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Members of the US Armed Forces, Veterans and retirees, as well as their families, often enjoy several benefits that come with being Servicemembers. There are both federal and state-level discounts and even free services available to qualifying Servicemembers. With regards to insurance, there are several military insurance deals available. Military car insurance often offers better coverage, discounted rates, and special protections during times of deployment than civilian insurance. Servicemembers find that some car insurance military discount offers, such as the Geico military discount, help to offset other expenses that come with enlistment in the military, such as frequent moving costs and the need to store a vehicle before deployment. For Servicemembers and Veterans, understanding auto insurance also means looking for discounts, considering unique needs like deployments and storage, and being aware of protections like the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). Keep reading to learn more about the best auto insurance for military members currently available.
What is Military Auto Insurance and Who is Eligible?
Military auto insurance is a type of car insurance specifically designed for active-duty military personnel, Veterans, and their families, often offering special discounts and benefits not available to the general public. Specific eligibility will vary between providers, but typically to be eligible for military insurance, one must be:
- Active duty military personnel
- Veterans
- Members of the National Guard or Reserves
- Spouses and children of military members
- Under some conditions, civilian members of military organizations also qualify.
Military car insurance often offers specialized coverage for specific situations that military members might face, such as frequent relocations, deployment, and fluctuations in pay. These policies seek to address these issues by varying or altering coverage, or even working on a sliding payment scale, so that a Servicemember’s vehicle can remain covered. Veterans might also have specialized equipment that needs special coverage or flexible payment options. While this article focuses mainly on insurance for active duty Servicemembers, you can read more about the “Best Veteran Auto Insurance” at this link.
Best Auto Insurance for Military: A List of Top Providers
There are several companies that provide military-specific auto insurance policies, and each has its benefits and detriments. Military auto insurance is not just one policy but rather a collection of different types of coverage and benefits. The best auto insurance for military personnel will vary based on individual needs for military insurance for cars. The Geico military discount will differ from the USAA car insurance, for example. Most offer the basics of lower premiums, reduced deductibles, or coverage flexibility for deployments in their auto insurance policies.
USAA is open to all active military, Veterans and immediate family members whose sponsoring Servicemember is a USAA member. The policy offers discounts on clean driving records, garaging cars on military installations, bundling car insurance with home insurance, owning cars with anti-theft technology, and offers comprehensive coverage, including theft, liability, and collision. Rates are often cheaper than civilian insurance. USAA car insurance also offers military-specific customer care and overseas insurance.
Geico offers military members and Veterans significant benefits through the Geico military discount program, including discounts of up to 15% on car insurance, emergency deployment discounts, and storage protection plans, along with specialized customer service and overseas insurance options.
Progressive military auto insurance provides military-specific auto insurance benefits like comprehensive-only coverage for vehicles stored during deployment and overlooking lapses in coverage while on active duty, allowing for continuous coverage discounts of up to 25%. Progressive military auto insurance also covers families.
Although State Farm does not have a nationwide discount for military members, its low rates make it the cheapest option in some areas. For example, State Farm has lower rates than USAA and Geico in Texas. State Farm does have a military discount of 25% off a customer’s auto insurance premium, but only in Louisiana. The State Farm military discount is available to eligible members of the United States Armed Forces community who are based in Louisiana or whose spouse and/or dependents live there.
Nationwide military auto insurance offers benefits like comprehensive coverage, liability coverage, and potentially discounts for military-specific situations such as garaging vehicles on base or storing them while deployed, along with general discounts for safe driving and other factors. Nationwide’s insurance for military vehicles includes Guaranteed Value, which covers the full amount your vehicle is worth without depreciation.
Armed Forces Insurance (AFI) auto insurance offers access to benefits like competitive rates, excellent value, comprehensive coverage, and personalized service from a dedicated agent, with agents licensed in all states and 24/7 claims processing. The agency does not offer its own insurance but instead shops around for the client’s best auto insurance for military members through partner providers who provide auto insurance quotes for military programs.
While MetLife offers various insurance products, including life, dental, and vision insurance, it does not directly offer auto insurance itself, nor military-specific auto insurance, but rather partners with Farmers GroupSelectSM to provide auto insurance. These plans include comprehensive, collision, and liability, along with uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, personal injury protection, and rental car coverage.
Esurance auto insurance offers benefits like a user-friendly online platform, various coverage options including roadside assistance and rental car reimbursement, and discounts for safe driving and bundling policies. While Esurance doesn’t offer a specific military discount, they do allow customers who are deployed to cancel their policies for the duration of their deployment and reinstate them at the same rates later.
