USAA vs Geico Auto Insurance Rates:
Military & Veteran Discounts
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Are you an active member of the military or a veteran? If you’re shopping for car insurance rates, then you automatically qualify for a discount. This is one of the most foolproof ways to save on your car insurance rates and is a perk offered for those brave men and women who serve the United States armed forces. This particular discount applies to active duty members and veterans.
There are unique challenges present in the lives of military men and women, as well as their families. Finding the right car insurance provider not only means that you can get the best rates; it is also crucial in providing support that would suit the unique needs of these families.
In this guide, you will learn about how you can take advantage of these discounted rates for your car insurance. In particular, you will be looking at two of the car insurance companies that are well known for providing discounts for military members: USAA and Geico.
USAA is one of the car insurance companies that often come to mind when talking about cheap car insurance rates for military and veterans. It is rightfully so because this insurance company has also dedicated itself to providing support for active duty members, veterans, and their families.
They offer a wide range of coverage options that would be flexible enough to meet the unique needs of the military. At the same time, they have consistently ranked high in terms of customer satisfaction and affordability. These are two factors that insurance buyers put a lot of emphasis on when choosing where to get their insurance from. For this reason, USAA has stamped itself as the go-to choice for the military for their insurance needs.
Currently, there are over 7 million insurance holders under USAA. This is primarily because of the many perks and features developed by the company to suit the complex needs of military members. The JD Power ratings for USAA are also consistently high, particularly in terms of the claims satisfaction rating.
Currently, only those with a military affiliation are able to buy auto insurance from USAA. This means that any of the following can avail of USAA’s cheap insurance rates:
USAA is consistent in providing cheap car insurance rates for military members and veterans. On average, the annual rate of USAA is listed below, in comparison to other known car insurance companies noted for providing cheap insurance rates for military:
| Insurance Company | Average Annual Rate |
| USAA | $914 |
| Geico | $921 |
| State Farm | $1,266 |
| Allstate | $1,382 |
| Nationwide | $1,372 |
It is worth noting that the above insurance rates are only a sample. The actual rate might vary based on a few other factors. But to give you an idea, the average annual rate offered by USAA is cheaper than what most other insurance companies can offer. This makes it a practical choice for those looking to get cheap rates.
The auto insurance rates and discounts can also differ based on location. In fact, the quoted price for car insurance might differ from one state to another. Here is another sample quote for four different states via USAA.
| State | Average Annual Rate |
| Massachusetts | $445 |
| Texas | $527 |
| Kansas | $709 |
| Delaware | $984 |
The discounts available to members of the military are one of the primary reasons for choosing USAA as an insurance provider. These perks are unique only to military members and their families.
If the vehicle garage is located within a military base, USAA automatically offers a 15% discount on a comprehensive car insurance coverage. In some states, this discount offer can extend to collision coverage, such as in the state of California. This particular extension is not offered in the state of New York.
Another discount that you can enjoy is when you store your vehicle while in deployment. This will give you up to 60% discount on your car insurance rate via USAA.
Aside from the actual insurance products offered and the discounts, USAA excels when it comes to its customer satisfaction rating. In fact, this insurance company achieved a perfect score in the JD Power rating in terms of overall customer satisfaction and claims processing.
Despite being exclusive to military members, USAA is also one of the best-rated insurance companies in the US. Members applaud the company’s efficient system when it comes to filing claims and the settlement amount given.
In addition, the USAA website is user-friendly. This makes it easy to navigate to find information and learn more about its many policies. Of course, members are satisfied with the flexibility of the policies and the perks offered to qualified insurance buyers.
Now that you know all there is to know about USAA, it’s time to take a look at Geico. The company name – Geico – stands for Government Employees Insurance Company. This is another one of those car insurance companies that are known to be a good option for military members and veterans.
