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Icon CheckLast updated: January 15, 2025

Best Auto Insurance for Military and Veterans 2025

USAA is the cheapest option, Erie is the best regional provider, GEICO offers the best resources and perks, Armed Forces International excels in collector vehicle insurance, and Direct Auto insures high-risk drivers.

Cheapest
USAA Logo 2023

Full Coverage Averages
• Annual Premium: $1,407
• Monthly Premium: $117

Best Regional Provider
Erie Insurance Logo

Full Coverage Averages
• Annual Premium: $1,647
• Monthly Premium: $137

Best Resources and Perks
Geico Logo

Full Coverage Averages
• Annual Premium: $1,731
• Monthly Premium: $144

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Active military members, military families, and veterans have unique auto insurance needs, including coverage for leaving vehicles in storage while stationed out of state. Our team narrowed down the top four car insurance providers with varied prices, military discounts, and flexible options for domestic and overseas coverage. Our scope not only focused on affordability but also featured other factors, including family-inclusive coverage, military perks and resources, customer service, and timely claims payouts.

USAA offers the cheapest rates, while Erie stands out as the best regional provider. GEICO provides the best resources and perks, Armed Forces International is the top choice for collector vehicle insurance, and Direct Auto caters to high-risk drivers.

For additional info, dive into our guides on the best auto insurance for drivers with a bad driving record and the best cheap car insurance carriers today.

Car and cell phoneOur Top Options for Military and Veterans

  1. USAA – Cheapest
    USAA offers some of the most affordable rates, specialized military coverage, and military-catered discounts in the industry. USAA’s exceptional policies are exclusive to military members, veterans, and military families.
  2. Erie – Best Regional Provider
    Erie consistently earns high customer satisfaction ratings across industry studies, but it’s not available nationwide. For military members who prioritize customer service in states where Erie operates, it’s a great choice for auto insurance.
  3. GEICO – Best Resources and Perks
    GEICO understands that transitioning back to civilian life isn’t always easy, which is why it has a dedicated auto insurance support team composed of military members and veterans. Get info on storage coverage, auto insurance overseas, and military pay plans from support teams with firsthand experience.

Cheapest Auto Insurance Rates for Military and Veterans

USAA, Erie, and GEICO offer some of the cheapest auto insurance rates for military and veterans.

Company Average Annual Rate Average Monthly Rate
USAA $1,407 $117
Erie $1,647 $137
GEICO $1,731 $144
Nationwide $1,808 $151
American Family $1,936 $161
Progressive $1,960 $163
State Farm $2,167 $181

What address to use for car insurance during deployment

Most insurance providers will require you to list the address where you store your vehicle, which may be different from your permanent or mailing address. To get the most accurate information, reach out to an agent to confirm the local laws and policies.

Summary of the Best Auto Insurance Companies for the Military

  1. 1.

    Cheapest: USAA

  2. 2.

    Best Regional Provider: Erie

  3. 3.

    Best Resources and Perks: GEICO

  4. 4.

    Best Collector Vehicle Insurance: Armed Forces Insurance

  5. 5.

    Best for High-Risk: Direct Auto

Comparison of the Best Auto Insurance Companies for the Military

Feature USAA Erie GEICO Armed Forces International Direct Auto
Average Annual Full Coverage Cost $1,407 $1,647 $1,731 N/A N/A
Vehicle Storage Discount Yes Yes Yes N/A No
Overseas availability Yes No Yes Yes No
Military Discounts Yes No Yes Yes Yes
J.D. Power Claims Satisfaction Score (avg. 697 out of 1,000)1 726 733 692 N/A N/A
Review USAA review Erie review GEICO review Not available Direct Auto review

Detailed List of the Best Auto Insurance Companies for the Military

1. Cheapest - USAA

What We Like Most:

  • Cheapest rates for military members
  • High customer service ratings
  • Serving military members for over 100 years
Read Full Review

USAA has facilitated the financial security of its members since 1922. It offers the cheapest rates out of the top 10 largest insurance providers and has a wide range of discounts, perks, and bundling options for military members.

