Don't Use USAA insurance for your Rivian

[kurtlikevonnegut]

I have an ongoing USAA experience that is not with a Rivian (still waiting for an R1S) but with our Audi e-tron. It seems like USAA does everything electronically now and does not send an adjuster to physically see the car. For us, this has resulted in back and forth between USAA and the body shop since late August that was only just finally resolved about a week ago, well into October. Basically this resulted in a 5 to 6 week delay in getting our car fixed. This is all in a city of millions where I imagine USAA has several adjusters any of which could have physically visited the body shop to see the car and come to an agreement but what happened instead was a never ending cycle of the adjuster asking for more pictures or different angles etc and so on. The body shop mentioned to us they had another USAA customer experiencing the same issue since sometime in August so it seems USAA - which we have had for ~25 years without a problem - has changed some stuff in their way of working or something and it's hopefully just a period of adjustment but I feel for the OP and anyone else going through this as we have been down a car with no rental or loaner for several weeks and while it's a first world problem it still puts some strain on family operations so to speak.

Very similar to my situation. After a month of screwing around with the supplement, USAA finally sent out a independent appraiser through SCA (the first one they sent was in Charleston where I live instead of in Atlanta, where the truck is) and one month to the day after the supplement was completed by the body shop they approved it after the appraiser sat down with the body shop supplement writer and went line by line through everything. The body shop might be able to put in the order for the parts tomorrow, which means if everything else goes smoothly from here the truck will be ready in about a month.

I dropped my truck off on the 15th of September, and if I have it back before Thanksgiving it'll be a small miracle.

Sponsored

 

[Tuco_S]

I've been with USAA for over 30 years and have my house and 3 cars, including a 2023 R1S, insured with them. I was just involved in a no-fault accident. It's pretty early in the process but I am nervous based on a few things.
(1) They told me that they do not have a contracted Rivian repair shop in Oregon so I would have to find one myself. That took all of 5 minutes by going to the Rivian website. USAA told me that I may be responsible for any difference in cost between their internal estimate and what it may eventually cost using a Rivian certified repair shop.
(2) The estimate USAA provided referenced ~$60/hr labor and the use of salvaged parts. Neither is realistic. I am waiting for the repair shop to provide them with an updated estimate.
(3) They proactively sent me a check for the initial USAA estimate. I am not going to cash it until I see what the shop comes back with.
(4) My car rental is only good for 50 days and I am already concerned that the repairs and my ongoing dispute will take far longer.

 

[ohseedee]

I've been with USAA for over 30 years and have my house and 3 cars, including a 2023 R1S, insured with them. I was just involved in a no-fault accident and have been getting the runaround with USAA.
(1) They told me that they do not have a contracted Rivian repair shop in Oregon so I would have to find one myself. That took all of 5 minutes by going to the Rivian website. USAA told me that I may be responsible for any difference in cost between their internal estimate (~$7500) and what it may eventually cost using a Rivian certified repair shop.
(2) The estimate USAA provided referenced ~$60/hr labor and the use of salvaged parts. Neither is realistic.
(3) They proactively sent me a check for the initial USAA estimate---I am not going to cash it and am consulting a lawyer.
(4) My car rental is only good for 50 days and I am already concerned that the repairs and my ongoing dispute will take far longer.

I had the same situation...in the end you will be fine. All you need to do is say "ok. I'll take it to a USAA partner shop, please make me an appointment." Then drive down and in 30 seconds their shop will tell you (and USAA) they dont work on Rivians. Call USAA back and you will be good to go to use a Rivian certified. I tried fighting with them, but they didnt let go until I proved it. They are obligated to pay for you to get your car fixed and they cant make you pay more for not using their shop when they dont have a shop that will work on a Rivian. Once I got past this pain, everything with USAA was actually really positive. Their inital estimate was ~$1,200 and they wrote me a check for that, but then had no issues paying out the subplmental when it went up to ~$7.5K.

 

[sacramentoelectric]

I had the same situation...in the end you will be fine. All you need to do is say "ok. I'll take it to a USAA partner shop, please make me an appointment." Then drive down and in 30 seconds their shop will tell you (and USAA) they dont work on Rivians. Call USAA back and you will be good to go to use a Rivian certified. I tried fighting with them, but they didnt get let go until I proved it. They are obligated to pay for you to get your car fixed and they cant make you pay more for not using their shop when they dont have a shop that will work on a Rivian. Once I got past this pain, everything with USAA was actually really positive. Their inital estimate was ~$1,200 and they wrote me a check for that, but then had no issues paying out the subplmental when it went up to ~$7.5K.

This is super helpful. Thank you for sharing. I have USAA and hope to never have to go through this but I'll make sure to follow your lead if I ever do.

 

[Tuco_S]

I had the same situation...in the end you will be fine. All you need to do is say "ok. I'll take it to a USAA partner shop, please make me an appointment." Then drive down and in 30 seconds their shop will tell you (and USAA) they dont work on Rivians. Call USAA back and you will be good to go to use a Rivian certified. I tried fighting with them, but they didnt let go until I proved it. They are obligated to pay for you to get your car fixed and they cant make you pay more for not using their shop when they dont have a shop that will work on a Rivian. Once I got past this pain, everything with USAA was actually really positive. Their inital estimate was ~$1,200 and they wrote me a check for that, but then had no issues paying out the subplmental when it went up to ~$7.5K.

Yes....I updated my post. It's early in the process. I REALLY miss my car.

 

[norivian]

My USAA auto insurance for an R1S and a TMY are both zero deductible.

Sponsored