Am I eligible for USAA insurance?


Car insurance rates at USAA are usually among the lowest in the nation, but not everyone is eligible for USAA coverage. Before you can buy a policy, you’ll need USAA membership. USAA eligibility extends to active and retired military members, their spouses, and children, including stepchildren.

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UPDATED: 2023-08-25T07:24:02.255Z
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Is USAA military only? This is a common question, as USAA is known for its cheap rates and great customer service. Unfortunately, most drivers are not eligible for USAA 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. Grandchildren of military members and veterans can qualify if both the parents and grandparents are members, but cousins and siblings don’t meet USAA requirements for coverage.

If you are eligible for USAA, then it is worth considering this company as an option. We’ve outlined exactly who is eligible for USAA in our article below, as well as other pertinent information about USAA eligibility and coverage options.

USAA Car Insurance Eligibility

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

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 military family members who qualify for USAA insurance below.

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

Children and stepchildren of deceased military parents will only be eligible for USAA insurance if their parents join USAA while still alive. Grandchildren must also have both their parents and grandparents on USAA policies in order to qualify as USAA grandchildren on policies.

Dishonorable discharges will exclude a veteran from qualifying for USAA insurance.

Military Family Members Who Do Not Qualify for USAA Membership

Just because someone is related to a military veteran or an active member doesn’t mean they automatically qualify for coverage. Some relations who won’t be able to get USAA insurance include:

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

USAA insurance is only for military members’ and veterans' direct family members. Anyone besides a current or former spouse and children will not be eligible for USAA insurance coverage. If you are not eligible for USAA coverage, you can still shop around and find comparable companies to USAA by looking into the best car insurance companies.

How USAA Verifies Eligibility

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

If you are on active duty, reserve, or guard, you must provide your branch of service, rank, and date of entry to active service. Honorably discharged veterans must also provide a branch of service and rank but will need the start and end dates of their service as well.

If you are a contracted cadet, midshipman, or similar, you will need to provide your commissioning source and date in addition to your branch of service.

As for family members, they will also need to provide the branch of service, rank, and service dates, but they may also need the following information:

  • Social Security number
  • USAA number of former spouse (divorced or widowed) or parent

Children and former spouses will need the USAA number, as the military member or veteran must be a USAA member 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. There are also a number of perks and discounts on insurance products when you purchase 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.

Insurance Coverages Offered by USAA

USAA offers a number of different insurance coverages, from home to auto insurance. Below is a full list of USAA insurance coverages.

  • 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.

See if You're Eligible for USAA Today

Military members, veterans, spouses, and children are all eligible for USAA insurance. You will have to provide proof of military status when signing up for USAA insurance. If you are eligible for USAA, it is a great company to look into for insurance due to its cheaper rates and wide array of coverages and perks.

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.

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 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.


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.

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