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Mandy Sleight has over 15 years of insurance knowledge and expertise in auto, home, life, health, pet, supplemental benefits, and other insurance products. She’s a sought-after insurance expert, appearing in Bankrate.com, Moneygeek.com, U.S. News & World Report, Reviews.com, CNET, and other publications, and she's been writing for Compare.com since 2023.
Mandy uses her background and experience working for well-known insurance companies like State Farm and Nationwide Insurance to create engaging and easy-to-understand content that helps readers make smarter insurance choices that have a positive effect on their budgets and finances.
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Lequita Westbrooks is an insurance editor at Compare.com. Her writing and editing experiences span several industries, including insurance, personal finance, higher education, and more. She excels at explaining complex topics like auto insurance in simple, easy-to-understand language and is passionate about helping readers save money. Lequita graduated from the University of South Florida, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English.
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Active-duty military and veterans can usually get more affordable car insurance with a military discount. Compared to most car insurance discounts, this one is hard to find and is available from only a few insurance companies. Some insurers may offer the discount only in select states.
GEICO offers military members up to 15% savings on their auto insurance premiums, but availability may vary by coverage type and state. It’s among the cheapest car insurance companies overall, according to our research. GEICO also offers a long list of other discounts to help you lower your costs and scores relatively high in our head-to-head ratings.
Here’s more information on the GEICO military discount, including who qualifies, how to get it, and other ways to save.
What Is the GEICO Military Discount?
Members of the military community have been insuring their vehicles with GEICO since 1936. The insurance giant offers a special military discount for active-duty, retired, and honorably discharged military service members that can lower your car insurance premiums by up to 15%.
But GEICO doesn’t stop there. It has a dedicated military team to answer any questions or concerns about your policy, your discount, or how your service or discharge will affect your insurance. GEICO’s Military Center is also available to help you before, during, and after deployment, including pre-deployment checklists and helping you reintegrate into civilian life.
Next, we’ll discuss how to qualify and sign up for the GEICO military discount.
GEICO Military Discount Eligibility Requirements
GEICO offers a military discount to active-duty and retired military members, including National Guard and Reserves members. You can qualify from any of the six military branches, including:
Air Force
Army
Coast Guard
Marine Corps
Navy
Space Force
Active-duty soldiers, reservists, National Guard members, honorably discharged, and retired military veterans can qualify for savings with auto insurance through GEICO.
GEICO is already one of the cheapest auto insurance companies, so it’s worth getting a quote if you currently have insurance elsewhere. It also has several other military-specific discounts, which we discuss in more detail below.
Here’s how easy it is to sign up for the GEICO military discount.
How to Sign Up for the GEICO Military Discount
You can sign up for the GEICO military discount when applying for a new car insurance policy or by adding it to your existing one. Although several policy service options are available online and through GEICO’s mobile app, you have to call customer service or visit your local GEICO agent to apply the military discount to your policy.
You should expect to provide proof of current or past military affiliation, such as your current Department of Defense (DOD) orders or separation paperwork (i.e., a DD-214 form) if you received an honorable discharge or retired.
GEICO Military Discount vs. the Competition
If you’re part of the military community, chances are you can qualify for GEICO’s military discount. It’s one of a few companies offering military-specific savings.
The table below shows how GEICO compares to other insurers offering a military discount for eligible members and military families, according to our research.
Company ▲▼ | Discount Description ▲▼ | Military Discount ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
USAA | Savings for storing your vehicle on base | Up to 60% |
Direct Auto | Available for active service members in Alabama, Florida, and Louisiana | Up to 25% |
GEICO | Provides savings for active-duty and retired military members | Up to 15% |
USAA | Discount on comprehensive coverage when garaging your vehicle on a military base | Up to 15% |
Liberty Mutual | Available for active-duty military members, veterans, and reservists | Up to 10% |
Farmers | Affinity savings available for active-duty, reserves, honorably discharged, and retired service members | Up to 10% |
Armed Forces Insurance | Savings for active-duty and retired military, DOD civilian employees, and their immediate families | Varies |
Though USAA and Direct Auto offer a larger military discount, not everyone will qualify for coverage. For example, USAA only provides 60% savings when you store your car on base and don’t drive it. And Direct Auto only offers up to 25% savings in three states.
