Best car insurance for military families

Written by: Jennifer Brozic
• Updated •4 min read
This date indicates our editors’ last comprehensive review and may not reflect recent changes in individual terms.
A mother wearing cargo military pants plays with her young son on the floor using wooden cars.Image: A mother wearing cargo military pants plays with her young son on the floor using wooden cars.

In a Nutshell

There’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution for car insurance. This is especially true for members of the military who may move from base to base or get deployed overseas with little notice. The best military auto insurance offers servicemembers essential coverage, discounts to help them save and policy-specific features that address their unique needs.
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Every person’s car insurance needs are unique.

A policy that may be a good fit for someone working a traditional 9-to-5 office job may not be a military member’s best bet. Servicemembers may face unique challenges civilians don’t, including frequent moves to different military bases and deployments with little notice.

Some insurance companies work solely with military members and their families. And others offer discounts, services and policy options that meet their unique needs. We’ve rounded up our top picks of the best military auto insurance companies.

Best overall: USAA

Why USAA stands out above the rest: USAA only serves military members and their families, giving them a special understanding of the unique challenges servicemembers face. The company offers up to a 15% discount on comprehensive coverage when you garage your vehicle on base and up to a 60% discount when you put your vehicle in storage during a deployment. Plus, you can earn a discount if you’re driving less due to a deployment or other reasons.

What to know about USAA

USAA offers standard auto insurance coverage like collision, comprehensive and liability, as well as optional roadside assistance and rental reimbursement. Depending on the state you live in, you may also have an option for personal injury protection coverage.

This insurer promotes a wide range of discounts and offers coverage for many types of vehicles, including automobiles, motorcycles, ATVs, RVs, motorhomes, classic and collector cars, boats, personal watercraft and aircraft. You can get policy updates or file claims 24/7 online and through USAA’s mobile app.

USAA has above-average customer satisfaction scores in J.D. Power’s 2022 U.S. Auto Insurance Study.

USAA offers coverage in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Read our full review of USAA insurance.

Best for military discounts: GEICO

Why GEICO could be a good choice: Those on active duty as well as retired servicemembers or members of the National Guard or Reserves may get a discount from GEICO of up to 15%. You can save more if you’re a member of certain military organizations or deployed to an imminent danger pay area and put your car in storage while deployed. The company also has many other non-military-specific discounts, giving servicemembers more opportunities to save.

What to know about GEICO insurance

GEICO has standard auto insurance policies and additional coverage options like roadside assistance, rental reimbursement and mechanical breakdown.

Servicemembers can reduce or suspend their coverage during deployment, and electronic payment options are available so coverage doesn’t lapse during overseas deployments.

The company received above-average customer satisfaction scores in the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Auto Insurance Study in all regions of the United States except the Southeast and Texas.

GEICO is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Read our full review of GEICO insurance.

Best for retired veterans: Liberty Mutual

Why Liberty Mutual could be a good choice: Liberty Mutual provides a military discount to active, retired and reserve personnel, and you can save even more if you’re a member of the Military Benefits Association. The company insures a wide range of vehicles, offers specialty coverage options you may not find at other companies and has multiple non-military car insurance discounts to help support your lifestyle now that you’re no longer on active duty.

What to know about Liberty Mutual insurance

Liberty Mutual has an array of standard and specialized coverage options, including accident forgiveness, new car replacement, better car replacement, gap coverage and more.

The company provides many ways to save, but did receive below average customer satisfaction scores in all parts of the U.S. except the central region in J.D. Power’s 2022 U.S. Auto Insurance Study.

Liberty Mutual is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Read our full review of Liberty Mutual insurance.

Best for military families with children: Farmers

Why Farmers could be a good choice: Farmers offers a military discount to active-duty personnel, retired and honorably discharged veterans and active reserve members. Plus, the company has other ways families with children can save — whether they live at home or on their own. Discounts include “youthful” driver, good student, distant student, shared family car and on your own.

What to know about Farmers insurance

Farmers received below-average satisfaction ratings from J.D. Power’s 2022 U.S. Auto Insurance Study. However, the company offers a wide range of coverage, including non-standard options like “glass deductible buyback” for broken windshields, plus loss of use, new car replacement and guaranteed value. There are multiple ways to file a claim, including online, by text, over the phone or through the mobile app.

This insurer is not available in Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont or West Virginia.

Read our full review of Farmers insurance.

How we picked these insurers

To come up with our top picks for military auto insurance, we reviewed the websites of nearly a dozen insurance companies and J.D. Power’s 2022 Auto Insurance Study.

We chose the insurers in this article after weighing factors we thought would be helpful to servicemembers and their families, including:

  • Discounts
  • Special services or accommodations for military members
  • Customer satisfaction
  • Coverage options
  • Types of vehicles insured

FAQs about military auto insurance

Does the military pay for servicemembers’ car insurance?

No. Military members are responsible for purchasing their auto insurance policies.

Is car insurance cheaper if you’re in the military?

Many factors affect car insurance rates, including driving history, location, age, vehicle make and model, credit-based insurance scores and more. Some insurers offer military discounts to help servicemembers save. But being in the military doesn’t automatically mean you’ll pay less for coverage than a civilian.

Is USAA only for the military

Yes. USAA’s offerings are only available to military members and their families.

About the author: Jennifer Brozic is a freelance financial services writer with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Maryland and a master’s degree in communication management from Towson University. She’s committed… Read more.