USAA is available only to military members, veterans, and the families (spouses and children) of military members and veterans. With a USAA membership, you can enjoy affordable rates, financial advice, specialized coverage, and a number of other exclusive benefits, like travel deals, shopping rewards, and car rental discounts.

ProsWho It's Best For
  • pro
    Active military members, veterans, and military families
  • pro
    Deployed military members who need vehicle storage in the U.S.
  • pro
    Military families who need insurance when they move overseas
  • pro
    People who can take advantage of USAA perks, like financial advice and retirement planning
ConsWho It's Not Best For
  • con
    Non-USAA members

International Insurance and Guidance

USAA understands the challenges of deployment, leaving your family behind in the U.S., and acclimating to life abroad. Its insurance policies and features are designed to help make your time abroad as seamless as possible. With USAA, you won’t have to cancel your insurance policy if you’re deployed for a permanent change of station. Rather, USAA offers liability coverage, vehicle storage, and personal injury coverage even when you’re abroad.

Contact USAA’s advice center to learn about the ins and outs of deployment to these countries and territories:

  • Azores
  • Belgium
  • Cuba
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Guam
  • Italy
  • The Netherlands
  • Portugal
  • Puerto Rico
  • South Korea
  • Spain
  • U.S. Virgin Islands
  • United Kingdom

Military Storage Discounts

Whether you’re stationed somewhere else in the U.S. or deployed in another country, it’s not uncommon to leave your car behind. USAA understands that military families need flexibility, which is why it has several saving opportunities for military members and their families.

Here are a few ways you can save with USAA:

  • If you’re out of state on military duty, you can keep your car in storage and earn up to 60 percent off your car insurance policy.
  • If you visit home often and need your vehicle on occasion, you can sign up for USAA’s pay-per-mile coverage. The less you drive, the more you’ll save.
  • USAA offers a 15 percent discount when you garage your vehicle on a military installation. (Discount applies to comprehensive coverage only.)

Pro Tip:

Although you might be tempted to cancel your insurance policy while you’re overseas, we don’t recommend this. Insurance providers will increase your rates if you have a lapse in coverage (a 32 percent average increase for a 45-day lapse in coverage), which is why storage discounts are so beneficial if you want to maintain your rates while you’re away.

USAA Military Perks

There’s a reason that USAA is our top choice for military members, veterans, and military families. Not only does your family get access to all USAA’s affordable rates and discounts, but they can also benefit from USAA’s military benefits. Here are some of the more notable USAA membership perks:

  • 24/7 membership support for insurance, deployment questions, and transition to life abroad or back to the U.S.
  • Multiple vehicle bundling
  • Banking advice to help with your auto insurance, loans, and other financial needs
  • Expert advice for managing debt, investing, saving, and planning for events like retirement or buying a new home
  • ADT home security discount
  • Discounts for shopping, hotels, cruises, vacation tours, and travel insurance

GOOD TO KNOW:

While USAA covers high-risk drivers in many cases, Direct Auto is worth considering if you’re having trouble getting coverage due to violations. It specializes in high-risk auto insurance and also offers a military discount.

2. Best Regional Provider - Erie

What We Like Most:

  • Strong customer service ratings
  • Affordable rates
  • Rate lock option in some states
Read Full Review

Erie is our choice for the best regional provider for military members. It’s only available in 12 states and Washington, D.C., but it has consistently high customer satisfaction ratings, making it a great option for those in states where it’s available. In addition, it has some of the cheapest average auto insurance rates, so policyholders don’t need to sacrifice cost for stellar service.

