If you’re one of the 2.4 million military personnel serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, you qualify to become a member of USAA, which continually provides outstanding customer service and affordable insurance rates to its constituency. It’s a full-service financial company offering various insurance, banking and investment products to military members and their families.
If you’re thinking about getting insurance with USAA, wondering who is eligible for USAA insurance and what the requirements and qualifications are, we’ve got the answers.
- USAA insurance covers military members and their families, including spouses, children, step-children and widows.
- USAA offers several discounts for auto insurance, such as for a good driving record, defensive driving/driver training course, good student discount, bundled/stacked discounts, breaks for newer vehicles, driving less, multi-vehicles and anti-theft devices.
- USAA offers discounts from retail partners, such as FTD Flowers orders, FedEx shipping, fitness center discounts and prescription drug discounts through GoodRx and TurboTax tax prep software.
- USAA has stellar mobile banking and telematics apps that track your driving habits and can provide a discount on your auto insurance.
What is USAA?
USAA, the United Services Automobile Association, started as an auto insurance company. It was founded in 1922 when 25 American Army officers began the company because they couldn’t get car insurance.
At the time, insurance companies considered military officers a high-risk group; USAA was founded so they and other military members could get adequate insurance coverage.
Who is eligible for USAA insurance?
USAA offers insurance for members of the military and their immediate family members.
But note: You are not eligible to become a USAA member if your deceased family member was not a member of USAA while they were alive.
Along with enlisted personnel of the U.S. military, including those on active duty, or who are part of the guard or reserve, you can be a retired or honorably discharged military member.
Here are some folks who qualify for USAA insurance:
- Pre-commissioned officers, such as a contracted cadet or midshipman enrolled in a service academy or officer candidates
- Adult children of USAA members
- Widows or widowers of USAA members
- If you, your spouse, or a parent is currently employed with USAA
Find out whether wives, widows and former spouses of veterans can get USAA insurance.
TipIf you’re a veteran or current military, you will not become a USAA member automatically. You’ll have to sign up first. Once you’ve established the membership, you can pass it down to the spouse, children or stepchildren.
Which family members can get USAA insurance?
Now, let’s break down some more USAA eligibility criteria.
Stepchildren
If a member remarries, their spouse’s children are eligible for USAA membership.
Parents
Though you are eligible for a USAA membership if your parents are members, the same is not true in reverse. If you are a USAA member, eligibility is not extended to your parents.
Hi J H! Based on our current eligibility guidelines you would not be able to sponsor your parents for membership; however, we might have a possible solution for some of our products with USAA or USAA Insurance Agency. -NM
— USAA (@USAA) February 10, 2021
Nieces or nephews
If you are a niece or nephew of a USAA member, you can only become a member if your aunt or uncle is your legal guardian.
Cousins
If your cousin is your guardian and a USAA member, you are eligible for USAA insurance.
Grandchildren
If you are a grandchild of a USAA member, you can become a USAA member in one of two ways: The first is if your grandparent adopts you and they are your legal guardian. The second is if your parents are USAA members because one of their parents was a USAA member. One can qualify as long as no generations are skipped in terms of USAA membership.
Hello Thom. Thank you for your inquiry. If the grandparent and parent both joined USAA, the grandchild would be eligible for USAA membership. You can learn more about eligibility on the USAA website by selecting “Join USAA”. -DC
— USAA (@USAA) September 13, 2021
Girlfriends, parents, siblings and in-laws
Girlfriends, parents of USAA members, siblings and in-laws are not eligible to join.
Can grandparents can qualify for USAA insurance?
How does USAA verify eligibility?
We would love to tell you that all you have to do is call or write USAA, “I’m in the military,” or, “I was in the military,” and USAA would say, “We’re good.”
But, understandably, the company requires proof. They’ll ask you to provide a copy of military documents proving that you’re in the military and a copy of your government-issued I.D. Or you can offer proof that a family member was in the military – or that you used to be in the military.
For instance, you could provide the long version of the D.D. Form 214, which shows that you were released or discharged from active duty.
People also askIf you have a family member who is retired military but not a member of USAA, are you eligible for USAA auto insurance?
No, if you have a family member who is retired from the military but not a member of USAA, you are not eligible for auto insurance from USAA. USAA offers auto insurance exclusively for veterans, active-duty military, and spouses and children of USAA members.
What car insurance discounts and other perks does USAA offer its members?
Regarding lowering your car insurance premiums, USAA offers quite a few ways. USAA offers many car insurance discounts similar to what you would find with other insurance companies.
Good driving discount: If you maintain a good driving record for more than five years, you’ll be eligible for USAA’s “safe driver” discount. Alas, it isn’t available in every state, but if you can get it, you may save up to 30% on your insurance.
Defensive driving discount: If you take an approved course, you can get a defensive driving discount, depending on your age and state.
Driver training course: Drivers younger than 21 who take an approved introductory driving training course can get a discount of up to 30% if they live in a state eligible for USAA’s safe driving program, SafePilot.
