Working in the military is a dangerous affair, seeing as one puts themselves in the line of danger constantly. However, the number of perks of joining the military is impressive. Some of them include free or affordable housing, scholarships, allowances, and comprehensive healthcare insurance. We delve into another benefit of working in the military: access to some of the best military car insurance for both active duty and veteran military.
Finding an auto insurance company that serves your military needs may be challenging as you will not always use your car, especially if you are on active duty. You want an insurance option that considers all your needs and offers affordable rates.
USAA
USAA stands for United Services Automobile Association. It is considered the yardstick of military automobile insurance and has some of the highest customer satisfaction rates.
The following individuals are eligible:
- US military active duty members and veterans. USAA requires the rank, branch of service, and the date they entered active service from active duty members. For veterans, they need to provide their rank, date of commencement and end of service, and the branch where they served.
- Precommissioned officers. They should validate their office by providing the branch where they serve, the commissioning date, and the source.
- Spouses and children of military officials. If your parents were in the military (both or one of them), you are eligible to receive auto insurance from USAA. The only requirement is that your parent(s) should already be USAA members. This eligibility also extends to stepchildren.
Some of the perks of USAA are:
- 60% off your car insurance if you store away your car in a garage.
- 15% if you store away your car on a military base.
- Eligible in all 50 states, plus Washington, DC.
- Low premiums. USAA’s full premium coverage is $1,225, while the national average is about $1,634 annually. These figures are for a driver with a clean driving history.
- Participating in SafePilot may earn you 30% in savings. SafePilot checks how your driving capabilities fare.
Geico Insurance
The benefits of insuring your vehicle with Geico are:
- 15% discount to both active duty military and veterans if you are a member of the Association of the US Army (AUSA) or the National Infantry Association (NIA).
- 25% discount for active military personnel who have been deployed to a danger zone, even if this is an emergency deployment.
- High-risk drivers are offered lower premiums. This is a distinct merit since most insurers will charge higher premiums to considered high-risk drivers.
- Geico offers full coverage of $1,297 annually, which is way below the national average in 2022 (which is $1,771). Its minimum coverage goes for $365 per annum.
Armed Forces Insurance (AFI)
One of the oldest military auto insurance, Armed Forces Insurance, was established in 1887. The available coverage options include:
- Auto liability coverage, including legal fees.
- Personal Injury Protection, including funeral costs.
- Medical payments.
- Comprehensive insurance.
The company provides insurance for both you and your spouse, relatives who you live with at home, and in the case that your insured car is driven by other drivers who are licensed, except yourself.
The merits of picking AFI as your insurer of choice are:
- Experience and expertise due to being formed 137 years ago.
- Availability in all states.
- Best for military personnel who have retired.
Arbella Insurance
Arbella Insurance is probably the best insurance option for high-risk drivers due to its accident considerations, such as accident forgiveness and gap insurance. Arbella provides the following benefits:
- You earn rewards when you stay safe. Every year without an accident earns you a decrease in your deductible.
- Additional services: $45 per year substantially reduces premiums in the case of an accident.
- For $30 a year, you get Gap Insurance, which covers the remaining loan or lease payment on the affected vehicle.
- $500 for your pet’s vet bills.
- 10% discount for active duty military personnel who have been deployed to a place more than 100 miles from their vehicle.
Esurance
Esurance offers motor vehicle insurance for military members in the form of comprehensive, collision, and liability insurance. Its best perk is that it offers insurance for custom parts. Most insurers will only provide reimbursement for the parts that came with the car, that is, only the manufacturer’s parts. The perks of choosing Esurance are:
- It allows you to cancel your insurance at any time, most specifically when you are away on duty. This cancelation will not incur any penalty. When you are back, you can continue with your insurance policy.
- Its rates are lower than the national average, at $1,473 compared to 1,771.
- Coverage of up to $4,000 for custom or hard-to-find motor vehicle spare parts.
- Bundling discounts, that is, discounts for combining auto insurance with another type of insurance, such as home insurance.
- An additional discount for individuals who have their own home that’s different from the bundling discount above.
- Discount for individuals who sign-up online
Essential factors to consider when selecting the best military car insurance
There are several ways to select the best military auto insurance for you. Some of the critical factors to consider include:
- Insurance rates. You should consider insurance options that provide the best value for money at the most affordable costs. Compare different insurance policies and what they offer.
- Discounts. Military auto insurance should offer you considerable discounts, more than any civilian car insurance policy. Inquire about all available discounts and which policy provides what works for you.
- Non-singular insurance. A way to minimize risk is to spread your interests. You could insure both your home and vehicle if your insurer allows and provides for this. Such bundling discounts help you save money.