ProsWho It's Best For
  • pro
    People looking for affordable rates
  • pro
    Drivers prioritizing customer service
  • pro
    People living in one of the following states:
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Kentucky
    • Maryland
    • New York
    • North Carolina
    • Ohio
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • Virginia
    • Washington, D.C.
    • West Virginia
    • Wisconsin
ConsWho It's Not Best For
  • con
    Anyone not in the 12 states (plus D.C.) mentioned above
  • con
    Military drivers looking to take advantage of specialized perks only available form USAA

Rate Lock Option

Erie offers a unique option called Rate Lock, which allows policyholders to lock in their auto insurance rates to avoid unpredictable year-over-year increases. There are some caveats, including that Rate Lock is limited to three years in Virginia and is not available in all states where Erie operates. It also doesn’t protect against rate changes if you update your policy, such as adding a driver or more coverages, or if you move. However, your rate will be updated to reflect only the changes you’ve made and will not increase beyond that.

Vehicle Storage Discount

Erie offers a reduced usage discount to drivers who store their vehicles for 90 days or more. This may be especially useful to military drivers who are deployed and will need to store their car(s) for long periods of time. This discount is available in all states except Kentucky.

Excellent Customer Service

Erie ranked first for customer satisfaction in the Mid-Atlantic and North Central regions in J.D. Power’s 2024 Auto Insurance Study2 among many major insurers, indicating that customers are pleased with the level of service and claims management they receive from the company. It’s worth noting that while USAA is not officially ranked in the study because it doesn’t meet eligibility criteria, likely due to its membership restrictions, it received higher scores than Erie.

Erie also ranked sixth in the CRASH Network’s 2025 Report Card,3 which evaluates auto shops’ experience working with insurance companies. In this case, it significantly outperformed USAA, which ranked 85th.

3. Best Resources and Perks - GEICO

What We Like Most:

  • Affinity military partnerships
  • Insurance available for relocation to Europe
  • Emergency deployment discount
Read Full Review

There are a lot of good reasons to choose GEICO if you’re a military member or veteran. It offers affordable rates, availability overseas, and military resources you won’t find from most other providers. If you’re on a budget and are looking to get additional support as a military member or veteran, GEICO is a great option.

ProsWho It's Best For
  • pro
    Drivers who want lower car insurance costs
  • pro
    Military members who want coverage overseas
  • pro
    Military members who can take advantage of GEICO’s discounts
  • pro
    Affinity military group members
ConsWho It's Not Best For
  • con
    Military members who want gap insurance
  • con
    Military members or veterans who need rideshare insurance

Military Resources and Perks

Aside from a long list of regular discounts to benefit from, you might be eligible for some of GEICO’s military perks and resources. GEICO’s Military Center is staffed with U.S. veterans from all services and has been providing military auto insurance for over 85 years. Its program has a dedicated support team that caters to military members and veterans, custom military insurance and ID cards, a fast and convenient military pay plan, and more.

On top of that, you can get info on deployment, overseas insurance, and military pay charts through GEICO’s brochures and online military resources.

Availability in Europe

It’s important to know that you have the option to extend your insurance if you’re deployed/stationed overseas, especially if you’re bringing your family with you.

With GEICO, rest assured that you’ll have the option to keep your insurance even if you’re being sent on emergency deployment. Military members have access to GEICO GmbH, a GEICO affiliate that can assist you with finding a car, motorcycle, and personal property when you’re deployed or stationed in Europe.

Long List of Discounts

On top of providing some of the cheapest rates in the country, GEICO has a long list of discounts for military members with varying needs. Here are some of its most appealing discounts for military members:

  • 15 percent off for active-duty or retired members of the military, National Guard, or reserves
  • Up to 25 percent off for military members who are part of an emergency deployment
  • Up to 12 percent off for all active or retired federal employees (eagle discount)
  • Up to 15 percent for students with a 3.0 GPA
  • Up to 23 percent off if you have a built-in anti-theft system in your car to prevent car burglary
  • 22 percent off with the five-year accident-free good driver discount
  • 23 percent restraint device discount
  • 15 percent new-vehicle discount
4. Best Collector Vehicle Insurance - Armed Forces Insurance