We found that GEICO offers better savings on your total insurance premium than other insurers with a military discount.
GEICO’s Other Military Savings and Benefits
The military discount isn’t the only special discount you can get from GEICO. The company has several other savings opportunities available, including:
Emergency deployment discounts: If you receive orders to a DOD-designated area and store your vehicle under one of GEICO’s storage protection plans, you can save up to 25% on your auto policy.
Storage protection plan: GEICO will either suspend or reduce your insurance policy coverage when you store your vehicle for 30 or more days for military duties. Savings vary by state, vehicle, and coverage type.
Military membership group discount: GEICO offers affiliation discounts in most states for members of over 500 groups, including the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA), and Navy League of the United States (NLUS). Discount varies by group.
6 Ways Military Members Can Save on a GEICO Policy
GEICO offers an extensive list of car insurance discounts, many of which military members can stack together for cheaper auto insurance rates. Here are a few GEICO discounts you might qualify for:
Federal employee: Active and retired federal employees can get up to 12% in premium reductions with the company’s Eagle discount.
Good driver: Going at least five years without causing an accident can qualify you for the safe driver discount, which helps you save up to 22% on most insurance coverages.
Driver’s education: Young drivers who complete a driver’s education course can save on most insurance coverages. Keep in mind that savings vary by state.
Good student: Full-time students with a B or above grade point average can save up to 15% on some coverages.
Multi-car: Insure more than one car with GEICO to save up to 25%.
Multi-policy: To get the multi-policy discount, bundle your car insurance with a condo, mobile home, renters, or homeowners policy from GEICO. The savings amount varies by state and policy type.
GEICO Military Discount FAQs
A military discount can help you save on your car insurance. Below, we’ve answered some questions about the GEICO military discount so you can decide if it’s right for you.
Is GEICO or USAA better for military members?
GEICO is one of the best car insurance companies available for military members, offering several military-specific discounts to help you get the cheapest rates. But if you’re storing your vehicle for deployment, you might get the best deal from USAA, which offers up to 60% savings on premiums compared to GEICO’s 25%.
Can veterans get a GEICO military discount?
Yes. The GEICO military discount is available for active-duty and retired military service members, including members of the National Guard and Reserves. You may also be eligible for additional discounts if you’re a member of organizations such as the Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA).
What is the cheapest car insurance for military members?
The cheapest car insurance companies for military members are GEICO and Armed Forces Insurance, according to our research. Since rates vary by insurer, your unique driving profile, and your coverage needs, it’s worth comparing quotes from several companies to determine the best company for you.
Can families of service members use military discounts?
It depends. Most auto insurance companies with military discounts offer them only to military personnel, not their families. Armed Forces Insurance extends the discount to immediate family members (spouses and children) of current and past service members.
Sources:
Insurance Information Institute, “8 auto insurance myths,” accessed October 28, 2024.
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Mandy Sleight has over 15 years of insurance knowledge and expertise in auto, home, life, health, pet, supplemental benefits, and other insurance products. She’s a sought-after insurance expert, appearing in Bankrate.com, Moneygeek.com, U.S. News & World Report, Reviews.com, CNET, and other publications, and she's been writing for Compare.com since 2023.
Mandy uses her background and experience working for well-known insurance companies like State Farm and Nationwide Insurance to create engaging and easy-to-understand content that helps readers make smarter insurance choices that have a positive effect on their budgets and finances.
)
)
Lequita Westbrooks is an insurance editor at Compare.com. Her writing and editing experiences span several industries, including insurance, personal finance, higher education, and more. She excels at explaining complex topics like auto insurance in simple, easy-to-understand language and is passionate about helping readers save money. Lequita graduated from the University of South Florida, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English.