Who Is Eligible to Get Car Insurance from USAA?
Last Updated on January 22, 2025
The United Services Automobile Association (USAA) is a leading financial services company serving military members, veterans, and their families. Originally founded to provide affordable car insurance for military officers, USAA now offers a wide range of insurance and banking products.
You may have noticed great prices on USAA auto insurance when comparing quotes online. However, not everyone qualifies for USAA membership. Below, we explain who’s eligible for USAA auto insurance in 2025 and highlight some recent updates, including expansions of membership criteria and how to verify eligibility quickly.
Key Takeaways:
- Military eligibility has expanded since USAA’s founding to include active-duty military, Guard and Reserve members, veterans (with Honorable or General Under Honorable Conditions discharges), plus certain family members.
- Many people with military lineage qualify for USAA membership without realizing it—for instance, you may be able to join if a parent or grandparent served and is/was a USAA member.
- Non-military individuals still have limited access to certain USAA products (like some investment or life insurance offerings) but cannot enroll in core services like auto, property, or banking if they do not meet membership criteria.
What Is USAA?
USAA was founded in 1922 by 25 U.S. Army officers who struggled to find affordable auto insurance because the military was considered high-risk. They decided to insure each other, creating a member-owned association.
Over the decades, USAA has grown into a Fortune 500 company with millions of members worldwide, providing:
- Car, home, and life insurance
- Banking and credit cards
- Retirement savings and investment services
Its headquarters are in San Antonio, Texas, but the company serves members globally through online and mobile channels.
A Brief History of Expanding Eligibility
Originally, USAA limited membership to commissioned officers. Over time, it broadened to include all branches of the military, commissioned and non-commissioned officers, retirees, and honorably separated personnel. Today, spouses, widows or widowers, and children of USAA members can also qualify—under certain conditions.
Who Qualifies for USAA Auto Insurance?
Despite membership expansions, USAA’s auto and property insurance products remain primarily reserved for military-affiliated individuals and their immediate families. According to USAA’s updated 2025 guidelines, you qualify if you meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Active-Duty Military
- Includes Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and the newly established Space Force.
- Guard or Reserve members currently serving also qualify.
- Retired or Honorably Discharged Veterans
- Must have served in any U.S. military branch with an Honorable or General Under Honorable Conditions discharge.
- Dishonorably discharged veterans are not eligible.
- Officer Candidates, ROTC, & Academy Cadets
- Includes contracted cadets at the U.S. Service Academies (or affiliated prep schools) and advanced ROTC participants.
- If you separated from a service academy before commissioning but received an Honorable or General Under Honorable Conditions discharge, you may be eligible.
- Immediate Family Members of USAA Members
- Spouses and Widows/Widowers: You qualify if your spouse is a USAA member (or was at their time of passing). Unremarried former spouses of USAA members may also retain membership.
- Adult Children of USAA Members: If a parent has (or had) a USAA auto or property insurance product, then their children can join once they turn 18.
- Grandchildren: You may qualify if both your parent and grandparent are or were USAA members. In other words, your parent must have established membership before you can join through your grandparent’s service.
If you’re unsure of your status, USAA offers an online eligibility check and a toll-free number (800-531-8722) where you can confirm your qualifications.
Many People Are Unaware They Qualify for USAA Membership
USAA membership often passes through military lineages—many Americans may not realize they’re eligible because a grandparent or great-grandparent served decades ago.
- Encourage older family members to join: If your veteran parents or grandparents aren’t members, they can still sign up if they have an Honorable or General Under Honorable Conditions discharge. Once they’re approved, you will be eligible, too.
- Once you’re in, you’re in: Membership is lifelong, even if your qualifying family member passes away.
Now, USAA continues to streamline its enrollment process, making it easier for relatives to establish eligibility and bring younger generations into the fold.
The great thing about USAA is that once you’re in, you’re in. Even if your veteran grandfather passes away, your USAA membership stays active. You will never lose it.
You Can Access USAA Products and Services Even If You’re Ineligible
If you have no eligible military background and no immediate relative who can join USAA, you cannot access most insurance and banking products. This means:
- No Auto, Property, or Banking: USAA auto, home, renters, umbrella insurance, and bank accounts remain exclusive to qualifying members.
- Some Products Are Still Open: Investment services (like certain brokerage accounts), life insurance, and other select financial products may be available to non-members. You can review USAA’s website or call for details.
The Future of USAA
Even as USAA grows, it remains focused on serving those who serve or have served our country. Nowadays, USAA continues to expand technological innovations—like crash detection, instant vehicle damage assessment, and advanced digital tools—to make life easier for its members. Customer satisfaction also remains high, especially in areas like claims handling and 24/7 customer service.
Final Word on USAA Eligibility
USAA is often praised for offering some of the best auto insurance rates in America, plus high customer satisfaction. However, membership is not universal—only active-duty military, veterans, and their immediate families (including adult children and spouses) typically qualify.
If you’re unsure about your status, the fastest way to confirm is to contact USAA directly or use their website’s eligibility checker. Remember, there are still millions of Americans with military lineage who don’t realize they can access USAA membership—and potentially save hundreds each year on insurance and banking services. If you think there’s any chance you or your family member qualifies, it’s worth investigating.