What We Like Most:

  • No deductible for collector vehicles in most states
  • Sells policies through Progressive and other national carriers
  • Available to active-duty military members, veterans, military families, and other military-adjacent groups, like the Department of Defense

Armed Forces Insurance (AFI) was founded in 1887 to support and protect United States military members and veterans. It has since expanded that mission by offering home, auto, and renters insurance to its members. AFI also offers specialized collector’s vehicle insurance for military members and veterans who collect vintage and classic cars. If you’re looking for a provider that caters to military members and offers insurance for collector vehicles, Armed Forces Insurance is our top pick.

ProsWho It's Best For
  • pro
    Military members, veterans, military families, and members of a qualifying AFI group
  • pro
    Non-military members who work for the military
  • pro
    Owners of collector vehicles
  • pro
    People who want to work directly with a military agent
ConsWho It's Not Best For
  • con
    People who want a quick quote

Collectors Insurance for Military

AFI is one of the few providers that specialize in military insurance and offer insurance for collector vehicles. Because collector vehicles have a different appraisal process from normal cars, not all providers insure them.

Unlike most cars, collector vehicles tend to gain value over time rather than depreciate. With AFI, you can rest assured that your rates won’t be set unless you and your agent agree on a price. Here’s what you get with AFI:

  • No deductible on your collector vehicle in most states, meaning you pay nothing out of pocket for a claim
  • Agreed value coverage, which means that if your vehicle is totaled, you’ll get the full value agreed upon by you and your agent
  • Extra coverage if you want some extra support while you actively restore your vehicle and its parts

If you’re not sure whether your vehicle is a collector car or not, here’s how AFI defines collector vehicles:

  • Antique and classic cars
  • Muscle cars
  • Modern classics
  • Street rods
  • Vehicles under active restoration
  • Classic trucks

NOTE:

AFI is a reciprocal insurance exchange, which means that funds for claims are fully pooled and paid by the members and customers of the company. That means that the financial risk of the company is spread among the members and customers themselves.

Armed Forces Insurance Partnerships

Armed Forces International has partnerships with some of the largest auto insurance providers in the country. Depending on where you live and what type of policy you have, your claims might be processed by one of the following providers:

  • Progressive
  • Nationwide
  • Hagerty Auto
  • Travelers
  • Safeco
  • The Hartford
  • Mercury
  • And more
5. Best for High-Risk - Direct Auto

What We Like Most:

  • 25% active-duty military discount
  • Accepts high-risk drivers
  • In-person locations
Read Full Review

Direct Auto specializes in high-risk auto insurance, making it a potential option for drivers who may have trouble getting coverage from standard insurers. With flexible payment options and discounts like its military discount of up to 25 percent, Direct Auto caters to those who need coverage despite past driving violations, low credit, or other risk factors.

ProsWho It's Best For
  • pro
    Active-duty military members
  • pro
    Drivers struggling to find affordable coverage with a standard provider
  • pro
    Drivers who live in a state where Direct Auto is available:
    • Alabama
    • Arkansas
    • Delaware
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Louisiana
    • Michigan
    • Mississippi
    • North Carolina
    • Ohio
    • Pennsylvania
    • South Carolina
    • Tennessee
    • Texas
    • Virginia
ConsWho It's Not Best For
  • con
    Drivers with clean records
  • con
    Drivers who don’t live in one of the above 15 states

Military Discount

Direct Auto offers a military discount of up to 25 percent for active-duty service members. However, as of February 2025, the discount is only available in Alabama, Florida, and Louisiana. To qualify, service members must provide proof of active-duty status, such as current orders.

Compared to other insurers, Direct Auto’s military discount is relatively high, as many companies offer 5 to 15 percent savings. However, its availability is limited to just three states, which may be a drawback for military personnel who relocate frequently.

