Congratulations on your recent marriage! This is an exciting time, and one of the practical steps many couples take is to update their financial and insurance policies. Adding your spouse to your car insurance with USAA is a smart move that can often simplify your coverage and potentially lead to discounts.
Step 1: Let's Get Started! Have You Gathered Your Information?
Before you dive into the specifics, let's make sure you have everything you need. This initial preparation will make the entire process smoother and quicker.
- What you'll need for yourself:
- Your USAA member number and online login credentials.
- Your current car insurance policy details.
- Your driver's license information.
- What you'll need for your spouse:
- Their full legal name.
- Their date of birth.
- Their driver's license number and state of issuance.
- Their driving history (any accidents, tickets, or claims in the past few years).
- Details of any vehicles they own or will regularly drive, including make, model, year, and VIN (Vehicle Identification Number).
- If your spouse is already a USAA member or eligible through their own military affiliation, having their USAA member number can be helpful.
Engage the User: Ready to make this easy? Take a moment to jot down these details or gather the relevant documents. Having them at your fingertips will save you time later!
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| How To Add Spouse To Car Insurance Usaa |
Step 2: Understanding USAA Eligibility for Your Spouse
USAA is known for its exclusive membership for military members and their families. It's crucial to understand how your spouse's eligibility plays into this.
Spousal Eligibility for USAA Membership
- Direct Eligibility: If your spouse is an active-duty military member, veteran, or otherwise directly eligible for USAA membership, they can establish their own USAA membership and potentially their own policies, or join yours.
- Family Eligibility: As the spouse of an existing USAA member, your new spouse is typically eligible for USAA membership and benefits, including car insurance. This is one of the significant advantages of being a USAA member. This means even if they don't have a military background themselves, they can still be covered under your USAA policy.
Step 3: Choosing Your Method to Add Your Spouse
USAA offers several convenient ways to update your policy. Choose the one that best suits your comfort level and schedule.
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Option A: Adding Your Spouse Online (Recommended for Speed and Convenience)
This is often the quickest and most straightforward method if you're comfortable with online portals.
- Log In to Your USAA Account: Go to the official USAA website (usaa.com) and log in using your member number and password.
- Navigate to Your Auto Insurance Policy: Once logged in, look for the "Insurance" section or "My Policies." You should see an option for "Auto Insurance."
- Manage Your Policy/Add a Driver: Within your auto policy summary, look for options like "Manage Policy," "Add a Driver," "Update Policy," or "Change Coverage." The exact wording might vary slightly.
- Enter Spouse's Information: You will be prompted to enter your spouse's personal details (name, DOB, driver's license info, etc.) and their driving history.
- Add Vehicles (If Applicable): If your spouse has a vehicle they will be driving regularly that isn't already on your policy, you'll need to add its details (make, model, year, VIN).
- Review and Confirm: USAA will likely generate a new quote that reflects the addition of your spouse and any new vehicles. Carefully review all the information to ensure accuracy and understand the premium adjustment.
- Submit Changes: Confirm the changes to update your policy. You'll typically receive a confirmation email or a new declarations page.
Option B: Calling USAA Customer Service (For Personalized Assistance)
If you prefer speaking to a representative or have specific questions, calling USAA is a great option.
Tip: Focus on one point at a time.
- Locate USAA's Auto Insurance Number: The general customer service number for USAA is typically 1-800-531-USAA (8722). You can also find specific numbers for auto insurance on their website.
- Prepare for the Call: Have all the necessary information for both you and your spouse readily available. This will help the representative assist you efficiently.
- Explain Your Request: Clearly state that you wish to add your spouse to your existing car insurance policy.
- Provide Requested Information: The representative will guide you through the process, asking for your spouse's details and any relevant vehicle information.
- Discuss Coverage and Discounts: This is a great opportunity to discuss potential discounts (like multi-vehicle discounts or married driver discounts) and ensure your combined coverage meets both your needs.
- Confirm Changes: The representative will process the changes, and you'll receive verbal confirmation. A new declarations page will usually be mailed or emailed to you.
Option C: Using the USAA Mobile App
The USAA mobile app offers a convenient way to manage your policies on the go.
- Open the USAA Mobile App: Log in to your USAA mobile app.
- Access Auto Insurance: Navigate to your auto insurance policy.
- Find "Add Driver" or "Modify Policy": Similar to the website, look for options to add or modify drivers on your policy.
- Follow On-Screen Prompts: Enter your spouse's information as requested.
- Review and Confirm: Review the updated policy and premium before finalizing the changes.
