CarInsurance.com Insights
- USAA membership is open to active-duty and Guard or Reserve members, veterans, cadets and midshipmen, plus spouses and children of USAA members.
- Eligibility passes down from members, never up to parents or across to siblings. A veteran who never joined can’t pass it on.
- USAA’s full-coverage average is $1,628 per year, 37% below the national average of $2,578. Travelers is the cheapest widely available carrier at $1,962.
USAA car insurance is open to active-duty service members, the Guard and Reserve, veterans, cadets and midshipmen, and family members of people who joined USAA. That last part is where families get tripped up. Military service opens the door, but someone has to walk through it: eligibility only passes down from a person who actually became a USAA member.
It’s worth sorting out. In CarInsurance.com’s 2026 rate analysis, USAA’s full-coverage average is $1,628 per year, 37% below the national average of $2,578. Below, you’ll find a yes-or-no answer for every family situation, the documents you need and your best options if you don’t qualify.
What is USAA?
USAA (United Services Automobile Association) is one of the leading companies for auto insurance, banking and retirement solutions built exclusively for U.S. military members, veterans and their families.
The company was founded in 1922 by a group of Army officers who decided to self-insure one another. In 1923, eligibility expanded to include other military branches, and the organization was renamed the United Services Automobile Association (USAA) the following year.
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.
USAA is not open to the general public. Membership is earned through military service or family connection to a current or former USAA member.
Who is eligible for USAA car insurance?
USAA offers auto insurance to members of the U.S. military and their immediate family members. Eligibility is tied to membership, and it must be established before it can be passed down to your family members.
One important rule: You are not eligible to become a USAA member through a deceased family member if that person was not a USAA member while they were alive.
People who qualify for USAA insurance include:
- Active Duty, Guard or Reserve: Currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
- Retired or separated military personnel who have received a discharge type of Honorable or General Under Honorable Conditions.
- Pre-commissioned officers, such as contracted cadets or midshipmen enrolled in a service academy.
- Eligible family members: Spouses, widows, widowers, and children of current or former USAA members.
- Department of State (DOS) Foreign Service Officers and certain Foreign Service Employees who are or were on permanent appointment.
Find your situation below for a quick answer.
| Your situation | Can you join USAA? |
|---|---|
| Veteran or service member who never joined | Yes. You qualify on your own service |
| Spouse of a USAA member | Yes |
| Child of a USAA member, any age | Yes |
| Child of a member who has died | Yes, if your parent joined while alive |
| Child of a veteran who never joined | No. Service alone doesn’t pass down |
| Grandchild of a member | Yes, only if your parent is also a member |
| Parent or sibling of a member | No. Eligibility doesn’t pass up or across |
| Former spouse who joined during the marriage | Yes, you keep your membership |
| Former spouse who never joined, then remarries | No |
Sophie’s Tip
For the most current and accurate information on these three questions, contact USAA directly at 1-800-531-8722 or visit usaa.com/membership-eligibility.
Which family members qualify for USAA membership?
USAA eligibility follows family lines, but not in every direction. Here’s how it works for each relationship.
- Spouse: Marrying a USAA member makes you eligible for your own membership, which you can retain even if you divorce. However, if you are a former spouse, you will lose your eligibility to join USAA upon remarriage.
- Children: You are eligible for a USAA membership if your parents are members, but not vice versa. If you are a USAA member, your parents are not eligible.
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
- Stepchildren: If a member remarries, their spouse’s children are eligible for USAA membership.
- Nieces and 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: first, if your grandparent adopts you and becomes your legal guardian. The second is that 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
Speak with a friendly agent and get your quote in minutes!
How to apply for USAA insurance
Here’s how you can apply for USAA insurance:
- Confirm your status: You must be active duty, a veteran, an eligible family member or a cadet/midshipman.
- Gather documents: Commonly requested items include:
- Military ID (active duty) or service records (e.g., DD-214 for veterans)
- Proof of relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate and the member’s number) for family members
- Cadet (enrollment proof)
- Social Security Number and driver’s license
- Create an account: Start your application on USAA.com by setting up an online profile.
- Choose your coverage: Once your eligibility is confirmed, you can shop for auto, home and other insurance products.
Alternatives if you don’t qualify for USAA
Not qualifying for USAA costs you something, but less than you might fear. Among widely available insurers, Travelers has the lowest full-coverage average at $1,962 a year, about $334 more than USAA’s $1,628. GEICO comes next at $2,159. State Farm, Progressive and Allstate all average more than $2,500.
