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car insurance for military members

The 5 Best car insurance providers for military members

In the military, there are tons of moving pieces. Knowing which companies provide our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen with quality car insurance can make moving and deploying much easier on the service members and their families. So, what are the five best insurance providers for military members?

Do Military Members Pay Car Insurance?

Military members pay car insurance. Like every other customer that the insurance companies have, military members pay. Their cars get into accidents and require tows, and body shop stays just like everyone else. While companies offer discounts to active duty personnel, check before joining an insurance company that doesn’t provide a value for vets and active duty.

Discounts aren’t waiving fees. Military personnel should know that getting a better rate doesn’t mean prices and additional costs won’t be incurred. Insurance companies work to make a profit and often won’t have a one-size-fits-all solution to military problems. So do your research before you sign up for a long-term deal.

Do Military Members Get Cheaper Car Insurance?

Military members can get cheaper car insurance.  Like their veteran counterparts, active-duty personnel get more affordable insurance. Depending on the company, they are offered lower rates that fit into regular military pay schedules and encourage on-time payments.

Some organizations that receive discounts for Military service are:

  • Marine Corps
  • Navy
  • Army
  • Air Force
  • Coast Guard
  • Space Force

Some companies will take their pay systems a step further and allow all payments to automatically come out of the bank account linked through the paymaster. Military members should check with their command about making changes to their payments and billing allowed by their units.

Is USAA Cheap Auto Insurance?

USAA provides some of the cheapest and most cost-effective auto insurance in the market. They operate out of a few small branches, mainly in Texas, and deal only with military members and their families. In addition, the exclusivity of USAA makes them able to provide a much lower rate than other companies on almost any wheeled vehicle.

Cheap should not be confused with poor service. USAA has a 24/7/365 service that regularly receives high marks in customer satisfaction. They are used to dealing with veterans and have the know-how and will to make your peace of mind their top priority.

The Five Best Car Insurance Providers for Military Members

Companies fall over themselves to get the business of active-duty personnel. They provide discounts and special rates to attract those heroes in uniform and pride themselves on making processes easy to navigate for every one qualified. However, just because they say they are good doesn’t mean they are. Do your research and find the right company for your situation.

The five best companies for military personnel car insurance are:

  • USAA
  • GEICO
  • Esurance
  • Armed Forces Insurance
  • State Farm

USAA Sets the Standard for Military Car Insurance Companies

When it comes to having the gold standard for military member car insurance, look no further than USAA. They have one of the most highly rated customer service outfits in the insurance industry and have a knack for working with active duty personnel and even salty old vets.

They boast an average contract of only $725 per term, equal to 125 dollars a contract, or six months. That’s much cheaper than the military rate with other companies and will be a breeze to pay regardless of your pay grade.

Some resources USAA offers to active duty service members are:

  • Discounts – USAA can heap on the values during your term. They offer defensive and safe driving discounts and an additional discount for those teaching their children or spouses to drive.
  • Number of Policies Discount – In addition, if you and your spouse are both on active duty, you will get another special discount. That means that both of your cars can be stored during deployment and checked for annual mileage wear and tear.
  • Membership Savings – Since USAA already has some of the lowest rates on the market and a decent stable of discounts and savings, they decided to give you savings for just being a member. In addition, they have a set of savings that increases each time you add a family member to the company or stay with the company.

Accessibility is the most essential thing for busy Marines who need to pay their bills while training. USAA provides its members with several different ways to pay their bills no matter where or when they are.

A few ways that USAA makes its services more accessible to its members are:

  • App Access – USAA is known for having a fantastic app that allows you to file any claims online while checking your banking balance or your home loan application status.
  • Easy Payments – If you have a position that keeps you in constant training or out in the field, having a way to make easy payments could be desirable. USAA provides several different options for making payments. They have a direct debit program as well as old-fashioned cash if you feel the need.
  • Excellent Claims Division – One of the hardest things about having insurance can be filing a claim. At USAA, the claims division is one of its hardest-working arms, with agents standing ready by phone whenever the need arises. However, they make filing claims easy and are a source of comfort during the claims process.

USAA goes out of its way to advertise and connect with military members and their families. Take the time to call and talk with a representative and learn all the fantastic services, besides car insurance, that they offer to those in service to our country.

