Auto Insurance for Veterans (2024)

Looking for the best auto insurance for veterans? Some of the best auto insurance companies for military members are USAA, Armed Forces Insurance, and Geico. All of these companies offer cheap auto insurance to military members. 

Read on to learn about the military car insurance on the market, then compare rates with as many companies as possible with our free quote comparison tool to find the most affordable policy. 

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Veteran Auto Insurance Rates 

Even though companies often advertise as the best car insurance for veterans or active-duty military members, your service doesn’t significantly impact your rates. No matter your military status, you’ll pay about the same for coverage.

When you need cheap car insurance, a good place to start is with the average price of minimum and full coverage. Minimum coverage refers to the least amount of insurance you can buy and still legally drive or register your car. Full coverage auto insurance is a suite of insurance products that gives you better protection but costs more.

Learn more: What is full coverage auto insurance? 

Check the rates below to see how much you might pay per month for minimum and full coverage based on your status.

Average Monthly Auto Insurance Rates for Military Personnel and Veterans

The average cost of minimum car insurance for veterans and active-duty members is about $41 a month, which is a few dollars less than the national average. Rates are also similar to the national average for full coverage.

Auto Insurance Rates for Military vs. Nonmilitary Members

Car insurance always feels expensive, but if you want to see how much the average military member saves compared to civilians, check the rates below.

Full Coverage Auto Insurance Average Rates and Availability from Top Providers

Military members and vets have a special opportunity to take advantage of discounts and programs. Read on to explore what some of the best car insurance companies for military members can offer you.

Comparing the Best Military Auto Insurance Companies

The best military car insurance company will vary from person to person. Your driving record, credit history, marital status, age, and many other factors play a role in which company will work best for you. To find the best military car insurance company, your best bet is to get quotes from multiple companies. This way, you will truly be able to see which company can help save you the most money and still provide you with excellent coverage.

USAA Military Auto Insurance

USAA is probably the most well-known provider of insurance and financial services for military members. When it comes to the best car insurance companies for military members, USAA is at the top of the list.

Pros and Cons of USAA Insurance for Drivers Under 25

USAA often has the cheapest rates for car insurance, no matter how much coverage you need or what your driving situation is. It only sells to retired or active military members and their families, but USAA should be your first stop if you qualify for membership. Find out more in our USAA auto insurance review.

USAA Auto Insurance Coverages 

USAA offers coverage for drivers to meet their state’s minimum insurance requirements and full coverage insurance. You can buy the following coverages with USAA:

• Bodily injury liability
• Property damage liability
• Collision
• Comprehensive
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist
• Personal injury protection or medical payments
• Extended benefits
• Rental car reimbursement
• Roadside assistance
• Rideshare
• Accident forgiveness
• Car replacement assistance
• Glass coverage

To meet the needs of its customers, USAA sells insurance for more than cars. You can also buy motorcycle, life, homeowners, and renters insurance from USAA. To help its customers find additional coverage, USAA has several partners that offer discounted prices.

USAA Auto Insurance Discounts 

Insurance companies offer discounts to help customers save money. USAA offers a variety of discounts, some of which are specifically for military members, while others have a broader base. USAA offers the following discounts:

• Defensive driver
• Safe driver
• Driver training
• New vehicle
• Good student
• Multi-vehicle
• Vehicle storage
• Family
• Loyalty
• Low mileage
• Multi-policy
• Pay in full

USAA’s discounts for military members are especially useful. For example, if you store your vehicle on a military base, USAA will cut your rates by 15%. USAA also offers a 60% discount for storing your car while you’re deployed overseas.

Other discounts for military personnel include a 10% discount for military kids and a mileage discount for drivers who drive less. That’s additional help for people on deployment since they’ll save money by not using their cars.

USAA also has a safe driving program that offers great savings. You can read more about it in our USAA SafePilot review.

USAA Veteran Auto Insurance Availability 

As a large insurance company serving the military, USAA sells coverage in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. However, USAA has strict eligibility requirements. To be able to buy insurance from USAA, you must meet the following criteria:

• Enlistment in the Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Army, or National Guard
• Retired or was honorably discharged
• Enrollment in a service academy, advanced ROTC, or have an ROTC scholarship
• Be an immediate family member, such as a spouse, widow/widower, unmarried former spouse, or child

If you’re a child of a deceased military member, you won’t qualify for USAA membership unless your parent or guardian was a member before their death.

USAA Veteran Customer Satisfaction 

USAA has outstanding reviews from third-party rating companies, including in areas like customer satisfaction. For example, J.D. Power awards USAA with the highest rating for customer satisfaction for any insurance company.

