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Best Car Insurance for Veterans: Quotes and Discounts 2023
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Written by
Kim Porter
Kim Porter is a writer and editor who's been creating personal finance content since 2010. Before transitioning to full-time freelance writing in 2018, Kim was the chief copy editor at Bankrate, a managing editor at Macmillan, and co-author of the personal finance book "Future Millionaires' Guidebook." Her work has appeared in AARP's print magazine and on sites such as U.S. News & World Report, Fortune, NextAdvisor, Credit Karma, and more. Kim loves to bake and exercise in her free time, and she plans to run a half marathon on each continent.
Edited by
Courtney Mikulski
Senior Editor
Courtney Mikulski is a Senior Editor at Insurify with more than three years editing and producing personal finance content. She's experienced with insurance, credit cards, consumer lending, and banking products. Courtney works to provide easy-to-understand and actionable advice to readers looking for their next insurance provider. Her previous work with Bankrate, Reviews.com, and The Simple Dollar, helped readers make smarter financial decisions. When Courtney isn't working, you can find her hanging out with her cat or on a bike ride with her husband. She earned a bachelor's degree in journalism at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.
Reviewed by
Amber Benka
Licensed Insurance Agent
Amber Benka is a licensed insurance agent specializing in auto, home, commercial, life, and health insurance.
Updated December 21, 2022
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If you’re a member of the U.S. armed forces, you may be able to save on car insurance through discounts and special rate programs.
“Carriers in many states offer occupation discounts, which may include active military and veterans,” says Laura Adams, an insurance analyst. “Car insurers provide discounts to various groups they want to attract with savings or believe are less-risky customers.”
Current and former service members pay an average of $201 a month for minimum coverage and $273 for full coverage, according to Insurify data. But your driving record, credit score, and coverage options also influence how much you pay.[1] Additionally, insurance premiums vary with every company, and only a handful offer military discounts.
One of the best ways to find cheap car insurance for veterans is to compare car insurance quotes so you can find the best coverage for you.
Cheapest auto insurance for veterans
The cheapest auto insurance policies are minimum-coverage plans, which typically include bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage. These policies only have the minimum amount of coverage required by your state, so they cost less than full-coverage options.[2] The average cost of minimum car insurance for veterans is $201 a month, according to Insurify data.
“Factors that car insurers evaluate when setting rates depend on what’s allowed in the state where the driver lives,” Adams says. “They typically include your coverage amount, deductibles, vehicle make and model, address, driving history, age, gender, credit (in most states), marital status, and annual mileage.”
The cost of minimum coverage varies with every company, so it’s important to shop around and compare as many providers as possible. Here’s what the average minimum-coverage policy costs at the following companies.
| Insurance Company | Average Monthly Quote |
|---|---|
| Apparent | $110 |
| State Auto | $113 |
| National General | $133 |
| Kemper | $134 |
| Travelers | $139 |
| Safeco | $146 |
| Elephant | $150 |
| Clearcover | $170 |
| Aggressive | $198 |
| Dairyland | $205 |
| Alinsco | $214 |
| Midvale Home & Auto | $216 |
| Mercury | $217 |
| Bristol West | $224 |
| Freedom National | $236 |
| Liberty Mutual | $254 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $267 |
| Direct Auto | $267 |
| Infinity | $291 |
| The General | $292 |
| Hallmark | $299 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Read More: The 10 Best Car Insurance Companies
Cheapest car insurance for veterans by state
Many factors affect your car insurance rate, including where you live.[1] Rates range from a low of $55 a month in North Carolina to $368 a month in Florida.
