What Is Military Car Insurance?

How Does Military Car Insurance Work?

A military car insurance policy has the same types of coverage available to civilians, including:

• Liability
• Uninsured motorist
• Medical payments (MedPay)
• Personal injury protection (PIP)
• Collision
• Comprehensive
• Other optional coverages

Because service members may be transferred to a different base every few years or deployed for months or years at a time, policies have additional features beyond those above to accommodate their lifestyle.

Deployment Discounts

Military car insurance generally includes a reduced premium for policyholders who are deployed, and if you put your vehicle in storage while you're gone, you may qualify for an even steeper discount.

On-Base Savings

When you garage your vehicle on a military base, you may be able to save up to 15% on your comprehensive premium.

Affinity Discounts

Some insurance companies offer savings for members of military organizations, such as the Military Benefits Association or Navy League of the United States. Cost savings vary by insurer.

Flexible Policies

Because the life of a service member can be unpredictable, insurers that serve the military offer flexibility to help policyholders maintain adequate coverage and minimize costs.

You may be able to reduce your premium by dropping optional coverages and lowering policy limits during a deployment while avoiding a lapse in coverage that could increase your rate when you return home. Additionally, companies make it easy to adjust coverage when you're transferred to a different base so you can meet the legal requirements of that state.

You can typically sign up for autopay so you won't miss a payment no matter where you are in the world, allowing you to keep your coverage active and avoid fees and penalties for late or missed payments. Some insurers also offer a discount for enrolling. Insurance companies may also let you select payment dates that match your pay schedule, making it easier to budget.

Dedicated Customer Service Team

Some insurers work exclusively with military members, veterans and their families. Others offer special features and discounts available only to members of the military community. Those insurers may have dedicated customer service teams that understand the unique challenges military families face to work exclusively with military members.

Coverage Abroad

If you plan to drive while stationed overseas, you need adequate coverage. Military car insurance companies offer policies that cover you whether you're stateside or abroad.

Who Qualifies for Military Car Insurance?

Insurers determine eligibility criteria, but the following people generally qualify for military car insurance:

• Active-duty service members in all branches of the armed forces
• Veterans who have been honorably discharged
• National Guard members
• Reserve members
• Eligible family members, which typically includes spouses and children

How to Choose the Best Military Car Insurance

The following steps can help you find the policy that best fits your needs.

1. Assess your needs. Determine the types of coverage you need, the policy limits that provide adequate financial protection for you and your family and whether you need domestic or international coverage.
2. Research insurers. Not all insurance companies offer discounts and features for military members, so you'll need to do some research to find those that do. Most insurers offer the main types of car insurance, but optional add-ons vary. Check out the coverage, discounts and military-specific features available from different insurers. It's also a good idea to learn about the company's reputation and read customer reviews.
3. Prioritize deployment-friendly features. If you could be deployed, find out how companies handle coverage during deployments. Look for discounts, flexible payment arrangements, easily adjustable coverage options and other features that make it simple and affordable to maintain coverage when deployed.
4. Evaluate the company's customer service options. Many insurers offer multiple ways to get in touch, including phone, email, online chat and mobile app. If you're stationed abroad, look for insurers that offer 24/7 customer support so you can get help in real time, no matter where you are in the world.
5. Ask about discounts. Discounts exclusive to military members can help you save, but they're not the only ones you may qualify for. Learn about all the car insurance discounts a company offers, not just those for service members.
6. Get multiple quotes. Be sure each policy has the same coverage and policy limits to get an accurate comparison.
7. Look beyond the discount percentage. The amount you can save shouldn't necessarily be the deciding factor when choosing coverage. Look at the total cost of each policy, plus other features that may make one policy more attractive than another.
8. Choose the policy that best meets your needs. After weighing the pros and cons of each policy, select the one that provides the coverage you need and fits your budget.
9. Make a payment. Coverage won't be active until you pay for your policy. After selecting a policy, pay your premium to ensure you're covered.

The Bottom Line

Military car insurance combines financial protection from accidents and other covered events with unique discounts, increased flexibility and special features to accommodate the lifestyle of eligible service members and their families.

Many states allow insurers to use credit-based insurance scores when calculating premiums. Before buying a policy, you can check your FICO^® Score^Θ for free at Experian anytime to get an idea of how your credit history may affect your insurance premium.

When you're ready to purchase coverage, Experian's free auto insurance comparison tool lets you compare rates from multiple providers at one time.