Another solid place to look is the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) ratings. The NAIC rates companies based on how many complaints they get compared to their size. The national average is 1.0, and USAA gets 1.95. That means it receives nearly double the complaints compared to similar companies.

Despite its NAIC rating, USAA is still regarded as a company with good customer service. Additionally, customers feel comfortable knowing that USAA has the highest A.M. Best score for its financial strength.

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Geico Military Auto Insurance 

Geico stands for Government Employees Insurance Company, so it’s no wonder it offers some of the best insurance for military members.

Pros and Cons of Geico Insurance for drivers under 25

Geico is one of the highest-rated insurance companies in America and often offers the cheapest rates without having strict membership requirements. Although military members will find plenty of discounts to take advantage of, Geico is an overall good choice for all drivers. To find out more, read our Geico auto insurance review.

Geico Auto Insurance Coverages 

Geico has one of the longest lists of available insurance to choose from. It covers minimum and full coverage needs, and drivers can find multiple ways to customize their policies. Coverage options include:

• Bodily injury liability
• Property damage liability
• Collision
• Comprehensive
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist
• Personal injury protection or medical payments
• Roadside assistance
• Rental car reimbursement
• Mechanical breakdown
• Mexican travel

You can also buy several other types of policies, including ATV, RV, boat, and motorcycle insurance. If you need specialty car insurance, Geico sells commercial and antique auto insurance.

Geico Auto Insurance Discounts 

Geico has one of the market’s longest lists of car insurance discounts. When you shop at Geico, you might qualify for the following coverages:

• Air bags
• Anti-lock brakes
• Anti-theft systems
• Daytime running lights
• New vehicle
• Good driver
• Seat belt use
• Defensive driver
• Driver’s education
• Good student discount
• Emergency deployment
• Federal employee
• Affiliation
• Multi-policy
• Multi-vehicle

Geico offers a 15% discount for all active and retired military and National Guard members. To earn Geico’s emergency deployment discount, you must be deployed to an area of “imminent danger” and store your vehicle while you’re gone.

Geico Veteran Auto Insurance Availability 

As one of the largest insurance companies in the country, you can buy Geico in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Unlike USAA, Geico has no eligibility requirements to meet before you can purchase insurance.

Geico Veteran Customer Satisfaction 

Not only does Geico have low rates and great discount options, but it also has a high level of customer satisfaction.

J.D. Power reports that Geico has above-average customer satisfaction ratings in most regions it sells insurance. Geico’s NAIC score is similar to USAA, currently sitting at 1.92.

As for its financial strength, Geico is another company with an outstanding rating from A.M. Best. Geico currently has an A++, meaning it won’t struggle to pay any claim you might need to make.

Armed Forces Insurance for Military Members

Although USAA is the most famous company that sells insurance for military members, it’s not the only one. You can also buy coverage from Armed Forces Insurance (AFI).

AFI is much older than USAA, having been founded in 1887. If you’re looking for auto insurance for veterans or active personnel, you should consider what AFI offers.

Armed Forces Insurance Coverages 

Like other insurance companies, AFI meets your full coverage and minimum insurance needs. It also offers a few add-ons so you can customize your policy.

When you purchase an insurance policy from AFI, it covers your spouse, children, and anyone else living with you. It also covers people you permit to borrow your car.

AFI offers the following coverage options:

• Bodily injury liability
• Property damage liability
• Collision
• Comprehensive
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist
• Personal injury protection or medical payments
• Roadside assistance
• Rental car reimbursement

AFI offers a variety of other insurance products, including motorcycle, watercraft, and collector car insurance. You can also buy other coverages, such as home, renters, pet, and valuable items insurance.

Armed Forces Insurance Auto Insurance Discounts 

AFI doesn’t list information about what auto insurance discounts it offers, but you can expect that it will be similar to other providers. AFI promises competitive rates, which most likely require discounts to keep prices low.

What little information AFI has on its website hints that the company offers discounts for having multiple vehicles on the same policy and for being a safe driver. You’ll also probably get a discount if you take a defensive driving course.

Armed Forces Insurance Availability 

AFI sells insurance in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. As a company that sells military member and veteran auto insurance, AFI only allows the following people to buy a policy:

• Active duty, honorably discharged, or retired service members from any military branch, including the National Guard and Coast Guard
• Service academy members, including ROTC cadets and Merchant Marines
• Active, retired, or formerly commissioned officers from the NOAA or PHS
• Active or retired employees from the Department of Defence, Department of Veterans Affairs, or Civilian Auxiliaries
• Children and parents of current or former AFI members
• Spouses, ex-spouses, and surviving spouses of military members
• Former AFI members

If none of these apply to you, AFI will still work to find you affordable coverage. AFI has several partners that work with nonmilitary members.