Step 4: Reviewing Your Coverage and Potential Discounts
Adding your spouse is an opportune moment to review your overall auto insurance coverage.
Tip: Check back if you skimmed too fast.
Assessing Your Coverage Needs
- Liability Coverage: With two drivers and potentially more vehicles, ensure your liability limits are sufficient to protect your combined assets in case of an at-fault accident.
- Comprehensive & Collision: If you're adding your spouse's vehicle, make sure it has appropriate comprehensive and collision coverage, especially if it's financed.
- Other Coverages: Consider other coverages like uninsured/underinsured motorist, rental reimbursement, and roadside assistance, which might be even more relevant for two drivers.
Maximizing Discounts with USAA
- Multi-Vehicle Discount: If you're adding your spouse's car to your policy, you'll likely qualify for a multi-vehicle discount, which can lead to significant savings.
- Married Driver Discount: Married couples are statistically less likely to file claims, and many insurers, including USAA, offer a discount for married drivers.
- Bundling Discount: If you have other insurance policies with USAA (like homeowners or renters insurance), bundling your car insurance with them can lead to further discounts.
- Safe Driver Programs: Inquire about USAA's safe driving programs (like USAA SafePilot®) that could offer discounts based on driving behavior. Encourage your spouse to participate if eligible!
- Good Student Discount: If your spouse is a student with good grades, this could also apply!
Step 5: What Happens Next?
After you've successfully added your spouse, there are a few final things to keep in mind.
- New Declarations Page: USAA will send you an updated declarations page reflecting the changes to your policy, including your spouse as an insured driver and any new vehicles. Keep this for your records.
- Proof of Insurance: Ensure both you and your spouse have access to updated proof of insurance cards (digital or physical).
- Premium Adjustment: Be aware that adding a driver and/or vehicle will likely change your premium. It could increase or decrease depending on factors like your spouse's driving record, the vehicles involved, and applicable discounts. Don't be surprised by this – it's part of the process.
- Periodic Review: It's a good practice to review your insurance policies annually or whenever significant life events occur (new vehicle, move, etc.) to ensure your coverage remains adequate.
Important Note: Even if your spouse has their own separate insurance, if they live in your household and regularly drive your vehicle, USAA generally recommends adding them to your policy. Failing to list a regular driver could potentially lead to claim denials.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 10 common "How to" questions related to adding a spouse to USAA car insurance, with quick answers:
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How to check if my spouse is eligible for USAA membership? Your spouse is typically eligible for USAA membership if you are an existing USAA member. They can also be directly eligible if they have their own military affiliation. You can verify eligibility on the USAA website or by calling customer service.
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How to find my USAA member number to add my spouse? Your USAA member number is usually found on your insurance cards, policy documents, or by logging into your USAA online account.
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How to provide my spouse's driving history to USAA? When adding your spouse online or over the phone, USAA will ask for details about their driving record (accidents, tickets). They may also run a Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) using your spouse's driver's license information.
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How to ensure I get all available discounts when adding my spouse? When adding your spouse, ask the USAA representative about all applicable discounts, especially multi-vehicle and married driver discounts. Also, inquire about bundling options if you have other policies with USAA.
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How to add a vehicle owned by my spouse to my USAA policy? During the process of adding your spouse, you'll be prompted to add details for any additional vehicles they own or will regularly drive. You'll need the vehicle's make, model, year, and VIN.
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How to get a new insurance card after adding my spouse? After successfully adding your spouse, USAA will typically mail or email you a new declarations page and updated insurance cards. You can also print temporary cards from your online account or the mobile app.
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How to remove a previous driver from my policy after adding my spouse? If a previous driver (e.g., a former roommate) is no longer living with you or driving your vehicles, you can remove them through your online USAA account, the mobile app, or by calling customer service.
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How to compare the cost of a joint policy versus separate policies with USAA? When adding your spouse, USAA will provide a quote for the updated policy. You can compare this to the cost of maintaining separate policies (if applicable) to see which offers better value. Generally, combined policies often lead to savings.
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How to update my marital status with USAA beyond car insurance? Beyond car insurance, it's a good idea to update your marital status across all your USAA accounts (banking, investments, other insurance). You can usually do this by updating your member profile online or by calling USAA.
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How to handle adding a spouse with a less-than-perfect driving record to USAA? If your spouse has a poor driving record, adding them will likely increase your premium. However, it's still crucial to add them if they regularly drive your vehicles to ensure coverage. Discuss options with a USAA representative, as they may have strategies or discounts that can help mitigate the cost. In some rare cases, it might be more cost-effective to maintain separate policies, but this is less common with USAA due to their automatic coverage for household drivers.
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