Geico Works Perfectly for Active Duty Service Personnel

You may not know much more about Geico than the Gecko commercials that appear on most channels and streaming services. What you might not know is that they have a top-tier service dedicated to those brave men and women who are actively serving.

Some things that Geico offers to active duty military personnel:

  • 15% Discount – Geico offers a 15% discount for all of its military and veteran members. It is a no-brainer when you take this off the top and add it to all the other ways that Geico can save you money. Picking Geico over the other companies can save you money!
  • Membership Discount – Another great way to save money on your car insurance is to be a member of a professional organization. There are tons, like the Association of the United States Army, that get extra discounts on car insurance with companies like Geico.
  • Deployment Discount – Going on deployment is one of the hardest things to go through while in the service. Geico makes it much easier by having a discount to keep their cars insured while they are down-range earning their paycheck.

Geico has a stand-alone phone line just for military insurance problems. You should take the time and talk with a representative if you have any questions about the coverage or any other hidden discounts they may offer.

Esurance is Known for Having Low Rates and Excellent Service

A company that is well known for having low rates and a fantastic customer service experience for military members is Esurance. Having a mainly online presence, they are able to offer a much steeper discount, often 25%, to their active duty service personnel.

A few things that Esurance offers active-duty servicemembers are:

  • Online Claims – Esurance makes no bones about what they do. They provide a much more cost-friendly product by cutting out large offices and expensive advertising. In addition, their online suite for file claims is something to marvel at. It keeps you up to date and step-by-step as your car undergoes repairs and your claim is serviced.
  • Lower Rates – While there is no publicized discount for military members, Esurance provides their services at a much lower cost that could rival any deal that you could get from a much larger and better-advertised company.

Today people can get caught up in the hype machine that surrounds a company. Don’t be fooled by companies with flashy ads but offer little substance to your demanding military needs. Always do your research and find out what is going to work best for you and your family.

Armed Forces Insurance Company Caters to Active Duty Personnel

Armed Forces Insurance is one of those companies you may not have heard of. Like their rival USAA, AFI forgoes branches to have a few open spots for their crackerjack team of customer service professionals to handle your military-related problems. They have excellent customer service and can hang with heavyweights in the discount department.

Some of the things that the Armed Forces Insurance company can do for you are:

  • Different Coverages – Having the car insurance coverage that best fits your needs is the top priority of AFI. They offer everything from a collector car discount to comprehensive coverage that protects your car against things that aren’t caused by a collision.
  • More Drivers – Some companies don’t allow others to drive your vehicles. With the AFI, you get the option to let your spouse and other drivers, with your permission, drive your car and not be in trouble if they have an accident.

The Armed Forces Insurance company has some ground to gain to catch up with USAA, but that doesn’t reflect their standing as a company. Instead, they provide customers with great customer service while having a product that stands out in a uniform market.

State Farm Works with Active Duty Personnel

It never hurts to go with a company with a long tradition of helping the troops and providing industry-standard customer service. State Farm is one of the highest-producing insurance companies in America and always stands behind their product. In addition, they give discounts to active duty and veterans alike.

A couple of ways State Farm provides extra benefits to active-duty Marines, Airmen, Soldiers, and Sailors are:

  • Several Discount Options – State Farm has such a big business that they can provide several different types of discounts. For example, they have savings that reward you for being a safe driver or even having a car with an auto-theft system attached.
  • Multiple Line – When a Marine needs car insurance, chances are that down the line, they will need home or renters insurance as well. If you use State Farm, you get a much more significant discount by having several different lines of coverage.

State Farm also has the benefit of having local offices. Most towns in America will have a State Farm as it has been a staple of the insurance community for several decades. Having a local branch near your base could be a great way to have any questions answered or if you prefer face-to-face meetings over robocalls and operators.

Conclusion

Active-duty military personnel has one of the most stressful jobs on the planet. They have to worry about performing their jobs while keeping themselves and their battle buddies out of harm’s way. One thing they do not need to worry about is car insurance. Instead, choose a company that makes payments easy and claims a breeze to maximize their benefit.

Several companies are dying to have your business and will save you tons of time and money.  Take the time and work with someone who understands the military situation and could have been in the service themselves.