Military life can come with unique challenges: Frequent moves can make it tricky to stick with one car insurance company. Additionally, deployments can leave your car going unused for months at a time, making the full cost of auto insurance less worthwhile.
However, several insurers offer unique perks for those serving and their family members. Coverage that's available nationwide ensures that your car is protected no matter where you're stationed in the U.S, and some brands also offer coverage for items like military uniforms.
CNBC Select has chosen the best car insurance companies for military members, veterans and their families, based on affordability, coverage, customer satisfaction and other factors. For more information on how we made our picks, check out our methodology.
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Shop for the right car insurance
Best car insurance for veterans and military families
Best for affordability: Geico
Who's this for? Geico offers current and former military members up to 15% off its already low rates.
Standout benefits: Service members can get global coverage and access to a dedicated customer service line staffed by veterans. Active-duty customers can suspend or reduce coverage during military duties.
Availability: Geico car insurance is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
- 16 discounts are available to lower premiums
- Easily purchase and manage policy online
- Policy add-ons can include roadside assistance and mechanical breakdown insurance
- No gap insurance
- Few branches for in-person services
- Ranks below average for customer service and claims on J.D. Power surveys
Best for rate shopping: Armed Forces Insurance
Who's this for? Armed Forces Insurance provides rate quotes from multiple auto insurance carriers, allowing you to select one that matches your budget and coverage needs.
Standout benefits: In addition to other tools, AFI customers receive identity theft resolution services and resources for a permanent change of station (PCS).
Availability: Armed Forces Insurance is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Armed Forces Insurance
Cost
The best way to estimate your costs is to request a quote
App available
Yes
Policy highlights
Armed Forces Insurance offers auto policies to veterans, active-duty service members and their families, as well as employees of the Department of Defense, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Public Health Service.
Terms apply.
Pros
- Rate quotes available from multiple insurers
- A+ from Better Business Bureau
- Available in all 50 states
Cons
- Only available to active-duty military, veterans, Department of Defense employees and their families
- Customer service not available on weekends
Best for active-duty military: USAA
Who's this for? Available only to current and former military members and their families, USAA consistently has low rates. Additionally, it offers features suited to military life, such as a 60% discount on car storage while you're deployed and 15% off comprehensive coverage for parking on base.
Standout benefits: Unlike some competitors, USAA offers car replacement assistance, which can pay up to 120% of a car's cash value if it's totaled or stolen.
Availability: USAA auto insurance is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
- Cheapest insurer for liability policies
- Stellar customer satisfaction scores
- Available in all 50 states
- Limited to military families and veterans
- No physical branches
- Customer service not available 24/7
- Safe-driver discount not available in every state
Best for discounts: Farmers
Who's this for? Farmers Insurance has nearly two dozen car insurance discounts, including 10% off for service members and veterans.
Standout benefits: Farmers also offers discounts for going paperless, paying on time, being a homeowner and installing anti-theft features. Drivers who bundle home and auto insurance can save up to 20%.
Availability: Farmers car insurance is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Farmers Auto Insurance
Cost
The best way to estimate your costs is to request a quote
App available
Yes
Policy highlights
Farmers sells car insurance in every state except Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia and offers a whopping 23 discounts.
Terms apply.
Read our review of Farmers car insurance
Pros
- Offers 23 types of discounts
- Below-average NAIC complaints
- Ability to bundle coverage with other products
Cons
- Not all discounts are available in every state
- Average premium higher than the national average
Best for customer satisfaction: Auto-Owners
Who's this for? Auto-Owners boasts high customer satisfaction scores from J.D. Power and far fewer complaints than its competitors, making it a good choice if service is your priority.
Standout benefits: Auto-Owners offers accident forgiveness and useful add-ons, like gap insurance and additional expense coverage.
Availability: Auto-Owners car insurance is available in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin.
- Accident forgiveness is an add-on
- High customer satisfaction scores from J.D. Power
- Covers modified cars and vehicles converted for the disabled
- Only available in 26 states
- Quotes must be obtained through an agent
- Claims must be filed with an agent
Best for low-mileage drivers: Nationwide
Who's this for? SmartMiles, Nationwide's pay-per-mile program, can save low-mileage drivers up to 20% on insurance costs compared to a traditional policy, according to the company's website.
Standout benefits: Nationwide has low rates for a variety of groups, including older people, parents of teen drivers and high-risk motorists.
Availability: Nationwide car insurance is available in all states except Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana and Massachusetts.
- Available in 46 states and Washington, D.C.
- Lowest average premiums for full coverage
- Quotes available online
- High average premium for minimum coverage
- Lower than average scores from J.D. Power's customer satisfaction survey
Who qualifies for a military discount?