Good-student discount: You can get a good-student discount for high school and college students who maintain good grades. As usual, talk to your customer representative, but most discounts are 10%-15% for good grades in most states.
Stacked discounts: USAA encourages discounts so that you can lower your premium.
Bundle discounts: If you already have homeowners or renters insurance with USAA, and you add auto insurance, you’ll get up to 10% off your homeowners or renters insurance.
Multi-vehicle discounts: Insure more than one car through USAA, and you could be eligible for a lower rate on your premium.
New vehicle discounts: If your car is not older than three years, you might get a bit of a discount on your insurance.
Anti-theft device discount: Do you have an alarm system, wheel lock, or GPS-based vehicle recovery system? That added layer of protection could equate to a discount. This isn’t available in all states and might require a yearly certification. Learn about the top 11 anti-theft devices that can help you get a discount.
Storing your car discount: If you’re deployed or simply don’t use your car very often, keeping it in storage means you aren’t driving it very often. This lowers the risk and could also shave a chunk of your insurance premium off—we’re talking up to 60% off. Call USAA if your vehicle is stowed away while you’re on a military deployment, as that can save you money.
Driving less discount: If you’re putting fewer miles on your car each year, it could mean a less-expensive premium. The discount you’re eligible for depends on how many miles you’re driving.
Loyal member discount: Have you been a USAA member for quite some time, or has your family been members for generations? If so, you might be able to receive a lower premium.
Accident forgiveness: It’s an optional feature and free after five years of paying for it. But your rates won’t go up if you’re in an accident. Of course, you must remember that you must pay for accident forgiveness for five years.
Other USAA perks
Let’s say you added a teen driver to your policy. Once they reach 18 and are adults, they can hop on their own USAA car insurance policy – and if that happens, they could save up to 10% on their own policy.
USAA members also get discounts from retail partners, such as car rental discounts of up to 25%, travel deals, shopping rewards and 24/7 protection from ADT. So, if you shop through their website, you’ll pay less than you would find in the brick-and-mortar locations.
How do I join USAA and buy insurance?
If you’re eligible, the beauty of being a USAA isn’t complex. Here’s how to get car insurance through USAA:
Shop around
Look, you can go straight to the next step, but even if you love the idea of becoming a USAA member, you should comparison shop to be sure it’s the right choice for your budget and insurance needs.
Request a quote
You can request a quote from the website, chat with a representative through its online chat feature, or call USAA at 800-531-8722 and talk to an agent. They’ll ask you a few questions on the website and then tell you whether you’re eligible and how much you’ll pay.
Get a USAA membership
Once USAA has established that you’re a military member or eligible to be a USAA member, you’ll be alerted. You can set up your USAA membership, activate your online account and make your first payment.
What documentation do I need to join USAA?
In order to join USAA and get auto insurance, you’ll need to first become a member. Here’s how you go about joining:
- Apply online. Answer questions such as:
- Have you served in the U.S. armed forces?
- Has a relative of yours served in the U.S. Armed Forces?
- What best describes your or your spouse’s current military status? Input military details such as branch, rank, status and dates of service.
- Provide a copy of a military document like a DD214, Discharge Certificate, Leave & Earnings Statement or a copy of your orders, in addition to a government-issued ID.
- Scan or upload your documents to USAA and allow three days for processing.
What other options do I have if I don’t qualify for USAA insurance?
If you don’t qualify for USAA membership and want an affinity discount, see if you qualify for a AAA membership or AARP membership. Shop for car insurance and get at least three quotes around the time your auto insurance policy renews. You do not need USAA insurance to get a great rate.
Frequently asked questions about USAA eligibility
Can I use any USAA products and services if I’m not a USAA member?
No. Maybe there’s a loophole somewhere that we aren’t aware of, but generally, you have to be a member of USAA to use their products and services.
Do I qualify to join USAA if my parent was a veteran?
If your mother or father was a USAA member, the USAA membership can be passed on to you as her child. If your parent is deceased and was not a USAA member before their death, you cannot become a USAA member.
Am I eligible for USAA membership after a divorce?
If you become a USAA member through marriage, you can still keep your USAA membership after your divorce. However, you cannot join after marriage unless you meet the eligibility requirements.
What is USAA membership eligibility based on?
To be eligible for USAA membership, you must show proof of military service or a copy of your government-issued identification.
Final thoughts
If you meet the USAA eligibility requirements, you’ll enjoy competitive rates, discounts and other perks. If you don’t meet the USAA requirements, don’t worry. There are many other great options for car insurance.
Sources
- The Soldiers Project. “What Percentage of Americans Have Served in the Military?” Accessed August 2024.
- U.S. National Archives. “National Personnel Records Center: DD Form 214, Discharge Papers and Separation Documents.” Accessed August 2024.
- USAA. “Why Join USAA – Benefits of Membership.” Accessed August 2024.
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