Who Is Eligible to Get Car Insurance from USAA?

Last Updated on December 16, 2025

The United Services Automobile Association (USAA) is a leading financial services company built around serving the U.S. military community—active-duty service members, veterans, and eligible family members. It’s especially well known for competitive pricing on USAA auto insurance, but membership isn’t open to everyone.

If you’re comparing options for active-duty military car insurance or you’re a veteran looking for cheaper coverage, you’ve probably seen USAA come up a lot. This guide breaks down who qualifies for USAA auto insurance today, how family eligibility works, and the fastest ways to confirm your status.

Key Takeaways

• USAA auto insurance is generally only available if you qualify for USAA membership through military service (or an eligible family relationship).
• Common eligible groups include active-duty service members, National Guard/Reserves, and veterans who separated under honorable conditions.
• Spouses, widows/widowers, and children (including stepchildren/adopted children) of USAA members can often qualify—but siblings and parents usually do not.
• The fastest way to confirm eligibility is through USAA’s online prompts or by calling 800-531-USAA (8722) with your service/family details ready.

What Is USAA?

USAA was founded in 1922 by 25 U.S. Army officers who had trouble finding affordable auto insurance. They decided to insure each other—creating a member-based organization that’s grown into a major national brand.

Today, USAA offers a mix of financial products and services, including:

• Auto, home, renters, and life insurance
• Banking (checking, savings, credit cards, loans)
• Retirement and financial planning tools

USAA is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, and primarily serves members through online, phone, and mobile tools.

USAA Membership vs. USAA Auto Insurance

Here’s the key point: you generally must qualify for USAA membership to buy USAA auto insurance. If USAA determines you’re eligible and you establish membership, you’ll receive a member number—and membership is typically lifelong.

However, qualifying for membership doesn’t automatically mean USAA will be the best fit or cheapest option for your situation. Rates depend on your state, driving record, vehicle, and coverage selections. It’s still smart to compare USAA against other top insurers.

Who Qualifies for USAA Auto Insurance?

USAA eligibility is based on military affiliation (or an eligible family relationship). In general, you may qualify if you meet at least one of the categories below. USAA makes the final determination, and rules can change over time.

1) Active-Duty, National Guard, and Reserve Members

You’re typically eligible if you’re currently serving in the U.S. military, including:

• Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force
• National Guard and Reserve members (while serving)

2) Veterans Who Separated Under Honorable Conditions

Many veterans qualify, including those who are retired or who separated with an Honorable discharge or General (Under Honorable Conditions) discharge. Veterans with a Dishonorable discharge are generally not eligible.

If you’re a veteran shopping for coverage, you may also want to review our guide on how veterans can find cheap car insurance.

3) Service Academies, ROTC, and Officer Candidate Programs

USAA eligibility can extend to people in pre-commissioning pipelines, such as:

• Cadets and midshipmen at U.S. service academies
• ROTC participants (often those in contracted/advanced status or scholarship programs)
• Officer candidate programs (such as OCS/OTS), depending on your status and timeline

Tip: If you attended a service academy but separated before commissioning, you may still be eligible in some situations—especially if your separation was under honorable conditions. USAA will typically ask for documentation to verify your status.

4) Eligible Family Members of USAA Members

Even if you’ve never served, you may qualify through a close family connection—but the relationship rules are specific.

• Spouses: Many spouses of eligible service members or USAA members can qualify.
• Widows/Widowers: In many cases, surviving spouses can keep membership after a member passes away. (Related: is auto insurance less costly when a spouse dies?)
• Former spouses: In some situations, an unremarried former spouse may be able to keep USAA access—especially if they established membership during the marriage. Policies vary, so it’s worth confirming directly with USAA.
• Children: Children (including adopted and stepchildren) of USAA members can often become USAA members. Many families establish eligibility while children are still minors, and the child can keep membership later in life. Once an adult, they can usually shop for their own policy (and rates may be a bigger factor when you first start driving as a young adult).
• Grandchildren: Typically, a grandchild qualifies only if their parent (the child of the USAA-eligible veteran/service member) has established USAA membership first. In other words, eligibility usually has to pass from grandparent → parent → grandchild.

5) Certain Federal Agency Employees

In addition to military-based eligibility, USAA membership can extend to certain categories of federal employees (for example, some federal law enforcement roles and certain U.S. Foreign Service roles). This is a narrower pathway and may depend on your exact position and employment status—so it’s best verified directly with USAA.

Who Does Not Qualify for USAA? (Common Examples)

USAA eligibility does not extend to every relative or connection. People commonly assume they qualify when they don’t. For example, you usually won’t qualify based only on:

• A sibling who is a USAA member (siblings typically don’t “inherit” eligibility from each other)
• A child who joined the military (parents generally don’t become eligible through their children’s service)
• Cousins, nieces/nephews, in-laws, or non-married partners

If your situation is close but not obvious (for example, blended families, step-relationships, or complicated military history), USAA can confirm eligibility case-by-case.

How to Check USAA Eligibility Quickly

If you’re unsure whether you qualify, the fastest approach is to verify directly with USAA. You can typically confirm eligibility online or by phone.

1. Gather your details: Basic personal info, plus service details (branch, dates of service) or your qualifying family member’s USAA information if you’re eligible through a spouse/parent.
2. Check online: Use USAA’s eligibility/membership prompts to confirm whether you can establish membership.
3. Call USAA if you want a definitive answer: You can call 800-531-USAA (8722) to ask about membership eligibility and next steps.

If You Don’t Qualify for USAA, Here’s What to Do Instead

If you don’t meet USAA eligibility rules, you still have plenty of strong options—many insurers offer solid military discounts, deployment-friendly billing, and competitive pricing for veterans and military families.

• If you’re currently serving, start with our roundup of the best auto insurance options for active-duty military members.
• If you’ve separated or retired, use our tips on how veterans can find cheap car insurance.
• And if you’re simply looking for top-rated companies overall, see the best auto insurance companies in America.

FAQs on USAA Eligibility

Final Word on USAA Eligibility

USAA is widely recognized as a standout insurer for the military community—but eligibility isn’t universal. In most cases, you’ll need qualifying military service (active, Guard/Reserve, or separated under honorable conditions) or a qualifying family relationship (like a spouse or child of a USAA member) to buy USAA auto insurance.

If there’s any chance you qualify, it’s worth verifying—especially if you’re comparing rates and coverage. The quickest path is to confirm eligibility online or contact USAA directly for a definitive answer.