Flexible Payment Options

In addition to the discount, Direct Auto allows customers to customize their payment schedule to better fit their budget, which could be helpful for service members managing deployments or unpredictable expenses. While these features may appeal to military families, it’s worth comparing rates and policy options with other insurers, as Direct Auto primarily serves high-risk drivers and may not always offer the lowest overall premiums.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the best provider for retired military members and veterans?

USAA, Erie, and GEICO are the best providers for retired military members and veterans. Many of their incentives, benefits, and support systems are available to active military as well as retired military members. Both GEICO and USAA have support teams that are designed to work directly with military members, veterans, and military families.

Who offers the best car insurance for military families?

USAA, Erie, and GEICO are affordable and offer attractive incentives, perks, and discounts for military members and their families. Depending on where you live, your kids under the age of 25 can get a 25 percent discount from GEICO, and USAA has several military family discounts. Meanwhile, Erie also has discounts and perks that may be appealing for military families, such as a vehicle storage discount.

Who offers the best car insurance for military drivers under 21?

USAA offers the best car insurance for military drivers under the age of 21. Its rates are around $3,591 annually for teens, which is about 33 percent cheaper than the average for drivers aged 16 to 21. With a number of benefits and incentives, you can expect to get some of the most competitive rates with USAA.

Methodology

At AutoInsurance.com, we evaluated the best auto insurance providers for military members and their families based on four key factors:

  • Price (40%) – We analyze average premiums for full and minimum coverage for good drivers with good credit, as well as various driver profiles, including those with DUIs, accidents, or low credit. We also consider military-specific discounts, deployment flexibility, and multi-policy bundling options. Full coverage averages use the following limits:
    • Bodily injury liability: $100,000 per person / $300,000 per accident
    • Property damage liability: $50,000 per accident
    • Uninsured and underinsured motorist bodily injury: $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident
    • Comprehensive and collision: $500 deductible
  • Claims Handling (25%) – A good claims process is especially important for military families, who may need to manage claims remotely or while stationed overseas. We assess insurer claims practices based on responsiveness, transparency, and efficiency, using sources like the CRASH Network Insurer Report Card and J.D. Power’s Claims Satisfaction Report. Financial strength is also considered from sources like AM Best and S&P Ratings. Real-life customer experiences, particularly from military members, are included when available.
  • Customer Experience (25%) – We evaluate how easily military personnel and their families can manage their policies, whether stateside or deployed. This includes access to 24/7 support, online and mobile app functionality, and flexibility in handling address or coverage changes. We reference J.D. Power studies, the NAIC complaint index, BBB ratings, and app store reviews to assess overall user satisfaction.
  • Coverage Options (10%) – We review each company’s coverage offerings and value providers that offer benefits tailored to military members, such as overseas coverage, deployment-related premium reductions, accident forgiveness, gap insurance, and rideshare coverage.

Read more about our ratings and methodology.

Ali Saleh
Written by:Ali Saleh
Staff Writer & Editor
Ali Saleh is a copywriter with nearly 10 years of experience in content writing, editing, and journalism. Ali’s work has been featured on a number of notable sites and publications, including MSN, Business.com’s award-winning newsletter, and Groove Korea, South Korea’s largest English-print magazine. Today, he writes for dozens of brands, providing expert guides and informative articles on auto insurance, healthcare, recruiting technology, business, and more. Ali holds a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from North Carolina State University.

Citations

  1. Auto Insurance Repair Cycle Times Improve but Price Increases Take a Toll, J.D. Power Finds. J.D. Power. (2024, Oct 29).
    https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2024-us-auto-claims-satisfaction-study

  2. Trust Emerges as Top Driver of Customer Satisfaction with Auto Insurance as Prices Continue to Surge, J.D. Power Finds. J.D. Power. (2024, Jun 11).
    https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2024-us-auto-insurance-study

  3. Top Rated U.S. Car Insurance Companies for 2025. Crash Network. (2025).
    https://www.crashnetwork.com/irc/