The best and cheapest car insurance for military members is from USAA. However, GEICO has the biggest military discounts, up to 15% of the total premium for eligible military members. State Farm is the best cheap runner-up, offering the second cheapest option before discounts.
Best and Cheapest Car Insurance for Military in 2023
Key Takeaways
MoneyGeek found that USAA and GEICO offer the cheapest car insurance rates with the best coverage for military members and veterans.
Some companies offer specialized discounts or coverages for military members, including deployment and car storage discounts.
If you’re planning to store your car while deployed, review your coverages to ensure you're paying for appropriate protection while you’re not using your vehicle.
Best Cheap Car Insurance for Military Drivers: USAA
USAA is often considered the gold standard for auto insurance — and for those in the military, it’s frequently the best and cheapest option. Whether for full coverage or state-minimum policies, USAA consistently offers the best and cheapest car insurance for the military community. USAA’s average rates are:
- $283 per year for a state-minimum coverage policy
- $679 per year for a full coverage policy with 100/300/100 liability limits and a $1,000 deductible
- $716 per year for a full coverage policy with 300/500/300 liability limits and a $1,000 deductible
Explore the cheapest car insurance for military drivers by filtering the table based on your age range and coverage needs.
MoneyGeek found the best and cheapest car insurance for military families by comparing rates and coverage options from various insurers. Providers were also scored based on affordability, specialized coverage and customer service. Note that the rates mentioned have no discounts added, meaning you may get lower rates if you qualify for discounts.
Best and Cheapest for Military: USAA

pros
Caters to the unique needs of individuals and family members with active or past military employment
Consistently offers cheap premiums and scores highly in customer service
Various discounts and policies that can help policyholders lower their insurance costs
cons
May not offer some add-on or unique coverage options that other providers offer
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
USAA offers the best car insurance for military drivers, offering policies exclusively for active-duty military members, veterans and their families. Available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., USAA consistently achieves excellent customer satisfaction ratings and offers affordable premiums for all driver types — such as those with violations, young drivers and drivers who want more or minimum coverage.
Drivers can also supplement their policies with USAA’s optional coverages, such as accident forgiveness, roadside assistance and rideshare insurance. For drivers with a clean record, accident forgiveness can be a great addition as it ensures that premiums won’t go up after the first at-fault accident. Roadside assistance also offers great value for all kinds of drivers, as it can help with the costs of towing, unlocking, jumpstarting and other small assistance needs on the road.
While getting additional coverage can increase costs, USAA provides various discount options to lower premiums, such as bundling, multiple car and safe driving discounts. They also offer unique discounts, such as a legacy discount, a mileage discount and a vehicle storage discount. Note that USAA’s discounts and coverages come with restrictions and may not always be available in your state.
Beyond unique coverages for military families and discount opportunities to make premiums cheaper, USAA also offers USAA Perks. This offers discounts for things like car maintenance, travel and online shopping.
Best Car Insurance With Military Discount: GEICO
At GEICO, eligible military drivers can get a discount of up to 15% on their total premium. Including this 15% discount, military drivers pay an average of:
- $424 per year for a state-minimum liability coverage policy
- $936 per year for a full coverage policy with 100/300/100 liability limits and a $1,000 deductible
- $1,028 per year for a full coverage policy with 300/500/300 liability limits and a $1,000 deductible
After the discount, GEICO offers the second-cheapest car insurance for military drivers after USAA. Military drivers who choose GEICO can also stack multiple discounts to reduce premiums.
GEICO’s military discount is only available to active duty military, veterans and members of the National Guard or Reserves. The company also offers an emergency deployment discount and membership discounts for military drivers who are part of professional associations and organizations, such as the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) and more.
GEICO is transparent about its military discount and availability, making them a top pick. Other providers may offer military discounts, but availability and percentages vary by state, so inquire with each provider for accurate rates.