Within each state, car insurance prices vary by ZIP code, according to population, crime levels, and other factors within a local area.[3] Here are the cheapest liability policies for veterans, by state:
| State | Average Monthly Quote |
|---|---|
| North Carolina | $55 |
| Hawaii | $77 |
| Wyoming | $83 |
| Oregon | $89 |
| Utah | $89 |
| Iowa | $94 |
| Kansas | $105 |
| Ohio | $111 |
| Mississippi | $116 |
| Tennessee | $116 |
| New Mexico | $123 |
| Illinois | $124 |
| Indiana | $130 |
| California | $131 |
| Missouri | $133 |
| Arkansas | $137 |
| West Virginia | $143 |
| Arizona | $149 |
| Pennsylvania | $150 |
| Colorado | $152 |
| Oklahoma | $154 |
| Virginia | $166 |
| Massachusetts | $175 |
| Minnesota | $178 |
| Wisconsin | $181 |
| Texas | $182 |
| Rhode Island | $199 |
| Kentucky | $211 |
| Alabama | $218 |
| Nevada | $218 |
| Washington | $229 |
| District of Columbia | $243 |
| Maryland | $248 |
| Connecticut | $258 |
| New Jersey | $267 |
| Georgia | $272 |
| Louisiana | $279 |
| Michigan | $315 |
| Delaware | $330 |
| South Carolina | $343 |
| Nebraska | $359 |
| New York | $366 |
| Florida | $368 |
| North Carolina | $55 |
| Hawaii | $77 |
| Wyoming | $83 |
| Oregon | $89 |
| Utah | $89 |
| Iowa | $94 |
| Kansas | $105 |
| Ohio | $111 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Check Out: Cheapest States for Car Insurance
Best car insurance companies for veterans
Clearcover, USAA, and Liberty Mutual are the three best car insurance companies for veterans. These carriers offer excellent customer service, cost-effective car insurance policies, and discounts for military members. Each received a strong Insurify Composite Score (ICS), a proprietary scoring system that weighs multiple factors to determine the quality, reliability, and health of an insurance company.
| Insurance Company | Insurify Composite Score (ICS) | Average Monthly Quote |
|---|---|---|
| Clearcover | 97 | $172 |
| USAA | 96 | $149 |
| Liberty Mutual | 82 | $216 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
The Insurify Composite Score (ICS) is a proprietary rating calculated by a team of data scientists at Insurify, weighing multiple factors that reflect the quality, reliability, and health of an insurance company.
Inputs to the score include financial strength ratings from A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch; J.D. Power ratings; Consumer Reports customer satisfaction surveys and customer complaints; mobile app reviews; and user-generated company reviews.
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Which companies offer car insurance discounts for veterans?
Many national and regional car insurance companies offer special discounts and auto insurance rates for military members. However, discounts vary and every company sets its own requirements.
The company may, for example, offer special pricing to former, current, or reserve service members. Discounts may be available to some or all branches of the armed forces. Depending on the insurance carrier and the discount, you may need to show proof of service to qualify for the discount or special rate. Here are some examples of insurance companies that offer discounts to military members:
Arbella: Military members who are away from home can get up to 10% off their car insurance policies.
Clearcover: Active-duty military personnel in all states receive a 15% discount on their rate, and military-affiliated customers in Louisiana get an additional 25% off their premiums.
Direct Auto: Active-duty service members may save up to 25% off their car insurance policies in Florida, Louisiana, and Alabama.
Farmers Insurance: Active-duty, retired, and honorably discharged military veterans can receive a discount on their insurance premiums, although the insurer doesn’t specify how much.
GEICO: Active-duty and retired service members may receive a military discount of up to 15% off their insurance premiums. GEICO also provides discounts for professional military association affiliation and emergency deployment discounts to service members working in imminent danger pay areas.
Kemper: Active-duty military and National Guard members may qualify for a discount, although the insurer doesn’t specify how much.
Liberty Mutual: Active, retired, and reserve members of the armed forces can receive a discount on their insurance premiums, although the insurer doesn’t specify how much.
USAA: Depending on your state, you can earn up to 15% off comprehensive coverage if your vehicle is garaged on a military base. And if you’re deployed, you could earn up to 60% off your USAA auto insurance premium while your car is in storage.
How to reinstate car insurance after deployment
Pausing your car insurance may be an option if you’re deployed and won’t drive for several months. Once you return from deployment, contact your car insurance company and let it know you’re reinstating coverage. You may need to start a new policy, depending on the insurance company and how long you’ve gone without active coverage.