The Hartford, through its AARP Auto Insurance Program, offers military members and Veterans benefits like discounts for active duty, accident forgiveness, and disappearing deductibles for accident-free driving over a time period, along with coverage options like full glass coverage (windshield and headlights) and rental car reimbursement.
Allstate offers auto insurance benefits like discounts for active duty, retired military, National Guard, and Reserves, with up to 15% off for those living on a military base and potentially up to 60% off when deployed or storing their car. As with State Farm, this is only available in Louisiana, as LA is the only state that requires all car insurance companies to offer military discounts.
Farmers Insurance offers military auto insurance with discounts for active duty, retired, and honorably discharged military members, as well as other benefits like discounts for bundling policies, being a homeowner, and more. It is available to active duty, retired military, active reserves, and honorably discharged military Veterans.
Liberty Mutual offers military insurance with benefits like a 10% military discount and additional savings for Military Benefits Association members, as well as a comprehensive-only insurance option. Members of the Military Benefits Association can receive additional savings on their car insurance.
How Deployment Affects Auto Insurance Coverage
Military deployment can impact auto insurance by potentially offering discounts or allowing suspension of coverage, but it’s crucial to understand the specific policies of your insurance provider and state laws. Some insurers, like GEICO and USAA, offer discounts to service members deployed in support of a declared U.S. military emergency or to those deployed to “imminent danger pay areas.” Many military auto insurance policies offer flexible payment options, especially for those stationed abroad. Some military car insurance policies provide coverage for those using vehicles on long term deployments. Companies such as USAA, Nationwide, and Progressive allow those with military auto insurance to pause or suspend coverage and payments under deployment or other conditions.
Consider taking the following steps:
- Call your provider and ask about deployment benefits available.
- Consider downgrading your coverage if no one will drive the vehicle.
- Switch to comprehensive only if you are storing the vehicle.
- Ask if your car insurance military discount changes when you’re not deployed.
Auto Insurance for Military Families: What to Look for in Military Auto Insurance
Military personnel and Veterans face unique challenges when seeking out car insurance, namely finding flexible military auto insurance plans that allow for versatile payment and coverage. Auto insurance for military families, such as USAA car insurance, not only offers a car insurance military discount, but it also continues coverage for stateside families while their Servicemember is deployed. Auto insurance for military families takes into account frequent relocations and deployments but also might offer global coverage options and flexible claims processes. Many policies in auto insurance for the military offer roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, collision, injury, and liability. However, many also offer custom-tailored plan options, especially if changing circumstances require different coverage. It is also common for military car insurance plans to lower monthly premiums or even suspend coverage for cars stored on base during deployment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Auto insurance for the military has many different features and benefits. Consider some of the following common questions.
Yes, there are differences between military and civilian auto insurance, primarily in eligibility, potential discounts, and specialized coverage options, with USAA car insurance and GEICO military discount insurance offering specific benefits for Servicemembers and Veterans.
Yes, there are differences between military and civilian auto insurance, primarily in eligibility, potential discounts, and specialized coverage options, with USAA car insurance and GEICO military discount insurance offering specific benefits for Servicemembers and Veterans.
Yes, if you are active duty, a Veteran, or a member of the National Guard or Reserves, you may be eligible for a military discount on auto insurance for the military, with some insurers offering discounts of up to 15% or more.
You can typically pause or suspend your military insurance for car coverage when deployed, potentially saving on premiums, but this depends on your insurance company and state laws.
When you are transferred to another state or country as a military member, your car insurance situation depends on whether you’re moving to a new state or overseas. Generally, you’ll need to update your armed forces insurance policy to reflect your new location and might need to purchase new coverage if moving overseas. Most military policies move with the insured.
Many insurance companies that provide auto insurance for the military, including USAA and GEICO, offer discounts or options to suspend or reduce car insurance coverage when a vehicle is stored for an extended period, such as during a deployment.
To apply for armed forces insurance, you’ll likely need to provide proof of your military status, such as your military ID, official discharge papers, or a Veterans Administration ID, along with standard auto insurance documents like your driver’s license and vehicle information.
No, many military insurance for cars offer policies for Veterans, retirees, Reservists and National Guard members.
Typically, policies for military members are cheaper than civilian policies, with added car insurance military discount options lowering rates even further.
Companies that provide auto insurance quotes military policies often have flexible features, allowing premiums and coverage to be lowered while deployed or suspended entirely but reinstated when the insured returns home. Some policies require that the vehicle be stored on base.
Yes, usually you can, though you must contact your insurer promptly and complete any required forms and documentation to keep your coverage.