GEICO offers a range of valuable discounts to help military drivers make premiums more affordable. Military drivers can qualify for plenty of premium-saving opportunities from common discounts for bundling, multiple cars and safe driving, to unique discounts such as those for the use of daytime running lights and seat belts. GEICO also offers several worthwhile additional coverages, such as accident forgiveness, roadside assistance, antique/classic car insurance and mechanical breakdown insurance.
Best Cheap Car Insurance for Military Drivers Runner-Up: State Farm
State Farm earns an honorable mention as a runner-up to the best and cheapest providers for military drivers in the U.S. Before discounts, State Farm is the cheapest option behind USAA and scores a MoneyGeek score of 88 out of 100.
On average, State Farm charges military drivers:
- $409 per year for a state-minimum liability coverage policy
- $883 per year for a full coverage policy with 100/300/100 liability limits and a $1,000 deductible
- $981 per year for a full coverage policy with 300/500/300 liability limits and a $1,000 deductible
Although USAA and GEICO are our top picks for military families, State Farm also offers affordable rates and a variety of discounts to reduce costs.

State Farm is also an excellent choice for military drivers thanks to its extensive discount options, allowing policyholders to lower their rates even further. In addition to common discounts such as bundling, good student, multiple car and safe driving, State Farm also offers senior driver, daytime running lights and anti-lock brake discounts, which are typically not offered by other companies.
Best Car Insurance for Military Drivers by State
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Which Companies Offer Military Discounts?
Most car insurance companies offer military discounts for policyholders who are on active duty, veterans or in the reserves. However, some insurers may only offer such discounts in select states.
Company | Discounts |
---|---|
AFI | If you are eligible for a membership with the Armed Forces Insurance, you may be able to benefit from its specialized car insurance coverage and get competitive premiums. |
ALFA | Active military personnel in Alabama, Mississippi or Georgia can benefit from Alfa’s discounts on car insurance for military members. |
Active-duty military members deployed more than 100 miles from their car's garaging address may qualify for Arbella’s 10% discount on car insurance. | |
Direct Auto | Eligible military members can get a discount of up to 25% on key coverages, such as liability, comprehensive, collision and uninsured motorist coverage. Only available in Alabama, Florida and Louisiana. |
Get a military discount at Direct General if you are an active service member and can provide acceptable documentation verifying your status. | |
Esurance does not offer a discount on car insurance for military members, but they do allow active-duty members to cancel their insurance without penalty while they are away. This can help active members save significantly on premiums. | |
Farm Bureau (Kentucky) | Military members who take a military driving course approved by the U.S. Armed Forces may qualify for a discount, so long as a certificate showing completion is submitted. |
Farmers offers discounts to active duty, active reserves, retired and honorably discharged military veterans. | |
Current or former members of the U.S. Armed Forces can get a discount on their car insurance with Freeway. | |
Military drivers can get a discount of up to 15% on their total premium at GEICO. Those on emergency deployment and individuals who are part of military associations can get discounts as well. | |
Eligible active-duty military and National Guard members may be able to save with Kemper’s military auto insurance discount. | |
Active, retired or reserved members of the U.S. Armed Forces can qualify for a military discount at Liberty Mutual. | |
Military personnel based in Louisiana, along with their spouses and children, are eligible for car insurance premium discounts. | |
If you’re based in Louisiana, you may qualify for a military discount of up to 25%. | |
If you garage your vehicle on base, you may qualify for a discount. | |
Wawanesa | At Wawanesa, military members can qualify for discounts whether they are active, retired or reserve. |

Best Discount
GEICO offers the second-cheapest car insurance rates thanks to its military discounts for veterans and active military members, emergency deployed members and individuals in certain military organizations. The company also provides a dedicated phone number (1-800-MILITARY) for military members to discuss their unique car insurance needs.