Geico is the second largest insurance company in the US. That alone is enough reason for you to want to consider buying insurance from them. The bigger the insurance company, the more stable they are. There are currently 30 million members at Geico and that includes military members and their families.
Geico is available in all states in the US, particularly in the capital – Washing ton DC. There are plenty of flexible policies and options to choose from that are suited for the unique needs of every military member, whether active or not.
In comparison to USAA, Geico charges $200 more in annual average premium rates. However, you need to keep in mind that there are also a few other factors that can influence the final quoted price on car insurance. Take this into consideration when comparing the best car insurance provider for military and veterans.
Geico is one of the cheapest options available for active members who are deployed or those retired from service. The rates are comparable to that of USAA across all states that these insurance providers are available.
To qualify for an insurance coverage from Geico, the member must belong to any of the following organizations:
Geico is already known for offering cheap insurance rates on vehicles owned and driven by military members and veterans. However, you can get even more savings when you take into account the military discount available to qualified members. Specifically, they have 15% military discount on insurance coverage – this is on top of the insurance premium.
They also have other discounts for emergency deployment and military members who belong to certain professional organizations. These professional affiliations include but are not limited to the following: Association of the United States Army, Navy Federal Credit Union, Armed Forces Benefit Association, and the Navy League of the United States.
For members who want to take advantage of these special discount offers, Geico has a dedicated hotline to cater to that: (800) MILITARY (645-4827).
For the emergency deployment discount, the insurance company requires additional proof such as the following:
There are also other forms of discounts offered to members at Geico that will enable you to save on insurance premium. For example, a good driving history, installing additional safety features, and completing a defensive driving course can cause your insurance rate to go even lower.
Geico is the best option for drivers who are looking for a deep discount on their rates. However, there are different rates that you can get depending on the unique circumstances for each driver and the extent of the coverage.
| Type of Coverage | Average Annual Rate |
| Full coverage | $1,356 |
| Minimum coverage | $394 |
| Coverage after an accident | $1,956 |
The cost of insurance through Geico will also vary by state. Cars are cheaper to insure in some states compared to others. Take a look at the insurance rates for Geico in the states that are known to have the lowest insurance rates.
| State | Average Annual Rate (Geico) |
| Vermont | $805 |
| North Dakota | $1,111 |
| Alaska | $1,204 |
| Washington | $993 |
| Indiana | $746 |
As you can see, the rates can vary significantly even when you purchase auto insurance from Geico. Be realistic when making a comparison of insurance rates. It also pays to be aware about the standard rates in the industry based on your location.
Just like USAA, Geico also has a very positive customer service rating. However, many would claim that it isn’t as strong as USAA. Nonetheless, they have professional staff that are also military members and are very accommodating to customers. This is probably due to the fact that they know what the military go through and are more emphatic about their needs.
In fact, the Geico website offers a substantial array of helpful resources for military members in deployment.
The choice between USAA and Geico for those looking for cheap and discounted auto insurance rates is not exceptionally clear. Each insurance provider has its own set of strengths and weaknesses that must be considered before making a choice.
USAA is an excellent choice if you want a good customer experience. The insurance company facilitates the easy process of choosing the right coverage and filing a claim. If you need to cancel your insurance policy, it is also very straightforward and efficient. Related: USAA Debt Consolidation
On the other hand, Geico is one of the best in terms of the amount of discounts you can get. If you are looking for a cheap rate, then you will be glad to know that you can enjoy more savings on top of the already cheap rates.
In terms of the actual rates, though, USAA is cheaper in comparison to Geico. Another area wherein USAA gets the upper hand over Geico is in terms of the discount offered when military members are in deployment. Geico also distinguishes the deployment area and limits discount offers to those who are in so-called “imminent danger area”.
However, you need to look at the overall picture when choosing an insurance coverage. Your focus should be choosing a policy that can give you the best level of protection – that’s how you can save money in the long run! Remember some companies also offer cheap car insurance no money down options. Be sure to ask about it.
