As a military member, you may have unique needs that make looking for auto insurance a challenge. While the best insurance company that offers a military discount is GEICO — which offers discounts to those deployed in an emergency — many other companies provide auto insurance for military members and veterans.
Insurance Companies that Offer Military Discounts for Car Insurance
For military members and veterans looking for military discounts, GEICO, USAA and Esurance have the best offers overall. Companies in your area may offer better military discounts, so it’s always wise to research your options.
Updated: August 20, 2024
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Key Takeaways
Some providers offer car insurance discounts for current and former military members and their families.
If cost savings is your priority, USAA offers the cheapest options, and their plans are only available to military members and their families.
GEICO offers the best auto insurance discounts for military members and veterans.
Why Trust MoneyGeek? MoneyGeek collected data on discount offerings from various car insurance providers and reviewed this data to determine which car insurance companies offer the best military discounts.
Which Companies Offer Military Discounts for Car Insurance?
GEICO, Farmers and Liberty Mutual are some of the most widely available insurance companies that offer military discounts. Many regional companies also provide discounts to service members and those that don’t often offer easier cancellation processes for active service members who get deployed. Many companies have beneficial car insurance packages for military members.
Companies that Offer Military Discounts
Company | Available Discount Description |
---|---|
API | Armed Forces Insurance is similar to USAA in that it grants policies |
Alfa | Alfa offers an incentive of $500 for active service members and |
American Family | For all active duty members, reserves, veterans and first responders |
Arbella | Through their MIlitary Away discount, Arabella grants a 10% |
Direct Auto | Direct Auto offers up to 25% discounts on key auto insurance |
Direct General | Direct General offers discounts to active service members who can |
Esurance | For military members called into active duty, Esurance offers the |
Farm Bureau – | Drivers from the United States Armed Forces are eligible for a |
Farmers | Farmers offers discounts to those in the military, including active |
Freeway | Freeway offers a military discount to active-duty and retired service |
GEICO |
|
Kemper | Active duty military and National Guard members are eligible for a |
Liberty Mutual | Active duty, retired or reserved military drivers are eligible for a |
Shelter | Shelter provides discounts to active military members and their |
USAA | Aside from offering policies exclusive to military members, USAA |
Best Auto Insurance Companies With Military Discounts
Based on MoneyGeek’s analysis, GEICO is the best insurance company that offers a military discount.
Best Overall: GEICO
pros
Has several common discounts to help lower premiums
Offers a military discount of up to 15% on your total premium
Has a dedicated military phone number for service members
cons
Does not offer unique military coverages
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
GEICO offers cheap policies and a variety of discounts to help drivers lower their premiums. For military members, they offer two discounts: an emergency deployment benefit and a general military discount.
- Military Discount: If you are an active duty or retired military member, you can be eligible for a discount of up to 15%.
- Emergency Deployment Discount: You can be eligible for a discount if you get deployed due to an emergency to one of the DOD designated areas.
- Membership Discount: GEICO offers discounts for members of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA), Navy League of the United States (NLUS) or the Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU).
Cheapest Overall: USAA
pros
Offers exclusive policies for military members at the most affordable rates
Has a discount for customers who store their vehicles on base
Has a high customer satisfaction rating
cons
Offers policies only to military members and their families
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
USAA offers insurance policies exclusively to active or retired military members and their families. While they do not technically offer military-specific discounts, their policies for service members often come at significantly lower rates than their competitors. Since all their products are geared towards those in the military, you can be sure their services have your needs in mind.
Most companies that offer military discounts on their car insurance policies require that you be an active service member, retired or honorably discharged veteran. It’s important to be wary of financial scams meant for military members. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it’s best to avoid giving any personal, financial or medical information until you’re sure the company is legitimate.
Who Can Obtain Military Discounts for Car Insurance?
While military discounts are typically available for military members, different insurers have varying rules on eligibility. To determine whether you qualify, you can ask your insurance provider about their requirements.
Review the list below to see who typically qualifies for a military discount.
Currently enlisted and active-duty members of the armed forces (Including national guard members).
Active-duty members of the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and National Guard are qualified for military discounts. Some insurers may require a letter of deployment or a similar document to qualify for discounts.
Retired or honorably discharged military members.
Retired or honorably discharged military members from any of the U.S. armed forces may qualify for military discounts. Different insurers have different rules and options.
U.S. service academy members, advance ROTC and ROTC scholarships.
Those in U.S. service academies may be eligible for military discounts on car insurance provided they show their academy appointment letter or ROTC contract.
Officer candidates within 24 months of commissioning.
Any officer within 24 months of commissioning may qualify for a military discount, but they may have to provide the necessary documents.
Family members, including wives, widows, widowers and children.
Immediate family of military members are often eligible for military discounts. Some insurers may require you to provide proof of relationship.
How to Get a Military Discount on Your Car Insurance
To qualify for a military discount, most insurers will require you to provide a government-issued ID and/or a document proving that you are part of the armed forces.
While the requirements vary based on your insurer, most providers follow a similar process for their military discounts.
- 1
Talk to your insurer.
Ask your insurer if they offer any military discounts and the requirements. Some companies may not display their offers on their website, but they are likely to let you know how much you can save if you talk to an agent.
- 2
Prepare a government-issued picture ID and military documentation.
Requirements can vary from insurer to insurer, but most require a government-issued picture ID and/or a military document to prove your armed forces status.
You may need to provide one of the following:
- DD-214 Discharge document
- Academy appointed letter or ROTC contract
- Active-duty military orders
- Leaving and earning statement
- NGB-22 National Guard discharge
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are a few of the most frequently asked questions on military discounts for car insurance.
Many providers across the country offer military discounts on car insurance policies. Some of the bigger insurers include GEICO, Liberty Mutual and Farmers.
GEICO is one of the best insurance companies that offer a military discount. They have a general military discount, an emergency deployment discount and a membership discount available for eligible military members.
Yes. Wives, widows and widowers, children and some eligible direct family members may be able to get military discounts. However, actual requirements and eligibility will depend on the insurer.
Ask your insurer if they offer any military discounts before applying, or even if your policy is active. They will give you a list of requirements, which often includes a government-issued picture ID and a military document, to submit for their approval.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick is a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's Head of Insurance. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. He has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.