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Compare car insurance for military members
Find the cheapest car insurance for active military, veterans or their family members.
If you’re a member of the US armed forces, the reserves or are a veteran, many insurance companies will reward you for your service with discounts — for life. It’s no surprise that those savings extend to special rates on car insurance for families of military members too.
Our top pick: Progressive
Discover coverage that’s broader than competitors, valuable discounts up to 30% off and perks like shrinking deductibles that reward no claims.
- Broad coverage, including for custom car parts or ridesharing
- Transparent pricing tools that help you buy within budget
- Accident forgiveness on small claims or for staying claim-free
- Stack a variety of discounts for multiple cars, autopay or homeownership
Compare military car insurance
See which companies offer the best deal, whether you serve as active military or are a veteran.
Car insurance military discounts and perks to look for
Most standard insurers offer a discount for drivers who serve in the military, meaning that you can compare offerings from both military-specific and traditional insurance companies. Some of the perks to look for:
- Military or veteran discount. Active duty military and veterans are eligible for discounts up to 15% off your premium.
- Emergency deployment. If you’re given last-minute deployment orders, you could qualify for a deployment discount for comprehensive coverage.
- Flexible policy management. Deployed troops could see extra flexibility in suspending, canceling and reinstating auto insurance.
- Flexible payment schedule. Many companies let you choose when to pay monthly premiums based on your pay schedule, which might not fall on a standard employer schedule.
- Car buying support. Programs like USAA’s Overseas Vehicle Purchase Program help military members get a car if they’re stationed overseas for over 30 days, with car purchase discounts and delivery to duty stations.
Can I get car insurance for a car I don’t use while deployed?
Yes, you have options for car insurance on a car you won’t use while you’re on base or deployed.
- Storage or laid-up coverage. Cover your car while it’s sitting in storage or on base. This type of insurance will keep your car protected against theft, weather damage and vandalism — plus you won’t have to worry about a coverage lapse. By only having comprehensive coverage, you drastically reduce your premium.
- Temporary car insurance. Get coverage for when you’re actually driving your car and no longer than that. Check with your insurance company to avoid a lapse in coverage, especially if your deployment could get extended. Temporary car insurance can cost more than storage insurance.
- Borrowed car insurance. You may need to add yourself to someone else’s car insurance policy when you share or borrow their car.
- Nonowner car insurance. If you’re selling your car because of deployment and are planning to borrow someone’s car when you come back, you can look into nonowner insurance coverage. This type of policy protects you against liability if you damage someone else’s car or injure others in an accident.
Should I cancel my insurance while deployed?
Canceling your coverage completely can leave your car vulnerable and lead to extra legwork once you’re back in the States. Canceling may end up costing you more over time than keeping minimal protection like liability or comprehensive coverage.
This lapse in coverage can make getting insured again once you’re back more expensive. And if you drop coverage without filing the proper forms with the DMV you may end up with a suspended registration.
Vehicle registration while deployed
To drop your coverage down to comprehensive with storage or laid-up insurance, you may need to file an Affidavit of Non-Use or Planned Non-Operational Affidavit with your state’s DMV. You can check with your insurance company or the DMV to find out if your state requires this affidavit.
Also, your state may have specific resources for military members. Your local DMV can help you find specific programs that help you keep your registration current while you’re deployed.
Which car insurance companies offer a military discount?
While Geico and USAA tend to have the best rates and perks for military members, check out a few other alternatives for military discounts.
| Insurer | Military discount |
|---|---|
| Allstate | Yes |
| Arbella | Yes, up to 10% |
| Direct | Yes, up to 25% |
| Farmers | Yes |
| Geico | Yes |
| Liberty Mutual | Yes |
| Progressive | Yes |
| The General | Yes |
| Titan | Yes |
| USAA | Yes |
Who has the best car insurance for the military and veterans?
Both USAA and Geico offer auto insurance benefits to military members, veterans and their families, including discounts and policy flexibility.
Geico
Geico has a long-standing reputation for low overall rates, and you’ll see that in the variety of deep discounts you can get — some military-related and others not. This company works well if you’re insuring several vehicles or are looking for local help from insurance agents, as long as there’s an agent in your area.
- Known for the cheapest rates
- 15% discount for active military or veterans
- 25% discount for deployed military members with some restrictions
USAA
This company consistently sees high marks from customer reviews and rating sites, and it gears its insurance to the military and veterans specifically. Its discounts, flexibility and support for military members overseas make it a top choice if you’re in the military family.
- Known for low rates and high customer satisfaction
- Low rates for military members and family
- 60% discount for secure car storage while deployed
- 15% discount for keeping cars on base
For even more comparisons check out our full Geico versus USAA break down.
Bottom line
While USAA’s strong commitment to members of the military make it a strong choice among competitors, consider shopping around for car insurance before deciding on an insurance company.
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