Armed Forces Insurance Veteran Customer Satisfaction 

AFI is not a large, well-known company, so it doesn’t have many third-party ratings. AFI is unrated by A.M. Best, J.D. Power, and the NAIC.

However, it does have a rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The BBB rates companies on their ability to resolve customer complaints, and AFI has an A+.

How Auto Insurance with Military Discounts Works

When you’re not deployed, your car insurance works the same as everyone else’s. You choose the amount of coverage you need for your car, look for discounts, and pay your insurance bill like a civilian.

However, many states have special rules for active military members. For example, military members are often allowed to maintain car registration and insurance in their home state, even when they’re stationed somewhere else.

You’ll also see different rules and discounts based on the company you shop with. Many companies offer special savings between 5% and 15% for active or retired military members, so shopping around for coverage is important.

Auto Insurance Companies Offering Military Discounts 

While you can find military discounts for everything from car parts to shoes, not many insurance companies offer savings for military personnel. The few companies that offer a military discount include:

• USAA
• AFI
• Geico
• Farmers
• Liberty Mutual

Other big companies like State Farm or Allstate don’t offer military savings, but they do have other discounts you can take advantage of.

There’s some good news for residents of Louisiana — state law requires all insurance companies to offer military members in the Pelican State a 25% discount.

How To Get a Military Auto Insurance Discount 

The approval process for military discounts varies by company, but you usually need a few things. Most companies require a valid driver’s license as well as one of the following types of documentation:

• D214 Member 4 copy
• Active duty orders
• Discharge certificate
• Academy appointment letter or ROTC contract
• NGB22
• Leave and earnings statement

Some insurance companies allow active-duty members to temporarily cancel their policy before deployment starts. If your company gives you this option, you’ll need to present proof of deployment and storage documentation for your car to qualify.

Veteran Discounts vs. Miltary Discounts

Veterans’ car insurance discounts are in the same boat as active duty members — some companies offer discounts, but most do not.

If you want to buy car insurance from a company that doesn’t have a military or veteran discount, you can always ask a representative to double-check. They might not be able to find a military discount for you, but they can look for additional ways for you to save.

There are two main military discounts for you to look for. The first is a basic discount for being an active or retired military member and close family. You can also search for companies that offer savings when you go into active deployment and store your car.

Other than those, most companies don’t have other options for military discounts. However, there are plenty of other discounts to take advantage of. Some of the most popular discounts for military members include being a good driver, having safety devices installed in your car, or bundling policies.

You can also save money on your car insurance by keeping your driving record clean, improving your credit score, and comparing rates.

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Auto Insurance and Deployment 

Preparing to leave for deployment can be stressful, and storing your car is the last thing you want to worry about.

Some insurance companies will work with you so you can keep your car insured while you’re away. Most companies require that you keep your vehicle stored in a garage or on a military base to qualify for the discount.

If your insurance company doesn’t give a discount for storing your vehicle, it might allow you to cancel your policy without a penalty for a lapse in coverage.

Most insurance companies try to accommodate military members about to leave on active deployment, especially those about to enter imminent danger areas.

Canceling Auto Insurance if You’re Deployed

Insurance companies look at your coverage history to determine your rates. You’ll pay more for a policy if they see a gap in your insurance history.

One of the only exceptions insurance companies make to this rule is for military personnel leaving on active duty. If you can’t find a discount for storing your vehicle, you should ask your insurance company if you can pause your coverage without consequence.

Some companies will temporarily cancel your insurance, so you don’t have to pay for it while you’re out of the country. If you choose to cancel your insurance, you’ll need to make sure that no one else can drive your car — anyone who drives your vehicle will still need coverage.

However, you shouldn’t cancel your insurance unless your company offers an exception for drivers about to leave on deployment. If you do want to cancel insurance, make sure you read up on how to cancel auto insurance to ensure you cancel correctly. 

Reinstating Auto Insurance After Deployment 

If you choose to cancel your insurance before deployment, you should reinstate it as soon as possible after you get back. It’s vitally important that you get insurance before driving your car, especially if you live in a state that requires coverage.

Even if your home state doesn’t require insurance, you should still consider covering your car. If you don’t have insurance, you’ll have to pay for damage you cause to other vehicles in an at-fault accident by yourself.

Find the Best Auto Insurance for Military Members Today

Although military members find many discount opportunities, finding discounted car insurance is a little harder. USAA, Geico, and AFI are some of the best options for military car insurance discounts, but you might find better coverage elsewhere.

Before you sign up for a policy, it’s important to compare your options. You’ll likely overpay for your policy if you don’t look at multiple companies before signing up.

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