Each company sets its own requirements, but military discounts are typically available to current or former members of the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Space Force and Coast Guard, as well as members of the National Guard or Reserves, cadets, midshipmen, officer candidates and ROTC.
Some discounts may also be available to employees of the Department of Defense and other agencies.
How much can military members save on car insurance?
Many car insurance companies offer military discounts, including those we've picked as standouts. Military members and their families can typically save 10% to 15% when a discount is offered, according to our research. And, those who are deployed might save even more.
Here are the discounts our top picks offer:
Car Insurance Military Discounts
| Provider | Military discount |
|---|---|
| USAA | Up to 60% for storing vehicle during deployment, up to 15% off comprehensive coverage for parking on base |
| Geico | Up to 15% for active or retired military, up to 25% off for deployed service member |
| Armed Forces Insurance | Contact for more details |
| Farmers | Up to 10% |
| Auto-Owners | Not offered |
| Nationwide | Not offered |
How service members can save on car insurance
Active-duty service members and veterans can get discounts in several ways, including:
- Military discounts: Many major insurance providers, including Geico, State Farm and Liberty Mutual, offer discounts for active-duty and retired military members. In addition, Louisiana requires insurers to give a 25% discount on liability insurance to active-duty military personnel and reservists in the state.
- Deployment discounts: Geico also offers a 25% discount for military personnel deployed in support of "a declared U.S. military emergency." USAA will offer up to 60% off in most states if you store your vehicle while you're deployed.
- On-base discount: Parking your car on a military base can also earn you up to 15% off comprehensive coverage from USAA.
- Regular discounts: Service members and veterans can often combine a military discount with other rate reductions, including for bundling, practicing safe driving, getting good grades and being a homeowner.
- Raise your credit score: Those with lower credit scores tend to pay more for coverage than those with higher credit scores. Paying bills on time and in full can help you boost your score.
- Increase your deductible: The amount you'll pay if you're involved in an accident is called your deductible. Typically, the higher your deductible, the lower your premium. Raising it could lower the price you'll pay. However, you'll want to keep it reasonable, as you'll need to be able to afford it if something unexpected happens.
- Bundle your home and auto insurance: Whether you rent or own your home, getting the coverage you need for both your house and your car could help you get a discount.
Offers in this section are from affiliate partners and selected based on a combination of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and consistent availability.
Geico auto coverage is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., with 16 discounts and add-ons like roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement and mechanical breakdown insurance.
Progressive offers an array of riders, including rideshare insurance and a Deductible Savings Bank that deducts $50 each policy period you go without a claim. It also offers mechanical breakdown insurance, which covers unexpected major system failures.
Military car insurance FAQs
What is the cheapest car insurance for veterans?
Which car insurance company has the best military discount?
The best car insurance company for a military discount depends on your status: Geico has a standard 15% military discount and Liberty Mutual has a 12% discount for members of the Military Benefit Association. If you park your car on base, however, USAA will take 15% off its already low rates for comprehensive coverage. And if you store your vehicle while deployed, USAA will give you up to 60% off in most states.
What do I need to show to get a military discount on car insurance?
To get a military discount on car insurance, you'll need to provide proof of your eligibility. This may include a letter of deployment, DD-214, NGB-22, discharge certificate, academy appointment letter or ROTC contract.
Is USAA only for active military?
USAA car insurance is available to active, retired and reserve members of the military and their family members, including widows and ex-spouses who have not remarried.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice to help them make informed financial decisions. Every car insurance review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of car insurance products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
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Our methodology
To determine the best auto insurance companies for veterans and military members, CNBC Select analyzed several insurance companies.
We focused on car insurance companies that prioritized the special needs of military life. When narrowing down and ranking our choices, we focused on availability, ease of use and customer satisfaction, using data from J.D. Power, the Better Business Bureau and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, as well as financial strength ratings from A.M. Best.
Data on car insurance rates is from Bankrate. Average annual premium data was based on a 40-year-old male and female driver with a 2021 Toyota Camry, commuting five days a week for a total of 12,000 miles annually, and a clean driving record and good credit score. Rates were based on the following coverage:
- $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $50,000 property damage liability per accident
- $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
- $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
- $500 collision deductible
- $500 comprehensive deductible
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.
Based on these criteria, our picks for the best car insurance for veterans and military families are:
For affordability: Geico
For rate shopping: Armed Forces Insurance
For active-duty military: USAA
For discounts: Farmers
For customer satisfaction: Auto-Owners
For infrequent drivers: Nationwide
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