Am I eligible for USAA insurance? (2024)


USAA car insurance is among the cheapest in the nation, but not everyone is eligible for coverage. USAA insurance qualifications include active or veteran military service. Those who qualify for USAA insurance are their spouses and children, including stepchildren. Keep reading to learn how to get USAA insurance.

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UPDATED: 2024-08-26T07:27:38.491Z
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Things to Consider

  • Only military members qualify for USAA
  • Spouses and children are also eligible for USAA
  • Family members need to provide proof of military service

Do I qualify for USAA insurance, or is USAA military only? This is a common question, as USAA is known for its cheap rates and great customer service. Unfortunately, most drivers do not meet the USAA qualifications for car insurance.

USAA insurance is only for military members and honorably discharged veterans. Immediate families of military members and veterans are also eligible to join.

Can grandchildren get USAA? Grandchildren can qualify if both the parents and grandparents are USAA members, but cousins and siblings don't meet USAA requirements for coverage.

If you're eligible for USAA, then it's worth considering as an option. We’ve outlined the USAA eligibility verification process below. Keep reading to find out who is eligible for USAA and how to get car insurance coverage.

Eligibility for USAA Insurance

Who is eligible for USAA auto insurance? Several types of military members and veterans can purchase USAA insurance as long as they meet the USAA membership requirements.

The full list of qualifying military members and veterans is as follows:

  • Active duty, guard, or reserve military members
  • Honorably discharged military veterans
  • Pre-commisioned officers, warrant officers, cadets, and midshipmen

Who qualifies for USAA? While USAA is intended for military and veterans, this doesn’t mean that only military members and veterans can be covered by USAA insurance.

Family members and close relations are also eligible for coverage with USAA if the military member or veteran is a USAA member.

Take a look at the full list of USAA family members who qualify for insurance:

  • Children and stepchildren
  • Grandchildren (if both parents and grandparents are USAA members)
  • Spouses
  • Widows and widowers
  • Unremarried former spouses

Can you get USAA if your grandfather was in the military? USAA benefits for grandchildren only apply if both their parents and grandparents have USAA policies.

Children and stepchildren of deceased military parents will only be eligible for USAA insurance if their parents join USAA while still alive.

Who is not eligible for USAA? Dishonorable discharges will exclude a veteran from qualifying for USAA insurance.

Military Family Members Who Do Not Qualify for USAA Membership

There is no USAA loophole — just because someone is related to a military veteran or an active member doesn’t mean they automatically qualify for coverage.

Some relations who can't get USAA insurance include:

  • Cousins
  • Nieces and nephews
  • Significant others that are non-spouses
  • Siblings
  • Parents

So if you're wondering about USAA eligibility, siblings and grandchildren aren't eligible. USAA insurance is only for military members' and veterans' direct family members.

Can parents get USAA insurance if their children join the military? No. Anyone besides a current or former spouse and children will not be eligible for USAA auto insurance.

If you are not eligible for USAA, you can still shop around and find comparable coverage by looking into the best car insurance companies.

How to Become a USAA Member

USAA does require proof of military status when you sign up for coverage. Knowing how to qualify for USAA insurance will help make the application process quicker.

What proof do you need to join USAA? USAA requirements to join are:

-Active duty, reserve, or guard: Must provide your branch of service, rank, and date of entry to active service.

  • Honorably discharged veterans: Must provide a branch of service and rank but will need the start and end dates of their service as well.
  • Contracted cadet, midshipman, or similar: Must provide your commissioning source and date in addition to your branch of service.

USAA membership eligibility requires military service. Who can join USAA depends entirely on whether or not they are enlisted or if their parent or spouse is enlisted, retired, or contracted.

Keep reading to learn USAA's grandchildren requirements.

How to Join USAA Without Military

How do you qualify for USAA insurance without joining the military? You must be the child or spouse of an existing USAA member to be eligible. For brothers and sisters who want USAA, siblings must have a parent or spouse in the military.

Unfortunately, USAA eligiblity for parents does not work in reverse. Even if your child enlists and signs up for a policy or marries a military member with USAA, you won't be eligible for coverage.

The same applies to USAA for grandchildren of military members. Parens and grandparents must have USAA policies for grandchildren to be eligible.

Family members need to provide USAA with proof of military service through a parent or spouse. They may also need to provide the following information:

  • Social Security number
  • USAA number of family member/spouse

USAA eligible family members and former spouses will need the USAA number because the military member or veteran must have a USAA policy in order for non-military family members to qualify.

Benefits of USAA Insurance

One of the main benefits of USAA is that it usually has significantly cheaper prices than other insurance companies.

Because USAA serves a smaller community, it is better enabled to offer great insurance prices and services to USAA members.

