Military Car Insurance Discount: How to Qualify, Potential Savings, and More
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Written byMandy Sleight
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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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Edited byLequita Westbrooks
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Lequita WestbrooksSenior Editor
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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Some insurance companies offer discounts to eligible military members to help them save on their car insurance. The savings vary by company but generally range from 15% to 25%. GEICO, Liberty Mutual, and Farmers are examples of insurance companies providing discounts for past and present military personnel.
Keep reading to learn how to get a military discount, which insurers offer it, and how to maximize your savings.
How Much You Can Save With a Military Discount
The amount you can save with a military discount varies by insurance company and by state. We found that Nationwide and State Farm offer some of the highest military discounts. Both insurers offer a 25% military discount, but only in Louisiana, which mandates a specific discount on auto liability coverage for active-duty military members.
Direct Auto also offers up to 25% savings for active-duty service members in Alabama, Florida, and Louisiana. The savings are typically between 15% and 25% for the remaining states where the discount is available.
How to Get a Military Discount
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The qualifications you need to meet for a military discount can vary by insurer. For example, active duty and military veterans, as well as National Guard and Reserve members, can save up to 15% on their entire premium with GEICO. Liberty Mutual’s discount applies to all active-duty, retired, and reserve personnel for any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, including the:
Air Force
Army
Coast Guard
Marine Corps
National Guard
Navy
Reserves
To apply the discount, auto insurance companies will typically ask for proof of your military status, such as your current orders, deployment assignment, or separation paperwork (e.g. DD Form 214) if you’re a veteran.
You can usually add the military discount to your auto policy online, through the company’s mobile app, or by calling your insurance agent or the company’s customer service department. It’s a good idea to log into your online account or contact your insurance agent or company to find out how to apply the discount and provide proof of military service.
Where to Get a Military Discount
Though it’s not as common as other car insurance discounts, many companies offer a military discount. Remember, savings can vary by company, state, coverage, and military status.
The table below highlights several auto insurance companies offering a military discount to eligible service members, according to our research.
Company  | Advertised Discount |
|---|---|
| USAA | Up to 60% for deployment or vehicle storage, up to 15% on comprehensive coverage when garaged on a military base |
| State Farm | 25% (in Louisiana only) |
| Nationwide | 25% (in Louisiana only) |
| Direct Auto | Up to 25% (in Alabama, Florida, and Louisiana only) |
| GEICO | Up to 15% |
| Farmers | Varies |
| Liberty Mutual | Varies |
| Armed Forces Insurance | Varies |
The best way to get the most affordable car insurance, even for the military community, is to compare quotes from several companies. Though USAA and Armed Forces Insurance cater to military families, these companies might not be the cheapest option for you.
Consider starting your quote comparison with the companies offering the largest military discounts.
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Which companies offer the largest military discounts?
Since many factors, such as your age and ZIP code, affect your cost, it’s worth comparing insurance quotes to determine which insurers are a good fit for your coverage needs and budget.
The good news is that some of the best car insurance companies offer competitive prices and potentially large savings for service members. We’ve highlighted three below to help you find the best insurance company for you.
USAA
Advertised discount amount: Up to 60%
Army officers, members of the National Guard, veterans, and other active military members can get special discounts on a USAA auto insurance policy. USAA members can also save up to 60% when storing a vehicle for any reason, including deployment.
You can also lower your comprehensive coverage cost by up to 15% if you store your vehicle at a military installation, among other discounts, such as low mileage, loyalty, a good driving record, and anti-theft devices on your car.
State Farm
Advertised discount amount: Up to 25%
Louisiana drivers can get low rates and save up to 25% on car insurance as active-duty soldiers. Deployed service members’ immediate family members can also enjoy the same savings if they live in Louisiana.
You can save even more in other ways, like completing a defensive driving course and bundling your car insurance with other insurance products, such as homeowners or life insurance. State Farm also ranked in the top five for best auto claims satisfaction in the latest J.D. Power study.