Best for Active Duty
Esurance may not have military discounts, but it does offer a program that can help active-duty members save significantly on car insurance. Active-duty members can cancel their car insurance with Esurance without penalty while they're away, and reinstate it once they return. This is not commonly offered by other providers.
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How Is Car Insurance Different for Military Members and Veterans?
Car insurance policies for military members are generally the same as they are for everyone else. But certain car insurance companies offer distinct coverages or discounts to account for the fact that active-duty service members may use their personal vehicle less than most drivers.
For example, GEICO offers emergency deployment discounts for those service members deployed into imminent danger pay areas, as defined by the Department of Defense. So drivers who are deployed won’t have to pay as much when they aren’t using their car.
USAA goes even further. If you are deployed and store your vehicle away so that it can’t be driven, you can get a discount of up to 60%. This is particularly relevant for service members who don’t have family members who need to use their vehicle. If you decide to garage your vehicle on your military base, you can still save up to 15% on the comprehensive insurance portion of your policy.
What to Consider if You Are Storing a Car During Deployment
If you’re planning on storing your car away while deployed, you should take advantage of all available discounts offered by your insurer. But you should also hold as little coverage as you need to keep your car safe while lowering your monthly bill. For instance, you can opt for liability-only car insurance, by removing comprehensive and collision coverage. You can even get rid of liability insurance if you’re willing to register your car again after returning from deployment.
Determining the right car insurance coverage and needs before you’re deployed will ensure you get the cheapest coverage with the best rates.
Insurance Option | Description |
---|---|
Your state legally requires liability insurance. If you want maximum savings, it might make sense to forego this protection. To suspend it, you’ll have to store your car so nobody else can drive it. But if you do suspend liability insurance, you will have to register your car again when you return from deployment. If you don’t suspend liability insurance, you can still lower your coverage to only meet the state required minimums to get maximum savings. | |
This insurance protects you against the cost of damage to your car from incidents on and off the road. It makes sense to maintain comprehensive coverage since it will protect you against the cost of unlikely damages to your car while it’s in storage. But if you aren't using your car, it could make sense to drop collision insurance. However, if you financed your car purchase or if you’re leasing your car, your lender may not let you drop this coverage. |
How Active Military and Veterans Can Save Money on Car Insurance
Active military and veterans can save money when getting car insurance in several ways. Here are the steps to take to get the cheapest car insurance with one of the best auto insurance companies.
Shop for Quotes
To get the cheapest car insurance rates, you should compare at least three quotes from different auto insurance companies. Get the same coverage limits and deductibles so you can compare apples to apples with what you have now.
Ask About Discounts
Ask about any discounts for which you may be eligible to get the cheapest rates with the best car insurance company. As a military member or veteran, you may qualify for special discounts.
Insure More With One Company
Another significant discount you may be eligible for is the multi-policy discount. If you insure your home and auto with the same discount, you can save up to 25%. Some insurance companies refer to this as a "bundling" discount.
Along with homeowners insurance, other policies you can consider for discounts include:
- Life Insurance
- Motorcycle Insurance
- RV Insurance
- Boat Insurance
Review Your Coverages
Life events should trigger a coverage review for your auto insurance. You may have gotten married, had a baby or moved to another state. Maybe you paid off your car or bought a new one and need affordable full coverage protection. These changes can impact your car insurance needs, so it’s best to review your coverages and discounts to know you’re getting the cheapest rates.
Use a Checklist
As you’re collecting quotes to find the best car insurance for your needs, use a checklist that lists all your insurance requirements and be sure to use the same criteria for each company’s quotes you check. Using a checklist can also help ensure that you get all the discounts for which you’re eligible.
Pay in Full
While some insurers offer a no down payment car insurance to avail the lowest upfront payment, you can ultimately save by paying for your policy upfront and in full.
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Insurance for Military Families and Veterans
If you're an active-duty, veteran or reserve member of the military, you may qualify for exclusive discounts. Find out more about military discounts by reading our answers to the most frequently asked questions.
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About Mandy Sleight, Licensed Insurance Agent

sources
- GEICO. "Military Discounts." Accessed August 13, 2020.