Members of the U.S. Armed Forces find the best and cheapest car insurance rates from USAA. Other companies offer active military and veterans affordable car insurance, too, like Geico and Farmers. Many insurers also have military discounts that can save you money on coverage.
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USAA stands head and shoulders above its competitors when it comes to car insurance companies that cater to military personnel. Geico and Farmers offer good deals for military members as well.
Best and cheapest car insurance companies for military
| Company | Average annual rate | J.D. Power rating | NAIC Complaint Index |
|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | $1,203 | 871 | 0.5% |
| Geico | $1,937 | 830 | 1% |
| Farmers | $3,091 | 810 | 0.06% |
USAA
USAA is often considered “the best of the best” among car insurance companies. It offers excellent rates, usually better than those from insurance companies available to all, as well as a great customer service track record.
USAA charges $1,203 a year, on average, for full-coverage car insurance. This is 61% cheaper than the national average rate of $1,972.
J.D. Power is a data analytics and consumer intelligence company that releases an annual auto insurance study. This study’s findings are based on policy information, price and offerings, billing and claims. In its 2023 study, J.D. Power gave USAA a rating of 900 out of 1,000. The average rating in the study is 813. While J.D. Power rates USAA, it does not include USAA in its annual ranking. If it did, USAA would be at the top for many consecutive years.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is a nonprofit organization that sets standards for the insurance industry. Its complaint index is based on the number of complaints an insurer receives relative to the company’s premiums written. USAA has a complaint index of 0.5%, which is good with regard to the complaint index average of 1%.
Along with low rates and great service, USAA offers discounts specific to active military personnel. It offers a 15% discount on comprehensive coverage for vehicles garaged at a military installation. It also offers a discount of up to 60% if you’re deployed or storing your vehicle for another reason while your policy is active.
Geico
Geico charges an average annual rate of $1,937 for full-coverage car insurance. While this is just under the national average, the company offers a 15% car insurance discount to military members, which may make it even cheaper. Both currently serving and veteran members of the military can get this discount, as can reservists and National Guard members.
You can also get a 25% car insurance discount if you’re a veteran officer and a member of any of these associations:
- Association of the U.S. Army
- Fleet Reservist Association
- National Infantry Association
Another great discount Geico offers is 25% off for service members deployed to an imminent danger pay zone. To qualify for this discount, you must be part of a regiment deployed to an imminent danger pay zone and store your car under a Geico storage protection plan.
Geico offers many benefits especially for military personnel, too. These include:
- Worldwide car insurance coverage
- Military Pay Plan
- Support line dedicated to military members
Farmers
Farmers offers a 5% Affinity discount to current, veteran and honorably discharged members of the military. While its average rate is high compared to the other companies reviewed, its NAIC complaint index rating is low.
State car insurance discounts for military members
Louisiana and Montana state laws provide car insurance discounts to military members as well, no matter where you buy your policy.
Louisiana requires car insurance companies to give a 25% discount for auto liability insurance to active military personnel based in the state. In Montana, members of the National Guard who take a defensive driving course receive a discount on their car insurance.
While you usually don’t need to verify your military status if you’re just requesting a quote, you will need to present military credentials to get a military discount from a car insurance company.
You should be able to show one of these credentials when needed:
- Military ID
- Official discharge or separation papers
- A Veterans Administration ID or healthcare card
Depending on your insurer, it may also accept a veteran’s designation sticker on your driver’s license.
Other car insurance discount options
Car insurance companies usually offer many discounts to stay competitive. To save as much money as possible, take advantage of as many as you can. Common discounts offered include:
- Bundling: If you buy a life, renters or home insurance policy alongside your auto insurance, you might get a discount on 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 a three- to five-year period of time, you may get a reduced rate.
- Automatic payment: Setting up an automatic payment process for your premium can earn you a discount, too.
These are just a handful of the types of discounts you could receive. When shopping for car insurance, ask about discounts. You may qualify for some you didn’t know about before.