Nationwide
Advertised discount amount: Up to 25%
Nationwide offers up to 25% savings on car insurance for Louisiana active-duty military members, their spouses, and dependents. And if you have a clean driving record, you can qualify for accident forgiveness, which can prevent a potentially significant rate increase if you cause an accident.
Optional coverages like gap insurance, a vanishing deductible, and a total loss deductible waiver can also come in handy if you’re in an accident that totals your vehicle. Nationwide’s SmartMiles may also help you get lower car insurance rates if you don’t drive much.
How to Maximize Your Military Discount Savings
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Whether you’re stationed close to home or on the other side of the world, you shouldn’t have to pay higher rates for car insurance. Luckily, you can take advantage of a military discount and maximize your savings with a few tips:
Check for other discounts: Most insurers offer a wide range of discounts that are stackable, such as multi-policy, multi-car, loyalty, paying in full, and making automatic payments.
Improve your credit: Paying your bills is one way to establish good credit and lower your car insurance rates. Drivers with good credit pay substantially less for car insurance than drivers with poor credit.
Consider your coverages and deductibles: Only include the coverages you need to avoid paying more than necessary. You can also get lower rates if you choose a higher comprehensive and collision deductible — as long as you can afford the higher out-of-pocket cost if you need to file a claim.
Compare car insurance quotes: Shopping around and gathering quotes from at least three companies can help you get the lowest rates without sacrificing coverage.
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Other Common Car Insurance Discounts
Stacking discounts is an easy way to save money on car insurance. Here are a few common auto insurance discounts you may qualify for in addition to a military discount:
Multi-policy: Bundling your car with other insurance policies, like a home, boat, or life insurance policy, with the same insurer can qualify you for a multi-policy discount.
Safe driving discount: Safe drivers who avoid tickets and causing accidents can qualify for a good driver discount.
Low mileage: If you drive less than the national yearly average of 11,278 miles, you may qualify for a low-mileage discount.
New car: Buying a new car may get you a new car discount, and you could save even more if it has safety features.
Loyalty: As a military member, you could get a loyalty discount if you maintain continuous coverage with your insurance company.
Automatic payment: You won’t have to worry about paying your insurance bill late or dealing with a coverage lapse when you set up automatic payments. Plus, you’ll receive a discount.
Military Discount FAQs
Understanding the discounts available to you as a military member can help you get the best price and coverage to meet your unique needs. We answered the most common questions about military discounts to help you maximize your savings.
What’s the maximum military discount percentage?
State Farm, Nationwide, and Direct Auto offer up to 25% savings, but only in some states. USAA offers up to 60% savings while you’re on deployment or you store your car for another reason. You can’t drive the vehicle, and you must store it in a secure location to qualify for the USAA discount.
How do you get a military discount?
A military discount is available in some states and from certain insurance companies if you’re active-duty or retired military. If your auto insurance company offers a military discount, contact your insurance agent and ask what you need to provide to get the discount.
How do you know if you qualify for a military discount?
If you’re an active-duty service member or honorably discharged veteran, you probably qualify for a military discount — as long as your insurer offers one. The best way to know if you’re eligible is to contact your insurance agent or company to find out who qualifies and what you need to provide to get the discount.
What company has the cheapest car insurance for military members?
The company with the lowest rates for military members depends on personal factors like your driving record, your age, where you live, and your specific insurance coverage needs. USAA is typically among the cheapest car insurance for military members. We also found that State Farm and GEICO generally have some of the cheapest average rates, regardless of military service.
Is USAA really cheaper for veterans?
It can be, but factors like your age, driving record, claims history, state, and coverage options affect the cost of car insurance. It’s a good idea to get a quote from USAA and compare it to at least two other companies’ rates to see if it’s the cheapest option.
Sources:
Louisiana Department of Insurance, “Military Personnel - Automobile Liability Insurance Premium Discount,” accessed October 2, 2024.
J.D. Power, “2023 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study,” accessed October 2, 2024.
U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, “Highway Statistics Series: Highway Statistics 2022,” accessed October 2, 2024.
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Mandy SleightInsurance Writer
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 WestbrooksSenior Editor
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.