You may be fined if you’re caught driving without insurance coverage or a valid registration, so make sure everything’s in order before driving or taking your car out of storage.[4] Once your policy is reactivated, follow these steps:
Update your insurance information. Ask your insurer whether it will contact your state’s vehicle registration department to update your insurance details. If you need to complete this process yourself, ask your insurer for guidance.
Get your insurance cards. Print your insurance cards, order copies, or download the insurer’s app so you can carry proof of coverage while driving.
Check your registration. To make sure your registration is still valid, visit your state’s department of motor vehicles. Every state has a different website, but you can search for “vehicle registration” or “check the status of your vehicle registration.” Follow the steps to find your registration details.
How to save on car insurance as a veteran
It’s a good idea to regularly review your coverages and discounts because “your insurer may not know you have life (changes) or driving changes that reduce your rate,” Adams says.
In addition to military discounts, service members may find other ways to save on their car insurance premiums. Here are some popular ways to save:
Look for general discounts. Insurance companies typically offer a menu of car insurance discounts that can lower the cost of your premiums. For instance, you may snag a lower rate by being a safe driver or a loyal customer, taking a defensive driving course, or belonging to an affiliated organization.
Choose a higher deductible. Insurance companies typically lower your premium if you agree to pay a higher deductible, which is your out-of-pocket cost when filing a claim.[5] If you increase your deductible, be sure you can afford to cover it.
Bundle your policies. You may also save money by buying multiple insurance policies with the same company. For instance, you may be able to bundle car insurance and homeowners insurance policies for a discount on both plans.[6]
Improve your credit rating. Six states — California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Washington — have banned insurers from using credit to set rates.[7] But if you live in a state where insurers can base your rate on your credit history, you may save money by improving your credit. Drivers with excellent credit may pay as much as $2,000 less per year on insurance premiums than drivers with poor credit.
Shop around for car insurance. You may save money on car insurance when you compare insurance quotes to find the best plan. Explore your options to find the right coverage for your budget and needs.
See Also: Car Insurance Rates by Credit Tier
Car insurance for veterans FAQs
Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about car insurance for veterans.
Military car insurance is a policy that lets you tailor coverage around your deployment schedule, adjust your coverage needs, and potentially save money through military discounts. Depending on the insurance company and policy, these perks may extend to your spouse and children, too. You get military car insurance through a private company — not the military.
Veterans car insurance is typically a regular policy that includes discounts for being a military veteran. Many national and regional car insurance companies offer military discounts that typically range from 10% to 25%.
Many car insurance companies have discounts for either veterans or active-duty service members, including GEICO, Liberty Mutual, Farmers, and USAA. You’ll typically see these listed as “military discounts.” Some companies also offer affinity group discounts when you’re a member of a military-associated organization.
Insurify named Clearcover, USAA, and Liberty Mutual as the best car insurance companies for veterans because they offer high-quality customer service, discounts for military-affiliated policyholders, cost-effective rates, and a quick quote process.
But every insurance company sets its own rates and discounts, and some companies only write policies in select states. So the best car insurer for you depends on your location, driving history, car profile, annual mileage, and other personal factors.
Insurify can help you compare car insurance quotes from up to 20 different companies. You’ll start by answering questions about yourself, your driving habits, and your car, and Insurify will look for a policy that fits your needs and discounts you may be eligible for. Once you get your quote list, you can compare the prices, coverage options, and company reputation.
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Data scientists at Insurify analyzed more than 40 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partner providers across the United States to compile the car insurance quotes, statistics, and data visualizations displayed on this page. The car insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers' vehicles, driving records, and demographic information. Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Service's database of auto insurance rates. With these insights, Insurify is able to offer drivers insight into how companies price their car insurance premiums.
Sources
- III. "What determines the price of an auto insurance policy?." Accessed December 21, 2022
- III. "Auto insurance basics—understanding your coverage." Accessed December 21, 2022
- NAIC. "Best Practices for Insurance Rate Disclosures." Accessed December 21, 2022
- III. "Is it legal to drive without insurance?." Accessed December 21, 2022
- III. "Understanding your insurance deductibles." Accessed December 21, 2022
- III. "Nine ways to lower your auto insurance costs." Accessed December 21, 2022
- NAIC. "Credit-Based Insurance Scores." Accessed December 21, 2022
