Whether you’re an active-duty service member or veteran, you can save on car insurance with providers that offer military discounts.
Some companies have additional benefits for members of the armed forces, like dedicated support lines and the option to suspend coverage while deployed.
CNBC Select has chosen the best car insurance for current and former military members and their families, based on cost, coverage, customer service and other factors. (See our methodology for more information.)
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Best for active-duty military: USAA
USAA Auto Insurance
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Cost
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App available
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Policy highlights
USAA auto insurance is available to service members, veterans and their families in all 50 states and Washington D.C.. In addition to low rates, USAA offers discounts if you are deployed or store your vehicle on base.
Pros
- Cheapest insurer for liability-only coverage
- Stellar customer satisfaction scores
- Track record of financial strength
- Available in all 50 states
Cons
- Limited to military families and veterans
- No brick-and-mortar offices
- Customer service is not available 24/7
- Safe-driver discount not available in every state
Who’s this for? USAA is available to active duty and reserve military, veterans with honorable discharges, cadets and midshipmen, officer candidates and advanced ROTC members, as well as their spouses and children.
Standout benefits: USAA has some of the cheapest rates for both minimum and full coverage of any providers we’ve reviewed. Unlike some competitors, it offers car replacement assistance, which can pay out up to 120% of a car’s cash value if it’s totaled or stolen.
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Best for affordability: Geico
Geico Auto Insurance
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Cost
The best way to estimate your costs is to request a quote
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App available
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Policy highlights
Geico auto coverage is available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. It offers 16 discounts and a variety of optional add-ons, such as emergency roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement and mechanical breakdown insurance.
Pros
- Low average rates
- Can buy and manage policies online
- Available nationwide
Cons
- No gap insurance or rideshare insurance
- Fewer branches for in-person services
- Pay-per-mile car insurance not available
Who’s this for? Geico offers current and former military a discount of up to 15% off its already low rates. If you’re deployed to an imminent danger zone, there’s a discount of up to 25%.
Standout benefits: Service members enjoy global coverage and access to a dedicated customer service line staffed by veterans. Active-duty customers can suspend or reduce coverage during military duties.
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Best for rate shopping: Armed Forces Insurance
Armed Forces Insurance
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Cost
The best way to estimate your costs is to request a quote
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App available
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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.
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
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: AFI members receive identity theft resolution services, resources for a permanent change of station (PCS) and a PTSD card you can present to others if your symptoms may be triggered.
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Best for discounts: Farmers
Farmers Auto Insurance
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Cost
The best way to estimate your costs is to request a quote
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App available
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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.
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
Who’s this for? Farmers Insurance has nearly two dozen discounts for car insurance, including a 10% reduction for former and current military.
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%.
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Best for customer satisfaction: Auto-Owners
Auto-Owners Insurance
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Cost
The best way to estimate your costs is to request a quote
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App available
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Policy highlights
Auto-Owners offers affordable premiums with high customer satisfaction ratings. There are 12 different types of discounts available, as well as various other types of insurance besides auto.
Pros
- Offers at-fault accident forgiveness as an add-on
- High customer satisfaction scores from J.D. Power
- Low NAIC complaint index score
Cons
- Only available in 26 states
- Quotes must be obtained through an agent
- Claims must be filed through an agent
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 option if excellent service is your priority.
Standout benefits: Auto-Owners offers accident forgiveness and useful add-ons like gap insurance and additional expense coverage. Policies for classic and antique cars can be written on an agreed-value basis.
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Best for infrequent drivers: Nationwide
Nationwide Auto Insurance
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Cost
The best way to estimate your costs is to request a quote
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App available
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Policy highlights
Nationwide offers near-nationwide availability and personalized services, such as On Your Side® Review, a free annual insurance evaluation to ensure you are adequately protected and are taking advantage of any discounts available to you.
Pros
- Available in 46 states and the District of Columbia
- Lowest average premiums for full coverage
- Quotes available online
Cons
- High average premium for minimum coverage
- Not available in all states
- Lower than average scores from J.D. Power’s customer satisfaction survey
More on our best car insurance companies for veterans and military families
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 |
USAA
Insuring military families since 1922, USAA is one of our top picks in a variety of categories, including for affordable coverage and for high-risk drivers. It routinely receives some of J.D. Power’s highest scores for customer satisfaction with auto insurance.
Nationwide availability: Available in all 50 U.S. states and Washington D.C.
Better Business Bureau rating: A+
Military discounts: Up to 60% off for storing your vehicle during deployment (not available in Hawaii, North Carolina or Virginia), up to 15% off comprehensive coverage for parking on base.
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Geico
A wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Geico is the third largest auto insurer in the U.S., with $39.8 billion in direct premiums in 2023. It receives fewer complaints about car insurance than similarly sized insurers, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, but was ranked below average by users in most regions in J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Auto Insurance Study.
Nationwide availability: Available in all 50 U.S. states and Washington D.C.
Military discounts: Up to 15% for active or retired military (eligibility varies by state), up to 25% off for military deployed to an imminent danger zone.
Better Business Bureau rating:: A+
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Armed Forces Insurance
Nationwide availability: Available in all 50 U.S. states and Washington D.C.
Better Business Bureau rating: A+
Military discounts: Contact for details
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Farmers
Nationwide availability: Available in all 50 U.S. states and Washington D.C.
Better Business Bureau rating: A+
Military discount: Up to 10%
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Auto-Owners
Nationwide availability: 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
Better Business Bureau rating: A+
Military discounts: None
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Nationwide
National availability: Available in 46 U.S. states and Washington D.C. It is not available in Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, or Massachusetts.
Better Business Bureau rating: A+
Military discounts: None
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FAQs
What is the cheapest car insurance for veterans?
Based on sample quotes, USAA and Geico offer the lowest rates for service members, veterans and their families. Individual rates will vary, however, based on your location, age, driving history and other factors.
Who qualifies for military car insurance discounts?
Car insurance companies have different requirements but, typically, military discounts are available to current or former members of the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Space Force or Coast Guard, as well as members of the National Guard or Reserves, cadets, midshipmen, officer candidates and ROTC. Some discounts may be available to employees of the Department of Defense and other agencies, as well.
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.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. 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. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best car insurance for veterans and military families.
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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 and data on car insurance rates from Bankrate.com.
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
After reviewing the above features, we sorted our recommendations by best for active military, for affordability, for rate shopping, for military discounts, for customer satisfaction and for infrequent drivers.
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.
Premiums and policy structures cited may fluctuate with company policy
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Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
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