Cheapest Car Insurance for Military Families: How to Save on Coverage
Military families often struggle to find affordable car insurance due to frequent relocation, overseas deployments, international assignments, and challenges with residency and vehicle registration. On top of supporting the country, moving at regular intervals, and handling the emotional fallout from being a military family, the administrative side is even more complicated. At EverQuote, we’re determined to make it easy to find affordable car insurance for military families. We’ve got some discounts, deployment considerations, and money-saving tips to maximize your insurance policies.
How To Get Exclusive Car Insurance Discounts Based on Military Status
Military families often find themselves in unique situations. One or both parents may be deployed, they may have to relocate at a moment’s notice, and they’re forced to adjust to new areas regularly. Driving in unfamiliar terrain or more populated areas can be scary and may lead to more accidents. A military family moving from Florida to Colorado Springs needs to make some adjustments to driving, and purchasing the correct insurance is a big part of that.
To offset the difficulty of maintaining insurance for military families, many companies offer military-specific discounts. These types of car insurance discounts include, but are not limited to:
- Veteran discounts for those who have separated or retired from any military branch.
- Storage and deployment discount for those who need to store their vehicles while away, keeping the car in a secure location.
- Active duty discount to those serving in the Army, National Guard, Space Force, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy, and Air Force.
- A military family discount for children and spouses of military members.
The car insurance discounts and types depend on the company. Progressive provides a military discount of up to 25% to those in Louisiana. Liberty Mutual offers a Military Connect program that saves families anywhere from 10% to 12%. Many others offer a customized discount based on your personal situation.
Managing Coverage During Deployment and Relocation
If a military member is deployed or relocated, the process of transferring all policies over can be taxing. To keep your policies current, we recommend that you first notify your car insurance company immediately. If you don’t plan to use your vehicle, consider storing it and reducing coverage. Frequent relocations can negatively affect multi-policy discounts or company loyalty perks.
Don’t forget to update your address quickly. If required, re-register your vehicle. Before moving, compare rates in the new state to avoid any policy lapses. These can make it difficult to obtain a new policy or significantly increase your premiums.
Key Factors That Affect Car Insurance Costs for Military Families
Many of the factors that affect military auto insurance costs for military families are similar to those of regular families. The location, driving record, vehicle type and usage, and driver age and experience all significantly impact the premium amount.
On the plus side, many companies will suspend fees or cancellation penalties for military families or offer special discounts. Some offer deployment discounts, and there are even insurance companies strictly for military families.
How to Compare Quotes and Find the Cheapest Car Insurance
The best way to find cheap car insurance is to compare as many companies as possible. Each company is unique and has costs designed to fit its customers. At EverQuote, we compare most insurance companies on the market to help you find the best option. Here are a few things that may affect your premium:
- Deductibles: You can reduce your premium by increasing deductibles, but the downside is that you pay more if there’s an accident.
- Coverage amounts: Reducing your coverage amounts may also decrease your premiums, but this is risky if you’re in an accident.
- Multi-policy: If you have more than one insurance policy with the same company, they may offer a loyalty or multi-policy discount.
- Collision: Adding collision insurance may increase your premiums, but it provides protection against incidents such as vandalism and theft.
- Underinsured motorist: If you are in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist, your coverage kicks in to cover additional costs, but it may increase your premiums.
- Liability only: If you are storing your vehicle while deployed, you can drop your coverage to liability only to save money.
Top Providers That Offer Military-Friendly Policies
Companies like the General, Progressive, and Liberty Mutual offer military car insurance discounts to help keep costs affordable and transitions easy. When searching for a policy, ask specifically about these discounts.
Get Customized Quotes and Save on Military Car Insurance Today
Don’t let the stress of deployment, relocation, or serving in the military carry over into your insurance policies when we are here to help. At EverQuote, we provide a free, comprehensive comparison of many companies in just a few minutes. We look at coverage amounts, deductibles, discounts, and any other perks that companies offer to find the best one for you. We are always on your side when it comes to minimizing risk, saving money, and finding the best auto insurance for the military.