There are also several member perks when you join USAA, such as:

  • ADT discounts: If you have ADT home security, you can get discounts as well as three months of deployment credit.
  • Car rental discounts: USAA members can save up to 25% with Avis, Budget, Enterprise, and Hertz.
  • Shipping, moving, and storage discounts: USAA offers a number of discounts for members on shipping, moving, and storage services.
  • Shopping rewards and discounts: USAA members can earn a number of rewards and discounts when shopping at various stores.
  • Travel discounts: USAA will price match hotels, resorts, etc., and offer travel insurance with a waived service fee.

This is just for USAA’s free membership. Members also earn a number of perks and discounts on insurance products when they buy USAA insurance.

For example, USAA offers a discount of up to 10% if you bundle home and auto insurance policies, and offers 24/7 claim and policy help. If you need help with your existing policy, the USAA insurance phone number is 1-800-531-8722.

Insurance Coverages Offered by USAA

USAA offers a number of different insurance coverages, from home to auto insurance.

Below is a full list of coverages, but you can call the USAA phone number to find out which policies are available in your state.

  • Assorted insurances: USAA offers pet, travel, special event, cyber, mobile phone, and aviation protection. So whether you want insurance for your cat or your wedding, USAA can provide it.
  • Business insurance: USAA offers small business, professional liability, cyber, and surety bond insurance.
  • Health insurance: USAA offers individual and family insurance, Medicare, dental, vision, accidental injury, and long-term care insurance.
  • Home and property insurance: USAA has renters insurance, homeowners, condo, mobile home, rental property, valuable personal property, flood, windstorm, collectibles, umbrella, farm, and ranch insurance.
  • Life insurance: USAA offers life insurance as well as annuity insurance.
  • Vehicle insurance: USAA insures cars, classic cars, boats, motorcycles, and motorhomes.

USAA has a fantastic array of insurance products for members, making it easy to keep all of your insurance policies in one place and earn bundling discounts.

Knowing The Qualifications for USAA Insurance

Who can use USAA insurance? Military members, veterans, spouses, and children are all eligible for USAA insurance. USAA eligibility for grandchildren and other family members requires proof of military status when signing up.

If you are eligible for USAA, it is a great company for car insurance due to its cheaper rates and wide array of coverages and perks. USAA customer service is also highly-rated, especially when it comes to claims handling.

If you don’t qualify for USAA insurance coverage, this doesn’t mean you can’t still find affordable insurance. Use our free quote comparison tool to find the best rates in your area for insurance coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions About Who Can Buy USAA Insurance

Below, we’ve answered the most common questions about who can get USAA insurance.

What is USAA?

USAA stands for United Services Automobile Association. It provides insurance products and banking services exclusively to U.S. military members.

Is USAA still only for military?

Yes, USAA insurance and financial services are only available to active and retired members of the U.S. military and their immediate family members.

Can you get USAA insurance without being in the military?

The only non-military members USAA accepts are spouses and children of active or veteran service members.

If my parents served in the military, can I get USAA insurance?

Yes, you can sign up with USAA insurance if your parents were military members or veterans and are USAA members. It's worth noting that you'll only be able to sign up while your military parent is alive.

Can I join USAA if my father was a veteran?

Yes, you meet USAA eligibility requirements if your parent or parents served in the U.S. military.

Can I get USAA insurance even if I divorced my military spouse?

Yes, as long as you are not remarried and you became a USAA member while still married to your ex-spouse.

Can I get USAA insurance even if I was discharged from the military?

Yes, but you must have an “Honorable” and “General Under Honorable Conditions” discharge to qualify for USAA insurance eligibility. Veterans who were dishonorably discharged will not qualify for USAA.

If my son is in the military, can I get USAA insurance?

No, USAA membership rules only let spouses and children of USAA members sign up for coverage.

Can I get USAA insurance if my deceased father was in the military?

As long as your parent was a USAA member, you are eligible for USAA coverage. However, if your father died without ever signing up for USAA, you won't be able to open an account.

Can I join USAA if my grandfather was a veteran?

No, USAA insurance for family members doesn't extend to grandchildren.

How does USAA verify eligibility?

USAA insurance requirements are verified by checking service, rank, and date of entry or commissioning source. USAA agents may also ask for the Social Security numbers of family members and the USAA number of existing policyholders.

Can I add my parents to USAA?

No, only children and spouses are allowed to sign up for USAA.

Who is eligible for USAA health insurance?

Active and veteran military members and their immediate families can buy USAA health insurance, car insurance, and more.


The content on this site is offered only as a public service to the web community and does not constitute solicitation or provision of legal advice. This site should not be used as a substitute for obtaining legal advice from an insurance company or an attorney licensed or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. You should always consult a suitably qualified attorney regarding any specific legal problem or matter. The comments and opinions expressed on this site are of the individual author and may not reflect the opinions of the insurance company or any individual attorney.

Editorial Guidelines: 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.
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