- Travelers: the cheapest widely available full-coverage average in CarInsurance.com’s 2026 rate analysis.
- GEICO: adds a military discount for active-duty members and veterans.
- Armed Forces Insurance (AFI): built for service members, veterans and their families.
Your own rate depends on your ZIP code, car and record, so compare at least three quotes. See average rates for USAA vs. other widely available carriers in the table below.
| Company | Annual full coverage car insurance rate |
|---|---|
| USAA | $1,628 |
| Travelers | $1,962 |
| GEICO | $2,159 |
| National average | $2,578 |
Sophie’s Tip
Not sure which insurer offers the best rate for your situation? Use our car insurance calculator to compare rates from multiple insurers. No personal information required to get started.
How does USAA verify eligibility?
Lost your DD-214? You can request a copy from the National Archives’ National Personnel Records Center, and the next of kin of a deceased veteran can request one as well. Proving a parent’s membership instead? Their USAA member number speeds things up.
People also ask
Can my brother or sister join USAA?
No. USAA eligibility passes down from members to spouses and children, not across to siblings. Your sibling’s service or membership doesn’t make you eligible.
What car insurance products does USAA offer?
USAA car insurance includes standard liability, collision and comprehensive coverage, plus several add-ons built specifically for military life. The table below shows each coverage type and what it covers.
| Coverage Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Liability/Collision/Comprehensive | Standard protection against accident and non-accident damages |
| PIP/MedPay | Medical and income coverage (varies by state) |
| Uninsured/Underinsured | Pays for your injuries when the driver who hit you has no insurance or too little. |
| Roadside Assistance | Emergency help on the road |
| Rental/Replacement | Keeps you mobile during repairs |
| Rideshare Insurance | Coverage during ridesharing gigs |
| Accident Forgiveness | Your rate won’t go up after your first at-fault accident. Free after five accident-free years, or available to buy. |
| SafePilot (Telematics) | Save by driving safely or driving less |
| SafePilot Miles | Personalized pricing for low-mileage drivers |
What car insurance discounts does USAA offer?
USAA’s biggest discount is built for deployment. Store your car while you’re away, and you could cut your premium by up to 60%. Beyond that, USAA offers many of the discounts you’d find elsewhere, plus a few tied to military family life.
- Storing your car discount: If you’re deployed or simply don’t use your car very often, keeping it in storage means you won’t be driving it. This lowers the risk and could also help you save up to 60% off your insurance premium. Call USAA if your vehicle is stowed while you’re on a military deployment, as that can save you money.
- 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 eligible for a lower premium.
What other perks does USAA offer?
If you add a teen driver to your USAA policy, once they turn 18 and get their own policy, they may save up to 10% as a new independent USAA member.
USAA members also have access to retail partner discounts, including car rentals of up to 25%, travel deals, shopping rewards and 24/7 home security monitoring through ADT.
Frequently asked questions about USAA eligibility
Can I use any USAA products and services if I’m not a USAA member?
Not for car insurance. You need a USAA membership to buy a USAA auto policy.
Do I qualify to join USAA if a parent is a veteran?
It depends. If your parent was a USAA member, their membership can be passed on to you. However, if a parent served in the military but never established a USAA membership, you cannot become a member solely through their service record.
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 unless you’re remarried or decide to remarry.
Your next step after checking eligibility
If you served, or someone in your direct line joined USAA, gather your documents and join before you need a quote. Membership has to come first. If the chain is broken, you’re not stuck: use our car insurance calculator to compare quotes from at least three carriers and see how close you can get.
Resources & Methodology
Sources
- The Soldiers Project. “What Percentage of Americans Have Served in the Military?” Accessed October 2026.
- U.S. National Archives. “National Personnel Records Center: DD Form 214, Discharge Papers and Separation Documents.” Accessed October 2026.
- AARP. “Membership and benefits.” Accessed October 2026.
- AAA. “Homepage.” Accessed October 2026.
- USAA. “Homepage.” Accessed October 2026.
Methodology
CarInsurance.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services to get car insurance rates. The rates are based on sample profiles of 40-year-old male and female drivers with full-coverage policies and limits of 100/300/100 and $500 collision and comprehensive deductibles. Read the detailed methodology for more information.
Still have a question? Ask our experts
Get advice from an experienced insurance professional. Our experts will help you navigate your insurance questions with clarity and confidence.
Browse all FAQs
