Military car insurance is a type of car insurance policy with special discounts and benefits for military personnel, veterans, and members of certain military associations. The best military car insurance companies are Geico and USAA, as they offer the most savings for the military community.
Best Military Car Insurance
Drivers who qualify for military car insurance can receive discounts of up to 15%, depending on their insurer. Some states also have laws requiring insurers to offer even larger discounts to military service members. For example, Louisiana requires insurers to offer a 25% military discount. In addition to direct discounts, military car insurance often provides special perks, including payment deferrals, military-specific customer service, and policy flexibility during deployment.
Best Military Car Insurance Companies
1. Geico
The best car insurance company for servicemembers is Geico, thanks to its generous military discounts. The company advertises the largest military discount among major insurers, offering up to 15% in savings. Additionally, customers can save even more if they put their vehicle into storage during deployment or if they belong to an affiliated military organization, such as the Association of the United States Army. Veterans and servicemembers also benefit from military-specific customer service.
Military Discount: Up to 15%
Military Car Insurance Benefits:
- Military-specific customer service
- Special discounts for members of the Association of the United States Army, Fleet Reserve Association, Armed Benefits Association, Navy League of the United States, Navy Federal Credit Union, and American Society of Military Comptrollers.
- Emergency Deployment Discount applies if: 1) You have received orders to one of the DOD designated areas and 2) Your vehicle is stored under an approved storage protection plan.
2. USAA
USAA exclusively serves the military community, which means its services are specifically curated to meet the needs of veterans, servicemembers, and their families – the only people who qualify for USAA membership. In addition to competitive prices for military personnel, USAA offers discounts for drivers who garage their vehicle on base or store their car during deployment.
Military Discount: Up to 15% off comprehensive coverage when you garage your vehicle on base, and up to 60% off coverage if your vehicle is stored during deployment.
Military Car Insurance Benefits:
- Only available to current and former service members and their families
- Some coverage types can be suspended during deployment
3. Liberty Mutual
Liberty Mutual offers a competitive 10% military discount for car insurance, as well as additional savings for members of the Military Benefits Association. In addition, Liberty Mutual’s comprehensive-only insurance option makes it a great choice for active servicemembers anticipating deployment.
Military Discount: Up to 10%
Military Car Insurance Benefits:
- Comprehensive-only insurance is available
- Special discounts for members of the Military Benefits Association
4. Progressive
Unlike some of its competitors, Progressive does not have a military discount. But they still provide special perks for active duty military members. Specifically, they offer comprehensive-only insurance for vehicles stored during deployment and overlook lapses in coverage while a customer is on active duty, allowing them to still qualify for a continuous coverage discount.
Military Discount: No discount is offered
Military Car Insurance Benefits:
- Comprehensive-only insurance for vehicles stored during deployment
- Lapses while on active duty are treated as continuous coverage
5. Farmers
Farmers is a great option for servicemembers who want to save on their premium, thanks to its 10% discount for military customers. However, unlike many other insurers, Farmers does not offer extra services or accommodations for servicemembers, beyond what’s required by law.
Military Discount: About 10%
Military Car Insurance Benefits:
- None offered
6. Armed Forces Insurance
Armed Forces Insurance caters exclusively to the military community, making it one of the best options for military car insurance. In addition to competitive rates, it offers comprehensive-only insurance and allows active duty members to avoid penalties for lapses in coverage.
Military Discount: varies by sate
Military Car Insurance Benefits:
- Coverage is only available to active duty servicemembers, retired veterans, military spouses, children and spouses of current members, Service Academy cadets, current or former Department of Defense civilian employees, and active or former commissioned officers of NOAA and PHS.
- Lapses while on active duty are treated as continuous coverage
- Comprehensive-only insurance is available
Get Armed Forces Insurance Quote
Compare the Best Military Car Insurance Companies
Rank | Company | User Rating on WalletHub | Editor's Rating |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Geico | 2.4 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
2 | USAA | 2.7 / 5 | 3.5 / 5 |
3 | Liberty Mutual | 2.4 / 5 | 3.2 / 5 |
4 | Progressive | 2.7 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
5 | Farmers | 3.5 / 5 | 3.0 / 5 |
6 | Armed Forces Insurance | 4.7 / 5 | 2.8 / 5 |
Tips for Military Insurance
1. Save on Costs During Deployment
If you’re going to store your car in a safe place while you’re deployed, you’ll want to ask your insurance company about lowering your rates while you’re gone. Since you won’t be driving, you might be able to temporarily get a comprehensive-only insurance policy that will protect your car against things like flood, theft or fire. If another driver is going to be using the car, you can also temporarily remove yourself from the policy.
2. Understand Your State’s Insurance Laws
Some states allow deployed military service members to temporarily suspend or cancel their insurance, which could be a viable choice if your car is stored in a safe place. But it’s a risky move, as it leaves you financially liable if anything should happen to the vehicle.
3. Look for discounts connected to military associations
Military associations that offer insurance discounts as a benefit usually have a special relationship with one insurance company. As with other discounts, these benefits vary quite a bit by state, so check with your association and get a quote from the insurer.
4. Know your rights under the Service Members Civil Relief Act (SCRA)
Although it’s not specific to car insurance, the SCRA provides certain types of financial protection to active-duty military personnel. For example, the SCRA mandates that servicemembers cannot lose personal insurance or life insurance as a result of active duty obligations. By understanding how the SCRA protects you, you can better protect your financial well-being when you’re deployed.
Methodology
WalletHub editors identified the best military car insurance companies by comparing 19 major providers based on the following factors:
- WalletHub editor’s rating
- General military discounts
- Affiliation discounts with military organizations
- Discounts for living on base
- Vehicle storage discount during deployment
- Treatment of gaps in coverage during active duty or deployment
- Ability to suspend coverage during deployment
- Option to defer payment during deployment
- Availability of comprehensive-only insurance
- Coverage exclusive for the military
- Military-specific customer service
Companies earned a maximum of 5 points for each category. WalletHub editors then ranked the companies by total points to determine the best military car insurance companies.
Video: Best Military Car Insurance
Ask the Experts
To gain more insight about best military car insurance, WalletHub posed the following questions to a panel of experts. Click on the experts below to view their bios and answers.
1. What makes a car insurance company good for military personnel?
2. Why do so many car insurance companies have military specific discounts?
3. What is the advantage of using a military-only car insurance company?
Ask the Experts
Military Service Member; Finance Ph.D. Student, University of Oregon
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Ph.D., Dean and Kaye Family Professor, College of Business, Florida Atlantic University
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Associate Professor of Business, Trinity Baptist College
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Robert Kavesh Professor of Economics, General Editor, Review of Industrial Organization, Stern School of Business, New York University
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Professor of Economics – Department of Economics and Finance – Nelson Rusche College of Business – Stephen F. Austin State University
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J. Fish Smith Professor in Public Choice, Jon M. Huntsman School of Business, Utah State University
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