Having car insurance through USAA is a privileged perk. That’s because USAA is often the least expensive carrier when it comes to coverage. Problem is, it’s not easy to qualify for USAA membership or its valuable insurance offerings, which are primarily available to active, retired and honorably separated officers and enlisted personnel of the US military – including their families.
That begs the question: Are grandparents of one of these qualified policyholders also eligible to get USAA car insurance? Let’s explore what’s possible here.
Who is eligible for USAA?
USAA offers insurance to members of the military and their immediate family members, but eligibility excludes those whose deceased family member was not a USAA member.
“USAA products and services are available to active military, veterans who retired or separated from the U.S. military with an Honorable or General Under Honorable Conditions discharge, and spouses and children of active military and veteran members,” says Tiffany Ryan, vice president of auto insurance for USAA in San Antonio.
Veterans and current military members must sign up to become USAA members, after which they can extend membership to their spouse, children or stepchildren.
Check out this guide to USAA eligibility.
Are we eligible for USAA insurance if our grandson is an active serviceman?
You’re proud to be the grandparent of an active-duty military member. Perhaps, you think, this relationship entitles you to qualify for USAA car insurance. It can’t hurt to find out, right?
Unfortunately, grandparents are not directly eligible for USAA auto insurance solely because their grandchild is an active-duty military member. USAA’s membership eligibility does not extend to grandparents through their grandchildren’s service. The eligibility chain typically involves immediate family members such as spouses and children.
But if you, the grandparent, previously served in the military but are now retired or separated from the US military with an Honorable or General Under Honorable Conditions discharge, or if you are the spouse of a living or deceased military veteran, you should qualify for USAA membership and USAA insurance.
“If you served in the military previously and meet USAA’s service criteria, you may be eligible for USAA car insurance based on your own service record – independent of your grandchild’s service status,” says personal finance expert Dennis Shirshikov, a professor of finance at City College of New York/Queens College.
As a grandparent, can you become a USAA member if your grandchild is active military and a USAA member and his parents are also USAA members?
Okay, you wonder: My child is already a USAA member and my grandchild is active duty military—shouldn’t that be enough for me to qualify for USAA membership and its auto insurance?
Here, the answer is also no. Even if your grandchild is active duty and/or already a USAA member and that grandchild’s parent(s) is themselves a USAA member, you won’t make the cut for membership based on these connections.
“USAA membership does not extend laterally to grandparents from the service or membership status of their children or grandchildren,” Shirshikov says.
Do grandparents qualify for USAA insurance if the grandson is active military?
No; even if your grandchild is on active duty and/or a USAA member, and their parent(s) are also USAA members, you won’t qualify for membership based on these connections.
The bottom line
If you don’t qualify for USAA membership or its insurance products, even if your grandson or granddaughter is serving in the military, don’t be frustrated. There are plenty of carriers out there you can request premium quotes from that can hopefully save you big bucks on car insurance. Continue to remain proud of your grandchild and their service, and recommend that they apply for USAA membership if they haven’t already.
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Laura Longero
Executive Editor
Laura Longero is an insurance expert and Executive Editor at CarInsurance.com, where she specializes in helping consumers navigate the complexities of the financial and insurance industries. She has 15 years of experience educating people about finance and car insurance. Prior to joining CarInsurance.com, she worked as a reporter and editor at the USA Today Network. Her expertise provides readers with practical guidance, helping them make informed choices about their financial and insurance needs.
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