The Best and Cheapest Car Insurance for Military Families and Veterans

Active duty military members and veterans have unique insurance needs, as they may not always be using their vehicle. The best car insurance companies for military members, veterans and their families provide coverages that fit those needs along with cheap rates and great customer service.

Current military members and veterans have unique insurance needs compared to civilians. The best car insurance companies for them offer specialized coverage, affordable rates and strong customer service.

Using these criteria, MoneyGeek found that three car insurance companies stand out above all others:

• USAA: The gold standard for car insurance. It has cheap rates, a great customer service reputation and coverages that cater to active or former service members' needs.
• GEICO: GEICO has a military discount, making its cheap rates even more affordable for military members. It also has a dedicated military service team staffed with veterans.
• Esurance: Good for military members who may be called into active duty, as it gives them the option to cancel car insurance without penalty.

If you’re just looking for the most affordable company, jump to our section on the cheapest car insurance for military and veterans.

USAA has the cheapest car insurance rates for active military and veterans and has been serving this demographic since 1922. They only offer insurance to people who have a military affiliation, including:

• Active Duty, Guard, Reserve
• Eligible Family
• Veterans
• Cadets and Midshipmen

USAA can be an excellent choice for a family policy as they offer affordable coverage for teens whose parents are active or retired military.

GEICO has the second cheapest car insurance rates for veterans and active military members. They have a dedicated military phone number (1-800-MILITARY) for members to call so they can discuss their unique car insurance needs.

Esurance doesn't offer a military discount, but they provide a benefit that can save active duty military members big on car insurance.

Most car insurance companies offer military discounts for their members who are on active duty, in the reserves or a veteran.

Here are some of the discounts military personnel and veterans may be offered by some of the car insurance companies with the cheapest rates:

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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

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.

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.