Best Cheap Military Car Insurance

Best car insurance companies for military service members

USAA, Geico and Armed Forces Insurance (AFI) are the best companies for military car insurance. Unlike the first two, AFI doesn’t offer its own car insurance. Instead, it will get you quotes and a policy from other companies it works with in your area. 

USAA and AFI are only available to current and former members of the military and their families. Geico is open to anyone; however, its military discounts make its rates more affordable for active and retired service members.

Best overall military car insurance: USAA

Rates: $39 a month (liability), $125 a month (full coverage)

Only available to the military community , USAA is among the price leaders for car insurance in most states. It also has a higher overall customer satisfaction rating from J.D. Power than every other car insurance company. This means customers are generally happy with USAA’s rates, coverage options and customer service.

USAA has extra perks for active duty service members. You can get a discount for keeping your car on a military base or placing it in storage, as you might for a deployment. The company also offers a guide to preparing for a permanent change of station (PCS) on its website.

It’s easy to get quotes and manage your policy on USAA’s website and smartphone app. However, the company doesn’t give you as much personal attention as other companies do. You usually get a different person each time you call in for help. This may feel weird if you’re used to regularly working with the same agent.

PROS

• Cheaper rates than most other companies
• Excellent customer satisfaction
• Policy features cater to active duty service member needs

CONS

• Less personalized service than other companies

Best military discounts: Geico

Rates: $65 a month (liability), $173 a month (full coverage)

Geico offers a military discount of up to 15% to active duty and retired service members, reservists, and National Guard members. You can get another discount if you place your car in storage during a deployment. Geico also has a special service team just for military customers who are available by phone.

Although Geico has cheap car insurance, it’s not always the best choice for bundling since it offers home and renters insurance from outside companies. Some of these companies are easier to work with than others. Typically, it’s best to have the same company for your car and home or renters policies, which can make the claims process easier.

PROS

• Military discount for active and retired service members
• Additional discounts help make its car insurance rates cheap
• Special customer service team available just for military

CONS

• Doesn’t have its own home or renters insurance

Best for help: Armed Forces Insurance

Rates: Varies

LendingTree score: N/A

AFI is a good choice if you want help getting cheap military car insurance. Their agents compare quotes from leading companies like Progressive and Travelers for you. These include large national companies and regional ones in your area. However, AFI can’t get quotes from exclusive-agent companies like State Farm or Allstate.

The company won’t turn you away if you don’t have a military connection. However, AFI’s focus on the military community means its agents understand service members’ needs. They can help arrange your insurance for deployments, PCS events and other situations that come up in military life.

PROS

• Personalized service from agents who specialize in military insurance
• Compares quotes from multiple top-rated companies for you
• Also available to the children and parents of AFI members

CONS

• Usually can’t get quotes from State Farm, Allstate or USAA

Which car insurance companies have military discounts?

Geico, Liberty Mutual and Direct Auto are among the better-known car insurance companies with military discounts.

Louisiana requires all car insurance companies to give active service members a 25% discount on liability insurance. This discount extends to reservists and members of the Louisiana Air and Army National Guard. Some insurers may also offer the discount to retired military members and some disabled veterans. It’s important to make sure this discount is applied to your quote.

Montana requires car insurance discounts for members of the Montana National Guard who complete a defensive driving course.

What other discounts can I get on military car insurance?

Service members often qualify for the other car insurance discounts available to all drivers. These include discounts for:

Bundling

Most companies give you a generous discount for getting more than one policy from them. Getting a home or renters policy alongside your car insurance usually helps you save on one or both.

Multivehicle

If you have more than one car you want to insure on a policy, many insurers offer a discount.

Accident-free

If you have no accidents on your recent record, usually for three to five years, you may get a reduced rate.

Automatic payments

Setting up an automatic payment process for your premium can earn you a discount, too. This one is particularly easy to get.

Telematics

Many companies give you a big discount for using their telematics program. Most of these use a smartphone app to monitor how safely you drive. You often get a discount just for signing up. If you avoid things like excessive speeds and distracted driving, you get discounts when you renew.

How to shop for military car insurance

It’s good to have your military credentials handy when you shop for car insurance. You may not need them to get a quote, but when you’re ready to buy, you might be asked to verify your status. You can usually provide your:

It’s good to compare quotes from companies with military discounts to others with cheap rates for all drivers. That way you’ll know if you’re getting the best deal. You can contact companies directly, or use a quote comparison site like LendingTree. With the latter option, you only have to fill out one form to get quotes from a few different companies.