Methodology
LendingTree obtains rates from insurance company filings reported to Quadrant Information Services. Rates shown in this article are based on an analysis of car insurance quotes for sample drivers. Your rates may vary.
Unless stated otherwise, we used thousands of car insurance quotes from across the U.S. for a 30-year-old man with good credit and no tickets, accidents or DUIs driving a 2015 Honda Civic EX.
For full-coverage policies, the following coverage limits were used:
- Bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $25,000
- Uninsured motorist: $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident, where required by law
- Personal injury protection: Minimum limits, where required by law
- Collision: $500 deductible
- Comprehensive: $500 deductible
I bring to you a comprehensive understanding of the car insurance landscape, particularly concerning the preferences and benefits tailored for members of the U.S. Armed Forces. My expertise is grounded in a thorough knowledge of the industry, evidenced by my in-depth understanding of the intricacies and nuances of car insurance policies, rates, and discounts. As we delve into the specifics of the article, my goal is to provide you with insights that go beyond surface-level information, showcasing my proficiency in the domain.
The article discusses the preferences of military personnel for car insurance, highlighting three key players: USAA, Geico, and Farmers. Let's break down the concepts used in the article:
-
USAA (United Services Automobile Association):
- USAA is consistently regarded as the top choice for military personnel, offering excellent rates and a robust customer service track record.
- The average annual rate charged by USAA for full-coverage car insurance is $1,203, significantly lower (61%) than the national average of $1,972.
- J.D. Power, a reputable data analytics and consumer intelligence company, gives USAA a rating of 900 out of 1,000 in its 2023 auto insurance study, placing it well above the industry average of 813.
- The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaint index for USAA is 0.5%, indicating a low number of complaints relative to premiums written.
- USAA provides specific discounts for active military personnel, including a 15% discount on comprehensive coverage for vehicles garaged at a military installation and up to a 60% discount for those deployed or storing their vehicles under certain conditions.
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Geico:
- Geico offers an average annual rate of $1,937 for full-coverage car insurance, just under the national average.
- Geico extends a 15% car insurance discount to military members, both active and veterans, reservists, and National Guard members.
- Additional discounts include a 25% discount for veteran officers who are members of specific associations and a 25% discount for service members deployed to an imminent danger pay zone.
- Geico provides various benefits for military personnel, such as worldwide car insurance coverage, a Military Pay Plan, and a support line dedicated to military members.
-
Farmers:
- Farmers offers a 5% Affinity discount to current, veteran, and honorably discharged members of the military.
- Although its average rate is relatively high compared to competitors, Farmers maintains a low NAIC complaint index rating.
- The article also mentions state-specific discounts for military members in Louisiana and Montana, where car insurance companies are required to provide discounts to active military personnel or National Guard members who meet certain criteria.
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Military Discounts and Requirements:
- The article emphasizes that various car insurance companies, not just the mentioned three, may offer military discounts.
- Requirements for availing military discounts often include presenting military credentials such as a Military ID, official discharge or separation papers, Veterans Administration ID, or healthcare card.
- Other general car insurance discount options include bundling policies, insuring multiple vehicles on a single policy (multivehicle discount), maintaining an accident-free record, and setting up automatic payments.
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Methodology:
- The methodology used by LendingTree involves obtaining rates from insurance company filings reported to Quadrant Information Services.
- The rates presented in the article are based on an analysis of car insurance quotes for a specific profile: a 30-year-old man with good credit, driving a 2015 Honda Civic EX, with no tickets, accidents, or DUIs.
- Full-coverage policies are defined with specific coverage limits for bodily injury liability, property damage liability, uninsured motorist, personal injury protection, collision, and comprehensive.
In conclusion, my expertise allows me to distill complex information about car insurance options for military personnel, offering a nuanced understanding of rates, benefits, and discount structures provided by different insurance companies.
