Military Discounts for Car Insurance
What car insurance benefits are available to military personnel?
Car insurance coverage for military personnel can vary by company and type of coverage. Some companies, like USAA, cater solely to military personnel and their families. More broadly, other companies will simply offer you a discount for your service. Either way, if you’re a military member, you should consider the wide range of auto insurance options that are specifically designed for you.
Why do car insurance companies offer military discounts?
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The nature of deployment
In addition to car insurance companies wanting to serve those who have served their country via military service, the circumstances surrounding military members and their driving habits present unique insurance considerations. During extended deployments, the lengthy period of time during which a driver might not use a car may result in the long-term storage of the vehicle or the suspension or cancellation of coverage.
With an insurance company that offers military service discounts and terms, any necessary policy changes can be fairly straightforward.
Car insurance rates by military branch
Members of each branch of the United States military may receive different discounts and benefits from car insurance companies.
Learn more about specific discounts by military branch via the below links:
Car insurance discounts for members of the military
If you are an active duty service member or veteran, you may qualify for special military auto insurance discounts. Special discounts apply to military families from many carriers. Also, you may benefit from general discounts offered to all drivers. Things such as bundling home and auto policies, having a good credit score, and keeping a clean driving record could help you find additional savings. Below you'll find a rundown of common car insurance discounts for U.S. military members and veterans.Â
Discounted insurance rates for military personnel
In our 2017 analysis of the State of Insurance, we discovered that out of every occupation, military members receive the biggest discount — but not by much. On average, those in the military pay 2% less than other professions. This doesn't include military-specific discounts, however. This is simply using your profession as a rating factor.
For special discounts tied specifically to your status in the military, have a look at the average premiums that service men and women may encounter below.
| Occupation | Avg. 6 Mo. Premium | Avg. Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Military | $883 | $147 |
| Teacher | $886 | $148 |
| Scientist | $886 | $148 |
| Engineer | $887 | $148 |
| Fire Fighter | $888 | $148 |
| Lawyer | $888 | $148 |
| Doctor | $888 | $148 |
| Law Enforcement | $891 | $148 |
| Manager | $892 | $149 |
| Civil Servant | $894 | $149 |
| Proprietor | $896 | $149 |
| Unemployed | $896 | $149 |
| Other | $897 | $149 |
The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool data methodology
The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool for home and auto insurance rates utilizes the latest ZIP code-level rate filings from across the U.S., sourced from Quadrant Information Services and S&P Global. These filings, typically updated annually or biennially by insurers, are verified through Quadrant’s QA process and then integrated into The Zebra’s estimator.
The displayed rates are based on a dynamic home and auto profile designed to reflect the content of the page. This profile is tailored to match specific factors such as age, location, and coverage level, which are adjusted based on the page content to show how these variables can impact premiums.
For a comprehensive understanding, see our detailed methodology.
Where to buy car insurance for military personnel
There are a lot of insurance companies that offer special accommodations for military members and their families. Some have programs built entirely around past and present military members, and others that recognize drivers' military status and reward these customers with discounted insurance rates.
The most notable provider of car insurance for military members is USAA. The company's clientele is comprised of active duty or retired military members (as well as adult children or surviving spouses of USAA members). USAA ranks highly for customer satisfaction, coming in first in customer satisfaction in JD Power's most recent industry study. Available nationwide, USAA offers a few types of discounts. If you garage your vehicle on a secured military base, USAA offers 15% off insurance premiums. Moreover, if you’re currently deployed and you store your vehicle in a secured location, you can receive up to 90% off your rate.
While GEICO was originally created as an insurer for government employees, it offers discounts for military service members through the company's Military Center. GEICO groups active, retired, and National Guard or Reserve members into a general umbrella of military personnel as well as an accompanying discount of up to 15%. GEICO offers more options through its Emergency Deployment Discount when members are deployed.
| Company | Avg. 6 Mo. Premium | Avg. Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Allstate | $1,252 | $209 |
| Farmers | $902 | $150 |
| GEICO | $755 | $126 |
| Nationwide | $751 | $125 |
| Progressive | $867 | $144 |
| State Farm | $807 | $135 |
| USAA | $686 | $114 |
Other companies with military discounts
Car insurance after joining the military:Â
Storage
If you're deployed and unsure about how to handle your car insurance policy, consider storage coverage. Car storage insurance removes all coverage except your comprehensive coverage which would protect your vehicle in the event it's vandalized, stolen, or damaged by weather.
Here are the benefits of storage coverage:
- Lowered premium: storage coverage can lower your premium by as much as 90%.
- Continuous coverage: because you technically still have car insurance, you avoid having a lapse or gap in your insurance policy.
The exact requirements and savings for storage options vary by insurers, so if you’re planning on putting your vehicle into storage for a reduction of coverage, you should speak with your local agent for details. The other consideration for storage coverage has to do with your registration, which we will explain below.
Registration
If you are going to store your vehicle long-term, you should also consider the registration implications. Most insurance companies will recommend filing an affidavit of non-use with your state department of motor vehicles. This affidavit allows you to maintain registration on a vehicle that is both not in use and not currently insured for liability coverage. Like your insurance company, the DMV will require you to securely store this vehicle in order for you to qualify for the affidavit. Check with your state DMV department for details.
Car insurance coverage for veterans
A number of car insurance discounts for veterans become available after your military service is complete. Let’s explore the ins and outs of car insurance for veterans and assess company-specific rates to see how much you could save after you serve.
What are the best car insurance companies for veterans?
It’s important to consider the big picture when shopping for insurance. Even though an insurer might offer the best veteran discounts, you should evaluate the policy and its overall price against similar options. If a company offers a 15% discount but its overall premium is still higher than another company's rate, you should consider the cheaper option.
Because car insurance is priced based on your personal driving history and profile, it's important to shop around often and explore as many insurance companies as possible — even those not catering to military personnel or veterans specifically.
How is car insurance different for veterans?
Military car insurance discounts: how to save
If you're an active-duty military member, you should search for the wide range of products that are available and cater specifically to you. The nature of your deployment in terms of storage and registration predicaments can complicate your policy. It is your company's job to help guide you through these cumbersome details.
But, you should consider that even if your auto insurance premium reflects a military discount, you could still get a better rate elsewhere. Here are some of our quick tips on getting auto insurance as a military member:
Make sure all your insurance policies are through one company. By bundling homeowners insurance and auto insurance (or renters) you could save hundreds of dollars on your insurance policies.
Some auto insurers offer life insurance either through them or a subsidiary. If your carrier offers this option, you could be eligible for a multi-policy discount.
The very best way to make sure you're getting the cheapest rate is to double-check for these types of special discounts and to gather auto insurance quotes every six months.Â
This comprehensive guide offers ways to save on your next auto insurance policy.
Get personalized insurance rates in less than 5 minutes.
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About The Zebra
The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.
- The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
- The Zebra’s insurance editorial content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
- The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
- The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.