Farm, Progressive, and Allstate currently sit at A+ (Superior).^{TIER 1}